Look Chic in the Heat With These New Must Haves For July

As a slave to SPF, I'm constantly pulling my proverbial hair out. Why must great nonchemical sunscreens come at the cost of a white, chalky cast upon my mug? It's irritating and frankly, a bit terrifying, too. So let me introduce you to your new sunscreen go-to: Radical Skincare's Skin Perfecting Screen ($55). "Skin perfecting" is no joke, either: it's like Photoshop in a tube.

Let's break down why it's the best I've used in my 27 years: it has SPF 30. So you can stop worrying if it has high enough protection. It contains light diffusers, which act similarly to a lighting crew, so it helps conceal imperfections like uneven skin tone and fine lines. The consistency is lightweight, and because it's matte, you won't feel greasy.
If you need anything else to sell you, know that the sisters behind Radical Skincare are also the daughters of world-renowned professor of plastic surgery Dr. Richard F. Edlich MD.PHD — he was also a pioneer in burn care. Needless to say, these pros know a lot about skin rejuvenation.

I find many cream blushes too heavily pigmented for my pale skin, and I often end up looking like a clown even if I apply sparingly. But with its 50 percent water content, it’s almost impossible to overdo it with Burberry Fresh Glow Blush ($38). The cooling gel-like feeling is also perfect for warm days, when thicker formulas can feel sticky and greasy.

My go-to beauty trick for a night on the town is always a candlelit eye, so when I first tried Nars Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow ($29) in Andromeda I felt like I finally found a shade that added just enough glow to create my signature look. I use my finger to dab the off-white shadow in the inner-corners of my eyes, making my baby blues really pop.

OK, technically this Shoshanna for Elizabeth Arden case is a gift with purchase bag, but it's so worth it for $32. There will be several variations of this bright, printed bag created by designer and Elizabeth Arden Style Director Shoshanna Gruss, and the first one rolls out at Macy's in July. It's lightweight, expandable, and has two pockets (one exterior folder and a zipped-up pouch). You can really stuff this thing — trust me, I did when I went away for seven days. But it also comes with a medley of travel-size products so you may not have to.

When you're going on vacation, a gel manicure is your best bet for chip-free fun. But on my toes, I prefer the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy ($8). After a week at the beach, the two-step system stood up to sand and seawater. The application is simple with no UV or LED light required, and it comes off easily with generic nail polish remover. The Revlon range also comes in stunning Summer shades like white, green, pink, and bright purple.

Ariel was always my favorite Disney princess. Something about that long, siren-red hair and staying silent for an extended period of time — the complete opposite of me — was always so intriguing. (You can't shut me up for anything!) And Prince Eric was always the most handsome prince, if you ask me . . .

So when I received a package that included my own "dinglehopper" (that's a fork used as a hair brush to Ariel), I let out a little squeal, knowing a Disney-themed product was wrapped inside.
Ardell released three new limited-edition Ariel Lash Kits ($8) last week, which contain lash adhesive and two bestselling sets of lashes: Demi Wispies and a Double Up set in either 203, 204, or 205. Now's your moment, ladies, to be part of her world.

I notice a dramatic difference to the condition of my hair in Summer, and a change of routine is required to avoid having to cut it at the end of August. Bleached blond locks like mine can go dry and yellowy after prolonged sun exposure, and that’s before you even consider the chlorine from pools and salt from the sea. A deep moisture mask once or twice a week is a must, and they don’t come more luxurious than this after sun recovery mask ($27).

I love makeup because it allows me to unleash my inner artist. Some women roll their eyes at the thought of mixing BB cream with foundation to get their perfect shade; I revel in it. I love mixing bronzer into moisturizer, creating my own lip gloss, and adding SPF into my favorite tinted moisturizer. So, just like any other artist, I appreciate having the tools to create these makeup masterpieces.

BeautyBlender just debuted its sur.face pro palette ($40), a workspace to remix your favorite beauty staples. Currently I have foundation, BB cream, highlighter, blush, and bronzer in my wells. It comes with a spatula so you won't use more than you need, a convenient place to rest your BeautyBlender, and you can even label each well with a dry erase marker.

Summer is the worst time to experience body acne. Actually, bacne is pretty terrible to deal with in general, but when you're more likely to end up in a swimsuit than, say, an oversize sweater, you want your skin to look clean and clear.
Lush Cosmetics's Parsley Porridge Soap ($8, out July 3) should do the trick. Here's why it's become a fast favorite: instead of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (which bleach my favorite nightshirts), I can use this in the shower and won't have to worry about my skin feeling parched and dry. The key acne busters here are tea tree oil and thyme, which are antibacterial, and ground porridge — yes, Goldilocks style — that gently exfoliate skin to keep pores from being clogged. And yeah, it's green because of the chlorophyll in the parsley, which calms inflamed skin.

I gave up on ever getting a decent natural tan again when Imedeen Tan Optimizer ($68) was discontinued a few years ago. So I was superexcited to hear that it’s back for Summer 2014! The beauty supplement preps your skin before a beach vacation, and it helped me to develop a long-lasting golden glow, when usually I struggle to go any shade other than pink. Used in conjunction with a high SPF sunscreen, it’s the perfect way for pale-skinned ladies to get in on the tanning game.

L'Oréal Paris Miss Manga Mascara ($8) is like the bendy straw of the beauty aisle. Lately, eye makeup tools from brow spoolies to eyeliner brushes are being sold with a slight bend to improve application. This unique wand can be angled to help get those hard-to-reach inner lashes. Now you don't have to move like a contortionist to get voluminous lashes.

Full disclosure: I hoard primers. I can't help myself. I love the way they smooth out my skin and keep my makeup put during long days of filming. And filling in those tiny lines around my eyes doesn't hurt, either. Admittedly, I am a huge Benefit Porefessional fan, and I never thought I'd try anything else. Until Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector ($35) came along . . .

Here's my biggest complaint with primers in general: it always feels balmy. Always. And I get that's the point of a primer, but I what I loved about Kiehl's is that it feels like my own skin. Just a whole lot better.
It also contains lipohydroxy acid, which is a less-irritating form of salicylic acid. So if you deal with uneven skin tone or blemishes, pat this on before your makeup and let it work its magic throughout the day.

Summer isn't necessarily the time you think, "yeah, let's whip out that matte lipstick!" But Lorac made me change my mind. If your biggest complaint about matte lip color is that it looks too severe or pulls and tugs at your skin, prepare to have your mind blown.

The brand's new Pro Matte Lip Color ($16) feels like velvet on your lips because it's infused with antioxidants like grape seed extract. Read: no pulling and tugging. No flaking. Just beautiful matte color in 12 vibrant, youthful shades. And I love the smell of these — they have a bit of a vanilla scent. My favorites are Nude, Pink, Peach, and Coral.