
Just like our seasonal wardrobes, we tend to curate an entirely new army of beauty products to see us through the summer months.
For most of us, that means waving goodbye to full coverage foundation in favour of skin-enhancing illuminators, hoarding even more SPF than usual and hunting down the products that promise to take our hair from mane-like to manageable – even in high humidity.
Still searching for those holy grail summer buys? Check out what the R29 team are stockpiling.

Jacqueline Kilikita, Beauty Editor

This gel-creme SPF is adored by every top dermatologist I talk to – and for good reason. It’s non-comedogenic so won’t result in summer breakouts, has a dry-touch finish so you can immediately apply make-up over the top without sweating it off, and it doesn’t leave a chalky, ashy finish behind on my olive skin.
Heliocare 360 Gel Oil-Free SPF 50, £28, available at Dermacare Direct

This is the sunniest, prettiest coral lipstick I’ve ever come across. A single swipe is enough to blanket lips in intensely pigmented colour that doesn’t flake, fade or bleed outside the lines, and the applicator is super precise, so you can forget about smudges. Plus, it smells like piña colada. Take me to the beach!
Huda Beauty Liquid Matte in Mamacita, £18, available at Cult Beauty

You protect your skin from the sun, so why not your hair? This feather-light styling creme-cum-heat protector is packed with UV filters to prevent colour fade, frazzled ends and frizzy bits. It makes my hair feel like silk and smells like orange blossom. Divine.
Sachajuan Hair In The Sun, £20, available at Cult Beauty

Georgia Murray, Fashion & Beauty Writer

This stuff smells like heaven. It's a two-in-one body mask and scrub, which you work into dry skin and leave for ten minutes before hopping in the shower to wash off, rubbing in the scrub as you go. It's left my skin silky smooth, so I'll be using every week from here on out.
Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bod Buff Smoothing Scrub 'N Mask, £21, available at Cult Beauty

I colour my hair so try to keep it in the best condition possible. Enter Tangle Teezer’s new brush. They’re my favourite brushes anyway, but the lack of handle on the original model was annoying, so this beauty is top of my list. It’s been specifically designed to be used on wet hair, so I’ll be using it to spread toner through my lengths in the shower, as well as post-wash before blow-drying.
Tangle Teezer The Wet Detangler Millennial Pink, £10, available at Tangle Teezer

Hyaluronic serum is in my holy grail of skincare ingredients (alongside vitamin C and retinol), and this one from Pestle & Mortar has been bringing some much-needed hydration to my parched summer skin. I’m actually super oily, but that doesn’t mean my skin doesn’t need a big old drink every day. Expect a plump, soft visage.
Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum, £36, available from Pestle & Mortar

This blush stick from Julep is super creamy and blends so well over coverage. It gives the most natural flush (no neon pink here) and has the smallest hint of glow in there for real radiance. I always keep it in my on-the-go makeup bag.
Julep Skip The Brush Blush Stick In Peony Pink, £17, available at QVC UK

Effy Okogba, International Partnerships Manager

In the summer, I like to wear as little makeup as possible, but also like to look glowy and sun-kissed. Sounds impossible right? My answer to this conundrum is this Fenty Beauty primer. Applied underneath a light coverage, creamy foundation, the combination really works!
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer, £24, available at Harvey Nichols

This is my AYR (all year round) beauty secret, which becomes an unmissable part of my daily skincare routine in the warmer months. It’s so important to protect your skin, and after years of trial and error, this cream comes out on top. It's light, easy to apply and leaves no residue!
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Sun Cream Fluid SPF 50+, £16.50, available at Boots

Nothing screams summer for me more than a reliable and bold red lip. MAC's Ruby Woo sees me through all the summer social calendar has to offer, including festivals, Mediterranean holidays and holiday romances…
MAC Ruby Woo Matte Little Lipstick, £10, available at MAC

Katy Harrington, Managing Editor

This is the only, and I mean only suncream brand I trust. It is the one thing I’ll use on my milk bottle Irish skin in the sun. I like the fact that it rubs in fast. I’m not sure if it intensifies my tan, but it most certainly stops me frying like a rasher. The texture is nice and it smells good – that's important as I have to slather myself in the stuff all summer long.
Piz Buin Tan & Protect Tan Intensifying Sun Lotion SPF 30, £8.50, available at Boots

I used to work as a beauty editor, where I was 100% spoiled (for free). But now that I have to dig in my own pockets, I am very picky. Algenist is a newish brand to me and I’m a big fan, because even though it’s pricy, it really bloody works – and I use it sparingly. This vegan serum is the business. Containing 'Algae Encapsulated Retinol', it's the only thing I put on my face at night and is even gentle enough to use during the summer.
Algenist Elevate Advanced Retinol Serum, £81, available at Space NK

Avène has to be one of the most no nonsense, highly effective skincare brands out there. I like a LOT of their products including their brilliant Extremely Gentle cleanser but this spray is a lifesaver in the heat. I keep a can in the fridge and spritz when I get home from work, it’s heaven. It works wonders if you have irritated skin, sunburn or your legs are a bit sensitive post-shaving or waxing. Almost as refreshing as a cold beer.
Avène Thermal Water Spray, £8.50, available at Boots

Kara Kia, Editorial Intern

I’ve been using this cleanser for about two years and it is the one beauty item I can’t live without, especially in summer. I have a rollercoaster relationship with my skin; we go through hectic and calm periods every other season, alternating between daily cystic acne flare-ups and leftover acne scars. When it comes to moving between countries – Jamaica-Canada-UK – and having to acclimatise to the weather, water and food differences, it keeps my skin as clear as possible.
Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam, £9, available at Amazon

This is the first moisturiser that has actually worked for me, meaning it doesn’t make me break out. I have tried so many! Drugstore ones, organic serums, organic aloe vera – even skin supplements – with very unimpressive results. But my skin loves Effaclar Duo and the SPF is also a big plus.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] SPF 30, £12.35, available at Feel Unique

I would argue to the ends of the earth that this masque is the absolute best – at least for my hair type. I have 3c-4a Afro-Caribbean hair that is bleached to a medium-light blonde, which means it need lots of moisture from a formula that complements my hair colour. This masque works wonders, I use it once a week with a plastic cap for about an hour. It works even better if you can sit in a sauna or under a hairdryer for 15-20 minutes. I guarantee you soft, silky, hair and bouncy, quenched curls.
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Masque, £10.99, available at Superdrug

Meg O’Donnell, Junior Art Editor

I love a summer tan and when that eventually happens for me (hello, Irish skin) I love nothing more than to douse myself in this beautiful concoction! I don’t tend to use it on my hair but I'll apply from the top of my forehead all the way down to my toes. I really enjoy the shimmer, delicious scent and summery glow it gives me. I would recommend a hand wash after applying, mind, because as much as I personally love a gold glitter all-over shimmer, my boyfriend can’t seem to pull it off!
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Shimmer Oil Hair & Body, £38, available at Estée Lauder

This is without doubt my favourite facial moisturiser that I’ve tried. It’s so refreshing to apply and it smells like a dream! The consistency is really lovely and absorbs well, leaving my skin feeling very fresh, hydrated and glowy. Plus, the packaging is just delightful. It's a must for any bathroom shelf curator like myself!
Herbivore Pink Cloud Rosewater Moisture Creme, £42, available at Space NK

I tend to use this Laura Geller illuminator as an eyeshadow and it’s one of my favourite products that I own! I have pale blue eyes so the gold colour works really well for me and because it's highly pigmented, it can be applied just the once all over the top lid and underneath my bottom lashes for an #extra look.
Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator, £26, available at QVC UK

Dami Khadijah, Strategy & Client Services Manager

There just wasn’t a highlighter until I met you! This loyal, oil-based liquid elixir sends my melanin to work and it looks so natural too. You can dilute it with your moisturiser if you fancy, just for that extra summery glow.
ICONIC London Illuminator, £32.99, available at Cult Beauty

This SPF gives me a slight white cast when I'm not on holiday for some reason (story of the darker skinned), but I haven’t found a good replacement just yet, and until I do I’ll be using it because daily SPF is not optional. I'm looking into trying something from La Roche-Posay's Anthelios range, as I’ve been using their Effaclar Duo for years. I'll let you know if it’s a keeper!
Clinique SPF 30 Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream, £18 , available at Boots
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