SUMMERSIXTEEN FAVORITES + VITAL ANTIDOTE SUMMER MIX


  Midsummer is here so I figured it's a perfect time to share some of the things I've been loving this summer, and why. I've shared some of my favorite skin, hair and body products, as well as accessories and entertainment that have been my holy grail for the summer. Vital Antidote was kind enough to create a summer playlist for us to vibe it. It includes tracks from a few underground and mainstream artists they've been loving at the moment. Hope you enjoy.


                                FACE!                                             



    Because I have oily skin, I try to put as little face makeup as possible, just enough to cover any acne marks or discoloration. I tend to reach for my LA Girl Pro concealers during the workday to cover those marks and give my face a nice highlight. I love LA Girl Pro concealers because for the price they work like any high end concealer, and last all day. They are very comparable to the MAC longwear concealers, without the hefty price.  For a beatdown look, I like to use my MAC Studio Fix liquid foundation. Because it's a liquid foundation, it covers and blends well without looking or feeling too overdone. Not to mention, it lasts all night or day, especially when I use the MAC setting spray on top. The studio foundation also has SPF which is an added bonus for your skin's protection. 
   
   Another summer makeup favorite is the Too-Faced Better Than Sex mascara. I've tried many mascara from drugstore to highend and none have done my lashes justice the way this mascara does. Not only does it last all day what I love is that it doesn't dry my lashes out the way other voluminous mascaras I've used have, it also last all day with running but it comes off easily with makeup remover. I can't ask for more from a mascara.

SKIN CARE!


   Summer is usually the season where my face breaks out like crazy. I sweat more, get more oily and by the end of the day my pores are filled with dirt, oil and makeup. So for me, a good skin care regimen is a must. I have very sensitive skin, so I tend to stick with simple products with salicylic acid as a main ingredient. I love green tea cleansers, like this one from St Ives. I find the green tea soothes my skin and I normally see a difference in my skin reaction when I used products with green tea as opposed to any other cleansers.I use this Sephora Duo Face Brush nightly to exfoliate my skin and remove any dirt and makeup. I also use this Revlon extractor to remove any pimples and dirt trapped in my pores.


   For moisturizer, I look for anything that is oil free and also has salicylic acid as a main ingredient. This Neutrogena acne fighting moisturizer has been a holy grail for me since high school. It works perfect fine, and although I've tried other brands like Vichy and La Roche Posay, I always find myself reverting to this specific moisturizer. 


BODY!


  Having healthy, glowing skin is a big part of my summer routine, especially when I'm wearing anything revealing. I get a lot of compliments of how glowing my skin looks and really there's no secret to it. I exfoliate my body the same way I do my face, almost on a daily basis. I then follow up with a good moisturizer. To avoid the ashy, moisturizing is a must! My current favorite is Jergens Soothing Aloe moisturizer. It has an amazing smell, and leave my skin soft and well moisturized without looking or feeling greasy.  
Before stepping outdoors, skin protection is a must. Any sunscreen with a SPF of 60 or higher works just fine for me but I came across this Life brand sunscreen with an SPF of 100 in Shopper's Drugmart and couldn't pass it up. The more SPF the better right! 

 

   For a summer bronze, I like to reach for Yves Rocher Vanilla shimmering lotion. It adds a nice amount of highlight to your skin which reflects in the sunlight, giving your skin a healthy glow. This is one of my go-to products when I'm showing off my legs. 



    For my daily summer scent, I use this Zara perfume. It has a light floral scent which perfect for the summer. I usually keep it at my office to freshen up throughout the day. It comes in handy especially on days where I'm doing a lot of running around. 



HAIR!



  Like skincare, having a good haircare regimen during the summer is key. Ideally, you want to moisturize your hair on a weekly basis to combat any drying from the sun and chlorine. For a quick treatment I like to use the TRESemme 2 minute repair, followed by the moisturizing leave-in conditioner. Once a month I do a protein treatment with Aphogee's keratin treatment to add back protein follicles back to my hair. This step is vital especially when I've added heat to my hair. Before doing any heat styling, I always use the TRESemme thermal creations to protect my hair from heat damage. TIP* I also mist my hair with the thermal creations heat protection before stepping outdoors to protect my hair from sun damage. 

   I can't preach enough how important it is to keep your hair well moisturized during the summer season. After washing and treating your hair, choosing a moisturizer that is well nourishing and an oil to lock in that moisture is also ideal. Lately I've been using Mega Growth's moisturizer and hair oil. I love the formula and smell of the moisturizer and oil and have seen an improvement in the texture and appearance of my hair since using the combo



ACCESSORIES!



   Three accessories I cannot do without lately have been my H&M leather cap, sunnies and a bandana. This cap has saved me so many days when I'm rushed or just feeling lazy. It goes with just about any casual outfit, whether I'm wearing a dress or jeans. I've been stopped on numerous occasions by both men and women wanting to know "#WhereDidYouGetThatAt". On days where a cap just doesn't cut it. I tie my hair up using a bandana. This just adds a level of chicness and cool to a simple look. 

BOOK!

   It isn't summer without having a good book to read while lounging out pool side or under the sun. lately, I've been reading Men Who Can't Love by Steven Carter and Julia Sokol. My best-friend moved into a new condo and the tenant before left behind a few books. This one stood out to me because, let's face it, we've all had that one(or a few) lovers we've felt just couldn't love us back. This book gives us an understanding to the question of why? 



MUSIC: Vital Antidote!

   When it comes to my summer playlist, lately it includes a lot of music from underground artist like Abra and Kali Uchis. Jessica Jones from Vital Antidote created a cool summer playlist that you can vibe to whether you're lounging out, driving around or straight chilling out with friends. Hope you enjoy!







Check out Vital Antidote radio show every Tuesday at 3:00pm on CKCU FM ( 93.1FM). You can also stream their show On Demand straight from the website (link below). They showcase underground artists while discussing topics from social issues to pop culture. 

WEBSITE: Click Here
TWITTER: Click Here

TRACK LIST:

Sango- Algohrina
0:00 - 1:40
Call Me Like- maDESTo
1:40 - 2:40
AREX- be ur girl
2:40 - 4:49
whoiskev- Flirt
4:50 - 7:10
blackbear- bus it
7:10 - 9:48
PARTYNEXTDOOR
9:48 - 13:19
Jazz Cartier- Tales
13:20 - 15:28
Cavalier- one two
15:28 - 17:39
KAYTRANADA x Vic Mensa- Drive Me Crazy
17:39 - 21:19
Goldlink- Spectrum
21:19 - 24:05
Jael- Thong Song
24:05 - 27:32 



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