I hope you’re all enjoying the sun, and making the most of your gardens and local parks. This summer, I’ve decided not to be shut away in my office, bitter and whiny. I’ve made the outdoors my office — more specifically, my terrace which gets plenty of indirect sun.
I run the website and everything else I do from my office at home, and I spend quite a lot of my time hunting for brilliant beauty products on the internet (just one of the many benefits of being freelance) but I haven’t paid much attention to seasonal care. With automatic climate control at home, winter skin soothers and summer sweatproof makeup are only mildly relevant. Now, spending 5+ hours outside on a regular basis has made me switch over to more summer-friendly beauty products.
Here are a few beauty essentials that are seeing me through summer.
It may be slightly too obvious, but I do love a good affordable sunscreen for face and body. Anessa Perfect Essence Sunscreen A+N is moisturising, non-chalky, and gives brilliant SPF50+ PA++++ protection. Not the most matte nor lightweight, I grant you, but it’s the sunscreen I’ve been reaching for the most this summer for my arms/necks/decollete area. It’s nice on dry-ish skin, doesn’t stain clothes, and stays on quite well. The limited edition 90g size is currently ¥2,210 (approx US$21.78).
Another essential is blotting sheets. I’m ridiculously picky about them — they have to be large thick papers (none of those small tissue-thin ones), Japan-made, and opaque enough that the absorbed oil is easily visible on the paper. My all-time favourite is Convenic Selecty Safari Super Oil-Blotting Paper (see my old Best Pick review from 2010 here). It’s super-absorbent and leaves skin looking fresh, never dry or unnaturally matte. But a recent discovery that I’ve been loving is Mandom’s Gatsby Powdered Oil Clear Paper, which is actually targeted for men. It’s great at taking away shininess and blotting up oil to give skin a very silky smooth finish, but without leaving a dry, chalky film on your face. You can find the 70-sheet pack of Gatsby Powdered Oil Clear Paper at Rakuten here — ¥242 (approx. US$2.38).
A skincare item that I tested out quite extensively earlier in the year is Paula’s Choice Clear Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution Extra Strength, a 2% BHA liquid. Truth be told, I had to make a little leap of faith in order to try using something by Paula Begoun. Although I’ve read great things about some of her products, she irks me to no end. Now, I’m no stranger to exfoliating liquids — NeoStrata Toning Solution Level 2, which also contains 2% BHA, has been an essential part of my routine for years (read my Best Pick review here). It is a very active, potent solution that you can definitely feel working. I find the Clear Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution Extra Strength to be excellent at keeping pores clear while giving skin a boost of welcome boost of moisture during summer. You can find this solution — which feels more like a hydrating Japanese lotion than a potent exfoliating liquid – for just US$13 right now, if this is your first order here (normally US$23).
Other bits and pieces you see in the pictures above; Innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble BB Cream SPF35 PA++ which has been one of my most reached-for BBs of the summer (US$10.29+ at eBay here
or Amazon.com here) and 2 aerosol mists for the face. Many people consider facial mists to be a total waste of time, but I very much enjoy using them. It’s hot outside and my laptop heats up when it’s overworked and tired. It’s like typing in front of a furnace! The cool blast of freshness perks me up and lifts my spirits for at least a few minutes. I am getting really into aerosol mists — they have a much finer mist and feel more refreshing than regular sprays. Now, you have to excuse me with the first one, which is by Etude House. Despite its name, the Ice shot Rapid Cooling Mist is not particularly cooling — no more than any aerosol facial mists, really. I was in two minds about whether to include it, but it is the one that I use the most regularly and so, it would be unfair not to mention it. I love the way it refreshes and revives my skin during hot summer afternoons.
Any more summer skincare suggestions? Let me know below and I’ll give them a whirl!
