My Friend Asked for the Ultimate Summer Beauty Starter Pack—12 Products I Added to Her Cart
Tried and tested.
"I'm going to need your help very carefully curating my beauty routine," a friend texted me yesterday afternoon. She's gearing up for a summer getaway and wants to look her absolute glowiest (who doesn't?) with as little effort as possible—which just so happens to be my favorite mission. No lie, I could dedicate a whole book to the best multitasking beauty products, such as slick-back heroes that somehow make your hair feel even softer than before, plumping face mists that make your features glisten, and dewy balms that warm up your complexion without looking like you're wearing a stitch of makeup. Toss an intoxicatingly musky perfume into the mix, and lo and behold, you've got yourself a spectacular summer beauty starter pack.
Curious to see the exact products I added to her cart? Below, see every last item I personally use and recommend.
Shop the Ultimate Summer Beauty Starter Pack
Pillow-soft lips are such a flex, no matter the season. If you, like me, struggle with cracks and flakes year-round, I highly suggest globbing on a lip mask (it's not a balm—there's a difference!) before tucking into bed. Laneige is one of the most viral options you can own, and I can attest that the thick, deeply hydrating formula is worth the buy. I consistently fly through my tiny jars, and right now, I can't stop thinking about the limited-edition Pink Lemonade mask. Talk about a juicy lip product for summer.
Remember what I said about multitasking beauty products? Allow me to introduce you to my latest hero, Kosas's brand-new Impressionist Multistick. The rose-beige you see here is my perfect "blonzer" hue, so it's all I need to secure a glowy, sun-kissed beat. I could genuinely trace it all over my face (cheeks, nose, lips, lids) and head out the door looking like I just came back from a beach vacation, which is basically my summer makeup MO.
Rather than trying to fight against frizz in the summer humidity, I'll often just embrace the flyaways (frizz is sexy!) or, more often than not, slick back my strands in a bun or ponytail. For the latter, Oribe's Supershine Wax Stick comes in clutch. Honestly, I don't know what I did before it came into my life. It offers incredible hold with zero flakes and, true to its name, gives my hair the prettiest mirrorlike shine. I'd go ahead and snag it while it's 20% off for Oribe's Obsession Week sale, which concludes on May 18.
Dare I say this is my favorite Victoria Beckham Beauty product to cross my desk? Just like the brand's Colour Wash Blush Water Tint, this liquid bronzer adds a soft haze of bronzy pigment akin to watercolor paint. A must-have for minimalist summer makeup, it makes you appear naturally sun-kissed and glowy as opposed to sculpted to the gods. And a little goes a very long way. Just two drops are all I need to warm up my cheekbones and hairline.
I can confirm that a "mousse blush" is just as dreamy as it sounds. This lightweight, cushiony pigment melts into my skin upon application yet dries down to a natural, soft-matte finish—the perfect happy medium for people who want to hop on the blurry-makeup trend but don't love powder products. I tend to gravitate toward dewy formulas during the warmer months to eliminate any chance of pilling, but now that I have this creamy formula in my arsenal, I just might keep going matte!
With increased sweat comes congested pores, which means I need an everyday exfoliator to keep my skin clear without wreaking havoc on my barrier. Enter Versed's Pore Clearing Serum that calls upon mandelic and salicylic acids to unclog pores at the source and stimulate cell turnover. I've been using it every morning before sunscreen, and my skin has never been happier.
Yes, I, too, am obsessed with the blurred-lip trend, but most matte color options have my lips withering up within minutes. Then I tried this SheGlam number, which comes infused with seed oils and shea butter to ensure a comfortable, plush finish. I haven't stopped wearing the shade High Key since snagging it at a brand preview!
I've already dedicated multiple pages to this Bulgari perfume, but if you still aren't convinced you should add it to your collection, let me just say that the citrus-musk blend somehow smells even better as the day goes on. I can't explain it, but it's like the notes become downright intoxicating as my skin heats up. Trust me—it's begging to be worn to your next outdoor gathering.
The Who What Wear office can't stop gushing over Rhode's Glazing Mist, and for a very good reason. In addition to being a top-notch skin refresher, it's A+ for makeup prep—hence why Hailey Bieber herself sprays it before applying concealer. Trust me. You'll wind up so glowy you'll eschew the highlighter altogether.
This latest glossy balm from Dior literally stopped me mid-scroll. That juicy finish is just so pretty. It helps that I'm always on the hunt for a perfect pinky-nude pigment, and I already know this rosy hue fits the bill. I do love a blurry matte lip, as I mentioned above, but I'll never completely throw away my high-shine finishes. This one is bound to become a summer staple.
Speaking of products that make you glow, I have become certifiably obsessed with Aora's Inicia Illuminating Primer. It not only makes your foundation or skin tint 10 times dewier, but it also brightens your skin all on its own. I often wear it alone on no-makeup days to give my skin just a bit of oomph (a trick multiple makeup artists swear by) or tap it on my cheekbones and collarbones as a natural-leaning highlighter.
I love using Blu & Green's repairing hair mask in place of conditioner, so I was extremely hyped for the brand's foray into stylers. I'm happy to report that its lightweight styling cream is gorgeous, resulting in silky tousled waves that somehow look lived-in yet completely frizz-free. Bonus: I can also use it to slick back my strands before the aforementioned Oribe stick, and because it's so weightless, I can brush it out later on without committing to a full washday.
