My Summer Essentials

Happy 4th of July everyone! I'm sure none of you guys know this but I'm not yet a U.S. citizen. However, my family is still celebrating with fireworks and a cookout so I do need the help of my summer essentials to look fabulous while I munch on watermelon.

Aussie Sydney Smooth Tizz No Frizz Gel: For all you curly haired gals out there, you know how difficult it is to tame your mane. Now add the heavy summer air and the situation gets ten times more problematic. My haircare is tedious all year round but during the summer I turn to Aussie's Tizz No Frizz Gel to ensure that my curls stay bouncy and shiny. I just separate my hair in half and rub a bit of the gel between my palms and apply it to my hair. That keeps the frizz and afro at bay.

China Glaze Polish in 'For Audrey': Any bright mint/baby blue nail polish is a must in my book. This is my favorite color of polish that China Glaze sells and I tend to wear it quite often during the summer.

Jergens Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer: Due the fact that I'm taking summer classes, I do not have much time to enjoy the sun. To add some color to my skin, I use Jergens' Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer in Medium to Tan. I use this about once a week on my arms and legs. As it goes with self-tanning products, you have to be careful. I wash my hands immediately after application but I still have had some complications [my feet were a bit orange and spotty]. That problem excluded, it does make my legs look fantastic.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer: I mentioned this bronzer in my May Favorites and I still haven't stopped using it. I have the mini version from Sephora's Sun Safety Kit and it is honestly the perfect bronzer for contouring. It is matte and smells like sugar. Yum!

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation: Revlon has really been impressing me with their foundations this past year. The Nearly Naked foundation is light and dewy, ideal for warm weather. They have a wide color selection and the foundation contains SPF 20. If the foundation had a pump, I would never use anything else.

Trader Johann's Lip Balm Virtuoso: You can't forget your lips when it comes to protecting yourself from the sun! This lip balm from Trader Joe's contains SPF 15 and moisturizes your lips. In addition, it is spearmint and is 50% organic.

NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray: In order to keep your makeup in place and to ensure you don't sweat off your patriotic, 4th of July makeup look, a setting spray is a must. I recently chose to take a break from my typical Urban Decay Setting Spray and started using the NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray. If you want to see a comparison of the two, I wrote a post on it here.

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer: This is another beauty I received in Sephora's latest Sun Safety Kit. It smells absolutely divine of sunscreen but better. I use this everyday before applying my makeup. It contains SPF 40 and I know I'm going to be wanting to repurchase it when I run out.

What are your summer essentials?

The Beauty Battle // Make-Up Setting Sprays

About a fortnight ago, I finally ran out of my Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray and found myself searching for a new, less expensive setting spray. I tend to use setting sprays in the summertime to avoid makeup running down my face and to control my oily T-zone, but I have to admit it isn't exactly a necessity. That is probably the reason why I decided to go for the NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray which is a fraction of the price of the Urban Decay spray. If you happen to be in the market for a setting spray, here is a condensed comparison of the two that may help you deduct the winner.

Sephora // Sun Safety Kit

For the last seven years, Sephora has come out with their 'Sun Safety Kit', a collection of products with high a SPF and self tanners that will transform you into a bronze queen. This year, the kit contains 18 deluxe samples, a brush, and a large makeup bag. Two thirds of the profits are donated to The Skin Cancer Foundation so not only are you receiving a number of products by very respectable brands, you are also supporting an amazing cause. I had trouble getting my hands on this set because they sold out quickly online and not all stores have them in stock. Fortunately, they are back in stock now and you can pick one up! I haven't yet had the chance to try all the products since there are so many but my favorites include the Too Faced 'Chocolate Soleil' bronzer and the Dr. Brandt BB Cream. However, I was hoping that some of the products would be a bit bigger. For example, the Smashbox primer in this kit is the same size I got free of charge when I had purchased something else from Sephora. I guess I cannot really complain because it truly is a wonderful collection of products for only $30. I will let you guys know if there are some stand out products as I make more use of this set of samples. If you would like a more detailed description of what this kit contains, click here! Let me know if you took advantage of this offer!