Summer Essentials

Summer is officially here in 4 days, so it's time to get all the summer gear out! Summer essentials are subjective to personal tastes, but there are a few basics that everyone should use every day to protect us against the heat and the strong UV rays.

Summer essentials 2012 edition

> Starting from clothing accessories, we can finally switch our beanies for a summer hat, a cap, or a fedora! I personally don't like hats since I find them big and bulky, but on hot summer days, I don't like to feel my scalps burning. Your scalps can suffer from sun damage just like your skin do. And of course, we can't forget sunglasses to protect our fragile eyes! Sunglasses, like hats, can match so many outfits and add an instant I-look-like-a-movie-star vibe. They come in different shapes that could enhance our facial features or conceal our dark circles/lack of make-up.

> Blotting papers are a must in summer, especially for people who puts make-up. Just use a blotting paper and gently pat it on your face to remove sweat and oil, by patting your face (not wiping), you won't take off any of your makeup

> We don't like burned lips. So lip balm with SPF is important for any one of us, yes even guys! I personally like Kiehl's lip balm because it gives a lip gloss effect. The SPF on this lip balm doesn't prevent you from applying it just before you go to bed, you'll wake up with moisturized & smooth lips. ;)

> Summer isn't just about the looks, but also about the smell. The Dove body fragrance is definitely a must-buy. I discovered it 2 years ago and I'm still loving it. Affordable and smells good, it's a good choice for those who don't like to carry a perfume in their bags all day long...(who does that?)  Deodorant is definitely your bff during summer time because no one likes smelly armpits, I swear.

> Last but not least, how can we forget sunscreen. It's the most important part of our summer essentials because of its core protection for our face and body. UV rays are responsible for the pre-maturation of skin that leads to the formation of wrinkles. For those who are pale or prone to coloration, I highly recommend the Sofina Perfect UV 50 SPF PA+++. It's a non-sticky formula with whitening properties. I usually pour a generous amount (around the size of 2 loonies) on my palm and then apply it on my whole face and neck. This formula is really good for those who wants a matte finish. It's more of a watery consistency and absorbs very quickly. I believe Sofina is only available in asian countries, so if you can't get your hand on it, Shiseido's sunscreen is an excellent alternative. Shiseido's sunscreen has a thicker consistency when compared to Sofina. It offers a 55SPF and PA+++.

> PA+++ (more "+" means more protection) is really important because it helps to protect us from UVA rays that causes long-term skin damage. The sun protection factor (SPF) protects us from UVB rays that causes sunburn.  So when choosing a sunscreen, please be aware of the amount of protection that you can get. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors, and your sunscreen should be applied before any makeup primer and foundation.

Enjoy the sun safely, reapply sunscreen every two hours ;)

RoCatMi