Though we are still experiencing chilly weather in the northeast, summer is just around the corner. Many of us will be spending endless hours outdoors in the sun and heat. Whether we are running errands, sitting on the beach, barbecuing, hiking or just day dreaming, it is important to protect ourselves from the elements during the day, and then nourish our skin later in the evening. Here are some of our favorite products to keep you covered from head to toe all summer long.

For face

Whether you are hitting the golf course or preparing to worship the sun, a sunscreen that will protect your skin from the elements is a must. If the sun is out, sunscreen is in order. Sun tends to accelerate the skin’s aging process so for face, I love Institut Esthederm Bronz Repair Sunscreen For Face SPF 15. This French cult favorite is high tech, anti-aging sun care that enables you to enjoy the benefits of the sun without experiencing its harmful effects. There’s real science behind this line of bio-cosmetics that takes a completely different approach to sun care. It works with aging skin’s biology and the sun’s properties, instead of against these factors, enabling your skin to protect itself from the elements. Institut Esthederm’s sun care products are bar none — the best you can find on the market. And because of active ingredients like beeswax and rice bran oil that moisturize and nourish skin, containing anti-free radical properties, Bronz Repair can be used as your daily anti-aging moisturizer all summer long.

For body

Institut Esthederm Sun Care Oil Extreme Sun is the best sun care for body you can find and also doubles as a luxurious body care oil all year long. It ensures safe prolonged sun exposure in severe conditions, including the intense tropical sun. It allows a deep, intense natural tan to develop without any harmful UV damage. Sun Care Oil Extreme is formulated with UV in-Cellium Technology to protect the skin from the inside by strengthening its self-defense systems. This hi-tech sunscreen is extremely moisturizing and can be used to protect hair from the harmful rays of the sun as well, making it a multi-tasking sun care dynamo.

For eyes

During the summer months, our eye area is usually in need of a little more than just a great under eye cream. Consider Institut Esthederm Lift & Repair Eye Contour Lift Patches your mother’s little helper. This treatment contains caffeine, sodium hyaluronate (the same active ingredient found in injectables) and algae extract to wake up your eyes from the inside out. You won’t believe the difference ten minutes make. They are perfect for après airplane travel or for transitioning from work/beach activities to nighttime play. They are an instant eye opener!

For hair

If you plan on sitting out in the sun, playing outdoor sports or even hiking, Christophe Robin Moisturizing Hair Oil with Lavender is a must. Fact: Your hair and scalp can burn in the sun. This leave-in hair treatment contains SPF 6 to protect your crown from getting scorched and moisturizes your hair in the process. It even provides for a convenient way to style your hair while on the beach or by the pool that keeps it off your face. I apply it in sections and then braid my hair. For short hair just apply and slick hair back. Trés chick! When you wash it out at the end of the day, your hair will feel silky, smooth and nourished.

Après sun

Whether you finished your day a little crispier for the wear or not, remember to treat your skin to some extra added tender loving care. Cosmetics 27 Baume 27 is great as an après sun moisturizer. It is cooling and calming, especially after a day outdoors or in the sun. During the summer, this balm is particularly well suited as a restorative and reparative nighttime face cream. It quite literally slows down the oxidation or aging process as it protects against free radicals, one of the main causes of aging. Don’t forget to massage into your décolleté as well.

Not just lip service

Be sure to pick up B. Kamins Laboratories SPF 20 Lip Balm. In extreme cold, wind or sun, lips are usually the first place to suffer. Just a few minutes of exposure to extreme weather can lead to days of chapped, cracked lips. Reapply your lip balm frequently to keep your lips comfortable and protected all day and night.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

With the change of season, we often modify daily rituals and routines. We swap out denim jackets in favour of wool coats and replace open toe shoes with chic ankle boots. Similarly, but perhaps a little less obvious, we change our beauty looks and regimen as well. It comes so naturally that it can be easy to miss.

We substitute a richer moisturizer or fortify our moisturizer with a nourishing face oil to protect our skin from the cold temperatures and dry winter air. We may also put our coral lip to rest in favour of something deep, dark and delicious. These are all things we each do every time the warmer months come to an end and we’re faced with layers upon layer (upon layers) once again.

It can actually be quite a bit of fun. This season, we’re encouraged by beauty experts all over the globe to push the boundaries of simple black liner and dark lips and try something new.

With that in mind, the cooler months are the time to have some fun with your makeup by creating some more dramatic looks – without worrying about the humidity melting it all away.

Here are the top 3 things you need to know about Fall ’16 beauty.

Bold, Smudgy Eyes

Get friendly with black eyeliner this season! Too much liner in the summer can look out of place but come winter, it fits right in. We all know that a good wing never goes out of style but what about an all over liner? Yes, we mean the top and bottom lids. If you’re really daring you’ll definitely want to give this look a try.

A smoky black lid is still chic but we can mix it up by creating it with a different colour palette. Browns for fall and golden hues for holiday parties? Don’t be afraid to add a touch of glitter for holiday soirees too – just keep it minimal. Remember, less is more.

Modern Goth

Although we just spoke about liner being a super hot item this season, we don’t always feel like putting on a full look. Cue: modern Goth. For this look, leave off eye makeup completely (or just apply a thin layer of mascara) and keep all eyes focused on your pout.

When it comes to your lipstick colour, darker is better. You don’t have to go as dark as Peter Philips did at Dior (he used black eyeliner as lipstick before layering a darker shade on top) but be open to all the burgundy, plum and oxblood lipsticks you can get your hands on.

Natural Brows

Has it ever really been in style to not have natural brows? Contrary to some belief, we’re here to tell you that natural is (and always will be) in style. That’s not to say that we can’t enhance our natural beauty.

When filling in brows with a pencil, Brenda Christian revolutionized this category of makeup, make sure that you’re using a brow gel and brush combo afterwards to get rid of any excess and lend the illusion of texture which will help them look more natural. Plus, do you know what looks amazing with a natural brow? A stained red lip. Choose something light and with a bit of gloss to pair well with the natural vibe.

Which look are you most looking forward to trying out?

For more from Melina Morry, please visit The Lady-like Leopard

Even the product obsessive compulsive rotates a product or two with the change of season. During the summer, when the northern hemisphere is closest to the sun we need to give our skin a little extra added tender loving care. Here is how one particular girl on the precipice of 40 keeps her skin in check all summer long.

Starting With The Basics: Facial Cleansers

We all know it’s important to wash the face morning and night. I’m still 39, for another 9 days anyway, and my skin tends to be sensitive and on the drier side. This summer I’ve worked Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm into my routine. It’s a quadruple-threat spa in a jar. A moisturizing, deep-cleansing, makeup-removing mask and face wash that doesn’t strip the skin of its essential oils. This is a rare and important beauty find especially in summer when we tend to spend more time outdoors. While skin can seem a bit more oily during the summer, it really just needs some extra special loving care. Resist the temptation to exfoliate often and use strong, soapy cleansers. This will only over dry skin and encourage it to produce more oil and sebum. It will also exfoliate any semblance of a healthy tan you may be working on.

Morning Moringa Massage

I store mine in the refrigerator: the cool temperature is refreshing and calms puffiness. I apply it first thing in the morning, take a minute or so to massage it into my skin in the direction of lymphatic drainage.

• Line up your fingers, with both hands, right below the bridge of your nose and sweep out (repeat this down the entire length of your nose and don’t be afraid to apply pressure directly below your eyes) and then make a wide circle down the jaw and meet at the chin.
• From there sweep down your neck. Go back up to the bridge of your nose with your middle fingers and sweep up. Once you hit your eye brow, sweep in an outward motion towards your temples (repeat this upward until you hit your hairline at the top of your forehead) and then back down to your jaw, meeting up at your chin.
• Don’t leave your mustache area out. Place both middle fingers at the center, right under your nose, applying pressure, sweep out and around to your jaw line and meet again at your chin.
• Have a cup of coffee and go about your morning routine.

This enables me to leave the mask on for 10 – 20 minutes. I also apply it to the backs of my hands. When you enter mid to late thirtydom, even if you take A+ care of your skin and have great genes, you will notice age starting to rear its ugly texture on the back of your hands. There is no place that shows age more than the back of one’s hands.

The all-natural scent of moringa is also calming to the senses which is beneficial especially on hectic mornings. Though this cleanser can be used day and night, if your skin is dry like mine, you may want to use it only once a day.  At night I don’t use a cleanser at all. I spray Vine Minus Ion Care Water on a cotton pad and wipe off the day – it is anti-bacterial, hydrating and can be used to remove makeup as well. It also boosts the efficacy of your nightly face care regimen to follow. This is particularly useful as skin care does its most important work at night when we sleep.

Additional note: Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm can also be used as a moisturizing hair mask.

Moisturizing Regimen

In summer it’s important to use a moisturizer with SPF. Institut Esthederm Bronz Repair Sunscreen for Face SPF 15 is an anti-aging moisturizer and sunscreen rolled up into one. Esthederm sun care is – bar none – the best you can find on the market. Its high tech formula works to strengthen the skin’s ability to protect itself from the sun. It contains active beeswax and rice bran oil, both specially chosen for their highly nourishing, moisturizing and anti-free radical properties.

Summer Anti-aging Serums

When using an SPF moisturizer, you must apply a serum underneath. SPF can clog pores and as my mother says, you always need a little something between the wheels and the road. I stay away from face oils during the summer. My skin craves hydration, but nothing so rich or thick. Sapelo Skin Care Renewing Serum floods the skin with the nutrients and moisture it needs to stimulate cellular renewal, including gardenia stem cells, natural humectants and collagen that protect and nourish skin, enabling it to fight signs of aging and protect your pores.

Summer Body Care

The summer sun and air is just as harsh on the body as it is on the face. It goes without saying that one needs to use a sunscreen during the day. Sun Bum makes a high quality, reasonably priced sunscreen that offers broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection for up to 80 minutes. Great for golfers, surfers, tennis players, sand castle builders and sun worshippers alike and it’s PABA, paraben, oil and fragrance free. Most people are good about applying sunscreen. Where many of us fall off the wagon is in the aprés sun department. After washing off the day you really want to nourish your skin with a lotion that will sooth dry skin, boost elasticity and fight the damaging effects of the sun, pollutants and free radicals. Packed with ingredients like Aloe Vera Juice and, Avocado Oil, moisturizing omegas and powerful antioxidants, Mio Skincare A Cream Firming Active Body Cream will do just that.

Miscellaneous Tidbits

If you are traveling regularly over the summer or just on a summer gym tear, Mio Skincare Your Fit Skin Kit is a great way to sample some of this wonderful body care line. I also recommend Mio Skincare Clean Slate Workout Swipes – these, all natural, full body wipes are ideal for any summer situation you can imagine, including what I’ve come to call a dry shower.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter @AlyssaBarrie

The Products You Need in Your Summer Skin Care Repertoire

We find ourselves suddenly in the middle of the summer. For many of us this means much time spent outdoors in the sun and heat. Whether we are running errands, sitting on the beach, barbecuing, hiking or just day dreaming, it is important to protect ourselves from the elements during the day, and then nourish our skin later in the evening.

Here are some of my favorite products to keep you covered from face to toe all summer long.

Best Summer Skin Care Products For Face

1. Institut Esthederm Cellular Water: Great for a quick spray if you’re on the beach, out for a walk or simply enjoying the outdoors. Cellular Water rehydrates the skin and restores its vital energy.
2. Heaven Skincare Ella Jane Celebrity Skin Wipes & URSA Major Essential Face Wipes: Both of these are organic and great for men and women on the go. They not only rid the face (and the rest of the body) of grime, but also tone the skin; whether you are traveling, après gym or getting off the subway particularly schvitzy.
3. Alchimie Forever Daily Defense Cream SPF 23: An anti-aging, light daily moisturizer with all the sun protection you need rolled up in one product. It is perfect for summer and is dermatologically formulated and tested, making it well suited for all skin types.
4. Institut Esthederm Time Technology Cream: A light, revitalizing moisturizer, perfect for the summer and/or traveling. It contains algae extract that detoxifies and promotes microcirculation. This fresh cream contains a subtle, shimmery glow, so even with the faintest hint of a tan you won’t need to wear much makeup. It is perfect for going out on a summer evening.
5. Juvena Pure Lifting Peeling Powder: This cleanser is the perfect at-home mini facial. It contains bamboo particles that give your face a stellar non-abrasive clean. This cleanser is especially good in summer if you have been in the sun all day and/or layering on SPF, which can clog pores.
6. Cosmetics 27 Baume 27: Great as an après sun moisturizer. It is cooling and calming, especially after a day outdoors or in the sun. During the summer, this balm is particularly well suited as a restorative and reparative nighttime face cream. It quite literally slows down the oxidation or aging process as it protects against free radicals, one of the main causes of aging. Don’t forget to massage into your décolleté as well.

Best Summer Skin Care Products For Eyes

1. Cosmetics 27 Eyes 27: Containing nanomolecules, this lightweight under eye cream is perfect for use day and night during the summer. Great under makeup or on its own.

Best Summer Skin Care Products For Body

Remember that the body is just as much in need of care as the face. When you return from a day in the sun, the body requires moisture and rehydration.

1. Alchimie Forever Dry Skin Balm is an all-in-one intensive anti-aging moisturizer for the entire body. It deeply nourishes and calms dehydrated skin.
2. If you prefer body oil, look no further than Heaven Skincare Cellulite and Firming Oil. Its essential oils make it a great après sun product, soothing and calming the skin.