Summer Beauty Buys

(Lierac’s Huile Sensorielle, Jane Iredale PureMatte Finish Powder, and Dior Addict Lip Glow.)

I’m trying to simplify my beauty purchases these days.  Once, I liked to try every new product that I read about, but now I’m sticking to old favorites and only trying new things that I really think will work well for me.  In the summer, it’s too hot to use many products, so I like to find items that can work double time to get the job done.

My all-time favorite pressed powder is Jane Iredale’s PureMatte Finish Powder, and I find it especially wonderful for staying shine-free during the hot summer months.  I keep it in my makeup kit and only apply it in the morning, so I just purchase the refill to save a bit of money and don’t bother with the compact.   I’m still a big fan of Rimmel’s powder, too, which is great for fall and winter.

I’m a lip junkie and often wear three products on my lips at the same time, balm, color, and gloss. But I read about Dior Addict Lip Glow, a gloss that actually enhances your natural lip color, and I decided to try it.  Lip Glow is fairly thick and works with your body temperature to create a soft color on your lips, so it’s kind of like a mood ring or those weird Hypercolor t-shirts from the 90s that everyone used to wear.  But unlike those crazy fads, this balm really works, and I can wear it all day long, with or without other products.  It feels nice to apply and keeps my lips moisturized, too.  It’s been my go-to color this summer, but it could work in the colder months, as well.

And as much as I love perfume and body products, I’ve never tried a body oil until recently.  I kept reading about Lierac’s Huile Sensorielle Aux 3 Fleurs Blanches, which translates to “Sensory Oil with 3 White Flowers,” and Lucky Magazine had a discount code to try it. I’ve been really happy with the essential oils I use for fragrance, so I was intrigued with the idea of a body oil that smells amazing, too.  The scent is fresh and light, and the oil itself is quite moisturizing. I find it to be a little greasy on my skin, so I normally apply it at night before bed. But the oil can be used in your hair, too, and it adds shine and fragrance. This body oil is luxurious, in my opinion, so I don’t use it every day and I don’t apply it to my face.  I think it will be especially nice in the winter months when my skin is dry.

Last but not least, I discovered a lotion that is boring and unglamorous, but absolutely amazing! I had a few bug bites on my legs from being outside and my hair follicles seemed irritated, too. That had never happened before, so I tried a bit of AmLactin Lotion, which contains alpha-hydroxy acid and works well for irritated skin. It cleared up my itching overnight and I noticed that my legs felt softer than they normally do.  I’ve started using it on my arms and they are smoother, too. I’m not using the AmLactin on a regular basis yet, but I’m really pleased with it and how quickly it works to smooth irritated skin, especially during the summer months.

Do you have any favorite summer products? I’d love to hear about them.