Summer Essentials — As Seen On CBS Austin
We’re already experiencing triple-digit temperatures in CentralTexas, so it’s safe to say we are in for a long, hot summer. Luckily, I’ve got some great product suggestions to help you heat-proof your skin and makeup, stay active this season, and nail every summer #OOTD. You can learn more about these summer essentials on my latest segment for CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” — and, as usual, I’ve got the tea on everything discussed on air right here!
Keep reading for details!
Face Reality Daily SPF 30 Lotion & Sulfur Spot Treatment
Whether you have dry, normal, combo, or oily skin, once you’re grappling with sweltering temperatures and off-the-charts humidity, you’re bound to do a lot of sweating — and that, in turn, can lead to congested pores and blemishes. That’s why choosing an SPF carefully is a crucial component of any summer skincare regimen. You’ll want to select a sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection, feels lightweight and beathable, and won’t clog pores.
With its award-winning treatment program, Face Reality Skincare knows the importance of formulating an SPF that fits all the aforementioned criteria. That’s why it developed the Face Reality Daily SPF 30 Lotion ($32 on FaceRealitySkincare.com). Recommended for all skin types — including acne-prone skin— this sunscreen goes on sheer, leaving behind no white residue. The lightweight formula also contains antioxidant-rich ingredients like green tea extract and sunflower seed oil as well as skin-nourishing kukui and macadamia nut oils.
And should a pesky blemish surface this summer, you can banish it quickly and discretely with the Face Reality Sulfur Spot Treatment ($31 on FaceRealitySkincare.com), which contains a gentle yet powerful combination of 6% sulfur, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8 and allantoin. And because the spot treatment is invisible once applied to skin, you can tackle blemishes on the sly.
If you’re in the Austin area and are looking for a personalized skin treatment plan, you can book a consultation with local Certified Acne Expert and Face Reality ambassador Nicole LaCroix at Nicole LaCroix Skincare. Visit NicoleLaCroixSkin.com to start your journey!
StriVectin Multi-Action Clear Acne Control System
June is Acne Awareness Month, so it’s the perfect time to introduce you to StriVectin’s truly groundbreaking acne control system. The StriVectin Multi-Action Clear Acne Control System ($39 on ULTA.com) is a clinically proven acne control system that delivers complexion-clearing results without disrupting the skin barrier. Many acne systems employ formulas that feature overly harsh ingredients (like benzoyl peroxide and adapalene) can dry out skin and damage the skin barrier — which, in turn, can trigger a seemingly endless cycle of breakouts. StriVectin’s acne-clearing system, then, utilizes a different approach to managing acne, eradicating breakouts while also keeping skin hydrated, balanced, and healthy. The system is powered by NIA-114, StriVectin’s patented form of Niacin, which helps to prevent the dryness and flaking associated with typical acne treatments.
The system involves three easy steps. First, you cleanse with the Daily Gentle Clarifying Cleanser, a frothy, gel-to-foam cleanser that contains salicylic acid (a beta-hydroxy acid that helps to unclog pores and clear blemishes, and which exfoliates skin gently) along with oil-absorbing zinc PCA, skin-purifying Chilean soap bark and soothing green tea and Swiss alpine willowherb extracts. Together, these ingredients help to remove dirt, impurities, and excess oil without stripping skin. After cleansing, your complexion will feel refreshed but not tight or dry.
After cleansing, you can move on to the second step, which involves the Daily Brightening & Retexturizing Toner, which features BHA salicylic acid to gently resurface skin, succinic acid to visibly reduce blemishes, and tranexamic acid to improve the look of post-acne marks and help even skin tone. Moreover, the formula contains polyglutamic acid, a buzz-y skincare ingredient known for its superb moisture-binding properties.
Once you’ve applied toner, you can complete your regimen with the Acne Clearing Treatment Lotion, which contains bakuchiol, a naturally derived alternative to retinol, along with 2% salicylic acid to treat existing blemishes and prevent future breakouts.
Dr. Dennis Gross Derminfusions Lift & Repair Eye Mask
We all want bouncy and supple skin — particularly come summertime, when we want to rock minimal makeup and still feel confident and pretty. Unfortunately, the scorching temperatures outside and the dry air conditioned air inside can take a toll on skin, drying out our complexions and making any existing aging signs all the more pronounced. So, just like you need to be more vigilant about proper hydration this season, you also need to be more mindful of your skin. This means applying SPF daily (and reapplying every 2 hours), wearing sunglasses (to protect the delicate skin around the eyes and avoid squinting), and making time to pamper your skin with moisture-replenishing and nourishing treatments.
To give the eye area some TLC this summer, pick up the new Dr. Denis Gross Derminfusions Lift & Repair Eye Mask ($36 for 4-ct. box on Sephora.com), a 360-degree eye mask that covers the under eyes, crow’s feet, and elevens. If you love eye patches, just wait until you try this mask!
The 100% biodegradable mask is made out of Lyocell, an eco-friendly material derived from wood pulp that if highly absorbent and forms an occlusive barrier on skin, thereby constituting a superior delivery system. The mask is infused with: L-ascorbic acid, the purest form of vitamin C, to brighten the complexion and stimulate collagen production; niacinamide to help even skin tone and strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier; green tea extract to soothe skin and reduce redness; white tea extract to strengthen collagen and elastin; and more.
Each treatment helps to fill in fine lines, deeply hydrate and repair the skin barrier, reduce under-eye puffiness, and give skin a lifted appearance, visibly improving age-related volume loss.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur
Love matte lipstick but hate how most formulas dry out your lips and accentuate every dry patch, wrinkle, and fine line? Well, fear not Charlotte Tilbury just launched a non-drying liquid lipstick that delivers gorgeous matte color while also helping to fill in and effectively “blur” fine lines. The new Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur features hyaluronic acid to hydrate lips and lock in moisture along with a Powder Blur Technology that smooths fine lines so you don’t have to worry about your lipstick feathering or creasing.
Not only does this liquid lipstick give your pout an airbrushed look, but you can dial the intensity up or down as desired. To wear it blurred, simply press the lipstick onto the center of the lips and lightly blend outward using your fingertips. To wear it bold, glide the applicator across the entire lip area. Either way, your pout will look flawless!
The new Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur retails for $35 and is available in 8 shades: Pillow Talk Blur, Pillow Talk Medium Blur, Walk of No Shame Blur, Rose Blur, Flame Blur, Ruby Blur, Nude Blur, and Honey Blur.
You can it up on CharlotteTilbury.com or on the brand new Charlotte Tilbury app.
YENSA Super Silk Serum Pressed Powder Foundation
Nowadays, we’re seeing a greater demand for makeup products that also incorporate skincare benefits, and brands like YENSA are rising to the occasion, formulating products that deliver the coverage, color pay-off, and long wear we desire but which also hydrate, nourish, balance and brighten our complexions. YENSA’s latest offering, the Super Serum Silk Pressed Powder Foundation ($45 on YENSA.com), perfectly encapsulates the brand’s commitment to marrying the worlds of cosmetics and skincare.
Founded by Asian-American actress and mom Jennifer Yen, YENSA specializes in clean, high-performance skincare and makeup products infused with nutrient-dense, complexion-loving superfoods and inspired by Asian rituals. The new powder foundation, then, is infused with YENSA’s 8 SuperBlacks Essence — a blend of black sesame oil, black tea, black seaweed, black rice, shiitake mushroom, Korean black raspberry, nettle and chia seeds — to nourish, hydrate and brighten skin. Each time you wear the powder, then, you’re also working towards enjoying a healthier complexion.
Available in 16 shades, the Super Serum Silk Pressed Powder Foundation delivers medium to full coverage while also smoothing out pores and blurring imperfections. Plus it has a beautifully natural, glow-y finish and looks seamless on skin — no powdery residue or patchiness. You can sweep it all over your face, use it to set your cream foundation, or apply it to your forehead, nose, and chin to absorb excess oil on humid summer days.
Physicians Formula Butter Glow Pressed Powder
No summer makeup routine would be complete without a glow-boosting powder – not a highlighter meant to add shine to high points of the face, but a product designed for a subtler, all-over glow, something that can yield a lit-from within radiance. Enter the new Physicians Formula Butter Glow Pressed Powder ($15.99 at Target, ULTA and PhysiciansFormula.com), a multi-use powder that features illuminating minerals to diffuse and soften the complexion, providing a multidimensional glow.
The soft and blendable formula glides onto skin beautifully and is infused with a blend of nutrient-rich, moisturizing and skin-softening murumuru, cupuacu and tucuma butters.
You can use it to set your makeup, create a low-key makeup look, or apply it as a blush topper to give your cheeks more radiance. The possibilities are endless!
It’s available in two stunning shades: Translucent Glow and Natural Glow.
Electric Picks Electric Summer Collection
If a seaside getaway is on your summer agenda, you’ll want to pack a few versatile jewelry pieces to complete your breezy off-duty looks. Inspired by beach vacations, the new summer collection from jewelry brand Electric Picks incorporates shiny pearls, shell motifs, turquoise beads, and dreamy moonbeam stones.
Founded in 2011 by two best friends, MJ Carlson and Chantel Gia, Electric Picks offers high-quality, versatile, on-trend, and affordable jewelry pieces that can be mixed, matched, and layered. Their hope is to create jewelry that you’ll wear as you experience life and make memories, so that the pieces become all the more valuable because of the stories they can figuratively tell. And because they want you to treasure these pieces forever, all Electric Picks jewelry comes with a lifetime guarantee.
All the pieces in the new Electric Summer Collection retail for under $100 on ElectricPicks.com, so these are truly accessibly priced offerings. Some of my favorites include the Serenity Necklace ($98 on ElectricPicks.com), pictured above at top, a chain link necklace featuring a single pearl dangling from a golden ring; and the Sally Earrings ($78 on ElectricPicks.com), which measure 1.3″ in length and feature two golden cockle shells.
Visit ElectricPicks.com to shop the summer collection!
LUXE Pickleball Paddles
Pickleball is currently the fastest-growing sport in America , with an estimated 8.9 million people playing as of 2022. Why the soaring popularity? Well, unlike many sports that require extensive and pricey lessons and equipment, pickleball has low barrier to entry. It’s easy to learn, social, and inclusive, so people of all ages and fitness levels can partake in the fun. It can develop into a fast-paced, competitive, strategic sport if desired, or it can be a mellow hobby to stay active and share a few laughs with friends.
However you approach the sport, you can show off your unique style on the court with these paddles from LUXE Pickleball, a family-owned brand started by a brother-sister duo, both of whom are pickle enthusiasts. Tired of finding only bland and boring pickleball paddles, they set out to create aesthetically pleasing paddles that would turn heads and start conversations — all while helping to improve players’ performance.
LUXE Pickleball offers paddles divided into three different categories, each corresponding to a skill level. Beginners and casual players can check out the Leisure paddles, which feature a fiberglass surface and 11mm thick honeycomb polymer core to deliver a balance of power and control. More seasoned players can pick up a paddle from the Ace collection. These feature a slightly thicker 13mmm core for enhanced precision and a textured surface to put more spin on the ball. Lastly, competitive players can scoop up a Luxury paddle, which features an open-throat design for greater speed at the net.
Prices range from $50 to $80 on LUXEPickleball.com
WearSPF Suncare Collection
If you play outdoor sports — be it tennis, golf, or soccer — then you know how vital it is to apply SPF and to reapply every 1-2 hours. But, of course, wearing SPF from head-to-toe on a daily basis (and reapplying constantly) can get pricey — unless, of course, you find the right products that perform as desired but are also reasonably priced.
Enter Wear SPF, a line of high-quality and high-performance products at accessible prices. Founded by professional golfer Justin Thomas after his own scare with melanoma, Wear SPF is designed to meet the needs of athletes and outdoor enthusiasts and so the formulas are easy to apply, lightweight and blendable, non-sticky, and water-resistant. Moreover, the SPF range includes a variety of formats — from classic lotions (the Wear SPF 50 Essential Sunscreen Lotion, featuring a combination of zinc oxide and octinoxate, and the new Wear SPF 30 Non-Nano Mineral Sunscreen, which features a reef-safe, all-mineral formula with 10% non-nano zinc oxide) to a convenient SPF 50 Sunscreen Sspray and a portable Sunscreen Sport Stick (which you can carry in your pocket or belt bag when you’re running, golfing, or hiking). There’s also a Sunscreen Lip Balm to keep your pout both moisturized and protected from the sun’s UV rays.
The line also includes an After Sun Cleanser to remove dirt, impurities, and sunscreen reside, and Aloe to soothe sun-exposed skin. Prices range from $3 to $18 on WearSPF.com
