My Top 5 Summer Essentials

This year, we've actually had a summer. The sun made an appearance, I got a tan (this is a big deal) and at times, the UK was hotter than parts of Italy and Spain. And if that's not impressive, I don't know what is.

Over the past few weeks, I've noticed myself reaching for the same few items over and over, and I couldn't keep them to myself, could I?

Any of you oily skinned girls out there, like myself, will know that in summer our faces look 400x more oily than they do in winter. And trust me, the 'I just smeared some olive oil onto my face' look is not a good look. Which is why I've turned to these little trusty fellows. The blotting papers. Or the 'oil absorbing sheets' if you wish to be more posh and precise. These are just lifesavers. They absorb oil like nothing else on earth and they just work like a dream. I'm not fussy at all with what brand I use, but I do really like the Boots Skin Clear ones. 

My next essential is such a typical essential, but it's an essential essential. (Could I say essential any more times in one sentence?) It's an SPF face cream. I know how important it is to protect your skin from the sun, and I found this mini No7 Protect and Perfect Day Cream lurking in the back of my drawer so I thought I'd give it a go, and I've fallen in love. It's so light, non-greasy, moisturising, it sinks in like a dream and most importantly it doesn't break me out. Which always gets a big thumbs and a pat on the tube back from me.

Waterproof mascara. Another typical summer essential, but it really is a great thing to have, especially if you're at the beach or in the pool on holiday (I'm probably on the beach as you read this). The one I use is the Collection Killer Curves Waterproof Mascara in Black as this really is waterproof. It doesn't run and it stays on my lashes all day until I need to remove it, which unfortunately, is a pretty horrific task. Why must it be so difficult to remove, why why why? It makes my lashes look nice and long but my only problem with it is that it's really dry? I don't know if maybe I just picked up a dud tube, but it's like applying tar to my lashes, and I can't layer it, which kind of sucks. 

In summer I need to use an SPF lip balm. My lips burn SO easily and I end up rocking the 'crispy lobster lips' look for a good few days, which really isn't fun. My favourite one is the Palmers Dark Chocolate and Cherry Tinted Lip Balm. It almost smells too good (is that even possible?) and it gives off a lovely red tint, I love love love love it.

Finally, sunglasses. These basically go without saying. My eyes get insanely sore in the sun and I get these lovely wrinkle lines on my forehead from screwing my eyes up so much, so in summer I basically live in sunglasses. The only disadvantage of them is that you think you're tanned then you take them off and realise that you still look like a glowing milk bottle. Oh the joys. I would tell you where these are from, but I honestly have no idea. Oops.


I'm currently on holiday so as you read this I'll either be by the pool or down at the beach. Don't be too jealous;) I hope you're all having a lovely summer and that the weather has been good to you too.