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

I’ve Always Put My Hope In Soap

Squeaky clean: great for glass…fatal for face. We’re taught that getting our skin “too clean”- i.e.,  stripping away skin’s natural oils – is a skin care no-no, and will lead to all sorts of unsavory results: wrinkles, pimples, redness, flaking, etc. Not that that ever stopped me. For some deep-seated psychological reason with which a shrink would probably have a field day, I’ve never felt my cleansing was complete until my skin literally squeaked. To that end, I exclusively used soapy, foamy gel cleansers.

During the steamy days of summer, I felt completely justified about this habit. The mixture of sweat, skin care products and good ol’ New York City grime seemed to call for extreme clean measures. But even in winter I’d wash my face like the dickens, and then have to slather on about 3 layers of serums/creams/oils/lotions/essences to re-dew my dermis. Now, though, perhaps due to the sickeningly swift approach of a certain benchmark birthday, I have been more receptive to creamier cleansers. While these more nourishing formulas don’t give my skin the squeak, I’ve found some that still leave it deeply cleansed and – a new experience – comfortable.

The Cleansers: There’s One For Everyone!

• Binchotan Charcoal Facial Cleansing Mask. Whether I leave it on for 30 seconds or three minutes, I get complimented on my skin every time I use this 3-in-1 makeup remover/cleanser/mask. The charcoal’s natural detoxifying powers draw out impurities from pores which prevents future breakouts and absorbs excess oil. This product is a great choice for anyone who’s really fretting over foregoing the foam, as it cleanses skin so deeply you can see the difference in your pores. This liquid cleanser looks like latex paint when you first pump it out of the bottle, and it is slick and silky to the touch. Just a little bit creates a thick mask, but unlike other dark detoxifying masks, it doesn’t dry up and harden, so it never leaves skin with that tight, parched feeling. When used as a cleanser, it just slides on and off easily with water. I massage it in with circular motions for about 20 seconds and then let it wash off in the shower. Unlike so many soapy/foaming cleansers, this one is truly safe for eyes – zero irritation or stinging, even when massaged in to remove mascara! It’s a “clean” cleanser, too: no parabens, alcohol, oil, fragrance or synthetic dyes.

• Heaven Skincare New Edition Cleansing Cream. I was (pleasantly) shocked at how well just a little dab of this featherlight cream completely and thoroughly cleaned my entire face and eyes. It also happens to be the first bee venom cleanser in the world, which gives it anti-aging properties. Bonus! This is the ultimate strong yet gentle cleanser; it’s creamy and comprehensive. For all green beauty queens, all Heaven Skincare products are made with the highest quality natural and organic ingredients, so the anti-aging effects are achieved without nasty and/or harsh chemicals.

• May Lindstrom The Honey Mud. This silky, pudding-like cleanser and mask gently exfoliates, detoxifies, soothes and conditions skin. It frees the skin of pollutants, infusing it with active enzymes and nourishment while restoring optimal hydration. Because it is so nourishing, it is a great choice for reactive or rosacea-prone skin. The Honey Mud not only looks like a delicious dessert, it smells divine as well. That’s thanks to its long list of active organic ingredients: Raw Honey is a naturally antibacterial humectant that promotes healing, Halloysite Clay deeply yet gently purifies and detoxifies and Colloidal Silver is naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antibiotic. Add to these skin superstars Cocoa, Vanilla, Ylang-Ylang, Frankincense and Myrrh, and you’ve got a unique product with a singular olfactory experience. This is something that May Lindstrom is truly a master of; not one of her products smell like anything else on the market (bravo, May!). Personally, I wouldn’t use The Honey Mud every single day (it’s a little to gentle and a lot not cheap), but what a treat it is a few times a week! Leave it on for a minute or two in the shower, enjoy the aromatherapy, then rinse off…I like to use a washcloth to remove for a little extra scrubbing effect.

• Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. Who’s the richest of them all? This jar par excellence, for sure. Emma Hardie is another natural, organic skin care line from the UK – coming VERY soon to Travel Beauty. This cleansing balm is Emma’s superstar product, having won about a dozen beauty awards since its launch just a few years ago. This balanced daily cleanser thoroughly cleanses deep in the pores, moisturizes and calms the skin. It removes all traces of face and eye makeup, and is so pure it doubles as a soothing and hydrating mask (just leave it on for ten minutes after massaging in). This is one of the best smelling products I have ever used, and yet it is completely devoid of any “fragrance”. The amazing scent comes from a long list of natural botanical ingredients (which also make it so beneficial for skin): Grape Seed and Sweet Almond Oil, rich in essential fatty acids, help to plump and soften skin, Moringa Seed Extract, Wild Sea Fennel and Vitamin E balance, purify and help minimize the appearance of pores, Orange, Neroli and Mandarin Essential Oils rejuvenate and revitalize the skin whilst calming the senses, and, lastly, Jasmine and Rose help to recondition dull, dehydrated and/or mature skin. Moringa Cleansing Balm starts as a solid, but quickly emulsifies into a luxurious liquid once you begin to massage it into damp skin. It feels and smells so good, I think I go into a bit of a trance every time I use it. Whether I’m in the shower or standing in front of my bathroom mirror at the end of a long day, I zone out a bit as I massage it in. Since it is so nourishing, you may only want to use it morning or night, depending on the moisture needs of your skin.

To preorder the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm, please email concierge@travelbeauty.com

If you choose to use any of these as a mask, I HIGHLY recommend adding several spritzes of Vine Minus Ion Care Water to your mask ritual. Why? This negative ion water is 170 times more absorbent than regular water, so it provides mega-moisture to skin and hair. Used in conjunction with skin care products, negative ion water works as a driver, boosting the effectiveness of those other products. Also, due to its pH of 12.5, bacteria cannot live in it, making it an insanely effective germ and bacteria killer. Vine Care Water is the perfect partner to whichever cream cleanser/mask you use.

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

Packing beauty products for an overnight trip is not as simple as it seems (or as simple as my husband would like it to be). There’s a nighttime routine, a morning routine and various and sundry beauty incidentals to take into consideration. I pack so many products because I don’t want to wake up with, say, a monstrous pimple and have nothing with which to treat it. Like a true Beauty Scout, I am always prepared.

Face

• I have been loving this Binchotan Charcoal Facial Cleansing Mask lately. It can be used as a cleanser, makeup remover and/or mask. Don’t let the dark color or thick texture fool you, it is totally gentle enough to use on eyes. Every time I use it I get a compliment on my skin, and I notice a difference in my overall skin quality as well. I like to have this purifying product on hand in case my skin is acting up/breaking out.
• I am still in search of the very best drugstore face wipe as I blow through them so quickly. These Yes To Carrots Facial Wipes are ok, though I need at least 2 to feel truly clean. This would be understandable if I wore a lot of makeup, but I wear little to no makeup, so I feel like one wipe should be sufficient!
• Love packing my many mini products from Heaven Skincare: Bee Venom Mask, Formula Bee Eyes and New Edition Cleansing Cream. They are all fantastic – truly anti-aging. I usually don’t like cream cleansers because many don’t leave my skin feeling as clean as I’d like it to feel (which is to say, squeaky). This one does, and like the Binchotan Charcoal Face Mask, it is gentle enough to use on eyes.
• These two B. Kamins products are classics in my book: Renewal Serum, is a serum in cream form, which I really like as its easy to apply and easy to layer with other products. I see a real difference in cell turnover and overall quality of skin when I use this serum. It works really well to get rid of the red spots that linger too long after a pimple goes away. I like to put it on and then apply the Bee Venom Mask on top of it. Sometimes I’ll apply an oil, too, before anything else. Kypris Beauty and Emma Hardie (coming soon to Travel Beauty) make really nice face oils. B. Kamins BB Cream evens out my skin tone and gives my skin the slightest luminescence. It’s one of the only BBs I’ve found that isn’t too orange for me…that is to say, too orange for someone as pale as I am!

Body – My Favorite!

• I’d LOVE to pack my Sasawashi Body Scrub Towel so I can use it every day, but I do allow myself some practicality-based packing transgressions. A nice, nubby washcloth is just fine to use for one shower, and then I don’t have to worry about transporting a damp Body Scrub Towel (mild-ewww). Besides, my very favorite body wash contains glycolic acid, and is therefore itself exfoliating. Glytone Body Wash is probably the most un-green beauty product I use, but it is so good that I just won’t give it up. It not only smoothes and softens my skin (even my heels!) but it also helps prevent body breakouts like nothing else – a must if the gym/sweating gives you pimples.
• Now for body moisture products! Acure Organics and/or Mio Skincare & Lavido for body. I mix these with a Heaven Skincare Cellulite & Firming Oil  and apply everywhere. The Lavido lotion is awesome to apply to hands and arms throughout the day, and especially right before bed – the lavender scent is very soothing.
• Everyone needs a tongue scraper; once you start doing it, you’ll never stop. I wrote a whole blog – complete with professional opinion – about the practice of tongue scraping. Every time I get my teeth cleaned, my dentist says how clean my teeth are, and I know it’s because I scrape religiously.

And Off to Sleep

• Last but not least, here is one of my newer treats: My Binchotan Charcoal Eye Mask! The layer of charcoal in this eye mask helps increase circulation, soothe eye area and relieve optical nerve fatigue. It’s like black out shades for my eyes, and helps me fall asleep so much faster than usual…which is HUGE for an insomniac like me!

Hair

• Pack right tip: packing large bottles of shampoo and conditioner can be a headache. If you absolutely must pack a shampoo and conditioner Philip Kingsley makes convenient ready to go Jet Sets for every hair type.
• That said - I never leave home without Phylia de M. Connect and/or ReConnect hair & scalp treatment. Phylia de M. is my favorite beauty brand to launch in the past ~2 years, I wrote not one, but two blogs about why I love this brand so…the products are just phenomenal.
• Styling-wise: Arrojo Volume Foam. It’s usually the only thing I put in my hair. I never blow dry my hair (blog post all about that on the way). I just let it air dry a bit and then lightly scrunch this in. Maybe I’ll work a little May Lindstrom The Good Stuff into the ends and bangs if I want a more polished look with some piece-y texture, but it comes in a heavy glass bottle, so it’s not something I want to travel with. Instead, I use whatever leftover body cream/oil I have on my hands and work that into my ends, much to the same effect.

Think this is too much to pack for an overnight trip? Let us know what beauty products you won’t sleep out without!