I Grew Up in Florida and Live in NYC—These Are the 23 Summer Beauty Products I Rely On

1 min readGROWING UP IN FLORIDA, I learned early on that every summer beauty product in my routine needs to earn its place. Between relentless heat, frizz-inducing humidity, surprise thunderstorms, and long beach days, I quickly learned which formulations can keep up and which ones fall short.Living in Miami and frequent trips to Jamaica taught me what actually works for my oily, acne-prone skin and textured tresses. A decade covering the beauty industry only raised my standards. Now, as our beauty editor, I test beauty products for a living, but my benchmark for surviving summer beauty mishaps is still rooted in my childhood.If a deodorant can’t keep me stink-free, a sunscreen leaves a white cast, or a razor is dull, then they’re automatic returns. I love swimming and have color-treated hair, so I need shampoo and conditioner that prevent breakage and smooth my frizz-prone strands. After years of trial and error, these are the summer beauty products I’d repurchase if an airline lost my suitcase.As an oily skin girly I need an elite cleanser that rebalances my complexion and doesn’t cause breakouts. SkinMedica helps shrink my zits, unclogs my large pores, smoothes rough patches, and cleanses without overstriping my face. Four types of alpha-hydroxy acids—lactic, glycolic, citric, and malic—paired with salicylic acid offers gentle exfoliation, while tiny jojoba spheres offer that sweet physical exfoliation I crave to feel extra clean.When it’s incredibly hot on the subway platform or even worse, I board a train with no air conditioning, I whip out this classic French mineral water spray. The ultra-fine mist instantly hydrates my face, soothes my skin after a beach day, and takes away a powdery finish when I’m heavy-handed with setting powder.Created by dermatologist Sam Ellis, MD, Prequel’s new face moisturizer disappears fast without clogging my pores, making it a must-have this summer. It combines hydrating polyglutamic acid and glycerin with osmolytes and minerals that leave my face cushiony and radiant. It’s also hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and safe for all skin types, plus sensitive and eczema-prone skin.I had a light sunburn last summer, and my dermatologist suggested I use this SPF. After layering it on over moisturizer, I noticed my face was less red after just two days. I was floored because I didn’t use new products beside Isdin. A year later, and I can confirm it’s still well worth using. My skin never breaks out, the lightweight formula absorbs quickly, and it’s water-resistant for active lifestyles.Summer means I’m showing more skin and need a body wash that offers more than just cleanse—I need hydration, barrier support, and microbiome health. It combines moisturizing heavy hitters like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E with prebiotic inulin and ashwagandha for antioxidant protection leaving my body softer, smoother, and hydrated before lotion. Plus, it’s the best smelling body wash I own. The warm caramel scent with notes of vanilla, coffee, maple smells indulgent yet refined rather than like it belongs in a middle school locker room.Nothing ruins my mood more than when I miss a spot while shaving. I need a razor with a flexible head to hit my hard-to-reach spots, and Flamingo's version delivers. The five sharp blades are mounted on a hinge that adjusts to my curves. The head is also surrounded by aloe and shea butter to prevent irritation.I’ve tested dozens of ingrown hair treatments and Fur is one of the few that works. Since incorporating this oil into my routine, unsightly ingrown hairs have become a thing of the past. In the shower, I use the included mitt to exfoliate and focus on areas prone to ingrown hairs like my bikini line and underarms. Afterward, I’ll massage a few drops to those spots and go about my day. Fur says it’s also safe for your face—buh-bye, rogue chin hairs—though I haven’t needed to apply it there.I trade heavy creams for this body lotion that’s packed with niacinamide, peptides, omega fatty acids, and vitamins A, C, and E. These ingredients support my skin barrier, lock in moisture, firm sagging skin, and improve uneven texture and tone. It’s hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic formulation doesn’t irritate my eczema-prone skin. I prefer the fragrance-free version to let my summer scent shine through, but Nécessaire has five other scents to choose, including Eucalyptus that delivers a spa vibe.Deodorants with coconut and lime notes typically smell cloying like it belongs in the Caboodle I buried in the midaughts. But not Each & Every: it reminds me of growing up in Florida and weekends spent at the beach. Tropical yet fresh—and for an aluminum-free deodorant it does a solid job of keeping my pits stink-free. While it’s not something I’d wear during a heat wave, the odor protection is on point and it doesn’t irritate my underarms like something more aggressive.Supergoop! goes on invisible, feels velvety and weightless, and offers great sun protection. This formula is so airy that I almost forget I’m even wearing it. The liquid texture spreads easily and melts into my body with zero white cast. It also doesn’t irritate my sensitive, eczema-prone skin.Between subway commutes, reapplying sunscreen, and testing new products, I frequently wash my hands and use sanitizer. Beau Domaine helps rehydrate my hard-working palms with deeply nourishing shea butter and organic olive oil. It’s also packed with grape-derived antioxidants that improves the appearance of my hard-working hands. The formulation absorbs quickly, leaves zero greasiness, and gives an immediate smoothing effect while still feeling elegant and silky.Skincare AwardsMy apartment recently had some flooding, and my favorite BK Beauty makeup brushes were ruined (boo!). However, I’m reordering these tools because they’re legitimately that good. I feel like a makeup artist whenever I use them—the bristles are densely packed together for maximum coverage with just tinted SPF and the bristles are fluffy and plush, making them ideal for my reactive skin. They blend beautifully with liquid, cream, and even powder products, earning BK Beauty a permanent spot in my routine.Beauty of Joseon shocked me with its impressive full coverage that replaced my need for a foundation during the summer. It’s available in 15 flexible shades—I wear 35 in the summer, but I’ll probably switch to 33 in the fall—and provides broad-spectrum SPF 30 coverage. The color payoff lasts from sunrise to sunset, especially when I spritz on my Charlotte Tilbury setting spray. For the quickest application, I’ll use the large BK Beauty 101 brush from the trio.Dayscreen Tinted SPF 30 ReviewMy cheeks normally eat up blush, especially a cream with no setting powder. However, Nars The Multiple looks pigmented from application until I wash my face at night. I’ve been wearing Hot Take—a gorgeous apricot—all summer and can’t imagine it not being part of my routine. It speeds up my routine because The Multiple can be applied to my lips and eyelids for a chic monochromatic look. The formula acts as a nice base under my lip balms and eyeshadows. For the most realistic flush I like to blend with the smaller BK Beauty brush from the trio.I wear at least one Charlotte Tilbury product a day. Truthfully, it’s closer to at least five, but if you can only treat yourself to one item this summer make it the brand’s new setting spray. It soaks up oil, leaving my shiny face into a soft-matte. Even better? It visibly blurs the appearance of my large pores, making it one of the hardest-working products in my summer beauty routine.Many mascaras are too wet and goopy, causing my lashes to droop. However, Make Waves flawlessly separates my fringe for a false eyelash effect without irritating my sensitive eyes. The water-resistant formula helps keep my lashes lifted through NYC humidity, which is what I need for summer.Credit: Julia Gartland; Prop Styling: JoJo LiMy fine hair is always flailing around outside, so lip gloss is a huge no for me in the summer. BeautyStat’s mineral SPF lip balm nourishes without feeling goopy or heavy. It combines sodium hyaluronate and squalane for ample hydration and nourishment. This vanilla-creamsicle scented balm also has impressive color payoff—I don’t need to layer a lipliner or lipstick underneath.Between swimming, sweating, and root touchups, my hair needs extra TLC in the summer. Joico’s Defy Damage duo has been one of my most reliable staples since 2019. It strengthens hair bonds, reduces breakage, and prevents my balayage from fading. The salon-quality shampoo and conditioner leaves my hair softer and shinier. They also work equally well across all hair types, including my bouncy coils to my mom’s fine, straight strands.I dust on this powder sunscreen to set my makeup in the summer while adding an extra layer of sun protection. Dermatologists previously suggested that I dust powder sunscreen along my part for protection against the sun’s harsh UVA and UVB rays. But one of my favorite unconventional ways to use this mineral sunscreen comes courtesy of dermatologist Hadley King, MD: Brush on Block offers similar oil-absorbing powers of dry shampoo with the added benefit of sun protection.While the powder SPF comes in clutch during a pinch, I regularly reach for this Women’s Health Beauty Award-winning dry shampoo. This light mist refreshes my style between workouts and wash days. The formulation dissolves oil, neutralizes odors, and creates a touchable texture without leaving behind a white powder on my dark tresses.Beauty Awards 2026Stubborn tangles and knots don’t stand a chance against this detangling spray that doubles as a heat protectant. A blend of pomegranate, apricot, and coconut oils smooth my hair cuticles and separates my strands for easier combing. It’s also packed with Oribe’s signature blend of watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss help prevent environmental damage and prevent my hair color from fading.Psst: Can I let you in on a little secret? I’m a beauty editor who still hasn’t mastered using a curling iron. Since summer is all about easy, laid-back hair, my favorite hack for achieving beach waves and curls is with this rotating curling iron. With a push of a button CurlWrap automatically winds my strands up the barrel and after holding for 10 to 15 seconds, I can create textured looks with low effort. It’s available in 1- and 1.25-inch barrel sizes. I prefer the bigger option since my strands are longer, but after styling I just run my fingers through my hair to shake out the curls and my hair is giving Malibu beach babe.Sadly, I’m not writing this story from the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, but Vacanza makes it easy to pretend. It opens with bright, juicy bergamot that mingles with fresh violet leaf (hello, Provence!) before settling into a warm, skin-like aroma that smells like a summer spent on the French Riviera. The design is also a stunning statement piece that I proudly display on my nightstand. Its cap is crafted from Spanish stone that’s hand-selected, shaped, and fitted, ensuring each bottle is one of a kind.Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Women's Health and has nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like red light therapy for hair growth and LED face masks, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, such as strengthening shampoos and body washes for dry skin on our site. Previously, she was the beauty editor at Best Products where she tested quite literally thousands of launches for her quarterly column and the Best New Beauty Awards package. She also launched the beauty and wellness coverage at NBC News and contributed to CNN, Cosmopolitan, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Harper's BAZAAR. You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventures.