Beach-Ready Beauty Must-Haves To Look Hot All Summer Long

If you’re anything like us, come summer, you always have on-hand those hero beauty products that keep you looking gorgeous and ready for whatever adventure comes your way: whether you’re hitting the pool, the beach or headed to the cottage. We keep these products on standby in our summer beauty bag: sunscreen, self tanner, a great lip gloss, a glow-getting primer, and of course, more sunscreen. We’ve rounded up a few of our favourites, available at Shoppers Drug Mart and beautyboutique.ca, so be sure to stash these in your beach or picnic bag this summer.  

Glow On. Pretty much everyone looks better with a bit of a tan, but we would never condone lying out in the sun to get that coveted bronze glow. Enter: self-tanning creams, which have gotten a serious upgrade in the last few years and will no longer leave you with stained hands or looking like a tangerine. When you want to get some colour without the commitment, try St. Tropez  One Night Only Wash Off Face & Body Lotion ($20), which gives a natural-looking tan for up to 24 hours and then washes off with soap and water. Exfoliate 24 hours before you apply, and moisturize any dry areas such as the knees, elbows, ankles and feet before tanning. Apply the lotion with the St. Tropez Prep & Maintain Tan Applicator Mitt ($9), starting at the ankles and using long sweeping motions. The mitt ensures an Insta-worthy, streak-free tan and stain-free hands. 

Cover Up. Sunscreen is a beauty must-have all year-long, but even more so in the summer months, when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. If you’re still one of the holdouts, there’s really no excuse not to wear SPF anymore, since the latest formulas are lightweight and won’t make you feel like you’re drowning in product. A mineral sunscreen such as Clinique Mineral Sunscreen Lotion for Face SPF 50 ($34) or Body SPF 30 ($41), creates an invisible shield on skin to protect against sun and environmental damage. It’s also non-acnegenic and great for all skin types, including sensitive skin. And no need to fear a high SPF: the fast-absorbing La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Ultra Fluid Lotion SPF 60 Face Sensitive Skin ($29), leaves a matte, clean finish that acts as a great base for makeup, while Mexoryl technology and other sunscreen filters protect against UVB and UVA rays. Anthelios is also fragrance- and paraben-free and water-resistant”pretty much everything you want in a sunscreen. Meanwhile, if you want a little makeup coverage but don’t want to wear full foundation when you’re headed to the beach, try a makeup-sunscreen hybrid, such as Shiseido WetForce BB SPF 50+ for Face ($48). This SPF-packed BB cream, available in three shades, evens out skin tone and camouflages imperfections, leaving you looking flawless while you stay shielded from the sun (all without clogging pores). Plus, the formula’s SuperVeil-UV 360 and WetForce technologies provide a lightweight, UV-protective veil on skin that actually works even better when it’s exposed to sweat or water for 30 minutes. So dive in”the water’s great!

Effortless Glam. So you want to look like a goddess while you’re at the pool, but you don’t want to wear your usual full face of makeup. The solution: Smashbox Photo Finish Radiance Foundation Primer ($50), a pore-blurring, skin-perfecting primer that gives you that magic-hour warm glow. Wear it alone or under makeup for a hydrating boost of radiance courtesy of hyaluronic acid, shea butter and glow-getting amber and bronze pearls. Finish the look by adding a slick of shine on the lips with Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil ($25). The lightweight, pure plant oil formula (infused with Mirabelle plum, jojoba and hazelnut oils) gives the shine of a gloss with the comfort of an oil. Wear a shade such as the shimmering Honey Glam on its own to add shine or layer over lipstick for a glossy effect that’s also packed with deep moisture.

***Clinique mineral sunscreens are exclusive to Shoppers Drug Mart.

This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone for entering. 

CONTEST TIME: Enter the form below to WIN a $100 beautyBOUTIQUE by Shoppers Drug Mart gift card to shop for your summer skincare favourites. Contest is open to Canadian residents only and ends July 21, 2017 at 11:59pm EST. Winners will be notified via email.

To read the full rules and regulations, click here.