Summer is the time for outdoor adventures, beach trips, and rooftop parties, but it can also bring its own set of problems in the beauty department. From sweltering temperatures to unexpected humidity, maintaining a look—let alone smelling good—can feel like an uphill battle. In these trying times, the need for beauty products that promise resilience and longevity becomes super important.
Even though summer is coming to a close (cue tears), I still prioritize trust-worthy, high-quality formulas. So, for expert recommendations, I turned to none other than my group of beauty editor friends. From natural-looking foundation to lipstick that won’t budge, they’ve tested countless products and are well-versed in what works and what doesn’t when it comes to any type of weather—be it summer, fall, or winter. Keep reading for their list of well-vetted shopping suggestions.
BYREDO
Black Saffron Eau De Parfum
“I’ve been taking a break from my beloved Velvet Haze and journeying with another Byredo fragrance, Black Saffron. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and musky at the base, and it stays on forever.” — Valeriya Chupinina, Beauty Editor
Brown Sugar Babe
It Girl Inspired by Kayla Greaves
“My favorite summer product is the It Girl body oil I created with Brown Sugar Babe. It opens with top notes of bergamot and black pepper. Then as the scent matures, heart notes of amber, myrrh, and Bulgarian rose start to blossom, followed by grounding base notes of patchouli, vetiver, and musk. It’s warm, seductive, and sexy. I get compliments everywhere I go. Plus, BSB’s blend of nourishing oils—avocado, castor, grape-seed, olive, and sweet almond oil—leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, and glistening.” — Kayla Greaves, Beauty Editor and Expert
MILK MAKEUP
Cooling Water Jelly Tint Lip + Cheek Blush Stain
“Milk Makeup’s Cooling Water stick is my summer must-have! It’s lightweight, so easy to apply, and it always leaves me feeling refreshed throughout the day.” — Aaron Royce, Writer and Editor
Megababe
Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick
“As someone whose thighs have rubbed together for as long as I can remember, Mega Babe’s Thigh Rescue has saved my relationship with heat: I can finally wear shorts and dresses without fear of sweat and chafing! It works so well I don’t have to wear an emergency pair of spandex shorts and is so easy to apply and reapply and doesn’t leave any streaks or residue. I won’t leave home without the travel-size version in the summer. (I have at least three in rotation.)” — Danielle Sinay, Editor at Glamour
Colorescience
Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50
“Colorescience’s Total Protection Face Shield in Glow has become my most-recommended beauty product this summer. It provides the perfect amount of coverage, evening out my skin tone and blurring imperfections, without looking cakey, and, as the name implies, makes my complexion GLOW while at it. And I mean it. When I wore it by itself to work last week, meaning no other makeup with it, my co-worker saw me and said, verbatim: ‘It looks like you just got a facial! You’re glowing!’ If that’s not proof enough, I don’t know what is. Oh, and most importantly, it has 50 SPF, so my skin doesn’t just look luminous but is well protected too.” — Sinay
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Bronzing Drops
“I’ve been wearing the E.l.f. Bronzing Drops in lieu of foundation all summer. The formula is super lightweight, gives me a bit of color, and adds so much radiance to my complexion. Topped with a bit of concealer and a touch of setting spray, and I’m set to take on sweaty summer days.” — Kara Jillian Brown, Beauty Editor at InStyle
Westman Atelier
Baby Cheeks Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick
“As a beauty editor, it’s practically law that I have to wear sunscreen all summer, but I still crave a little color, so I love using Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Petal to give me the perfect faux sunburn. The key is to take the blush over the nose as well as the cheeks. This blendable, creamy formula is easy to use and doesn’t budge through sweat and sun.” — Allie Hogan, Senior Beauty Editor at New Beauty
Gucci
Flora Gorgeous Orchid Eau De Parfum
“You’ll rarely catch me wearing makeup or styling my hair in anything else but a claw clip during the summer, but I feel completely naked without a fragrance. Gucci’s Flora Gorgeous Orchid has completely taken over as my seasonal scent wardrobe for its floral scent that has just a tinge of warmth and sweetness à la vanilla orchid. Its vibe is akin to a mid-summer stroll in an Italian garden.” — Jennifer Hussein, Commerce Writer at Allure
Naked Sundays
Beautyscreen Peptide Foundation Tint Spf50
“When it comes to makeup in the summer, I tend to adopt a less-is-more philosophy—more out of sheer laziness than anything else. I’m always on the hunt for an SPF that gives a little something extra, but some tinted SPFs are so pigmented that I end up needing more makeup to bring color and dimension back to my face. This new one from Naked Sundays gives the perfect amount of coverage and glow without washing me out or feeling heavy on the skin. It’s packed with skin-soothing and hydrating ingredients like bisabolol, polyglutamic acid, and squalane, all in a super-light formula that I find myself reaching for on the daily. It’s the perfect one-and-done for my SPF and skin coverage needs.” — Danielle Cohen, Beauty Editor and Writer
SABON
Next Generation Body Scrub Patchouli Lavender Vanilla
“I’ve been using this body scrub for almost 10 years, and I didn’t think it could get any better until I tried out their reformulated version. Featuring mineral-rich Dead Sea salts and a blend of sweet almond, argan, and jojoba oils it leaves my entire body incredibly smooth, moisturized, and primed for summer.” — Jamie Wilson, Beauty Editor
Peter Thomas Roth
Instant Firm Collagen Bounce Stick
“My ultimate summer beauty pick has to be the Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx Collagen Bounce Stick, crafted in collaboration with the ever-glamorous Emira D’Spain. This trio, available in sheer, bronze, and blush, is a game changer for all your targeted areas. The balm stick, enriched with a 10% Collagen Complex, not only enhances the skin’s appearance but also delivers a radiant, dewy finish in an instant. It’s the perfect fusion of skincare and makeup, offering a fresh, luminous glow that’s simply irresistible.” — Ty Gaskins, Writer and Editor
Augustinus Bader
The Cream With TFC8 Face Moisturizer
“Though I tend to try a lot of moisturizers in general (it’s all part of the job), I always tend to go back to my favorite: Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream. It’s a little heavy on my skin during the summer months, so I tend to swap it out for its sister, lighter version. I can’t give up the benefits the original one offers, such as reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, which I constantly struggle with. Its patented TFC8 ingredient in its formulation supports cellular renewal that is essential for the summer months.” — Taryn Brooke, Editor and Writer
dae
Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream With Taming Wand
“Dae’s styling wand has been a lifesaver for me in this humid summer weather. No slicked-back ponytail or bun is complete without it. I simply brush the mascara-like brush through my hair, and it keeps my flyways down, even after playing tennis and working out outside! Bonus: It has an amazing fruity scent and is super portable for on-the-go touch-ups.” — Catharine Malzahn, Beauty Assistant at Good Housekeeping
Espressoh
Bohlmy Lip Gloss
“I live in Rome, and I do sweat in the summer, so my makeup is pretty minimal. The one thing I consistently reach for is my Espressoh Bohlmy lip gloss in the transparent shade Acqua. It’s super nourishing and smells like coffee, which is an added bonus.” — Jenna Curcio, Beauty Writer
Dieux
Air Angel Collagen & Peptide Hydrating Gel Cream
“I also can’t live without my Dieux Air Angel Moisturizer, which is perfect for my acne-prone skin and calms my skin whenever I have any redness from being out in the sun too long!” — Curcio
