When I moved to Florida, I moved pretty much in the middle of winter. So I moved from the cooler (colder?) temps in North Carolina to a milder winter in Florida. While it wasn’t summer hot in Florida when I moved, it was much warmer than I was used to for that time of year. Well, that should have been a clue as to what summer would be like.
Related read: 10 Of The Best Summer Hair And Beauty Tips
Truthfully, summers in Florida really aren’t that much hotter than North Carolina summers. They’re just more humid and last longer, which makes it feel hotter.
When the weather is more humid, it affects my skin. I tend to start sweating quicker than normal, and I can’t stop once I start. This makes my face really shiny, and I’m more prone to breakouts.
My hair is also impacted by high humidity. It feels weighed down, it puffs up, and it’s impossible to style.
Once the hotter temps and humidity kick in, I know it’s time to change up my beauty products for some that perform better in the weather conditions brought on by summer. That’s when it’s time to reach for my ten go-to beauty products perfect for the summer heat and humidity.
1. Facial cleansers
When the weather is hot and humid, I tend to sweat more. And when I sweat more, my face tends to feel really yucky. No joke, part of that yucky feeling is the dirt, grime, and sweat that I can feel in my pores. So it’s no surprise that I find more pimples on my face during the hotter months. Over the years, I’ve found that double or triple cleansing my face really helps.To wash my face when I've been sweating a lot, I like to use a cleansing cream like Noxzema. Or if I'm on a budget, I use the store brand equivalent like this one from Walmart. Using a cream cleanser in the summertime helps me to fully and thoroughly wash my face. I can also see what’s being removed and if there’s any makeup or dirt still left on my face by the color of the cleanser.
I will also rotate in a gel cleanser like Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. It does a good job of breaking up the dirt, oil, and sweat from my face while not drying it out.
2. Light facial moisturizer
In the winter, I tend to gravitate towards heavy, moisture-rich face moisturizers to help keep my skin from drying out. In the summertime, though, those moisturizers feel heavy and greasy, making my face feel gross, especially when I’m sweating and/or there’s a lot of humidity in the air.To avoid that gross feeling, I start using a lighter face moisturizer once the temperatures get higher. The one I’m loving right now is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel with Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, Facial Moisturizer with SPF 25. I like it because it has a light formula that moisturizes my face without making it feel greasy or over-moisturized. I also like that it has SPF 25 to help protect my facial skin from the sun.
3. Foundation primer
If you don’t wear a foundation primer in the cooler months, it’s a must in the summer. I don't have a consistent primer that I'm using. When looking for a primer to use in the summer, I want it to help keep my shine in check and avoid that greasy look. It also needs to be helpful for keeping my makeup in place in the humidity and when I sweat. One primer I've tried out this summer and saw some good results with is the Smashbox Photo Finish Control Mattifying Primer.Another one that has served me well as the weather warmed up is a drugstore primer from NYX. It's the NYX Shine Killer Mattifying Primer. It's budget-friendly and does a good job of keeping shine to a minimum, even when it gets humid.
The reason is that a nice light foundation powder feels lightweight on my skin; I don’t feel like my pores are clogged or that I have a mask on. I can easily control how much I wear by putting it on in light layers. Plus, foundation powders like these also help control facial shine throughout the day.
It took me a while, but I finally found two deodorants that helped me avoid that in the summertime. Through trial and error, I can’t just wear any old type or brand of deodorant. The two are Degree Clinical Protection Summer Strength and Secret Clinical Strength. I jump back and forth between the two, depending on who is cheapest when I need to restock. Both deodorants last all day and keep me from having sweaty and smelly armpits.
The Banana Boat Ultra Sport Clear Sunscreen Spray is one I like using in the summer. If I’m going to be walking around instead of sitting at the beach or pool where I could be in and out of the water and constantly reapplying sunscreen. I typically get the one at 50 SPF and use it mostly cause it seems to work well. It's very light and dries quickly. I've also tried the Target and Walmart store brand versions, which to me seem really similar to the Banaa Boat sunscreen.
I find myself shampooing my hair more in the summer because I spend more time outside and sweat more. This results in a sweaty scalp, sweaty hair, and product build-up. With a sulfate shampoo, you can make sure you’re ridding your hair of all of that sweat, dirt, and product buildup. I don't use sulfate shampoo every wash day. I tend to use it at least a couple of times a month in the summer, while in the winter, I'll use a sulfate shampoo about once a month.
Two of the sulfate shampoos I've used to clean my hair with good results are the Ion Clarifying Shampoo, which you can find at Sally Beauty, and the Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo. Both shampoos really clean my hair without drying it out like other sulfate shampoos I've used in the past.
Now, I make sure I’m using products that can help protect my hair from sun damage. And bonus if they also have other benefits. There are a few different products that can protect my hair from UV rays. Such as the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Sunscreen Scalp and Hair Mist.
Or I can use a natural product like aloe vera or sunflower oil. Of these two natural products, I prefer using sunflower oil to protect my hair. It’s easy to find and get, plus it also adds a nice shine to my hair, and because it’s an oil, it won’t quickly come off of my hair in the water.
4. Powder foundation
When summers get really hot, I wear less and less makeup, including foundation. But when I do wear foundation, I will sometimes use a powder foundation like the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder. In the past, I've used the Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation.The reason is that a nice light foundation powder feels lightweight on my skin; I don’t feel like my pores are clogged or that I have a mask on. I can easily control how much I wear by putting it on in light layers. Plus, foundation powders like these also help control facial shine throughout the day.
5. Sheer foundation or tinted moisturizer
When I'm traveling, I don't always want to rely on powders, but I also don't want to wear a medium-coverage or full-coverage foundation. That's where the CC Creams and Tinted Moisturizers come in. They are easy to apply, don't make a ton of mess like a loose powder, and are light on the skin.
A tinted moisturizer I've used in previous summers is the Black Radiance Tinted Moisturizer. You can read a review about it here.
When it comes to sheer foundations, the one I like wearing during summer is the Estée Lauder
Double Wear Sheer Long-Wear Foundation SPF 19. It's expensive, so the only reason I decided to give it a try was that I got it on sale.
6. Waterproof mascara
Most mascaras stay in place whether they’re waterproof or not. But with waterproof mascara, you have one less thing to worry about slipping off and disappearing. Some waterproof mascaras I've used and liked are the L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara and the Maybelline Volum' Express Colassal Curl Bounce Mascara.7. Clinical deodorant
As I noted earlier, once I start sweating, it’s hard for me to stop. And the last thing you or I want is to have sweaty, smelly armpits.It took me a while, but I finally found two deodorants that helped me avoid that in the summertime. Through trial and error, I can’t just wear any old type or brand of deodorant. The two are Degree Clinical Protection Summer Strength and Secret Clinical Strength. I jump back and forth between the two, depending on who is cheapest when I need to restock. Both deodorants last all day and keep me from having sweaty and smelly armpits.
8. Sunscreen
While living in the Sunshine State, I didn't make it a habit to wear sunscreen during the winter (though I should have), but I did in the summer. I like a light sunscreen that I can’t feel on my skin and doesn’t make my skin feel sticky.The Banana Boat Ultra Sport Clear Sunscreen Spray is one I like using in the summer. If I’m going to be walking around instead of sitting at the beach or pool where I could be in and out of the water and constantly reapplying sunscreen. I typically get the one at 50 SPF and use it mostly cause it seems to work well. It's very light and dries quickly. I've also tried the Target and Walmart store brand versions, which to me seem really similar to the Banaa Boat sunscreen.
9. Sulfate shampoo
I’m a big proponent of sulfate-free shampoos, but over time, I’ve realized that sulfate shampoos serve a purpose. They’re able to clean your hair in a way that sulfate-free shampoos can’t. This makes them perfect to use in the summer months.I find myself shampooing my hair more in the summer because I spend more time outside and sweat more. This results in a sweaty scalp, sweaty hair, and product build-up. With a sulfate shampoo, you can make sure you’re ridding your hair of all of that sweat, dirt, and product buildup. I don't use sulfate shampoo every wash day. I tend to use it at least a couple of times a month in the summer, while in the winter, I'll use a sulfate shampoo about once a month.
Two of the sulfate shampoos I've used to clean my hair with good results are the Ion Clarifying Shampoo, which you can find at Sally Beauty, and the Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo. Both shampoos really clean my hair without drying it out like other sulfate shampoos I've used in the past.
Related read: 8 Great Shampoos For Summer Relaxed Hair Care
10. UV hair protectant
The sun can be a beast in the summertime, and while I think about protecting my skin with sunscreen, protecting my hair has never been a priority. I always thought about ways to protect my skin from sun damage but never my hair. As a result, I would spend time outside and leave my hair completely exposed. Then, I'd wonder why my hair would feel dry and lifeless afterward.Now, I make sure I’m using products that can help protect my hair from sun damage. And bonus if they also have other benefits. There are a few different products that can protect my hair from UV rays. Such as the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Sunscreen Scalp and Hair Mist.
Or I can use a natural product like aloe vera or sunflower oil. Of these two natural products, I prefer using sunflower oil to protect my hair. It’s easy to find and get, plus it also adds a nice shine to my hair, and because it’s an oil, it won’t quickly come off of my hair in the water.
11. Light, frizz control moisturizer
No matter the season, moisture is important for our hair. While I love a good cream-based moisturizer, some of them can feel like too much for my hair in the summer heat and humidity. When the humidity reaches ultimate levels in the south, it can feel like the cream-based moisturizer I use in the winter is weighing down my hair.So, I exclusively use a lighter cream-based hair moisturizer like the TGIN Green Tea Super Moist Leave In Conditioner. It's lightweight, doesn't weigh down my hair, and still gives my relaxed hair the moisture it needs.
If a cream-based leave-in coditioner isn't what you prefer in the summer, a liquid leave-in conditioner like the Mielle White Peony Leave In Conditioner comes in. It’s perfect for the summer. It's very lightweight, is easy to apply, and adds moisture to the hair without a heavy feeling.
If a cream-based leave-in coditioner isn't what you prefer in the summer, a liquid leave-in conditioner like the Mielle White Peony Leave In Conditioner comes in. It’s perfect for the summer. It's very lightweight, is easy to apply, and adds moisture to the hair without a heavy feeling.
One thing to watch out for is whether the leave-in or hair moisturizer has humectant ingredients. The Mielle White Peony Leave In Conditioner does. The reason is that humectants help the hair hold moisture, meaning they could help draw the moisture from the humidity into your hair and create puffiness. I didn't experience that when I used the Mielle White Peony Leave In Conditioner during humid summers, but I did want to point it out.
What are your favorite summer beauty products?
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