Now that we are well into summer, I wanted to round up the products I’ve been reaching for the most! These are my top makeup, skincare and body care essentials for summer 2026 - simple, effective formulas that have been keeping my skin hydrated, fresh and comfortable all day. If you’re looking to update your routine for warmer weather, this is a great place to start!
Starting with body, and being a huge fan of the original Brazilian Bum Bum cream, when I saw the Sol de Janeiro Body Badalada Vitamin Infused Lotion Cheirosa 62 I knew I had to get it! I tried this a couple of times when I was in duty free at the airport and loved the lighter texture so picked it up earlier this year with a view to using in the summer and I love it! It smells like the original and sinks in quickly keeping my skin soft and smooth and smells amazing!
Moving onto skincare next and the Skinfix Barrier Balancing Water Cream* has been my go to for my combo skin this summer! It is formulated for combination and oily skin, and delivers fast-absorbing hydration that supports the skin barrier, and keeps shine under control. It works well for me under makeup and has lived up to its shine control claim while keeping my skin hydrated and balanced! Ingredients include zinc PCA, niacinamide, and green tea to absorb oil and boost skin’s radiance, prebiotic peptides to support the barrier for healthy-looking skin and hyaluronic acid. I also love the hygienic pump mechanism to dispense the cream!
An oldie but a goodie, this is the second bottle of the SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Serum* I have used and it really does live up to its hype. It contains 15% pure Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), 1% Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol to replenish skin lipids), and 0.5% Ferulic Acid to enhance protection against environmental damage caused by free radicals that can contribute to visible signs of atmospheric aging and is ideal for dry, normal and sensitive skin. It is a beautiful formulation that absorbs quickly, helps brighten my skin and keeps it looking more even while marks from any spots that pop up while using it fade much quicker! See my full review here!
I had a hard time picking out an SPF for this as I’m using a few at the moment and they are all great so I went with the Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Fresh Sun Serum SPF 50*. You really can’t go wrong with a K Beauty SPF, this one is enriched with hyaluronic acid, squalane and allantoin to soothe, hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. It’s a chemical formula, feels lightweight and suits my combo skin, leaving a moisturised finish. There is no pilling and it works well under my makeup, keeping my skin hydrated and protected! I have fair skin and don’t experience any white cast with either! Don’t forget, you can get up to 5% more off at YesStyle with my discount code DANIELLESBB5
Makeup next, and after finishing a mini of the Caliray So Blown Blurring and Hydrating Tripeptide Primer I had to grab the full size! My combo skin errs on the side of oily during the summer and I sweat so I wanted something help with excess oil and shine. This does just that and mattifies and blurs my skin without drying it out. I typically focus it on my t-zone, and it doesn’t make my foundation pill or separate while keeping it intact even when I feel oily or sweaty!
Since I tend to reach for mattifying products in the summer months, I like to add a little glow back into my skin and the Jones Road Bright Skin Illuminating Drops in Gilded* has been doing just that! I have not stopped using these since I got them! They give my skin a soft, natural illumination while hydrating and brightening. I have been mixing these into my foundation and the ultra fine pearls are perfect at adding some glow! They can also be mixed in with moisturiser (face or body) or used on bare skin. Gilded is a white gold shade that doesn’t pill with my makeup or skincare and I love how the packaging looks too!
The Jones Road Lip Recharge Glossy Treatment Balm in Rosé* has been my most used lip product over the last month! It’s a sheer pink with gold shimmer which has a metal applicator tip which feels so cooling for summer! The shade is gorgeous, it has some shimmer but doesn’t leave my lips looking glittery and the formula is perfect! It leaves my lips smooth, hydrated with a lovely shine to them and it’s long-lasting too! It contains peptides, vitamin E and shea butter and also has a subtle mint scent!
The Basma Bronzer in Light* has been my number one bronzer this summer! The shade is perfect for my skin! Not too warm, not too cool, just a perfect neutral that doesn’t kick up a lot of powder or leave me with too much blending to do - love it! It’s a satin-matte finish and you can build it up very easily!
Lastly, the Pixi Liquid Glow Blush in Warmth*, a lightweight serum blush that is seriously pigmented! This melts into my skin and leaves a beautiful fresh flush, and I only need the tiniest amount of product for maximum impact! It also contains brightening radiance pigments to leave a healthy-looking glow and Warmth is such a natural and pretty shade! It’s long lasting and there is no fading after a full days wear!
swatches l-r: Jones Road Gilded and Rose, Pixi Warmth and Basma Bronzer in Light - not the best lighting, sorry!
And that’s everything I’ve been loving this summer — a mix of lightweight textures, hydrating formulas and makeup that holds up for me in the heat. Let me know what your summer essentials are, I’m always looking for new favourites to try next!
Check out my 2025 Summer Essentials here!
*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.
All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.
Danielle xx
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