I use nearly all these products daily in the summer to keep my beauty and shower routine simple, fun and affordable. You can by all of these things–except for one or two–at your local drugstore, Target or on drugstore.com.

Shower

• Dove Advanced Color Care is a shampoo I tried on a whim and loved. It really softens my very color-treated hair and helps prevent split-ends and frizz. The scent reminds me a bit of Downy fabric softener–in a good way, trust me–and the color of the bottle is about the girliest you can get.
• Aveda Blue Malva conditioner saves my hair. I’m naturally brunette, so when I dye my hair blond, it has a tendency to become quite brassy in the sun. This conditioner zaps those gold tones out and brightens the cool tones in my hair instead.

• I love all Burt’s Bees products, but this Radiance Exfoliating Body Bar takes the cake. It has a sweet–but not overbearing–scent, which is a huge plus. Others soaps can have too timid a scent or one that’s too strong. I like the rich lather of this as well.
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish face scrub is a morning and evening must for my skin. During the summer you sweat more (obviously), so you want to make sure you keep your pores clear of dirt and bacteria to avoid break-outs. This scrub gets my skin clean without irritation and also has anti-wrinkle ingredients in it. Although I’m 21, it’s never too early to prevent early signs of aging.

After-Shower

• Crest Vivid White toothpaste has a fresh, minty taste and really gives my teeth a whiter appearance after only a few uses. There’s also a “Night” formula, but I prefer the normal, any-time use version.
• Ocean Potion was my go-to brand for aloe and after-sun products, but when I discovered they made a gradual sunless tanning lotion, I had to try it. This one gives me a much more intense, yet still natural, color than the more popular gradual tanning lotions. The purely summer scent is also great: think suntan lotion, coconuts and the beach.

Beauty

• I hate wearing foundation or cover-up, so I compensate by using a daily moisturizer. This Clean&Clear version has SPF 15 and doesn’t make face look greasy or shiny.
• I hate blow-drying or straightening my hair in the summer. Why not take advantage of natural waves? Here’s my tip for getting great beachy waves: Shampoo your hair upside down in the shower. Turn off the water and grab a towel–with your head still flipped. Wrap up your hair in the towel and leave it for 5-7 minutes. When you’re ready to do your hair, flip your head upside down, remove the towel, and spray this got2B Curlvacious spray liberally all over. Scrunch a little bit. Spray all over with hairspray. Now flip your back carefully and stand straight up. Make adjustments in the mirror, but don’t apply too much product. I guarantee this method will give even the straightest hair a great wavy texture. Good luck!

• I’ve been using this Sephora brand bronzer for years. It’s gone through a few different incarnations, but the basic formula stays the same. Use a big brush and sweep on your nose, cheeks and in the middle of your forehead.
• Rimmel Eye Magnifier mascara gives me Sophia Loren-like lashes. I’ve had more than one occasion when someone asks me if I’m wearing fake eyelashes, to which I simply point them in the direction of this mascara miracle-worker.
• The limited edition Very Sexy Now fragrance from Victoria’s Secret has a light, beachy, sexy scent.
• Carmex chapstick is a summer must-have. It’s so cheap at less than a $1 at most drugstores and keeps my lips well-moisturized all day.

What are your favorite summer beauty products?

1. USB Lighted Mirror

This little baby is pretty cool. It’s surrounded by light, making lining your eyes that much easier, and you can put your picture on the mirror to make a personal photo frame. It’s powered by USB and has four feet of cable. Very cool, very chic, and very cheap… only $15 dollars from USB Brando.

2. The blu_ray™ Collection by Cargo

Okay, it’s not a gadget… but the technology is amazing. My worst two fears in life are ending up in the emergency room wearing an old pair of underwear, and inadvertently getting my 15 minutes of fame looking a hot mess! Now with high definition TV, looking good doesn’t even cut it anymore, you have to look perfect. Cargo made this makeup line especially for makeup artists shooting in high-definition situations. The technology used includes photochromatic pigments, optical blurring, and hyaluronic spheres…in layman’s terms, the technology prevents your pores from looking big enough to drive a truck through. Shown from left to right are Lip Gloss, Blush/Highlighter, Pressed Powder, and Mascara… And don’t worry about being on TV, you can use this makeup in everyday life, especially if you’re prepping for your wedding day, special events, or a photo shoot. You can only buy the line at Sephora. The entire collection is $130.00, but it’s on sale now for $59.

3. Safetox Beauty

Sorry if this description is too scientific, but Safetox packs a lot of technology into this little gadget in order to provide alternatives to botox or surgeries. The device acts on the causes of wrinkles on the muscular level through five minute sessions each day for a number of weeks. Safetox relaxes the muscles in the front of the face altering the muscular balance in favor of the muscles in the rear of the head which open up the face and uplift the skin. For about $410 you can get your own. Check out the website for more information or check out the video on YouTube; it’s not in English but the action is enough for you the get the picture.

3. MiniTISSUES

I love, LOVE, love this product. I purchased these last month, and because I travel a lot, they come in handy in airports and anywhere you have access to water. Just take these mint-looking products and add water…and presto, you have a full-fledged, heavy duty wash cloth. I show people these all the time and they are truly amazed. And the best part? They are great for foreign countries and travel abroad because they are individually wrapped to be germ free and bacteria free while also being natural, disposable and biodegradable. When you purchase MiniTISSUE you get 96 individually packed tissues, 8 in a bag for convenience. Personally, the thing I love most about MiniTISSUE is that it is lint free, so feel free to wipe a black skirt with it. Visit minitissue.com and check out the video on YouTube to get a up closer look.

I have searched all over for the perfect illuminating makeup for my skin, and Keelie Nicole Mineral Fresh Glow is it. My personal color choice is stargaze. This product is hands down, my absolute favorite yet. If you’ve ever wondered how magazines get their models to look like they have perfectly dewy and radiant skin, this product does just that. It’s a little bit pricey, but well worth the money.

Apply with foundation brush, sponge or fingers anywhere you want to highlight or add shimmer. Can be used alone, over foundation or mixed in with moisturizer for a more subtle glow. I line my cheek bones, the apples of my cheeks, temples, collar bones, lower lips and the inner corner of my eyes with this product.

Another line I love is the all-organic VonNatur. All the ingredients have regenerating effects, which are excellent for Sensitive, Sun-Damaged, Combination and Normal skin types. I LOVE using their Balance Facial Serum as a base to my skin, before applying makeup. This product has some natural shimmer to it and the smell of it is refreshing! This product is a great addition to your daily facial treatments. Their toner also gives additional shimmer to your skin. Hmm…I wonder if these products are part of the reason why people think that I am so much younger than I really am? I think it is!

I’m also a fan of VonNatur’s Ammolite Eye Color. Use it wet or dry without creasing or flaking for long-lasting color that you can use as heavily or lightly as you want for your eyeshadow. It’s so versatile…you can also use as an eyeliner by wetting an eye liner brush and putting some colour on for an eye line with staying power. My fave smoky eye makeup trick is to coat black eyeshadow, or black gel liner all over the lower lid of my eyelids (from lashes to crease only), then dab this eyeshadow over my black coated lids. Super sexy, super smoky.

I have a confession. Burt’s Bees Shea and Grapefruit Deep Conditioner product works great and it’s wonderfully natural, but that’s not why I use it. I only love it for its scent. It’s not my fault that even though I love the tree hugger products, I love to smell and feel glamorous. This simple product does it for me.

I’m always on the hunt for the most fabulous eco-friendly, natural products that won’t offend my sensitive skin. Please leave a comment if you have any products that you would like to have our team at Skorch take a look at!