words_kelsey karp
During the sweltering summer it isn’t always easy to look like perfection. Want a low-maintenance, natural look at summer bonfires, barbecues and block parties? Overdoing it certainly isn’t the answer.
Fresh Face
Skip the foundation, put a hint of pink blush on the apples of your checks and sweep bright, playful colors like green, pink, white and gold across your eyelids for the perfect sun-kissed summer look. For makeup that is light, fresh and easy to use, check out Benefit Cosmetics.
Just For Men
Going out of your way to buy shampoo, soap and face wash is probably the last thing you enjoy doing. Luckily there’s a solution. All you need to buy is Neutrogena Men All-in-One Hair and Body wash, $5.50 at local drugstores. One bottle does it all—tingles your skin and wakes you up—while gently cleansing. In order to avoid razor burn that is sure to turn away the ladies, try C.O. Bigelow Barber Foaming Shave Gel, $10 at Bath & Body Works. The coconut oil and aloe in the gel moisturizes your skin and protects against razor burn.
Chic Summer Hair
Humidity is no friend to hair. Frizzy, oily, sweaty hair is hardly trendy. In order to get that sexy, salty, wind-blown style without spending hours at the beach (or in the salon), use Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, $20 to $25 online or at select drugstores. Use your beach hair to create sexy ponytails and braids or top off the look with feminine accessories such as headbands, barrettes and clips.
Most Seductive Cologne & Perfume
Guys, nothing makes a girl go bananas more than a luscious, masculine aroma when hugging hello (DISCLAIMER: If someone can follow your scent around town, you over did it.) Hitting stores in April is Boss Pure by Hugo Boss ($60.95), which contains hints of fig water, citrus, lily and massoia wood for both a tantalizing and smooth aquatic scent—perfect for summer. 
Ladies, look out for Vera Wang’s two new fragrances coming in April. Vera Wang Bouquet ($67) joins the bridal-themed scents with its floral, lavender, honeysuckle scent, while Flower Princess ($87) is fruitier with tangerine, water lily, rose and apricot scents.
Best Fake-Tan in a Bottle
Because some summer days are full of all rain and no shine, it’s difficult to maintain that perfect golden bronze. Tanning beds aren’t the answer unless you’re going for the cracked-leather, cancer-ridden look. Instead, try Bare Escentuals Faux Tan Sunless Tanner ($22). It creates a healthy, natural-looking tan on the face and body without staining hands and has a tinted formula so you never miss a spot when applying. Available at bareescentuals.com or in Sephora stores nation-wide.<<