Bare Necessities: Summer Edition
Beauty products for the old-fashioned, all-girls' boarding school crowd among us
I am a very, very low-maintenance kind of woman, but not in a “I’m not like other girls” way, more in an old-fashioned, all-girls’ boarding school kind of way. I feel like my particular group of friends and I were hardly interested in makeup at all and we certainly didn’t do those slumber parties where you pulled out an entire Sephora without a second thought and stayed up giggling while watching rom-coms.1 Perhaps this was because a good deal of my classmates were O.G. Horse Girls (brilliantly coined by Plum Sykes), or perhaps because we knew that we didn’t need to impress anyone except with our academic brilliance, or maybe because we knew even then that confidence is the best additional polish to any outfit… whatever it was, the makeup thing passed me by. I still don’t own any other than (now) Merit’s flush balm, some tinted lip gloss, and one lonely tube of mascara that’s probably long expired. I wore tinted chapstick to my wedding.
Because I don’t wear makeup, taking care of my skin has become a big priority as I exit my mid-thirties. This is particularly crucial during the hot and humid mid-Atlantic summer days, where anything I’d put on would melt off anyway on the boat, on the court, or on a walk around town.
I’m never going to be the gal with a twenty-step skincare process—I don’t have the time, the inclination, or frankly the counter space to do that! This is truly a “fewer and better” endeavor. I want to use only the very, very best things because my skin is going to be with me for a very long time.
Despite being most emphatically NOT a beauty blogger, I get offered at least ten to fifteen beauty products a week. Most I decline, a few I accept, and even fewer I use and love. And while everyone’s skin is different here, for what it’s worth, is what works for me and my fairly middle-of-the-road, middle-of-my-thirties, skin.
And, fun fact, a lot of these products are on sale! It’s a great time to stock up on things you use and love—and many of these companies toss in free samples to try as well.
Sunscreen
Always a hot item in our house—we have a designated Sunscreen Station by the back door so we can grab something on the way out. Here’s where we have the most variety because we’re constantly doing different things.
For everyday, “I’m in the city” sunscreen, Le Prunier’s Plumscreen2 is my absolute top. First of all, it feels and smells gorgeous, and “combines broad spectrum UVA/UVB/HEV sun protection with the skincare benefits of Le Prunier’s cult-favorite Plum Beauty Oil. Antioxidant-rich Plum Superfruit Complex® shelters skin and protects collagen from pollution while defending against environmental stressors.” So, perfect for Manhattan days!
Supergoop! and La Roche Posay are more of our everyday, on-the-water, at-the-pool favorites. These have great staying power, are easy to apply, and last a long time. They also come in convenient to-go sizes so I can just toss one in my wet bag or my child’s camp bag and go.
We’ve also added Prequel’s Sun Barrier cream to our routine this summer for the more sensitive skin in the family—it’s super-protective and applies so easily. It’s a relief to know that for long days on the water, we’re covered completely.
And this is not sunscreen but it’s sun-adjacent: I starting finally using a self-tanner this summer thanks to Saltyface3 and it’s worked out really well so far! (Unfortunately I used it for the first time during a cold period when I was wearing pants so you can’t tell… it lasted about a week. I’m planning to reapply this weekend because it’s warm now!) A suntan always makes me look and feel better because I don’t look like something that lives underground, so it’s been nice to look good and feel good. I was so scared of turning myself orange but it’s a very light, natural tan—I applied the light-to-medium foam and showered after 30 minutes. It’s a winner for me!
Cleansers
After clogging our pores all day with sweat, salt, and sun, getting things down to the basics is more essential than ever.
I’ve always used Kiehl’s cleanser, and it’s a great lower-budget item. I’m a huge fan of the brand (read more here) and this has been my staple item for literally decades. That being said, Vintner’s Daughter sent me their Active Renewal Cleanser a few months ago and it is INSANE—like the difference between jeans from J. Crew and jeans from Frame. I love it.
Moisturizers
This is an all-Kiehl’s category for me, honestly—Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream and Kiehl’s Crème de Corps. Oh, and a bonus lip mask—YSE’s cured my winter chapped lips, and also comes in handy in the summer when my lips are chapped from the wind.
Hands and Feet
Koba Bottoms Up Cream4 is literally the only way I can wear sandals in the summer. Look, ladies, I hate to tell you, but jumping around barefoot on the deck of a boat is actually not the best way to keep your feet looking presentable all summer long. For too long I’ve just dealt with this problem with frequent pedicures but it’s an unnecessary expense. This cream smells great, is easy to apply (it’s thick and doesn’t run), and when paired with Célisse’s nail care set, I can actually look great without spending $200/month. I keep my hands smooth (hard to do during the sailing season) with Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, which, along with their facial cream, was designed for the Everest expedition the brand sponsored (the first successful ascent without supplemental oxygen).
Face
I had a shocking moment the other day when I was laughing on a Zoom call and I saw NEW WRINKLES. Look, I’m proud of my face and I love it—I would not change a single pore on it. I also wasn’t ready for this particularly deep line at the side of my eyes to make its appearance. While I’m not into Botox personally, I am into anti-ageing skincare, and Susanne Kaufmann5 makes my very, very favorite.
I am also obsessed with Vintner’s Daughter serum, which is just an incredible, magical product. If I used one beauty product for the rest of my life it would be this one. My skin GLOWS, it's insane—I look wildly healthy and like I've spent the whole day outdoors and got a good night's sleep even on nights when I sleep two hours and eat Five Guys. Worth every. single. penny.
Hair
I exclusively use Rōz shampoo and conditioner now and my hair has never looked better. I also have used Nécessaire’s scalp serum to help combat some of my many-years-ago postpartum hair loss and I’ve been pretty pleased, despite only sporadically using it. I’ll have to be more diligent and then I’ll report back.
Makeup
Only a few things! As mentioned above, I love Merit’s flush balm—the terracotta shade is the perfect “light-sunburn-because-I-was-outdoors-all-day” shade without the risk of skin cancer. I also love their concealer stick (the Minimalist) because it’s SO easy to apply and idiot-proof, which is helpful for me. I also have a number of tinted lip glosses from Merit, Finding Ferdinand6, and YSE, among others.
What are your beauty favorites?
This is not a slight because it sounds AWESOME. We did everything except the makeup!
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