NYC Summer Skin Essentials: What You Really Need

Feel that? That is sunshine. And boy, does it feel glorious! Though it may be tempting to strip off all your layers, run to the closest park/rooftop/median (yep, welcome to NYC), and bask in its sweet glory, resist the urge—starting the season off with a sunburn isn’t any fun. Save your skin from redness, wrinkles, and most importantly, skin cancer, with our roundup of NYC summer skin essentials.

FACE SUNSCREEN

These days, wearing SPF (even on the cloudiest of days) is a no-brainer. But for those of us with sensitive or acne-prone skin, sunscreen can sometimes feel like the devil. To protect your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays, which can prematurely age your complexion and make acne scars even more pronounced (yikes!), try an oil-free, broad-spectrum moisturizer like this one from Mario Badescu. This NYC brand has a cult following of celebrities including Martha Stewart, Charlize Theron, and Jennifer Aniston—and trust us, one squirt and you’ll see why.

SELF TANNER
We all want a sun-kissed glow, but laying out for hours and hours is a big no-no—just ask any dermatologist. For a full-body tan that will leave you golden, not freckly and splotchy, self-tanner is the way to go. But choose wisely! Though a professional spray-on tan is always ideal, for those times when you need a little color ASAP (like, right before a last-minute date), simply swipe Tan Towels all over your face and body. To ensure that the color distributes evenly and naturally, be sure to exfoliate beforehand.

WATERPROOF MAKEUP
If you’re going to spend the summer living it up in NYC (and you totes should), then you better make friends with humidity—and sweat. When the temperature starts to climb and the buildings block all the lovely breeze, hair ties and sweat-proof makeup is key. Our pick: Diorshow Waterproof Mascara. It lengthens, thickens, and curves lashes to the utmost degree, so you can rest assured that you won’t be rocking raccoon eyes by dinnertime.

BODY MOISTURIZER

Despite the aforementioned humidity, many people experience extreme dryness during the summer months. Between salt water, chlorine, and open-aired brunches, your skin can go from glowing to flaking in one fell swoop. To keep your gams looking smooth and sexy all season long, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! For a ultra-hydrating body butter with a fresh summer smell, check out this Grapefruit+Aloe Body Butter Maximum Moisture Cream by Bliss.

FLOPPY HAT

For those days when your frizz can’t be tamed—or when you plan on spending all day picnicking in Central Park—throw on a cute woven hat, like like one by Eric Javitz, and you’re good to go. The neutral brown hue goes with everything from cutoffs to sundresses, and it’s so much chicer than sporting a tattered baseball cap.