Summer means sun, surf, and a wardrobe of cute swimsuits, but what about the best summer beauty products that will keep your skin protected for the season? Rather than bringing your normal skincare routine into the summer months, your summer skincare routine should consist of summer beauty essentials that are lighter in weight (so as not to clog pores) and specific to your skin type for the best results. Beach-friendly beauty products that work morning and night are necessary for hydrated, healthy skin, so consider this your ultimate guide to the best summer beauty products that you need to add to your cart stat.
Summer Beauty Essentials for Sensitive Skin
SkinCeuticals Soothing Cleanser
Loading up on sunscreen and spending too much time in the sun can cause sensitive skin to go into overdrive. Rather than further irritate the skin with a harsh cleanser, opt for this soothing summer beauty product, which gently cleanses the skin while hydrating it for happy skin.
Beauty Insider Tip: Use this cleanser morning and night to keep the skin well-balanced.
Related Article: Summer Skin Care Must-Haves from SkinCeuticals
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Fluide
Key Ingredients: Spring water, glycerin, vitamin B3Skin Benefits: Soothes and protects sensitive skin
Sensitive skin can become red, inflamed, and angry due to the summer heat, which is why a well-formulated daily moisturizer is a must. This lightweight one is chock-full of skin-soothing thermal water and hydrating ingredients to go to work fast and restore moisture to the skin.
Beauty Insider Tip: This formula is noncomedogenic so it won’t cause breakouts.
Allies of Skin The One SPF 50 Invisible Sunscreen Gel
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, green tea, carrot seed, licorice root, red raspberry seed oil, antioxidants Skin Benefits: Conditions the skin and blurs the look of pores while protecting against UV damage
This does-it-all, water-resistant sunscreen gel is a summertime must-have. The breakthrough formula is perfect for sensitive skin and features a protective yet breathable Second-Skin Complex that remains invisible when applied.
Beauty Insider Tip: Double as a makeup primer, too!
Summer Beauty Essentials for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin
SkinCeuticals LHA Toner
Key Ingredients: Lipohydroxy acid, glycolic acid, salicyclic acid Skin Benefits: Removes dead skin cells and excess sebum
When this skin-refining toner is part of your skincare routine, you won't need to worry about excess oil and shine. Ideal for treating aging skin that is prone to breakouts, the acid-packed formula wipes away dead skin cells and pore-clogging residue to leave the skin clearer and shinier.
Beauty Insider Tip: Use this toner to prep the skin before in-office treatments for better results.
Epionce Purifying Wash Blemish Clearing Tx
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, salicylic acid Skin Benefits: Tackles breakouts while lessening dryness
Oily and acne-prone skin benefits from a skin-specific cleanser that deep cleans the pores to keep breakouts at bay. We like this gel formula, suitable for both the face and body and gentle enough for daily use, to target existing breakouts and prevent new ones from forming—a summer beauty essential!
Beauty Insider Tip: Use it twice daily—it won’t dry out the skin like other cleansers for acneic skin.
Colorescience Sunforgettable® Total ProtectionTM Sheer Matte Sunscreen Brush SPF 30
Key ingredients: Iron oxides, Vitachelox ®, Infraguard, zinc oxide, Physavie ®Skin Benefits: Protects the skin from UV damage while absorbsing excess oil
Brush this mineral sunscreen powder on for the ultimate non-pore-clogging sun protection. Perfect for oily skin that needs a little extra help sopping up shine, the on-the-go applicator brush makes it easy to reapply sunscreen wherever you are.
Beauty Insider Tip: Reach for this water-resistant formula to reapply sunscreen without having to touch up your makeup.
Summer Beauty Essentials for Mature Skin
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Key Ingredients: Brown algae, starflower oil, elderberry oil, essential oilsSkin Benefits: Removes makeup and impurities and nourishes the skin
This multipurpose cleansing balm is just what mature skin needs to take the day off at the end of a long summer day. The 3-in-1 cleansing balm morphs into an oil and then milk, delivering a dose of much-needed hydration while lifting away dirt, oil, makeup, and skin impurities.
Beauty Insider Tip: Thanks to the balm's spa-like scent, this cleanser can recreate an at-home spa routine.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Key Ingredients: Red algae, meadow foam seed, frankincenseBenefits: Protects against UV and blue light damage, hydrates
This lightweight, oil-free sunscreen safeguards the skin from damaging sun rays while leaving behind a soft finish. Wear this clear gel formula under makeup and even indoors since it can defend the skin against blue light damage.
Beauty Insider Tip: This sunscreen's gripping power allows it to double as a makeup primer for all skin tones.
Related Article: How to Pick the Right Supergoop! Sunscreen for You
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant
Key Ingredients: Honey, vanilla extracts, essential fatty acids, vitaminsSkin Benefits: Calms and comforts the skin
Whether you slather your face or body in this intense moisturizer, it works hard to hydrate the skin and prevent it from appearing dull, flaky, and lackluster, all of which are common complaints among mature skin.
Beauty Insider Tip: Use this multipurpose formula on your eyebrows to keep them in place all day.Summer Beauty Essentials for Dry Skin
Obagi Medical Daily Hydro-Drops Rejuvenating Eye Gel Cream
Key Ingredients: Tuberose, glycerin, niacinamideSkin Benefits: Hydrates and improves the look of puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines
Dry skin can occur under the eyes, so a hydrating eye cream is a skincare staple. This brightening version refreshes the eyes and provides long-lasting hydration for up to 24 hours. Plus, it reduces puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles.
Beauty Insider Tip: The cooling applicator immediately rejuvenates the eyes to look more awake.
KYPRIS Antioxidant Dew: Quench and Glow Serum
Key Ingredients: Amino acids, botanicals, antioxidantsSkin Benefits: Moisturizes
Dry skin doesn't stand a chance against this intense hydrating serum. Loaded with skin-quenching antioxidants, amino acids, and soothing botanicals, this summer beauty essential serum can be used on its own or layered under other moisturizers for even better results.
Beauty Insider Tip: A little bit of this serum goes a long way. Just a few drops do the trick!
Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water Hydrating Antioxidant Face Mist
Key Ingredients: MineralsSkin Benefits: Soothes, protects, refreshes
A compromised skin barrier is common among dry skin types, so restoring it is key to keeping the skin healthy during the summer. This summer beauty essential is rich in thermal spa water, which gives the skin a soothing dose of nourishment while refreshing it throughout the day.
Beauty Insider Tip: Use the water to refresh your skin at any time.
Summer Beauty Essentials for Combination Skin
SENTÉ Hydrate+ Serum
Key Ingredients: Heparan Sulfate Analog (HSA), hyaluronic acid Skin Benefits: Hydrates, improves skin barrier function, soothes irritation
During the summer, combination skin needs equal amounts of hydration and oil control, which is where this serum comes into play. A summer skin beauty product must-have, this fast-absorbing, lightweight serum provides hydration while soothing inflammation and restoring the skin barrier for perfectly comfortable skin.
Beauty Insider Tip: The serum works wonders to use on post-procedure skin.
Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty Asta C Vitamin C Age Defense Serum
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, astaxanthinSkin Benefits: Minimizes pigmentation, brightens the skin, protects against free radicals, improves the look of wrinkles
This dermatologist-developed vitamin C serum works wonders to protect the skin, expeically in the summer, from oxidative stress and the common signs of aging for more evenly looking skin. By reducing discoloration and illuminating the skin, the serum helps to brighten and rejuvenate the skin so it looks and acts younger.
Beauty Insider Tip: This powerful formula works best when you ease into it—start by using it once daily and work up to twice per day once the skin acclimates
Osmosis +Beauty Clarify Blemish Serum
Key Ingredients: Witch hazel, neem leaf and flower extract, red seaweed, tea tree leaf oil Skin Benefits: Normalizes oil production, restores the skin's barrier, promotes blemish clearing, detoxes and soothes, purifies pores, improves elasticity and moisture, normalizes oil production, anti-aging benefits.
For combination skin that gets oily and experiences breakouts when the weather warms up, consider this serum one of your summer beauty essentials. This serum helps keep oil production under control while calming inflammation, putting skin on the path to clear.
Insider Beauty Tip: Use the serum as a spot treatment or as part of your full-face routine to prevent acne.
The Bottom Line
No matter your skin type, following a skincare routine with the best summer beauty products is critical to keeping your skin protected, hydrated, and looking its best all summer long. Sunscreen is an obvious essential, as are skin-appropriate cleansers, moisturizers, and oil-controlling serums.Don’t let the summer sun wreak havoc on your skin, and keep it in tip-top shape with the ultimate summer beauty essentials picks. Shop them all here.
Next up, What to Look for When Choosing Sunscreen According to Skin Care Experts
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