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:


A photo posted by Terranova (@terranovastyle) on
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..

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