Teen Vogue's Total Guide to Summer Beauty, All Under $20
Summer is great: It means vacation, beaches, and awesome swimwear. But it can be a tricky time for beauty, when our hair is chapped from the ocean but our skin is shinier than the sequined gowns we wore at prom. And then, of course, there's the whole matter of SPF, which can cause makeup to look chalky and gross. (And our pores to clog and get zits.)
In this comprehensive shopping guide, we've outlined this season's plentiful beauty concerns and our most effective (but affordable!) solutions. Click through to find out which drugstore diamonds made our list, and then let us know what you're using in the comments below. (Seriously: We love to hear from you.)
Photos courtesy of Drugstore.com, Neutrogena1/8<center><b>Hair Care</center></b>
Minimizing damage and unlocking gorgeous hair starts right in the shower. And even though you may love your beachy texture, the sun, sand, and salt water are bound to take a toll on your strands. Clear Total Care Nourishing Shampoo (1) is a drugstore steal that’s specifically designed to cleanse and moisturize the scalp, so you’ll get a deep clean that won’t aggravate dryness that might be caused from days on the beach. Afterwards, Neutrogena Triple Repair Fortifying Conditioner (2) is actually a favorite of celeb stylist Sam Leonardi, who recommends leaving a little bit in post-shower if your ends are extremely dry. Finally, don’t you dare take a (wide-toothed!) comb to your locks without a healthy application of Pantene Pro-V Repair Light Detangler (3).
Photo: Lachlan Bailey2/8Because summer jobs just don't pay enough for all Sephora everything.
Photos courtesy of Mark Hill, Mark., Tresemmé, Miss Jessie's3/8<center><b>Hair Styling</center></b>
Once you’ve spent time creating the foundation for healthy hair, you’ll want styling aids that will mitigate further damage. Take Mark Hill Work It Girl Shine Protect and Control Spray (1), which is the most genius multi-purpose UK import you’ll find at your local Walgreen’s. Use it on damp or dry hair before blowdrying or curling, or mist it lightly on finished hair for added brilliance. If you want a more matte, textured look, celeb hair pro Scott Cunha swears by Salt Spray Mark. That’s Beachy Texturizing Surf Spray (2) when creating Lucy Hale’s dreamy waves. (Spray all over dry hair until it’s wet and then rough dry for major volume.) And obviously, oil will become a major problem when the temperatures begin to rise. Tresemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo (3) is our award-winning pick for a little root boost.
If you’re one of our curly-haired friends, you’ll want no-fuss control without crunch and zero frizz. Curly Hair Go-To Miss Jessie’s Jelly Soft Curls (4) is one of the line’s few below-$20 options... it’s a major heatwave game-changer.
Photos courtesy of Drugstore.com, Nordstrom, Sonia Kashuk, Sephora4/8<center><b>Skin Care</center></b>
A foam cleanser is the perfect solution to warm-weather grime—it’s gentle because it turns into a lather, but it’s not flimsy like a cream wash that won’t even get through your first layer of makeup. You can’t go wrong with the balmy Simple Foaming Cleanser (1). Following up with an alcohol-based toner is a good idea on occasions when you’re feeling particularly greasy (or if you have recurring breakouts). Try our award-winning Mario Badescu Special Cucumber Lotion (2). For daytime, green beauty guru Katey Denno loves Acure Organics Oil Control Facial Moisturizer (3), a green product that utilizes lilac to combat shine during the day. After you pat that into your face and décolleté, mist yourself with Avene Thermal Water (4). (Keep a travel-sized version in your purse to stay cool and hydrated!)
A few times a week only, you should switch up your daily wash to a gentle eoliant. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub (5) keeps breakouts at bay. Also, as you already know, moisturizing the eye area is essential, especially when the sun’s damaging rays are more intense than ever. We love Burt’s Bees Beeswax & Royal Jelly Eye Cream (6).
Aside from your daily routine, we get it: emergencies happen. For spot treating, coat your zits in a light layer of Mario Badescu Drying Lotion (7) and wake up with barely a bump in sight. Alternatively, if you’re in need of moisture (especially after a burn!) a 911 sheet mask is in order! Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Hydro Gel Mask (8) utilizes actual snail mucus (gross, but effective) to revitalize your skin in ten minutes or less.
Finally, if there’s anything you should be doing this summer, it’s investing in a good, quality SPF. We love Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen for Face & Body SPF 50 (9), because it’s non-greasy, non-gross, and provides a non-white layer of broad spectrum coverage.
Photos courtesy of Drugstore.com, Maybelline, Neutrogena, Nordstrom, Flower Beauty, Sephora5/8<center><b>Body Products</center></b>
Self-tanning on a budget can be a dangerous—and rather smelly—debacle. Dr. Graf promises us that L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes (1) offer a natural-looking bronze. (Plus, the wipes make for a much easier, more fool-proof application. Trust us!) When it comes to sweating, your first instinct may be to grab the classic antiperspirant. That’s fine if you’ve got a lot of waterworks going on, but it may be wise to switch to an aluminum-free deodorant and see how you fare. You’ll have to physically rub Soapwalla Deodorant Cream (2) into your pits, but it’s a much more glamorous alternative to chemicals, don’t you think? As for lotion, Nelson loves Jergens BB Body Cream because it beautifies and hydrates, all in one stop. If you’re packing a beach bag, make sure plenty of non-greasy, water-resistant Neutrogena Beach Defense SPF 30 Lotion (4) is in your bag. Wash it all off with a hydrating body cleanser—all derms love Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash (5) for a good reason.
Photos courtesy of Maybelline, Revlon, NYX, Nordstrom6/8<center><b>Eye Makeup</center></b>
Our friend Beau Nelson (who tends to stars like Kristen Stewart) is rarely seen without a tube of Mascara L’Oréal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black (1) in hand. (It’s what we like to call a drugstore diamond.) He also swears that Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow (2) is an easy, creamy formula with color options for all skin tones. (Barely Branded is our personal favorite—it doubles as a highlight!) For amplified arches, M.A.C. Waterproof Brow Set (3) is a budge-resistant formula that imparts a healthy hint of tint. When it comes to brushes, Sonia Kashuk makes the most magical wands available in the under-$20 category. Stock up on this super-smart, travel-friendly Essential Eye Kit (4). Finally, for lined eyes, there are two excellent options. If you’re a liquid flick girl, beauty pro Benjamin Puckey loves the L’Oréal Infallible Super Slim Liquid Liner (5). Meanwhile, Nelson (and just about every beauty blogger ever) insists that Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil is the most superior kohl in any price category.
Photos courtesy of Drugstore.com, Nordstrom, Acure, Neutrogena, SokoGlam, Sephora7/8<center><b>Lip Essentials</center></b>
Dr. Graf also swears by the cult-classic Maybelline Baby Lips Dr. Rescue Lip Balm (1) for healing sun-chapped pouts with a hint of eucalyptus. In terms of color, ditch sticky gloss, which can feel oppressive in warmer weather, and instead opt for a shiny crayon like Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain (2). If you want all-out color, both Puckey and Nelson say that NYX Matte (3) has major color intensity without drying your lips. (Try it in orange for a Rag & Bone/DKNY kind of look!) For a satin finish, nobody touches the shade offerings of M.A.C. Classic Lipstick (4).
Photos courtesy of Soapwalla, Drugstore.com8/8<center><b>Face Makeup</center></b>
Minimal makeup is always a good call come summer, but complexion products can be hard to find at drugstore prices. Thankfully, you can’t go wrong with these expert picks. Puckey loves the luminous finish of No7 Radiant Glow Concealer (1), which he even compares to a very fancy, similarly-packaged luxury product. ("You can’t tell the difference," he insists.) For faking radiance, Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream (2) leaves a dewy glow and boasts a seasonally-appropriate SPF 30. (Plus, it won our Beauty Award. No big deal.) If you’re in need of a bit more coverage for a big night out, we tested Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20 (3) alongside Hayden Panettiere in Nashville’s balmy weather. The result? A thoroughly impressive, non-pore-clogging purchase.
But summer is nothing without the glow! If you’re working or reading during your vacation and need to cheat the beach-bronze look, contour using Flower Beauty Glisten Up Highlighter Chubby (4) and CoverGirl Queen Collection Bronzer (5). The former is our beauty and health director’s staple—apply it down the bridge of the nose, tops of the cheekbones, and right on the brow bones. (More on how to use it here.) The latter is Puckey’s pick for an easy, faux tan. Contour the matte formula by sweeping it under the cheekbones, or grab a fluffy kabuki brush and buff it onto the high points of the face for a gorgeous kiss of sun. Amp it all up with a creamy blush—we love MAC Casual Colour (6) because it leaves a hydrated quality to the skin and offers serious color payoff.
Finishing up? Dust your T-Zone with the undetectable, pore-minimizing Revlon Photo Ready Translucent Finisher (7), then pop Boscia Clear Complexion Blotting Linens (8) in your purse for on-the-go touch-ups. To take it all off, New York-based dermatologist Dr. Jeanette Graf recommends Klorane Soothing Makeup Remover Wipes with Cornflower Water (9) to her clients for an easy clean. Keep a pack by your bedside, so you can make sure your face is cleansed even on those late summer nights.
