It’s hot, it’s steamy—and it’s really, really frizzy. Yes, hair, not the bodies next to The Roosevelt’s pool on a Sunday. (Though, that too.) Surviving a Los Angeles summer is a job all on its own, with moisturizing, SPF-ing, de-frizzing, smoothing, exfoliating, waxing and trying to find makeup that can last through the sweat of an afternoon in heavy traffic (which, let’s be serious, is every afternoon). Below are my favorites for getting through the summer days looking fabulous, always.
Oh, the humidity! Seriously, the humidity will destroy your hair style after you worked so hard on it this morning to smooth and straighten it to perfection. Aloxxi’s Flexible Hairspray fights the humidity and gives hair a light shine while protecting it from UV damage. Plus, for the many animal lovers out there like me, Aloxxi Colour, Care and Style products are PETA friendly. $17
It seems impossible to live in L.A. and not need a detangler when so many of us are at the beach and the pool for so much of the year (weather!). The aloe and herbal extracts in Veria ID’s Leave-In Conditioner smooth out locks and leave them static free. The rosehip and jojoba oil smell sweet in this spray that also works on color-treated hair. $12
Now, I’m still young, young enough that crow’s feet don’t yet concern me (too much). But I’m old enough to see them coming, and I’m starting to realize that aging gracefully is mostly about maintenance. NIP + FAB’s Viper Venom actually reduced some of those dark circles around my eyes that have seemed to set up camp as of late and smoothed the finer of my lines (I refuse to call them wrinkles yet). It also rolls on over makeup so you can keep using it throughout the day. $14.99
There are lots of fun ingredients in the Kate Somerville Daily Deflector Waterlight sunscreen, but there are really only two important things to note: It’s SPF 50+, which, yes, can be found many places, but this sunscreen is different in that it’s lightweight and blends easily without feeling like you’re wearing a heavy mask. Use it daily under makeup or when you’re planning an afternoon outside, either way, it keeps the wrinkles at bay. $48
Lipstick in the summer can be tricky. You don’t want it to wear off, but you also don’t want to wear anything heavy or sticky. Kaplan MD’s Lip 20 is just the right amount of color, but it also hydrates and doesn’t feel thick. Plus, it has those magic letters that are essential for the summer: SPF 20. $30
I love that the brand describes its Conceal…Reveal Foundation as “an affair for your face.” I usually avoid foundation because most are too heavy and I can just feel the product sitting on my skin. This foundation, however, is nice and light (I’m guessing thanks to the oil-free formula) and still provides enough coverage to last through the day. $28
For some reason, despite the heat in Los Angeles, I insist on going to hot yoga classes at least three times a week. While my body feels great and detoxed afterward, my skin starts to break out from the sweat, and I can feel the dead skin cells piling up on my face. That’s why I also love the feeling of exfoliation and how smooth it makes my skin. Sanctuary Spa’s Covent Garden Warming Microbrasion Polish warms skin to open pores and stimulate circulation, pulling out all those dirty little impurities that cause blemishes and roughness. $25
So my husband is saying goodbye to me the other morning, and it starts out very sweet: “You look so pretty in the morning,” awww “your hair is all wavy,” baaaabe “and your skin is so smooth!” WHAT. When is my skin not smooth? OK, he didn’t mean it like that, but that’s where my mind went. Anyway, In my pro-smooth skin efforts, Rodial’s Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Toner gave mine a nice firm and soft feel, but without the tightness that seems to result with other toners. Plus, it preps my skin for makeup. Also, how can you not be intrigued by something called “dragon’s blood”? $35
Every summer I have the same problem of eye shadow that only lasts a couple of hours and then is only visible in the creases of my eye folds at the end of the day. This summer I wised up with Smashbox’s Limitless 15-Hour Wear Cream Shadow, which stays put, even when weather is at its hot-and-sweatiest. Riches is my favorite color because it stands out against my brown eyes, but there are many more to choose from. $20
Though Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream Anti-Aging Moisturizer is a bit more pricey than the other items on this list, like so many fine things in life, the results are worth the splurge. It’s great for sensitive skin like mine; I like to apply it in the morning because, while hydrating, it also gives my skin a bit of a lift during the day, but it can be used at night, too, for your evening beauty routine. $68
wild pieces 