One thing I am sure we can all agree on is that many of us are fighting the attack of “mask-ne” on our skin as we continue to practice social distancing and hygiene measures during the pandemic, while also getting out and about. As someone with naturally oily and acne-prone skin, who also struggles with PCOS and hormone imbalances, my skin has taken a hit this season. However, I’ve found some “holy grail” products that have worked wonders on my skin and are definitely worth having in your arsenal this summer to fight acne, oil, and other skin imperfections.

Of course, I’ve also found some great makeup products that can help cover up those pesky blemishes that still pop up, keep unwanted shine at bay, and aren’t going to feel heavy on the skin in the heat of the summer whether you are wanting to do a minimal look or full makeup.

As I’ve mentioned before in previous posts, I am a skincare junkie. I love finding new skincare products to help treat and tame my acne-prone skin. I also love simple and basic makeup products as well that aren’t going to clog my pores, feels light on my skin (especially in the summer), and will stay all day. So today I have put together a quick list of my go-to summer skin and makeup products that will help fight acne and other skin imperfections, keep shine at bay, and is sure to stay all day.

Summer Skincare Lifesavers

The Body Shop, Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner - $14.00, Ulta - This has been a go-to favorite of mine for years. Tea Tree has been known to fight acne and remove impurities from the skin. I use this morning and night on a cotton round and wipe it all over my face. The amount of extra dirt and grime that comes off, even after washing my skin, amazes me. With that said, this stuff has definitely helped to keep my oily and acne-prone skin at bay. It does sting a little since it’s a toner/astringent, but after a couple of minutes, it does settle down.

The Ordinary, Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% - $7.90, Sephora - This was a new find for me from Sephora. This product helps to brighten skin and help even your texture and reduce blemishes. It is super lightweight and I noticed a difference in my skin within 2-3 days of using this morning and night as directed. Definitely a new go-to product of mine. I apply this after I use a serum and before moisturizer.

The Inkey List - Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Blemish + Blackhead Serum, $10.99, Sephora - This was also a recently new product that I found at Sephora. Again, being someone who suffers from acne, specifically in my T-Zone area and suffers from oily/combination skin this was very appealing to me. This serum helps to unclog pores and helps to reduce blemishes, controls acne, and hydrate the skin. I apply this after using the Tea Tree Toner and follow it up with the brightening cream from The Ordinary.

Sephora Collection Glow Peel Pads, $16.00 (60 pads), Sephora - I use this right after using the Toner before using my serums and creams. This is just one more step to fighting acne, but also smoothing and prepping my skin for the next couple of treatment products. This product is great for combination skin like mine, but also those with normal or dry skin. Again, the main ingredients in this product (Glycolic Acid from Cane Sugar, Natural Peptides from Marine Algae, and Natural Aloe Vera) all have skin exfoliating, smoothing, and soothing benefits.

Sephora Collection Brightening Eye Cream - Hydrate, $17.00, Sephora - This is a super lightweight and hydrating eye cream from Sephora’s own line. I love using this product because my under eyes and surrounding eye area that I apply this to automatically look brighter, feel softer, and look hydrated helping me look more awake than I am (especially when the coffee hasn’t kicked in yet).

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Face Butter, Vanilla Apricot, $42.00 Josie Maran Cosmetics - This is a splurge item, but definitely worth it! The website has a variety of scented face butter options, but you can also get the unscented original face butter from Sephora. I have been able to try this product a few times through small samples I got with purchases and always loved the way my skin felt and looked after applying it. My skin usually looks glowy, healthy, and hydrated and I even feel that way after applying it. If you are only going to have one moisturizer in your entire line up, this is the one to have, and it will last you quite some time because you do NOT need a lot, as a little goes a LONG way.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater, (8 oz.), $12.00, Ulta - I saw a LOT of celebrities using this in their Vogue “Beauty Secrets” and tutorial videos that I’ve watched online and they loved how hydrated their skin felt and how much this helped with soothing it as well. It’s definitely worth the hype. I love how hydrated my skin is as soon as I put it on. A lot of them used it right after finishing applying make-up so they didn’t feel so dried out (without it ruining their look) and it definitely makes a difference. I also love using it at night after my full skincare routine to calm my skin after using so many treatments/products.

Clean & Clear Watermelon Juicy Scrub, $7.99, Walgreens - I came across this while grabbing some basic essentials at Walgreens a couple of months ago. I have always liked Clean & Clear’s products, specifically their acne treatment/targeting products, so I figured I’d give this acne scrub a try, especially since it was oil-free but still had hydrating benefits to it. I like to use this in the AM with my Mia 2 Clarisonic, it’s refreshing and gentle on my skin which is a bonus.

Bliss Micro Magic Face Scrub, $15.00, Ulta - This was actually my free birthday gift for being an Ultamate Rewards member in 2020. This stuff is HEAVEN on the skin. It’s a really fine scrub and I always feel like my skin is super recharged and clean after using this. It’s got a bit of a tingly effect to it but is still gentle on the skin. I like to use this 2-3 times a week in the morning either right before or right after my regular face wash, or in place of my regular face wash.

Summertime Makeup Go-To’s

Kiehl’s Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream SPF 50, $40.00, Ulta - Again, if you’re going to splurge on something that will be one of the only tools in your kit, this is it. I was really looking for a good BB or CC Cream after watching several different makeup and skincare tutorials by some celebrities (most of whom are also right around my age, therefore facing similar skin problems). A few of them really like a more natural look and lightweight products and leaned towards a BB or CC cream and then a little powder. So after doing a lot of research, I came across this one and it’s definitely a keeper. My skin feels super hydrated and it’s really lightweight and sheer, so you can build up the product if you want to, but you don’t have to. After I will go in with a little concealer on certain spots that can’t be covered, and then a little powder to calm my shiny spots. There are not many color options because it’s meant to be color-correcting, so if you are looking for a BB or CC Cream that actually is a match for your skin-tone look at brands like IT Cosmetics, Tarte, or Covergirl for a wide-range that are more like “foundations” than “color-correcting” creams.

Buxom Power-full Plump Lip Balm, Big-O, $18.00, Sephora - I absolutely love this stuff! I am not a huge lipstick fan and I am really particular about lip gloss. I also don’t wear enough makeup daily for lipstick or lipgloss to really look right. BUT, I am always in need of a lip balm and when I can get a bit of a tint or flush of color to my lips to go with my everyday makeup or makeupless look, it’s a winner in my book. This one is unique because it won’t look the same on everyone because it’s specifically formulated to create a custom shade by reacting with your lips pH levels, but it’s a sheer/light pink color, very natural looking.

Frank Body Taupe-less Lip Tint, $11.95, Ulta - So when I do want to do a little gloss I will use this little gem that I found at Ulta. It’s a very natural blush/nude tone, tastes and smells like coffee, and has a very moisturizing feel with a glossy look, minus the stickiness of most lip glosses. Definitely a winner.

Nudestix Nude(art)ist Magnetic Eyeshadow Sticks, $59.00, Sephora - Now, this palette I’ve had for a while has since been discontinued. But you can still purchase Nudestix single eyeshadow sticks or other palettes online at Sephora, Ulta, or Nudestix’s website. I watched Hilary Duff do a tutorial using these and I loved how blendable they were, the tones were super mellow but you can build up the product for a richer color, and they are meant for people with oily skin where powders and other types tend to melt or crease. These do NOT crease, blend easily, and stay ALL DAY LONG. I sometimes use a combination of colors for an easy eye look without eyeliner or just one shade to give me a little definition and call it good.

Ulta Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Black Out (deep black matte) & Mink (deep brown matte), $8.00, Ulta - These were on sale, buy one, get one 50% off, and I was in desperate need of a new eyeliner. These glide on SO EASY, I don’t have to pull my eyelid to get a solid line, I can literally draw a line and follow my lashline without even touching my eye. The color is super rich and it stays ALL DAY. It’s a bargain price for an incredible product, and I have tried expensive and inexpensive eyeliners in my day of all types (pencil, gel, etc.). This by far is the best, and I only need two colors in my day-to-day or even day-to-night looks, black or brown.

Too Faced Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer, $30.00, Ulta - I LOVE this bronzer. I got a sample of this product with an order one time and just absolutely loved the way it looked on my skin. It gave a really natural, healthy glow, it wasn’t an intense bronzing/orange color and was something you can sort of dust all over your face for a quick hint of color without looking fake tan. This stuff lasts forever, and I use it almost daily. Best bang for your buck product.

Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel, $24.00 ($12.00 for the mini size), Ulta, - I love this stuff, it naturally enhances your brows without making them look fake or like you literally drew them on. I sometimes like to pair it with their Precisely, My Brow Pencil Ultra-Fine Shape & Define, when I need to fill in some spots before adding the volume and fullness to my brows. My shade is 4.5 for the gel and a 4 for the pencil. Both have a wide range of shades to pick from.

Benefit Cosmetics BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara, Intense Pitch Black, $25.00, ($12.00 for the mini), Ulta - I am a contact lens wearer. I also had double eye muscle surgery in October 2019. So using a product that doesn’t irritate my eyes, flake, or irritates my lashes is extremely important to me. I also hate a product that makes me feel like my lashes are being weighed down. After much trial and error, this product has been a longtime favorite of mine since it launched. It’s extremely lightweight on the lashes, buildable volume, doesn’t flake, and is super gentle on the lashes.

Milk Makeup Kush High Volume Mascara, Blackest Black, $24.00 ($12.00 for the mini), Sephora - This was included in my Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday Gift selection that I chose this year along with a few other trial sizes of Milk’s products. I absolutely love this mascara for a lot of reasons; big volume, definition, fullness, rich pigmentation, and is featherlight on the lashes.

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer, $34.00, Sephora - I’ve been using this concealer for years and it is my go-to product. It really covers your blemishes and marks well and is easy to blend but doesn’t blend down so much so that you have to continue to apply more product, a little will go a long way here. For reference, my shade is Pink Porcelain 1.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, $30.00 ($13.00 for the mini), Sephora - I picked this up when I was looking to try something new for my friend’s wedding back in 2018 and it’s definitely a winner, which is why I am sharing this one and the Make Up For Ever product since I use both interchangeably. It’s very creamy, blends out really nicely, and again a little goes a long way. For reference, I use the color Vanilla.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, $39.00, Ulta - I had to save the absolute best for last. And this is truly the best because I am not really sure why I am just discovering this holy grail product now….but, here we are! After watching many of those Vogue “Beauty Secrets” videos on YouTube almost every celebrity used this product and raved about it. As I’ve mentioned before, I get super oily or shiny throughout the day, even with makeup on, and there is nothing worse than being on a Zoom or WebEx call for work and looking shiny, not dewy. So I decided to invest in this product, and I’m never looking back. From all the tutorials I watched many who get shiny “bake” their face or problem areas, by applying a decent amount of the powder with a brush or beautyblender and then just letting it sit there for a few minutes and wiping away the excess. They also use it on spots where they used more concealer to cover blemishes so the makeup doesn’t melt away and stays in place, or swipe it all over shiny areas to make it matte. If you are someone who struggles with shine or oil, this is a lifesaver and definitely worth the investment.

Do you struggle with any skincare problems not mentioned above? Have any products that you and your skin just cannot live without anymore? Summer makeup or skincare product go-to’s that I didn’t mention above? Drop a comment below with your struggles and what’s worked well for you!