10 Essentials to soak up the Last days of Summer
With summer approaching its last days, I feel like I want to
go and get the last touch of sun and dip my toes into salt water for one last
time. Well.. at least until I go to Ras Sudr again in the winter.. can’t wait.
But even with the convenience of having a “good” beach year round, summer has
its own vibes.. ones that will always bring on red lipstick and coral nail
polish.. uh.. so delicious!
This week I decided to put together a little list of
essentials that you will need to use up until you soak up that last summer ray
of sunshine, a mid-summer refresh, that makes use of the ongoing sale and all
its perks you can find in stores today, as well as some time-less essentials
that can even be used year round. So here it goes:
1.
Ted-Baker Beach Bag:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/338684834461237804/
I’ve been obsessed with Ted Baker London
for a while now.. I mean who isn’t.. and even thought I got my
own shopper bag a while back, I couldn’t stop myself from drooling over the
new
collection at the Cairo
Festival City branch the other day, Ted Baker + Flowers = Instant Happiness.
There are a million and one reasons for me to love this bag, apart from the
fact that its made by TB but it also did a pretty good job at keeping my
bananas fresh for a mid-day snack on my last beach trip.. and has enough room
for all the tech/books, accessories, towels and little cities that I always
tend to take with me. Add to all that the decent price-tag in comparison to
other alternatives as well as the fact that you can use it for a casual
shopping day and you got the perfect combo.
2.
Charles and Keith Sandals:
To be honest with you I got this one on a wimp while passing
by the Charles and
Keith Mohandessin branch, but it’s one of those purchases that you make
unconsciously and then discover it is one of the best purchases you made. The
thing I love about this sandal is the similarity between it and avarcas Spanish sandals.. I’ve
always wanted to buy a glitter pair but I’m waiting for my next adventure in
Andalusia to make it happen.. Then you have the fact that they are faux black
leather which means they work with almost anything, weather that being a quick
walk in your beach dress or hanging out in a little dressier outfit in the
evening.. not to mention that my relaxed dress code at work have allowed me
daily use with a pair of blue jeans and a pink purse, Bonus!
3.
O.P.I. Nail Polish in “Tasmanian
Devil Made Me Do It”:
I just think this color screams summer, but don’t be fooled,
it’s not your classic red with blue undertones that has been around since they
invented nail polish. This one has a little bit of a Coral tinge or what O.P.I.
describe as a “A devilishly tempting shade of red-orange.”, and that makes
it lighter and brighter.. what makes this special though is that it is
extremely easy to apply and does not usually call for the normal
base-coat-polish-top-coat drama that you have to go through with some other
polishes. This one has formula on point, color on point and most definitely
wear time on point, I’ve worn this for 5 days straight with no top coat before
it started to chip.. the only down-side here is that you will have to rub a bit
harder when you’re taking it off.. but then again you do that with all Red
polish anyway. I got mine at Misr
Pharmacies but there are many other beauty salons that sell O.P.I. around town.
4.
Tangle Teezer:
The first time I discovered that I can get my hands on a Tangle Teezer here in Egypt
I just grabbed off the shelf and straight to the cashier, didn’t even think
about it. I got my first one at AlSagheer
in Zamalek, but my 5 year old nephew decided it was his (not sure if its
because he thinks everything that’s mine belongs to him.. or because he likes
it).. So I decided to get another one, this time from Bloom Egypt and have been converted
since.. It is just easier, way easier than a normal brush, especially if you have
ultra-curly hair like me, I immediately started noticing less breakage in my
hair at the ends precisely, I also started seeing a lot less hair on my
bathroom floor. It also helps a lot that it is very compact.
5.
Imtenan Sweet Almond Oil:
Around the summer months, my skin usually needs less care
than winter. But this year I noticed that my skin is getting a little more
colored in places more than others. I only contribute that to age, and I’m not
one to make a big deal out of spots and expression marks, but I was reading
about skin care I saw a post on Almond oil and
decided to give it a shot. Aaaaaand MAGIC! Oh My God! What an instant
difference, I put about 10 drops in my palm then distribute swipes off of it
onto my face, and then I go in with both my hands using my finger tips to rub
it in. I do this at night before bed along with adding a few drops of castor
oil to my eye lashes and brows. And immediately the next morning I have a softer
face! Just like that! Magic I tell you!
6.
L’Oreal ELVIVE
EXTRAORDINARY OIL REPLACEMENT:
Ever since I was a kid I’ve always been taking good care of
my hair, regular hair cuts, regular oil masks and natural remedies like the
traditional eggs and yogurt. Every year in the summer I always feel the need to
coat it with some product to help keep it hydrated and not stick out at the
ends with all the frizz. Even though standing in front of all the options at a
local Carrefour I felt like the L’Oreal
ELVIVE EXTRAORDINARY OIL REPLACEMENT was the cheapest, I found out after
trying it, that it was the most credible of them all. It does a good job at
hydrating without weighing my hair down but also keeps the ends tamed down a
little, I like the way it adds shine back after using a curling wand and the
bigger tube just means better bang for my buck.
7.
Bioderma Photoderm MAX
Crème teintée dorée SPF 100:
Bioderma may be well known for their micellaire water
but they are also a game changer when it comes to sunscreen. To be honest, I’ve
been using this
one as a foundation during summer months, after my dermatologist said I
have to wear sunscreen after each laser hair removal session. I’ve also been
training outdoors in the morning and the waterproof formula means that it’s
guaranteed to stay in place after I’m done. So I opted for a tinted one with
100 SPF, laziness level expert I know but I honestly can’t be bothered to put
on SPF then foundation, c’mon this is why they invented this, thanks Bioderma
always a life saver.
8.
AVÈNE THERMAL SPRING WATER
SPRAY:
I seriously wish they’d invented this when I was little.. It
would’ve made me love the beach more. Having fair skin has its perks but when
you boil yourself in the water then slather tanning oil over your back like
you’re a chicken waiting to be cooked, you get what you ask for, and end up in
agony for days.. that’s when the Avène
Thermal Spring Water Spray comes in very very very handy.. not in my hands
but my mom’s as she sprays my back every night.. uuuhhhh
relieve! Beats itching a spot.. seriously..
9.
Garnier Light & Radiant
Day Cream:
When I got this
cream I expected a normal day cream with a little fresh scent. Didn’t
expect it to be THAT Radiant though, I use this as a base highlighter
underneath my foundation or sometimes on its own. This cream doesn’t only
contain SPF but it gives such a healthy glow to the skin and makes it look ten
times more awake and hydrated. The days I use this I don't feel the need to use highlighting powder. You can get it at almost any pharmacy or chain
market.
10.
Teranova Playsuit:
You know you can’t mention summer and not mention playsuits. This year I decided to discover Terranova, because I am very specific about playsuits I was so excited to see that they had a plain one, and in two of my favorite colors.. Black and Navy Blue.. the other thing I liked it for was the fact that this is one of the few playsuits I saw this year that doesn’t show much cleavage and hides more of the wiggely wobbely parts than exposes them.. its fun to put on and take off, and although shorts and a t-shirt are easier, I think I like the challenge of putting this thing on and taking it off.. it just makes getting ready a wee more interesting..
Comments