Summer Beauty Handbag Essentials

As the seasons change, so do the contents of my handbag. Along with the usual suspects, such as my phone, purse and notebook, my summer stash includes a few, beauty essentials that make coping with the increase in temperature a little easier to handle.

The most important product in my bag, during summer, is SPF. In the UK, the weather may be sunny one minute and cloudy the next, but the sun's dangerous rays still pose a constant threat. To protect my skin from both UVA and UVB, I carry a tube of La Roche-Posey Anthelios SPF 30 Comfort Cream with me at all times. Suitable for intolerant skin, this range from La Roche-Posay is a sensitive skin life-saver and the nourishing, comfort formula is perfect for my drier skin-type. Many facial sunscreens that I've tried have caused me to break-out, or experience some sort of irritation. But, this one is 100% hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and is made up of minimal ingredients. I'm not left with a sickly, white cast after application and, although the consistency is rich, it doesn't feel heavy or too greasy. There's no need to worry about it clogging pores either, as the formula is non-comedegenic. Although it's technically a facial SPF, I do use this cream on my body, when re-applying on-the-go and it always does a great job.

A multi-purpose moisturiser is a god-send when the warmer weather saps the skin's hydration levels.  Dr PawPaw's Original Balm* works a treat on lips, cuticles, dry patches and anywhere else that needs a dose of moisture. Products that contain fermented papaya have been loved by makeup artists for years and, since trying this, I can totally see what the fuss is about. Clear and fragrance-free, this one is a simple, no frills treatment that feels similar to Vaseline, but has ingredients in it that actually nourish, rather than just protect. The non-sticky formula sinks in quickly and keeps the skin soft, supple and hydrated for a lot longer than similar balms I've used before. Ideal for any plane journeys, this handy sample-size will definitely be accompanying me on holiday, too!

There's nothing worse than feeling hot and bothered in the heat and worrying about makeup meltdown. To keep me cool, calm and collected, I keep a travel-sized Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray in my bag. Creating a light, micro mist, the spray not only refreshes the skin, but it also gently seals makeup in place, increasing the longevity. A cemented, foundation finish is never flattering in the harsh sunlight. So, if I ever get a bit heavy-handed with my foundation or powder, a quick spritz takes away any chalky residues and keep my makeup looking fresh and dewy. 

As lighter, summer fragrances don't tend to last as long as the deeper, headier scents that I wear throughout A/W, I like to top-up during the day. Whenever I get the chance to raid Sephora on trips away, I always make sure to pick up a rollerball scent, as they're just so handy to slot into a bag and hard to track down on home turf. One of my current favourites is Versace's Bright Crystal Eau De Toilette. With notes of pomegranate, magnolia, peony and amber, it's a fresh fragrance that hits the right balance between floral and fruity. As soon as I catch a whiff of it, my mood instantly lifts, so I thoroughly recommend hunting it down to have a sniff if you haven't tried it before. Thank me later.

For some reason, the warmer weather seems to force my face to eat up my concealer throughout the day, especially around my nose and chin. On the majority of my skin, I wear a tinted moisturiser, but I have to opt for a long-lasting concealer to pair with it. I still want it to look natural and non-cakey, of course, so Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay-In-Place Concealer fits the bill perfectly. Delivering an abundance of coverage, but with a silky smooth consistency, it blends over blemishes and redness easily and settles to a radiant, satin finish. If I'm touching up my makeup whilst on-the-go, it doesn't start to look dry or heavy and the doe-foot wand ensures a mess-free application.

Like Monica Geller, my hair can get a bit out of control when it's humid. Friends fans, I'm sure you can understand my pain. To prevent my barnet tripling in size and turning into a frizz ball when the mercury rises, a mini bottle of hair oil is a necessity in my handbag. How ridiculously cute is this tiny version of the Ojon Rare Blend Oil? Seriously potent, just one drop of this triple-phase treatment is enough to transform my long lengths into a sleek, soft mane. For those of you with dry, damaged or colour-treated hair, this could be an effective quick-fix. But, if your strands are fine or get very oily, then it may be too much for your hair to handle. As so little is needed per application, especially when used on dry hair, even this 15ml bottle has lasted for about six months, so far!

Although I love a dewy, radiant look, sometimes it appears more greasy than glowing. Although I prefer to tone down the shine across my T-zone, I like to keep a healthy, illuminated look to my skin. To give me just that and to add an extra hint of coverage, I rely on my beloved MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder. Packed with baked minerals, this powder is unlike any other. Somehow it mattifies, yet never gives a one-dimensional, dull finish and imparts a soft-focus, blurring effect. If I'm feeling lazy, then I'll use this powder by itself for a 'no makeup', makeup look. Followed up with a quick spritz of the Urban Decay Setting Spray mentioned above and I'm good to go.

Who doesn't love a bold lip for summer? I always keep a bright, lip product in my bag for whenever I'm feeling brave or want to take my makeup look from day to night. At the moment, I'm obsessed with the Sephora Cream Lip Stains and the shade 09, in particular. Not only is the neon, watermelon shade just stunning, but the matte formula isn't too dry or powdery in texture. As soon as you've applied the lip cream, it firmly sets in place and will not move all day. Despite having such intense pigmentation, this is such an easy, lip product to wear, as it feels light and comfortable and you can guarantee that it looks perfect at all times, without needing to keep an eye on it.

Which products do you stash in your bag, during summer?

AGB X