Summertime is upon us here in Toronto. With temperatures well into the 30s (and sometimes 40s!) with the humidity, I’ve been dreaming about days spent near the water. And while summer looks quite a bit different this year, I’m learning that it’s all the more crucial to find creative ways to spend time outdoors. I recently got the cutest patio set from Ikea for my tiny condo balcony, and it’s been so nice to enjoy some meals outdoors.
When the temperatures heat up, I have three main beauty goals: glowy skin; sun protection; and moisture. Here are a few of the products I’m loving this summer.
KOSAS | Kosas’ ethos is “Beauty, Undone,” and doesn’t that just sum up what summertime beauty should be? I’ve been using their Tinted Face Oil for well over a year, and it’s the perfect light coverage, dewy foundation for everyday. It’s nourishing, glowy, and looks oh so natural, which is everything I’m looking for as summer makeup base. I wear shade 5 in the summer and 3 in the winter. They also do the most amazing cream blush/highlighter duos that impart the loveliest wash of colour and brightness. I love the Velvet Melon shade for a peachy-coral flush.
OUAI ROSE HAIR & BODY OIL | I’ve loved OUAI since I first tried their wave spray last summer. This rose oil is a multi-use product, which I love, and it smells divine. My hair tends to get super frizzy and dry in summer, and my skin parched, so a few pumps of this after a shower has been a godsend lately.
PAI LIGHT WORK ROSEHIP CLEANSING OIL | I’m a huge advocate for double cleansing, and a big fan of rosehip oil, so this product checks off a lot of boxes for me. It does an amazing job as a first cleanse of breaking down makeup, SPF, and any other buildup on the skin. I always follow it up with a gel cleanser to clean out the pores, and the combo has been doing wonders for my skin. The rosehip cleanser smells like a spa day with notes of bergamot, and the bright orange colour is just so fun. Plus the Omegas and antioxidants in rosehip oil make it a super powerful skin-loving ingredient.
SUPERGOOP ZINC SCREEN | Time for the obligatory sunscreen portion of this post. I had been dying to try Supergoop for longer than I’d like to admit before they finally started selling on Sephora north of the border. I went with the Zinc Screen because I tend to enjoy a 100% mineral sunscreen for the face. Overall I find mineral sunscreens break me out less, but most can be super thick and heavy-feeling. This one is not that. It goes on like a fluid lotion and has a dewy finish that looks great with or without makeup on top. I’m patiently waiting on more Supergoop to become available in Canada, but this product is a winner.
AVENE HIGH PROTECTION SPRAY SPF 50 | Now for the body. Non-greasy, minimal white cast, and not irritating for my eczema-prone skin. I also hate that artificial coconut/chemical smell that most sunscreens have, and this only has the most subtle fragrance. I’ve always avoided sunscreen because I could never find one I liked, and the fact that I actually enjoy using this is a game changer.
MURPHY & JO GINGER & BERGAMOT CANDLE | While not exactly a beauty product, I couldn’t not include this in the list. It’s from a local Toronto company called Murphy & Jo who make the nicest smelling, handmade candles right here in the city. This is one of my favourites of theirs. It’s bright and fresh, which I love in the summer, and never sickly sweet. Truly one of my favourite scents out there, and the jar is perfect to re-use after you’re done.
