Hot Summer Beauty Finds — As Seen On “Great Day Houston”

We may love the fun-loving spirit of the summer season, but there’s no denying that sweltering temperatures and soaring humidity levels require us to rethink our beauty regimens. As with summers past, you’ll want to invest in a lightweight and non-greasy sunscreen, as well as a versatile makeup palette that will help you pull of a five-minute look. But this summer, you’ll also want to account for new beauty challenges like dullness and fine lines resulting from increased screen time (more on that connection below!) or a paler-than-usual complexion resulting from shelter-in-place orders. With that in mind, I shared some of my favorite problem-solving, radiance-boosting, skin-loving products for this summer season on KHOU’s “Great Day Houston” yesterday. Read on for more details on all the goodies discussed on air!

OLAY REGENERIST WHIP SPF 25

Who doesn’t want to have a little fun in the sun come summertime? But, when you skimp on UV protection, all those fun adventures will have some unsavory long-term effects. So, to keep skin healthy and youthful, it’s vital to apply UV protection every day — no excuses! After all, sun care is a form of self care.

One easy way to give your skin the hydration it needs while protecting it from the sun’s harsh rays is by incorporating the Olay Regenerist Whip SPF 25  ($30 at Olay.com) into your morning routine. With a lighter-than-air feel, this breathable face cream quenches skin’s thirst thanks to the hyaluronic acid in its formula, which can hold up to 1000x times weight in moisture and bind it to skin, making your complexion appear plumper and dewier while locking in hydration. It also contains Vitamin B3 and peptides to improve skin firmness and elasticity, minimizing fine lines and wrinkles and giving skin a more sculpted and lifted look. Moreover, the Olay Regenerist Whip SPF 25 features an innovative Active Rush Technology, which enables the formula to transform from cream to liquid on contact with the skin, so that it’s absorbed even faster. Given the record-high temperatures here in Texas and the off-the-meter humidity levels, the last thing we want is a heavy, greasy-feeling face cream — and this moisturizer helps us avoid that discomfort altogether thanks to its cream-to-liquid transformation and rapid-fast absorption rate.

EPIONCE DAILY SHIELD LOTION TINTED SPF 50

Summer tends to be all about easy, laid-back, minimalist beauty regimens — and that’s particularly true this summer when we’re likely venturing out to very few places. If you’re looking for a simple way to streamline your own regimen, consider trying a tinted SPF like the Epionce Daily Shield Lotion Tinted SPF 50 ($40 at Epionce.com).

Formulated with zinc oxide and titanium oxide, the Daily Shield Lotion Tinted SPF 50 is a mineral sunscreen (as opposed to a chemical one) and hence it relies on minerals that create a physical barrier atop the skin, blocking and deflecting UV rays. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, feature carbon-based compounds like avobenzone and oxybenzone that absorb UV rays and then convert them into heat, releasing them from the body thereafter. Mineral sunscreens are generally gentler than their chemical counterparts, and this one is a perfect example as it’s suitable for even the most sensitive and allergy-prone skin. And, unlike past generations of mineral sunscreen that could leave a chalky film behind, this one glides onto skin seamlessly and it’s virtually weightless on the complexion.

It’s also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so you won’t sweat it off within minutes of venturing into the Texas heat,  and it bears the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Approval.

Not only does this facial sunscreen protect you from harmful UV rays, but it also soothes and nourishes skin thanks to botanical ingredients like sunflower oil, rosemary extract, apple fruit extract, and argan oil.

Need another reason to swoon? Well, get this: the tinted formula gives you just a touch of coverage, evening out your skin tone and imparting a natural-looking, effortless glow.

ST TROPEZ SELF TAN PURITY VITAMINS BRONZING WATER FACE SERUM

Many of us postponed our summer travel plans this year, forgoing the beach getaways and lakeside trips we spend all winter anticipating. Leery of traveling during a pandemic (or visiting crowded destinations like public beaches, waterparks, amusement parks, and restaurants), we’re more likely to limit our outdoor activities this particular summer. Add in work-from-home arrangements and alarming heat advisories, and you’re likely spending more time on the couch and in air-conditioned rooms than you are soaking up the glorious sun. If quarantine life has you  missing the bronzed bombshell look of summers past, check out the new St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water Face Serum ($30 at ULTA and ULTA.com).

In just one application, this self-tanner helps you achieve that powder-soft, sun-kissed golden glow we associate with summer adventures. And unlike most self-tanners, this formula is packed with skincare actives that hydrate and brighten skin. These include: hyaluronic acid, which instantly hydrates skin while also ensuring long-term moisture; antioxidant-rich peach flower extract; skin-softening and age-defying avocado extract; and kakadu plum,the richest natural source of vitamin C in the world and hence an excellent skin-brightening and anti-aging ingredient. The water-based serum also contains a breakthrough Sunshine Complex Technology that helps the skin produce more Vitamin D, thereby  providing the feel-good effect you’d get from sunlight exposure.

You can apply it directly to skin or mix with your moisturizer or foundation, and you’ll start to see that glow up in 4 to 8 hours.

GOODHABIT SKIN RESCUE ME GLOW POTION OIL SERUM

It’s now common knowledge that UV rays can prematurely age skin, but did you know the blue light emitted by our digital devices can have a similarly adverse effect on skin? Studies indicate that continued exposure to artificial blue light can result in fine lines, hyperpigmentation, a dull and lifeless skin tone, loss of elasticity, redness, and more. What’s even more alarming is how quickly blue light starts to ravage skin: studies show that one hour in front of a screen has the same effects on skin as spending 15 minutes in the sun without UV protection. When you consider that Americans spend 12 hours a day in front of screens on average —the equivalent of 3 hours in the sun without any SPF — those studies become  all the more worrisome.

But don’t slam your laptop shut in horror or vow to bring back rotary phones! Just help your skin adapt to the modern digital world with a little help from Goodhabit, the first brand dedicated to protecting skin from blue light damage. Goodhabit products are 100% vegan, clean and cruelty-free, and they feature a unique Blu5 technology that stops future blue light damage while reversing past damage.

Their debut collection, Rescue Me, is focused on providing soothing hydration, and it consists of products formulated with ingredients like: blue tansy flower, a great source of chamazulene, which helps soothe inflammation and reduce redness; blue spirulina, a marine superfood packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and essential amino acids that promote cellulrar turnover, reduce redness, and decrease inflammation; and hyaluronic acid, a natural hydration magnet.

The collection’s hero product is the Rescue Me Glow Potion Oil Serum ($80 at Goodhabitskin.com), which features a 3-in-1 formula combines the effects of an oil, serum and essence in one do-it-all product. To use, you simply shake the serum bottle so that all three phases come together, then apply a couple of drops to skin and massage onto your complexion. You’ll notice more supple, smoother, more radiant skin after just one use— and, over time, you’ll notice a more uniform skin tone, less pronounced wrinkles, and more defined facial contours that yield a more sculpted and lifted look.

PHYSICIANS FORMULA ROSE ALL DAY X EXTERIORGLAM COLLECTION

Are you looking for an ultra-versatile palette that steers clear of the expected nude tones? Well, you’ll love the Physicians Formula Rosé All Day x Exteriorglam Collection ($19.99 at ULTA and ULTA.com), a full face palette that incorporates blush pink, sunny peach, golden champagne, and deep plum and mauve shades. The  fruit of a creative collaboration between Physicians Formula and beauty influencer Foinika Kay, known as ExteriorGlam on Instagram, the palette contains specially-curated shades for lips, cheeks and eyes that will allow you to create a myriad of looks. The standout “Rich” shade, a metallic blue hue, adds an unexpected pop of color to the garden-inspired palette.

Below, check out swatches of the blush shade, a peachy pink called “Alea,” and the highlighter shade, “Freshly Picked,” a golden champagne hue:

Next, you’ll get another look at these two shades for cheeks, as well as a glimpse of two of the four eyeshadow shades: Rich, a metallic, silver-y blue hue, and “Champagne,” a beach-y shimmering rose gold shade that will remind you of seashells and sparkling rosé glasses:

Below, you can see swatches of all four eyeshadow hues in the collection — two of them featuring a shimmering finish and two with a matte finish:

Not only are the shades stunning, but they’re infused with skin-loving ingredients like soothing rose extract, brightening kakadu plum, and antioxidant-rich goji, so that they hydrate and nourish skin.

And that’s not all! The collection includes a travel-sized version of the limited-edition Rosé All Day EDP, so that once you can smell like the freshly-picked bloom you are!

MONISTAT CHAFING RELIEF POWDER GEL

As Lizzo has proudly pronounces, thick thighs save lives. And yet, sometimes, it’s our thighs that need rescuing — especially from the discomfort of chafing. Before shimmying into your printed shorts, darling rompers, and flirty mini dresses this summer, reach for the Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel ($6 at mass retailers and Amazon.com), a non-greasy, completely clear gel that  helps to prevent and relieve chafing by creating a breathable moisture-control barrier.

The formula combines the protective benefits of lotion and powder, protecting any areas that can become irritated due to friction, moisture, heat, or shaving — from inner thighs to underarms, breasts, and the bikini area. And, since it dries to a silky, non-greasy finish, it won’t stain your favorite summer outfit or lead to a style faux-pas.