The Pre-Summer Edit: The Best Summer Beauty and Skincare Products
We are so back with the best white t-shirt, my summer must-haves, updated routines and affordable beauty finds you need to know about.
Welcome to the latest installment of The Edit, a gluttonous feast of my favorite things each month (or so). And as always, we have so much to discuss. From the easily overlooked but impossible to beat concealer that came out in 2013 to the oil cleanser that bested more than fifteen others in my collection, the new-to-me pieces I’ve worn nearly every day for over a month and (somehow) much more! Every month (or so) is different. There’s the newcomers and the holdovers, the unexpected and the obvious, the crowd-pleasers and the brow raisers. You can find every installment of The Monthly Edit here. Let’s dive in.
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The Pre-Summer (Low Summer?) Edit
We are so back. I know, I know — it’s been a while. Let me explain. Generally speaking, moving is one of the most stressful life events we experience. And as someone who has traditionally resisted change, it’s not at all an exaggeration to say that our move earlier this year shook me to my core. And while it might sound a bit dramatic considering we only moved about seven miles in total, the process of packing and unpacking everything we own felt overwhelmingly daunting to me. Furniture deliveries were delayed, unboxing and unpacking fell to the bottom of our to do lists, life got in the way — and suddenly it had already been a month. Shortly after we moved, I stopped sleeping. While I’ve struggled with clinically diagnosed insomnia most of my adult life, this was undeniably different and frankly a bit dire. And after three months of surviving on very minimal sleep or going without it entirely for long stretches of time, my new medication is *finally* starting to improve the situation. Which is all to say, I spent the last four months feeling discombobulated and depleted. Oh, and I popped my hamstring and seriously strained my neck. Anyways, I’m starting to feel like myself again and have so many thoughts on the many products I’ve been testing behind the scenes, the pieces I can’t stop wearing and other bits of joyful delight.
The Latest
Those who follow me on Instagram already know there’s been a few skincare products that have really won me over in recent months. But this remarkable good eye cream is easily among the top five, and I wrote about it in this post. While I haven’t loved anything else from the brand, I’ve already repurchased and recommended it to everyone. I love that the brand is creating products that are clearly for an older demographic — or at least, over the age of twenty-five — and really hope they continue to expand their offerings.
If you know me, you know I like to buy things in multiples. So when I discovered this pair of lightweight, cropped, cotton pants last summer, I was devastated to learn that they were sold out everywhere. That is, until now. These are the perfect summer pants because you can wear them absolutely everywhere — to the beach, to dinner, to run errands — and they go with everything. I own them in white (and navy, in three to five business days!) and love that they are always “on trend” but aren’t a huge investment. For the white pair, I definitely need to wear beige underwear with them (they’re slightly see-through) but certainly don’t feel exposed in them, if that makes sense. I recommend taking your usual size and wearing them around the house for a few hours so the cotton can stretch and be perfectly flowy. I take a size small.
— Nat Note: If you’re looking for the perfect pair of wide leg cotton pants that are an investment, let me introduce you to these ridiculously amazing pants (I own them in white and black).
I’m the first to admit that I try a truly staggering number of products. But frankly, it’s incredibly rare for any product to make enough of an impression that it immediately becomes the only one in its category that I want to use — especially when it comes to perfume. However, that’s exactly what happened when I first sprayed this softly sweet and endlessly dreamy fragrance that’s drenched with hints of marshmallow, vanilla bean and sweet rice milk (save w/ myskinterest). Unlike most “sweet” perfumes, this doesn’t scream sweet but rather invites you into a cozy, comforting daydream where you can have your cake and eat it too. And because it’s not too sweet or gourmand, I wear it literally everyday and have already gone through half the bottle. — save w/ myskinterest
— Nat Note: New code alert!!
After months of heated debate, I finally caved. And by that I mean, I purchased the pair of chic leather sandals that had been on my wishlist since the beginning of time. I’m obsessed. While I thought they would take forever to break in, all I had to do was wear them around the house for a few hours. So if you’ve been on the fence or eyeing these for months I had, let this be your sign to get them for summer! True to size.
If I could only wear one shirt for the rest of my life, it would be this undeniably and absolutely perfect button down. And while I’ve jumped at every chance to gush about this shirt both here and on Instagram, I recently bought the denim version (or Air Kisses) and I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I’ve worn it every single day since it arrived. It’s absolutely everything I hoped it would be and I may even love it more than the original cotton. Though it’s the same cut and weight as the cotton version, there’s just something about the denim that makes me forget about everything else in my wardrobe. For reference, I have the original cotton and linen versions and take a size small or medium in both — and wear the sizes interchangeably. And although I literally have twelve of these shirts hanging in my closet (a truly resounding endorsement if I’ve ever heard one), I’m very tempted to buy the linen in Artichoke Dip now that it’s *finally* back in stock. I take a size small or medium.
Now, Let’s Get to the Feast…
Pre-Summer Highlights
Also check out the full list of the scrumptious treats I’ve cherished most in recent months for you to nibble on. If you have questions about the products included here or on Instagram, please leave me a comment! I’d love to hear from you.
PREQUEL | Pre-Gleanse Oil Cleanser: In a shocking, unprecedented move after years of holding firm on my position that cleansing balms are far and away superior to cleansing oils, I’ve finally changed my stance. I know, I know — we have a lot to unpack here. Personally, I’ve always found cleansing oils to be somewhat offensive, unnecessarily messy and unpleasant to interact with. But recently, I felt like my holy grail cleansing balm just wasn’t doing enough to truly remove all of the sunscreen, sweat, makeup, food, germs, cat hair, dirt, bacteria and everything else on my face at the end of the day. I noticed that my pores were clogged around my nose and on my chin, and I was experiencing breakouts more frequently. So naturally, I took it as an opportunity to test more than fifteen different cleansing balms and oils in my collection (let me know in the comments if you want a post on this!). And after more than a month of testing, and much to my surprise, Pre-Gleanse was the clear winner. Out of all the other products I tested — from the overpriced to the ridiculously expensive — this was the most effective at dissolving all of the daily grime and rinsing away cleanly without leaving any residue behind. But perhaps most importantly, the fragrance (or lack there of) doesn’t bother me at all, which is a big deal coming from me because I’ve been known to stop using even the best products if I can’t stomach the scent. Plus, the pump dispenses the perfect amount of product and the bottle feels a bit like Mary Poppins’ bag — no matter how often I use this, there always seems to be so much product left. And yes, I think all skin types will enjoy this one!
THE INKEY LIST | Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment: While it’s no secret that my skin is akin to an arid climate, my scalp has always been oily. For as along as I can remember, my scalp and hair have always started to look and feel oily within twenty-four hours of washing. And around hour thirty, no amount of dry shampoo can save me. However, I’m partly at fault here because I’ve been very reluctant to incorporate another step into my hair wash routine — which, until recently, consisted of just shampoo and conditioner. If you’ve been following me on Substack and Instagram for a bit, you know that I hate to get wet and that stepping out of the shower feels like walking into a polar vortex (or what I would describe as my worst nightmare). I have absolutely no patience for products that require me to get my hair wet before applying them (only to get wet again to rinse them out), the inevitable mess or the time to let something sit in my hair for hours on end. Which is all to say, you can imagine my surprise that I’ve finally cracked the code for my scalp and hair after months of testing different products (read: losing my mind). And I’m as shocked as anyone that this unassuming and under $20 treatment has single-handedly helped my scalp and hair look and feel remarkably less oily. Unlike most products and treatments, your hair doesn’t have to be wet to use this and there’s no mess. Frankly, it couldn’t be easier. This liquid treatment is designed to be massaged onto your scalp roughly ten minutes before you shower and the nozzle packaging makes it easy to apply (and precisely, if needed). Because salicylic acid is oil-soluble, this can more effectively break down persistent buildup and excess oils — and this is key because a lot of similar scalp treatments from popular brands use glycolic acid, which is water-soluble. The Inkey List recommends using the treatment once or twice a week, and I personally noticed a visible difference after two uses. Even if your scalp doesn’t lean oily, this is such a fantastic product to apply when your scalp is more oily than usual (read: all summer long!) as well as to remove excess buildup and general maintenance throughout the year. Honestly, this is kind of one of those products you didn't know you needed but won’t want to be without ever again.
NARS | Radiant Creamy Concealer: I’ve been exhausted by concealers ever since that six month period when fifty-seven brands launch a new or reformulated concealer. And generally speaking, I find most concealers to be largely underwhelming for a variety of reasons I’ve already discussed. While there’s a select few concealers that have really won me over in recent years, I just can’t seem to quit the one from NARS. It’s easily in my top three favorite of all time. And honestly, I didn’t even realize how much I love it until I saw two empty tubes sitting in the bin where I’ve been storing my empties to share with you. For those keeping score, I’m on my third tube that I’ve repurchased immediately after the last because I’d rather buy it again than use any other concealer I have — which is truly saying something given the sheer size of my beauty collection. But look, this concealer doesn’t have enough coverage to hide particularly dark circles and won’t wear for forty-eight hours or whatever ridiculous amount of time brands claim these days. Like every makeup product that sits on your skin, it will crease (and anyone who tells otherwise is, for all intents and purposes, an idiot). However, I’d rather scrape the sides of the tube in a desperate attempt to reach the last bits of my beloved NARS concealer than use anything else. Because unlike all those other concealers, this one is uniquely reliable and versatile. It’s somehow able to adapt to nearly any level of coverage, adored by people with very different skin types, applies itself, plays well with everything I’ve ever paired it with and manages to make even my under eyes look like I’m eighteen. I guess this is my long-winded (and oddly passionate) way of saying that it’s the Goldilocks of concealers. But it’s also to say that I’m *so* tired of the internet only paying attention to what’s new and demanding that brands spin up a new product when they already have a perfectly good one — like this one, that launched in 2013. I’m the first to admit that I love new launches but I don’t love innovation for the sake of attention (and at the expense of far more). Which is all to say, if you don’t love your concealer or you want to try something different — I really think you’ll love the Radiant Creamy Concealer from NARS (lol). I wear shade Chantilly, it’s a perfect match.
BUCK MASON | Prima Boxy Crew: In my opinion, a great t-shirt can and should be life-changing. The best of them should have a somewhat boxy fit, go effortlessly and easily with everything but still complete an outfit on its own. It should be thin but not see-through and maintain its shape and color even after countless washes — because we all know our favorite basics are the pieces we wash the most. And to that end, the best t-shirts should wash without any fuss. And because you want your favorite t-shirt in every color (at least, I certainly do), it should be reasonably priced — whatever that means these days — and always make you feel great whenever you put it on. And while it can seem impossible to find the one in a sea of overpriced and underwhelming options, I think this slightly boxy crewneck easily bests the rest. Not only does it check all of the boxes but it’s also made of prima cotton, which is ridiculously softer than regular cotton (and Google tells me it’s more durable). And I really feel like this is the t-shirt I’ve spent years looking for. Though I wouldn’t say this t-shirt is cropped, it’s definitely shorter in length than the average t-shirt. This means that, on me, it hits my waist at the perfect spot so my stomach isn’t exposed but I don’t feel the need for the dreaded millennial tuck — which is a huge win for me. If you’re also around 5’3 and feel like most t-shirts you own are a little long, you’re going to love this shorter, effortless t-shirt. One note is that this shirt definitely runs small and I would recommend sizing up at least one or two sizes. I take a size medium or large (for a more boxy fit).
More to Muse On
Until next time, follow along on Instagram and take a look at my favorite things from my vanity to my closet. myMusings is a labor of love but it is labor. Don’t forget to click the 🤍 button before you go! Thank you for being here. Talk soon.
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