Whether you’re off to a picnic on the beach, dancing your feet off at an open air music festival or glamming up for an outdoor champagne brunch, here are the six summer essentials you simply have to keep handy. Celebrity blogger Ankita Chaturvedi of Corralista has rounded up six necessities that she can’t think of leaving home without this summer. And after you’ve read this, neither will you!
My top hand bag essential has to be Pressed Powder! Most of us experience oiliness especially on the T-zone area in the warmer months and that dreaded shine can really dull one’s makeup. A quick dab with a dry tissue or blotting powder followed by a quick powder touch up can freshen up your makeup and extend the wear of your base. My top picks are Lakme Absolute Face Stylist Compact and Maybelline Clear Glow Pressed Powder.
No one likes getting sweaty but it’s inevitable on hot days. Keep yourself feeling fresh and smelling great by carrying a travel sized deodorant or perfume mini in your handbag. I often collect perfume samples I receive with purchases and in beauty boxes to pop into my handbag. My top picks are Iba Halal Care Pure Perfume Blue Lotus and Fabindia Aromatherapy Ylang Ylang Perfum Oil.
Rare is the woman who doesn’t keep a lip balm handy for dry pout emergencies! I like to carry a selection of lip balms, a clear one with SPF (my lips get parched by the sun!) and a tinted one to add some color to my face. My top pick for a balm with SPF would be the Avene High Pro SPF 30 Lip Balm. It’s not too waxy and works perfectly under lipstick too. For tinted balm lovers, Maybelline Baby Lips Color Balm offers a beautiful array of hues to pick from.
If you’re planning to be out in the sun for more than three to four hours, don’t forget to carry your sunblock! Look for a broad spectrum formula with SPF of at least 30. It’s best to get an oil-free formula for your face to prevent breakouts. My current favorites are the Just Herbs No Sun Jojoba-Wheatgerm Moisturizing Sun Protection Gel (the perfect lightweight sunscreen gel for the face) and Avene Very High Protection Spray SPF 50+ (great for the body).
I like to freshen up my lip color every few hours and the lipstick I’m wearing on any day will always make its way into my handbag or clutch! My favorite this summer is the Lakme Absolute Sculpt Matte Lipstick as it’s long lasting and doesn’t melt off at the first sip (though a touch up after a meal is always a good idea). Pink Caress is a great warm pink for day time wear! For evening, I prefer Red Rush, a lovely deep red.
My last pick is Concealer. Every girl must carry one of these emergency touch-up products that can immediately mask problem areas where foundation may have melted or faded. I generally like to touch up concealer under the eyes to brighten up my look and set it with a little pressed powder for enhanced wear time. The L'Oreal Paris True Match Concealer has a great, blendable texture that looks very natural on the under eye area and is great for quick re-touching because it blends quickly with fingers. Meanwhile, a stick concealer like Lakme Absolute White Intense Concealer Stick SPF 20 is better for touch ups on the face.
By Ankita Chaturvedi, beauty blogger and author of Corallista.com, a one stop destination for beauty reviews, looks and tutorials.
