Celebrate Summer With Fresh Beauty Loot

Every woman needs a little AHA — alpha hydroxy acid — in her life. It does for the skin what buffing does for wood floors: breathes new life into your complexion, helping you to look more radiant and, by default, more youthful. If your skin is congested or looks worse for the wear, you probably need to include more AHA in your regimen.
Zelens PHA Bio Peel Resurfacing Facial Pads ($95) don't burn the skin like some peeling pads do, because in addition to the AHA, these include PHA (polyhydroxy acid), a less severe skin resurfacing ingredient. And don't fret: your skin won't shed in sheets. Instead, it gently eats away those dead skin cells, revealing a brighter complexion by the next morning. In a week's time, you'll notice your pores appear smaller and that the tone of your skin has improved too.

MAC is no stranger to products that explode with color, and the brand's Playland collection is no exception! Casual Color ($21) is the two-in-one lip and cheek formula that packs a punch, blends easily, feels like velvet, and is enriched with vitamin E — i.e., it's perfect for Summer!

My skin has been extra dry over the last couple of months, so I switched out my usual foaming cleanser for this rich oil-based balm ($70). It feels incredibly luxurious and smells divine, but what I really love is how soft and melting the formula is. There's no need to warm this in your palms like some rival products. It goes onto the skin like a dream and removes every trace of makeup and dirt. The tub is also huge, making it a much better value for money than you think!

— GC

Citrusy scents seem to draw my attention the most, especially at this time of year. My new favorite is the Thymes Rosewood Citron Rollerball ($19). I rub a bit on my wrists, behind the ears, and behind the knees for a faint scent that carries well into the afternoon. Summer may not be here quite yet, but my nose will never know the difference.

— JC

I love warm weather, but during the Summer I always get a little freaked out about my shiny skin ruining every single picture. Luckily, I found this handy little package from Tarte. The Oil-Absorbing Blotting Papers ($10) fit in my purse, so I can carry them everywhere all season long, plus they're infused with green tea extract to soothe my hot and unhappy skin.

If your mom is nuts about her skin — and she's passed that characteristic off to you — give her a gift you will want to use too: Robin McGraw's Revelation Kit ($40) for Mother's Day. The three-step system works to purify, brighten, and hydrate the skin. My favorite product is the polish, because it's fine enough that it doesn't feel like it's scraping up your complexion, but you can actually feel it sloughing off dead skin. Plus, you'll get a bonus sample of her Jewel Drops Anti-Aging Serum Capsules.

Truth be told, I don't really need to purchase shampoo or conditioner. (Perks of being a beauty reporter!) But like most of my beauty cronies know, if you're willing to go out and purchase something over and over and over again, it's considered a Holy Grail product. Bumble & Bumble's Surf Set ($28) includes travel sizes of its Surf Foam Wash and Creme Rinse, which gives even the finest hair body that looks like you just washed up on shore, as well as its famous Surf Spray.

Every woman needs a power lipstick. You know, that go-to shade for a first date or important business meeting. This CK One Color x Dev Lipstick in Kiss It! ($16) is my confidence-boosting lip color for Spring. The pink shade was inspired by Dev's single by the same name.

— JC

You might be rolling your eyes at this slide — because why in the world would I include a picture of myself in the must haves gallery? Well, because this, my friends, is photographic proof that anyone can pull off a nude lip. Anyone! Normally, skin-tone lipsticks look awful on me — I'm a peach and rose fan through and through. But at Jouer's Spring transformation event, makeup artist Troy Jensen made me a buff believer. He applied concealer to remove the color from my lips, then added a pinch of Jouer's Tinted Lip Enhancer in Bellini ($18). Because it looks pink, it isn't as intimidating a full-fledged neutral, but its transparency gives just a hint of color and a buttery, plump look. Now I'm going nude on my own!

My hair was washed with this during a recent salon visit, and the moment it hit my head and I got a whiff of the beautiful scent, I knew it was something very special. It may be one of the most expensive shampoos on the market ($46), but for pure indulgence (and a supershiny finish), it can't be beaten.

— GC

The first time I saw all the shades of the BareMinerals BareSkin Foundation ($29), I did a little happy dance. There are 20 different hues to fit a wide range of skin tones from alabaster to mocha (my perfect match is Bare Espresso 19). I'm also a fan because it has sheer enough coverage for an infrequent makeup wearer like myself, but you can build it for women who prefer a heavier finish.

— JC

I've been using Skinceutical's Resveratrol B E ($145) since I attended a presentation on the benefits of the night concentrate in early April. It's made with resveratrol, aka "the longevity molecule," which repairs the skin against free radicals — those pesky atoms in the environment we all know speed up the aging process. There are a lot of products that claim to fight against free radicals, but they rarely show extreme results. This gel-like night potion delivers! It actually helps the skin to become stronger and less inflamed, so it can defend itself against free radicals on a daily basis.