Summer Essentials: Part 2 by Joann

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far! It's been pretty good over here.

I've recently changed jobs, so I'm getting settle into my new place of work. During orientation, I had to wear business attire, so I ended up walking home in 30C weather in my suit!! How do people do it everyday? I was sweating buckets by the time I got home!

Since we are smack in the middle of summer, naturally we'll be going out more. Especially with those playing Pokemon Go! (The official version hasn't been released in Canada yet! T_T) So it's very important to dress appropriately and make sure your skin is protected too!

Today's post is in collaboration with the lovely Finn from Simple Beauty. Finn is a Beauty Blogger based in Brunei and she has posted part one of our collaboration on her blog. You should definitely check out her post for her choices for summer essentials!

Let's continue with our Summer Essentials part two!

As you know, I have very oily skin. I could leave the house with a matte face, but end the day looking super dewy/oily.

Not to mention, I sweat profusely. This is probably TMI, but even the slightest change in temperature I will end up sweating like crazy or freezing. My crazy oily skin is the bane of my existence. It's especially prominent on my T-zone- my nose area specifically.

Dry Shampoo

My oily skin doesn't apply to just my face. It extends to my hair as well. I have thick but very straight hair. I usually wash my hair everyday. I know, I know, we're not supposed to wash our hair everyday! I've tried! I hate the feeling and how my hair looks after! Great next day hair does not apply to me I'm afraid. 

I shower at night and sometimes in the morning I notice my hair already looking and feeling oily. So to combat that, I use dry shampoo.  

Dry shampoo, specifically Batiste is supposed to "refresh your hair between washes, leaving it feeling gorgeously clean and fresh with added body and texture."

I wouldn't say it is a good solution for "cleaning" your hair, but it does a decent job in getting rid of any oils. It does provide some volume as well, which is nice. Since I'm using the original version, it is important to know that the shampoo is white. So careful not to spray too much if you have dark hair like myself. I noticed if I put on too much, there was a cast on my hair. The more I rubbed in, the more white spots that showed up. Too much made my hair look like it had dandruff. Not a good look! Luckily, Batiste has different dry shampoos that offer a hint of colour, so you won't have to worry about white marks. 

Batiste is available at your local Drugstore or Walmart. They usually range between $7-$10 CAD. 

Setting Powder

For us oily girls out there (raise your hand if you are!) in order to ensure our foundation lasts longer, we have to set it with a powder.

I use the E.L.F Tone Correcting Powder that helps to even out skin tone and absorb any excess oil.
My skin is too oily and this doesn't last the entire day, so I usually carry this around for touch ups throughout the day.

If I'm feeling lazy (haha, who am I kidding, I'm always lazy!) and I don't feel like wearing foundation, I'll just apply this powder since it has certain tones that when blended together, will help neutralize and brighten the skin.

This is one of the more affordable options for setting powders. It is available at some stores and online for $4 USD. If you can't get your hands on E.L.F, NYX is also a great option.

Facial Spray/Mist

I've blogged about mists and sprays in the past, but I do find them very helpful during the summer. 

For instance, from the above product, after setting my foundation with powder, setting sprays or mists help the powder really stay on the skin. When blotting, the foundation and powder doesn't come off as easily. 

I also enjoy keeping a travel sized facial spray for mid day pick me ups. If it's hot out or my face feels dry, I'll spray to stay refreshed. 

If you're interested in other brands, I reviewed the Avene brand a couple years ago which you can read here.

I purchased this at my local Winners for $7.99 CAD. It is also available at Sephora.

Misc - Sunglasses 

Sunglasses aren't just necessary during the summer, but they're important during the winter as well! They protect our eyes from the Sun's UV rays.

I always carry my sunglasses in my bag just in case. If you want more incentive to wear them more often, eyelid cancer accounts for about 5-10% of skin cancer! Make sure you protect your eye balls!

So whether you're out enjoying the sun on the beach, at the park, or running around collecting Pokemon, make sure to have the items Finn and I have listed!

If you haven't had a chance to read Finn's Summer Essentials, check it out here!

What are your summer essential items?