Hello July: My Summer Beauty Bag Has Officially Changed

June was juicy.

July is hot.

Well, theoretically. This is Britain, so there’s every possibility I’ll have written this while looking at grey clouds through the window. 😂

But regardless of what the weather decides to do, my beauty routine has officially entered full summer mode.

The heavier products are slowly disappearing towards the back of the cupboard, my lip gloss collection appears to be multiplying when I’m not looking, and I’ve reached the point of the year where I want everything to be easy, glowy and capable of surviving an unexpectedly warm afternoon.

So, hello July.

Here’s what’s changing in my beauty bag this month.

My Base Is Getting Lighter

The first thing I lose patience with when the temperature rises is a heavy base.

I don’t particularly want to spend ages perfecting my foundation only to spend the rest of the day wondering whether it’s still located where I originally put it.

July is therefore about lighter coverage.

Tinted bases, skin tints, strategic concealer and products that even everything out without completely hiding my actual skin are much more appealing.

If a freckle wants to show through?

She’s welcome.

We’re embracing reality this summer.

Cream Products Are Taking Over

My powder products aren’t going anywhere permanently, but cream formulas are getting considerably more attention.

Cream blush.

Cream bronzer.

Cream highlight.

There’s something about them that works beautifully with lighter summer bases because everything melts together rather than looking like separate layers of makeup.

The result I’m chasing is less:

Perfectly applied full face.

And more:

Oh, she looks well.

Which sounds considerably less glamorous but is actually quite difficult to fake. 😂

My Lip Products Need to Be Handbag Friendly

June’s Juicy Edit confirmed something I already suspected:

I’m firmly back in my glossy-lip era.

But July adds another requirement.

Whatever I’m wearing needs to survive being thrown into my handbag.

I want products I can reapply without finding a mirror, performing precision surgery or wondering whether I’ve accidentally drawn lipstick halfway towards my nose.

Lip oils, tinted balms and easy glosses win.

Anything requiring three brushes and a prayer can stay home.

Summer Hair Has Different Rules

I’m also lowering my expectations of my hair.

And I mean that positively.

Humidity exists.

Heat exists.

Wind exists.

My hair apparently has opinions about all three.

Instead of trying to make it behave perfectly, I’m concentrating on keeping it healthy, soft and manageable.

That means more conditioning treatments, leave-in products, oils on the ends and styles that don’t require me to repeatedly attack it with heat.

Claw clips are earning their keep.

So are ponytails.

And if things become particularly desperate?

There’s always a bun.

Body Care Has Entered the Main Routine

Summer is when I suddenly remember I possess skin below my neck.

Funny, that.

Body lotion, exfoliation, foot care and all the little extras I conveniently neglect when I’m wearing three layers of clothing become part of the proper beauty routine again.

I’m particularly enjoying body products that make the routine feel like a treat rather than another job.

Lovely textures.

Beautiful scents.

Something that leaves skin feeling ridiculously soft.

I’m much more likely to consistently use something when I actually enjoy using it.

Revolutionary information, I know.

I’m Thinking Differently About Fragrance

My fragrance wardrobe changes with the weather too.

Some of the deeper perfumes I adore during autumn and winter suddenly feel a bit much.

July makes me reach for something lighter.

Citrus.

Peach.

Cherry.

Coconut.

Aquatic notes.

Fresh florals.

And body mists become considerably more appealing because they’re so easy to refresh throughout the day.

I’m not necessarily trying to smell sophisticated.

Sometimes I just want to smell like I’ve recently returned from somewhere considerably more tropical than South Wales.

Let me dream.

My Makeup Bag Is Getting Smaller

This might be the biggest change.

I’m trying to stop carrying my entire beauty collection around with me just in case.

Because apparently I once believed an ordinary afternoon could suddenly require:

three lipsticks,
two glosses,
concealer,
powder,
blush,
mascara,
eyeliner
and several mysterious products I had forgotten were even in there.

July’s handbag beauty edit is much simpler.

A lip product.

Something for shine/touch-ups.

Hand cream.

Fragrance.

A few practical essentials.

Done.

Or at least that’s the intention.

Ask me again in three weeks.

I’m Shopping My Summer Stash Too

Before I start buying every shiny new summer launch that appears on my screen, I’m looking at what I already own.

There are products I bought last summer that I genuinely loved.

There are colours I’ve forgotten about.

There are bottles sitting half-used because something newer distracted me.

And I’ve realised something embarrassingly obvious:

New doesn’t automatically mean better.

I’m still going to discover new beauty.

Obviously.

This is Hayls Beauty Tales, not Hayls Has Suddenly Become Immune to Pretty Packaging.

But I’m trying to make sure the things already sitting in my beauty cupboard get some love too.

So What’s July Looking Like?

Lighter skin.

Glossier lips.

Happy hair rather than perfect hair.

More body care.

Fresh fragrance.

A smaller beauty bag.

And considerably more appreciation for the products I already own.

June reminded me that beauty should be fun.

July is going to test which products actually make summer easier.

Because when it’s warm, I’m busy and I’d rather be doing something other than fixing my makeup…

The best beauty products aren’t necessarily the fanciest ones.

They’re the ones I actually reach for.

Welcome to July. ☀️

Let’s see what earns its place.

Love,
Hayls x