7 Things I'm Really Loving This Summer

Okay so this one is just fun. No life lessons buried in here, no big takeaway about work or burnout. Some mornings you wake up and just want to talk about the stuff that is making you happy. That is exactly what this is.

A few honest ground rules first, because that is kind of our whole thing around here. Everything on this list is something I actually use. Not "a brand sent it to me and I am being nice." Mine, bought with my own money, currently in my bathroom or my purse or my car. I will only ever point you at things I genuinely like. I am not about to torch the trust for a couple of dollars.

Call this my version of a hot girl summer if you want. It is really more of a "take care of yourself, stay protected, drink your water, feel cute, be happy" summer. Same energy, more sunscreen. Let's go.

1. A Korean Face Sunscreen With No White Cast (non-negotiable)

I will die on this hill. Face sunscreen is not optional, especially down here in Florida where the sun is basically a full-time job. But I get why people skip it, because so many of them are genuinely unpleasant to wear. I have been through a lot of sunscreens. The ones that smell like a chemical factory. The ones that leave you looking like a ghost. The ones so sticky you could catch flies. The ones that pill up into little rolls the second you put makeup over them. I have suffered through all of it so you do not have to.

Here is what finally won. I read that Korean sunscreens are actually more advanced than a lot of the American ones, so I figured what do I have to lose, and I tried the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh Rice + B5 SPF50+ PA++++. I am obsessed. It is my ride or die now. No scent, no white cast, does not pill, the texture is great, and the price tag is so reasonable it almost feels like a trick.

One real tip: I did not buy this on Amazon. I read that skincare is one of those categories where fakes are everywhere, and sunscreen is not the thing you want to gamble on. I ordered straight from gaiakbeauty.com, the process was seamless, and I had it in under a week.

To be clear, the Beauty of Joseon is the one for me now, my permanent go-to, my official holy grail. But if you want a couple of others I have used and liked, the TULA Skin Care Protect + Glow Daily Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 is a nice one, and the DRMTLGY SmrtSun Broad Spectrum SPF 45 is one I used for a while and genuinely liked. They each do a slightly different thing: the DRMTLGY is a higher SPF with no white cast for when you want more coverage, and the TULA gives you a little glow. But honestly? Start with the Beauty of Joseon. Shes the one.👑

2. An SPF Lip Balm, Because We Always Forget Our Lips

Ladies. We slather SPF on our face, our shoulders, the tops of our feet, and then completely forget the lips exist. I did this for years and could not figure out why my lips were always dry and flaky. Spoiler: it was the giant ball of fire in the sky☀️.

I do not have a true holy grail here…yet, I will be honest, but the one I am not hating right now is the Sun Bum SPF 30 Coconut Lip Balm. I bought the clear one off Amazon, and then I was at CVS one day, spotted the tinted version on sale, and grabbed that one for my purse. The coconut smell gives me beach vibes and I feel good knowing my lips are actually protected for once.

One honest heads up: it can feel a little sticky if you put too much on, which is very easy to do if you are used to swiping on a regular gloss tube. Go light. You have been warned.

The Sun Bum is what I reach for when I need protection. For the pretty-gloss part of life, I am completely obsessed with the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. I own at least four of them, which I think technically makes it a problem, but I refuse to see it that way. My two favorites are Toasted Marshmallow and Pink Sugar. The silicone applicator is genuinely the best part, it just glides on, the colors are gorgeous, they smell so good, and they are not sticky.

I will be real about how I actually use both. The Summer Fridays does not go on right on top of the Sun Bum every time. It is more of a "swipe it on right before I walk in somewhere, or right before I leave the house" thing. If that happens to be right after the Sun Bum, great. If not, also great. Sun Bum for protection, Summer Fridays for everything else, and the two of them cover pretty much any lip moment summer throws at you. (Not sponsored, I just keep buying them.)

3. The BrüMate Era Tumbler (My go-to Water Bottle)

We protected the skin, now we hydrate. A cute water bottle is essential, but here is the thing, you have to actually use it, not just have it looking good on your shelf.

My favorite, and no, it is not a Stanley (dont come for me!), is the BrüMate Era line. I have a 30 oz and two 40 oz tumblers. They are so well made, they come apart easily so you can actually clean them properly, and they are leakproof, just remember to lock the lid or that is on you. I love the metal straw with the silicone tip, and that most of them are dishwasher safe, which is the real selling point for me. I have the Dark Aura color, which is one they recommend hand washing, and I decided the trade was worth it because the color is gorgeous✨. Plenty of cute options if you want one that goes in the dishwasher. I got mine on Amazon.

While we are on hydration, what is your go-to summer drink? Mine is as basic as basic gets, and I am at peace with that. Plain ice water, or ice water with lemon, most days. (Evening drinks are a different post and not my business to discuss here, but I will never turn down a good margarita or a really well made mocktail🍸. Just saying.)

Here is the actual tip though. When summer truly turns up down here in Florida, I keep LMNT packets in my purse. Any day I am outside longer than usual, a Disney day, Busch Gardens, any theme park or outdoor anything (or a strenuous workout), I just refill my water, dump in a packet or two (do not judge me), and my electrolytes are handled. I like LMNT because the flavors are genuinely good and there is zero sugar. My top three are Lemonade Iced Tea, Pink Lemonade, and Lemonade. The subscription is a great deal and they treat their subscribers well. Be a good human tip: Give these out to delivery drivers and people working on your home or yard, they will appreciate it! Ive done this several times and they have been a hit!

4. A Jean Skirt and Denim Dress for Easy Summer Outfits

Did jean skirts and dresses ever actually go out of style? If they did, I am personally bringing them back, you’re welcome.

I recently bought a jean skirt from American Eagle and a jean dress, the Abercrombie & Fitch Mara Strapless Denim Mini Dress , and I love them both. The AE skirt is technically called a high-waisted mini. I would not personally call it high-waisted, but the fit is great, so do not let the name throw you. And fair warning, if you are like me and do not fully read the product description, the buttons on the A&F dress are just for show. They do not unbutton. You zip that thing up in the back. Learned that one in the fitting room.

The reason I love a jean skirt or dress for summer is the sheer versatility, and honestly, age genuinely does not matter here. Strappy heels, some pretty jewelry, a clutch, and you are out on the town. Sneakers or flip flops 🩴 (Florida’s official footwear), a crossbody bag, a messy bun, and you are out for a day with friends. With the skirt, pair with a tee, a fitted tank, or a dressier top and you really cannot go wrong. There is just something about a good jean dress that makes you do a double take in the mirror in the best way.😍

I will say this too, because I think it matters. As a bit of a curvier girl, I was nervous about both of these. I really wanted them but I had that little voice going (you know the one). I am so glad I went for it. They fit just right, and listen, we all deserve to feel beautiful regardless of the number on the scale. Please know that. Buy the dress.

Loving this so far?🩷 You can join the Verrazzi community for the next one (and a heads up when I find something else worth sharing).

5. Vaseline Glazed & Glisten Body Oil (Smells Like Vacation)

Possibly my favorite thing on this entire list. We protected the skin before the sun, we hydrated, we are looking cute in our jean dress, now let's keep that skin glowing.

I am loving, loving, loving the Vaseline Glazed & Glisten Body Gel Oil. I have the Sunlit Glow version. There is also a Golden Hour version that is a bit darker, which I am saving to try when I have more of a tan going. The smell is unreal, like vanilla and cocoa butter, completely summery and beachy. And yes, you will shimmer. Not a 22-year-old-covered-in-body-glitter shimmer, more of a subtle sun kissed glow. It looks really natural to me, and the little shimmer makes it seem like I have been living the island life this entire time, which I have not, but my skin can keep that secret. It is a gel oil, so just be mindful of that going on, but once it dries your skin feels unbelievably soft. Did I mention the smell?

6. A Happy Summer Playlist (Sad Songs Are for Winter)

A summer playlist is a must. Something that just makes you smile and feel alive, on in the car on the way to the beach or the pool, or playing while you are out there with your favorite people.

A good playlist is completely subjective, so I am not going to hand you mine and tell you it is correct. I use YouTube Music and I try to build a fresh playlist every spring and summer. That does not mean the songs are new, Gen X over here, it just means they are new to the list (okay fine there are a few repeats here and there). I am all over the place: 80s, 90s, early 2000s, rap, pop, R&B, country, dance, whatever. My one rule, and it is non-negotiable, is happy music only. We save the sad songs for winter and comfort food. Deal?

7. CRZ Yoga Butterluxe Biker Shorts (Better Than Lululemon😯)

Continuing our theme of self care, I have to tell you about my all-time favorite workout shorts. You can wear them wherever you want, and I do.

They are not Lululemons (collective gasp I know!). In my personal and very strong opinion, they are better. They are the CRZ YOGA Butterluxe Biker Shorts. So soft, not see-through (a real and rare achievement), tons of colors, and a great price. I have the 4-inch but they come in other lengths. I am genuinely obsessed with this brand, the whole Butterluxe line. I have several pairs of their leggings, a sports bra, and I recently bought a tee. Everything is unbelievably comfortable, and the quality holds up. I have had the leggings a long time and they still look and feel great after many, many washes. The shorts somehow make me feel like I leveled up when I put them on. Very flattering, in my humble opinion. Go ahead, ladies, look back at it!!🔥 I get these on Amazon, but you can also order from their site.

One honest warning: these are not really compression shorts, so if you are about to do something high impact and you worry about the roll-down, these might not be the pair for that day. I have worn them lifting, walking, hiking, and on light runs with zero problems, but for a longer run I would likely swap to something else. Did I mention how soft they are? And the price? Lulu who?! Truly the best.

A few honorable mentions

A couple of bonus things that did not get their own section but absolutely deserve a shoutout.

A leave-in conditioner that doubles as a heat protectant. I am in our saltwater pool basically all summer, plus beach days, and I have thin, fine hair, so it is a real double whammy on the hair-abuse front. The K18 HeatBounce Leave-In Conditioner Heat Protectant is my answer for it. It is a little pricey, I will not pretend otherwise, but the fact that it does both jobs means I am not buying two products. It does not leave my hair crunchy or oily and my hair feels soft after styling. My routine is to put it in before I go in the pool or the ocean, and if I can manage a quick fresh-water rinse when I get out, I spray some on again. That is it. Worth every penny if your hair takes a beating in summer like mine does.

A stylish pair of sunglasses. I am not going to point you at one specific pair because the right sunglasses are deeply personal: face shape, vibe, polarized vs. not, all of it. But if you are looking, I have picked up a few pairs from DIFF Eyewear over the years and like them a lot. Good selection of stylish frames, polarized and non, fair prices. Whatever you choose, just please own at least one pair you actually love so you wear them. Your eyes need the SPF too.

And the things that aren't really list items

This part is not on the official list, because you cannot order it and a link cannot get it to you.

The stuff I am loving most this summer? My loved ones. My dog. Anything that makes me smile. Birds chirping in the morning. The smell of the ocean. The feel of the sun on my skin after I have, responsibly, applied SPF, of course😃

Take all of it in. Enjoy it. Spend time with the people who bring you joy, the ones who make you laugh until you cannot breathe. Take care of yourself inside and out, eat well, move your body because it feels good and not as punishment, have fun, and soak up every bit of this season.

Stay safe out there, my friends. Go have your best summer. 🩷

Now your turn. What is on your actual summer must-have list this year? The thing you would tell a friend about without being asked? Drop it in the comments👇, I am always looking for the next thing to be obsessed with.

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