12 Top Summer Essentials

I am not a fan of the heat, so summer is a struggle for me - is it October yet? I want to delve into all the fall makeup collections that have been popping up on beauty blogs. Alas, it's only mid-July so I rely on certain products to get me through the heat and the dog days of summer. I thought I would share (I'm thoughtful like that) my most relied upon products to help me stay beautiful despite oily hair, shiny skin, and stinky arm pits (sorry but I had to go there)!

Summer MVP's - Most Valuable Products

• BIC Soleil Sensitive Skin Razors - This is my go to razor when shaving. I think the fact that is comes in a cheerful sunny array of colors is a bonus. 

• The Art of Shaving Pre Shave Oil - I rub this on areas that are prone to knicks with a razor like my knees and around my ankle to stave off cuts. 

• Tend Skin Ingrown Hair Solution - When wearing tank tops we expose our armpits more and no one wants to see razor bumps. Tend Skin truly has eliminated razor bumps from my life - can I get a hip, hip hooray? 

• Oil absorbing papers - powder can be essential but I prefer blotting papers to not clog my pores while still fighting shine. 

• Dove Prescription Strength Deodorant - this is a no-brainer that we sweat more during June, July, and August so I rely on the prescription strength of this stuff to keep me smelling nice. 

• Skinceuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 45 - You can never be too careful in the sun and I like that this stuff goes on thick and is water and humidity proof. I even apply some to my arms, decollate, and arms. 

• Chantecaille Ultra Sun Protection SPF 50 PA +++ Is it a sunscreen, a primer or both? I like that this helps my makeup stay on longer and helps keep the shine that I normally get in my T-Zone at bay.

• Fresh Sugar Lip Balm with SPF 15 - an often overlooked area when it comes to sun protection is our lips. Can you imagine how painful sunburned lips would be - I'm cringing just thinking about it! Yet, lip gloss can actually reflect the sun's harmful rays. So baby your lips with some moisturizing lip balm with SPF already built in!  

• Dry shampoo by Ojon Hair - my hair naturally turns more oily as the temperature gauge shoots North, so to get me through the hump of washing my hair every day I like dry shampoo as an alternate. I only like to wash it every other day because the oils our hair produces is actually good for it. Washing too often can strip the hair of natural oils and make it oilier. I have been known to do the whole baby powder trick, but I could never master it. I would just end up with baby powder everywhere. I feel more mature and refined using this dry shampoo plus it also adds mad volume to my hair - bonus! 

• Aloe Vera Gel - Sometimes despite our best efforts we still manage to get sun burned. If you do nothing feels better than the instant cooling effect of Aloe Vera (store it in the fridge for added cooling benefits).  

• Kerastase Masque UV Defense Active- a protecting hair mask that deep conditions. It also helps perserve my hair's color while imparting lasting shine to my strands.  

• Summer is about having fun and wearing bold, bright colors  Le Metier De Beaute's nail lacquer Wango Tango is the epitome of a chic, yet "fun" color . I think this is an awesome color to wear when sporting your Tory Burch sandals. 

What is your #1 Summer Essential? 

Best Beauty Tools Part 2

There really were so many beauty tools that I rely on that I could not possible squeeze them all into one post alone, without further ado I bring you part 2 of the best beauty tools.

• Mason Pearson Hair Brush ($77.00) I never thought I would spend this much on a hair brush...EVER, but what can I say? Now that I've experienced Mason Peasrson brushes it would be hard to go back. It easily tackles hair snarls like nobody's business and will turn you into Marcia Brady, stroking your hair a 100 times a day! Enough said! 

• Clarisonic Face Brush ($195.00) I've featured it here in my April favorites before. I really can not find a flaw with this device. To say that I see a difference with my skin when I use this vs. not using this is a vast understatement. I especially love the fact that despite having very sensitive skin, I can still use this by attaching special "sensitive" heads onto the brush. 

• MAC Brush Cleaner ($12.00) this cleaner gets the job done in-between me deep cleaning my brushes with baby shampoo. I pour a little onto a paper towel and swipe by brushes back and forth until all traces of  shadow are gone. Viola! Pretty simple and effective, a whole bottle last me months and months too!   

• Tweezerman Slant Tweezers ($25.00) these award winning tweezers helps me remove every stubborn eye brow hair that is out-of-place with its precision and sharp edge. Tweezerman also lets you send your tweezers in for sharpening (although I've never done this yet). Plus, isn't the animal print on these cute? 

• Tend Skin Ingrown Hair Solution ($10.00) you know those irritating red bumps we are prone too after shaving delicate skin around our bikin line or underarms? Well, with this solution I don't get those bumps again...ever! If you do have those bumps you can apply this liquid onto it for a soothing treatment that works to rid yourself of them. After I shave my armpits I pour some Tend Skin into my palm and rub it into my skin and then I don't have to worry about it again. 

• MAC's #219 Pencil Brush ($24.50) is the best brush I have come across to give you that purposeful smudgey smokey eye along the lash line. 

• Clinique's Take The Day Off Remover for Lids, Lashes, & Lips ($18.00 for 4.2 oz.) I have very sensitive eyes and luckily, I have found a remover after much trial and error that I can use that does not disturb my delicate eye area. 

• Crest Whitestrips + Tar Protection ($16.00) there isn't a person I know who doesn't wish for whiter teeth and these little babies make that wish a possibility. They are easy to use, inexpensive, and fool proof. I love that I can slap them on and by the time "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" is done I have whiter teeth! 

I hope you found this post to be semi helpful and introduce you to some new beauty products that make your beauty routine easier. I'm sure that there are even more tools that I am forgetting at this time. Note, I did not touch on hair products that extend in curling irons, straighteners, hair dryers, etc. this is because I know squat about hair! :) I stick to what I know and love - makeup! 

Did any of your favorites make my list?