We know spring is supposed to be the season for refreshing, but there’s just something about summer that makes us want to break free from the typical routine and start anew. Whether that’s taking up a hobby like bike riding or finally getting bangs, the start of vacation season brings with it an exciting energy.
We want to feel that same excitement when it comes to our beauty regimen. That’s why we’re switching out our rich, warm fragrances for something fresh, grabbing lip gloss over lipstick, and forgoing the blowdryer for a more effortless styling routine. The summer mood is all about keeping things light and easy.
With that in mind, we’ve been testing out a few new launches to see which ones fit into our low-key vibe. Ahead, our favorite products from the month of May that we’ll surely keep stocked well into the summer.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
"Traditionally, stick concealers are thick, drying, full-coverage, and something I want to love, but my dehydrated skin hates. Then, I met this concealer. It sweeps onto skin with the lightest touch and is buildable enough that on my laziest days I can opt for a barely-there coverage. It’s still too early to say, but I’d bet this product reaches holy-grail status soon." — Samantha Sasso, Beauty Writer
Marc Jacobs Beauty Accomplice Concealer & Touch-Up Stick, $32, available at Sephora
"Every summer, without fail, I get a really bad sunburn. It lingers for days — even weeks — and itches all through the night. Although I’m still in search of the perfect after-sun cream, this CBD serum was a pleasant soother for my scorched skin. I’ve been using this product as my one-and-only bedtime skin product and it’s been leaving my skin soft and hydrated. It was only after I rubbed some of the leftover product from my hands onto my inflamed chest that I realized just how powerful it is. By morning, the burn that stretched from the middle of my neck down to my boobs was practically gone without one flake of peeling skin in sight. Turns out, CBD does do it all." — Sasso
Beboe High-Potency CBD Serum, $148, available at Beboe
"Another summer means another year of hunting for the best beach-wave spray out there – and, well, I think I finally found The One. This oil spray is becoming a staple in my hair routine. I use it on wet hair, dry hair, dirty hair, clean hair — and no matter what it leaves behind the same soft beachy texture I’ve been searching for, not an awkward crunch or sticky residue." — Sasso
Kerastase Hair Huile Sirene Hair Oil Mist, $28, available at Kerastase Hair
"At long last, a breath freshener that spares you the annoyance of chewing gum — and then having to find somewhere to throw it out — and the humiliation of gurgling mouthwash in your office bathroom. While this product may seem out of the ordinary for a beauty roundup, I insist that having pleasant breath is under the personal-care umbrella, and, honestly, these are simply too good not to highlight.
"Here’s how they work: You pop the tablet in your mouth, chew it for a few seconds so it becomes a liquid, swish it around your mouth and then — wait for it — you swallow it. After Listerine sent the beauty team a few packets of these things, they’ve become a section-wide obsession. About five minutes before every big meeting or interview, I get a Slack message from a teammate asking for one of these. Needless to say, gum is basically dead to me." — Rachel Lubitz, Senior Beauty Writer
Listerine Ready! Tabs Chewable Tablets with Clean Mint Flavor, $9.15, available at Amazon
"I’m picky about my eyebrow gels. If the brush is too big, I end up with clumps. If it’s too small, it feels like it’s not doing anything for my thick brows. And if the formula is too thick, I can end up looking like Helga Pataki real quick. Now, Joey Healy isn’t new to brow gel. In fact, Refinery29 ‘s raved about this product before. What is new here is that Healy expanded the shade range, and now there is finally one just for me: Fawn, a warm taupe. The ultra-thin brush grabs onto every hair. I’ve worked all day in this brow gel, and then worked out in it too, only to find that my brows are still groomed perfectly at the end of the day." — Lubitz
Joey Healy Brow Lacquer, $28, available at Joey Healy
"Looking at the full range of CTZN nude lipsticks, I was overwhelmed — in a good way. Out of the 25, there were at least eight that could potentially work with my skin tone (which is rare for me!). As I proceeded to swatch all the shades on my hand, I realized I had options. There were several warm rose shades, a few pale browns, and a couple mahogany colors that I’d definitely rock. However, I ended up going with the Sarajevo shade.
"The color blends perfectly into my lips, and unlike some nudes that are super sheer, this color is opaque enough to completely cover the pink in my lips. I also like the fact that there is a bullet and a gloss, so that I can layer the color and easily do touch-ups, and the formula feels super soft on my lips — no cracking or flaking. After one day of wearing Sarajevo, I went back to get the other seven shades that worked for me. Maybe nude is my new thing?" — Jessica Cruel, Deputy Beauty Director
CTZN Cosmetics NUDIVERSAL Shade 23: Sarajevo, $25, available at CTZN Cosmetics
"I could refill my water bottle 65 times a day and I’d still be thirsty, and even worse, my face would will still look the same: dehydrated and in serious need of a face mist. But after using this hyaluronic acid serum religiously for a few weeks, I have zero dryness. I use it both morning and night after washing my face and before applying moisturizer — I can’t say for certain it’s the fix, but it costs $7, so I’m not going to slow my roll." — Megan Decker, Beauty Writer
The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $4.99, available at Cult Beauty
"Jewelry designer Jess Hannah named this polish shade Nectar, but I prefer the descriptors she uses in the product caption on her website: smoky apricot, sun-faded, ranunculus, and muted Thai tea. It’s all of those, and it’s also the only color that has ever inspired me to wear orange nail polish." — Decker
J.Hannah Nectar, $19, available at J.Hannah
"Every time I put self-tanner anywhere near my face, I break out. But when my friend with similarly sensitive skin and what I assumed to be a natural post-St. Barths vacation glow told me that her tan came from this bottle of Face Tan Water, I knew it was worth a try. She get’s her natural glow by pressing it all over her face and neck in the morning, after skin care but before makeup. Putting it on after moisturizer, allows the color to slowly develop throughout the day, and by the afternoon, she has a dewy, sun-kissed tan. I followed her instructions to a T, drawing the exact same conclusions for myself — it’s really good." — Decker
Bali Body Face Tan Water, $29.95, available at Bali Body
"No judgement if you’ve still got a 7-step skin-care situation, but I, for one, am extremely over layering on an essence, two serums, a moisturizer, and an oil before I can go to bed every night. So was Venn co-founder Brian Oh, which is why he worked with a South Korean chemist to develop a single product that — wait for it — does it all. The result is this super-powered, surprisingly lightweight (and inexplicably under-the-radar) cream, a fine line-smoothing, dryness-relieving, redness-soothing, breakout-reducing multitasker that has made my routine that much easier — and my skin that much better." — Rachel Krause, Senior Beauty Editor
VENN AGE-REVERSING ALL-IN-ONE CONCENTRATE, $185, available at VENN
""I love cheek stains and tiny things; this tinted twist-up stick is both. I love, love, love the sheer, glowy flush each shade imparts with a single swipe." — Krause
Milk Makeup Glow Oil, $14, available at Milk Makeup
"I can count on one hand how many times I’ve switched my go-to perfume in the last decade. My nose is extremely sensitive to fragrances, so most of them are just way too much for me. When I gave this new Byredo perfume a quick trial spritz, I was immediately hooked on the warm citrus scent that has a touch of sweetness. I’ve never been drawn to fruity fragrances, but this one is perfectly balanced and refreshing." — Thatiana Diaz, Beauty Writer
Byredo Sundazed, $260, available at Byredo
"When I got a package from this curly hair brand, I was excited to see that it was founded by a Latina. I had already heard positive things about these products from fellow curly girls, so I knew I had to give it a try, and I’m glad I did. This styling cream gave my curls definition without requiring too much scrunching, and it left them looking extra moisturized and glossy. It’s the best my curls have looked (and smelled) since I began my curly transition last fall. Plus, the formula smells like a tropical vacation." — Diaz
Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream, $18.64, available at Walmart
"Body lotion for me has just always been that — body lotion. I slather it on after a shower or when my skin is feeling dry, and there isn’t much thought that goes into it. This thick, hydrating formula changed that all up. My senses were sparked from the cedarwood and geranium fragrance, and on top of that, there’s aloe vera in the formula, which moisturizes the skin. Using this body lotion is an experience, which is exactly what this brand promotes with its self-care messaging." — Diaz
SpaRitual Body Creme, $45, available at SpaRitual
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Source: Refinery29 – Thatiana Diaz