Around here at the The Cov HQ we interrupt the regularly scheduled emailing and Snapchatting with friendly (we swear!) debates on things like, which makeup removers actually take off waterproof mascara, whether we’d ever put snail slime on our face, or if we’d go full on natural and use coconut oil for practically everything. Add that to the Rolodex of beauty editors we consult on the regular and the product that we’re lucky enough to have land on our desks, and we can safely say that we’ve tried it all. Through a pretty thorough process of elimination we’re switching up our winter routines to summer (duh) with these products sitting top shelf.
Meagan Wilson
Senior Editor & Social Media Manager
While I was desperately wishing I was the kind of girl who proverbially lightened up her beauty routine in time for spring and summer, I'm just... not. That said, I did just make the switch from concealer to BB cream, and Bobbi Brown's is perfect for me: it offers actual coverage, but is still easy enough to apply by hand. Fragrance-wise, I'm going to be switching over to Margiela's 'Beach Walk' fragrance, which most precisely smells exactly of ocean spray, skin sticky with drugstore SPF and sand, and bergamot (which, in case the name didn't make it clear, makes up my year-round Le Labo Bergamot 22), all without being too sweet and saccharine. Finally, I'm also planning on picking up a tub of Tata Harper's Smoothing Body Scrub, made with sea salts to slough off dead skin.
Alicia Cesaro
Editorial Assistant
Consider my quest for a transportive summer fragrance o-v-e-r. I'm banking on Tommy's smelly stuff to instantly take me from keyboard carpal tunnel to Mediterranean seashore with just a spritz (don't smoosh) on the wrist. But let's be honest, he had me at the ultramarine glass bottle—aesthetic appeal, guys. As for the space aged looking compact thing? That, my friends, is an IOPE Air Cushion a.k.a. the six second compact (one is sold every six seconds in Korea) a.k.a. the only way to apply (and reapply) sunscreen in 2015. All these Korean beauty stories have me a bit obsessed. Like, I want to literally throw away everything in my vanity (even my French pharmacy potions) in favour of all things Seoulcialite-approved and Panda shaped. The final item on my summer beauty to-buy list is a sheer but not too sheer kind of lipstick that feels like a lip balm. Dior's Lip Glow fits the bill perfectly—as Dior usually does—and is useful for compulsive reapplication before, during and after sips of chilled Chardonnay. Now to find a vacation-appropriate pouch to throw it all in...
Emily Ramshaw
Senior Editor
To say that I simplify my beauty routine in the summertime would be a big fat lie. For the most part, it really doesn’t change much season-to-season because of the fact that I honestly can’t be bothered. See, I’m a makeup minimalist, by which I mean completely lazy. So besides a skincare routine that I think I’ve finally (!!) figured out, on any given day BB cream, concealer and a bit of bronzer is about as far as I’ll go. That said, in the summer, I’ll (occasionally) spend and extra few minutes at my vanity with some salt spray (this one by Sachajuan is satisfyingly fancy looking) and a great orangey-red lip—which, as far as I’m concerned is all that’s really necessary. Oh, and then there's perfume, something I’ll always take time for; and summer is as good an excuse as any to buy a new fragrance, especially a Rodin one that smells like "bergamot, anise flower and lemon." Summer!!
Stephanie Mark
Editor-in-Chief & Co-Founder
You may or may not have heard but I have a theory that simply washing your face leaves it still ridden with residue, dirt and makeup. Using Dermalogica's pre-cleanse really does a good job of getting everything off your face before you go on with your regular facewash—especially helpful during the hot, sweaty days of summer. And while some people can achieve that effortless "summer glow," I cannot. But I fake it with Armani's Fluid Sheer. Not living near a ocean and being totally hair-tool challenged makes having perfectly tousled waves everyday somewhat challenging. This spray from Oribe gives great texture and hold—perfect for summer hair!
Noah Lehava
Senior Editor
In my world, summer = laziness. Not for things like drinking El Pepinos (tequila + cucumber + chilli + basil = :heart_eyes: ) and festivals, duh, but for things like actually curling my hair and applying more than just a tinted sunscreen and some mascara. That’s why this wide-tooth comb is my savior. Just walk out of the shower, comb, run my fingers through my hair to loosen and air dry. Done. This Fueguia fragrance (yeah, you’ve never heard of it) is from a perfumery in Buenos Aires that I go back to every time I’m there. This scent…I want to drink it, it smells that good. And the best way to sooth my skin that might have gotten a bit too much sun (it happens) is with a sheet mask. It really doesn’t get much easier than that.
Renée Rodenkirchen
Videographer & Photographer
A wise woman once told me, 'Don't put anything on your skin that you wouldn't put in your mouth.' I try to live by this, but, hey, we can't all be perfect all the time, right? That said, I do try and keep my beauty products as clean as possible. When I get out of the shower I'll lather myself in coconut oil and then walk around nude for a bit. The oil takes a bit to set in, so you don't want to be in a rush to put your clothes on... plus it smells great and if somebody is nearby then you're pretty much all set for a massage. Hello mister man. I'll also mist my face with this Tata Harper toner. It wakes up my skin and is super refreshing. And who doesn't want to close their eyes and be teleported to the lavender fields of the South of France? I usually shy away from anything too wasteful, but the Milk Beauty wipes are real easy when I'm tired and don't feel like properly cleansing my face before bed. Plus, they're made by a princess in Bali. So technically you're using royal beauty products... which makes you royalty? :crown:
