Summer has officially commenced. With temperatures seemingly rising higher and higher, the typical slew of beauty dilemmas — sweat, chafing, frizzy hair — pop up during this time of year.
While these can be a pest to manage, rest assured that we have you covered with the best summer beauty essentials to tackle the heat-induced issues. To help, Allure's Editor-in-Chief, Jessica Cruel, recently shared some of her favorite hair care products for this time of year, from styling wonders to new beauty launches.
Have fun in the sun this summer with these problem-solving beauty picks, plus more expert-recommended finds you'll love long after the season is over.
Summer hair products seen on TODAY
Frizzy hair and fly aways are often a result of the humidity. Whether you're looking to create a slick back style or tame baby hairs, this styling cream comes with a built-in wand to help smooth strands more precisely.
Crown Affair's hair mousse contains no aerosol or alcohol, and instead, uses a salt-infused formula to add effortless body to your strands.
"Unlike most salt-infused formulas (this one is made with extra fine Bolivian Pink Salt), the hydrating, strengthening plant protein-blend provides texture and hold without that crunchy, dry feeling," says Cruel.
With temperatures up, no one loves the feeling of hair on their back and neck. Cruel recommends using this extra large claw clip, that is designed to comfortably hold all of your hair up to get it out of the way.
Cruel raves that the Color Wow Dream Coat Spray is "still the first choice among Allure editors to humidity-proof your blowout" — and it's even loved by the Shop TODAY team, too. With just a few sprays and a quick blow dry, the product 'silkens' hair with a glass-like finish.
Singer Shakira's new hair care line just launched in June, and one product Cruel's team has been loving from the collection is their wave and curl defining cream.
"This light-hold styling cream was formulated for the unique needs of curly strands," explains Cruel. "[It] adds shine, doesn’t add crunch [and] protects against heat up to 450°F, with anti-frizz protection for up to 96 hours."
From actress Brooke Shields' line, this Commence leave-in conditioner is a treat for dry ends, especially in the summer time. The line was specially created for women over 40 looking to maintain and promote healthy hair. So whether you use the treatment as a prep for styling or to protect from salty beach water, it should help nourish, soften and smooth strands at once.
More summer beauty products to shop
This anti-aging serum tackles multiple concerns in one, from improving skin texture to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. "Skin tends to get oilier in the warmer months due to increased sebum production, which also means your skin can look oily or shiny," explains Dr. Dendy Engelman, who was previously on the show. "This serum rebalances the skin while keeping shine at bay for a fresh, radiant finish."
Although you might be consistent with facial SPF, you should also be wearing body SPF daily, especially this summer. This pick from Toty offers broad-spectrum, water- and sweat-resistant coverage that feels weightless on the skin.
"The brand says it's powered by a proprietary antioxidant blend, along with green tea and vitamin E, to help protect against visible signs of sun aging and environmental damage," Engelman adds.
Looking to stay cool this summer? Makeup Eraser's Face Cooling Clouds just need to be added to water for them to instantly cool, soothe and de-puff. Engelman recommends applying them to your cheeks, forehead or under eyes.
"The brand says they can stay up to 30 degrees cooler than your body temperature, making them a great addition to your summer routine, especially layered over your favorite serums to boost hydration and absorption," the dermatologist explains.
"When you're wearing a a lot of sunscreen in the summer months, you need something effective to take it off at the end of the day," says Engelman. This jelly-textured cleanser from Thayers is "perfect for oily and combination skin," according to Engelman, because it's effective at removing excess oil, makeup and sunscreen without disrupting the skin barrier.
It also is formulated with 5% aloe vera, so it should feel cooling and hydrating after a long summer day.
This TikTok-viral hair and body mist is infused with refreshing and hydrating skin and hair care ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and panthenol, for whenever you need a quick pick-me-up. It comes in seven summer-y, mood-boosting scents, and has a travel-friendly, cap-less design for on-the-go use.
Effortless curls don’t always require a hot styling tool. Opt for this heatless option from Kitsch that includes a satin curling rod for a hassle-free solution. Just twist your strands around the rope as you sleep (or any time during the day!) and you should wake up with your hair already styled. All without the heat damage, too!
Splashing in the ocean water is most likely on your summer to-do list. But with that comes dry ends. To keep your locks in top shape, this leave-in conditioner from Dae detangles, conditions, primes and protects your hair from the heat, claims the brand. Spritz before or after the pool for silky hair all summer long.
Frizz is never ideal, but it can be manageable with the right product. Whether you’re creating tight braids or a slicked-back bun, the Fenty Hair strong hold gel should keep frizz and hair snatched all day. "Not only does it offer frizz control, but it adds shine [and] hold, and helps repair split ends," notes Cruel from when she was on the show previously.
And another bonus: The product "provides all day hold without any crunchy feeling and no white residue," she adds. Be sure to apply on damp hair for best results.
For stubborn strands that can’t seem to be tamed, this Briogeo sleek stick swiftly glides on to keep hair put. Yet, it is still manageable for when you style baby hairs, ponytails and other pull-back styles. The size is also perfect to pop in your bag for on-the-go styling.
While the stick is meant for for straight, wavy, curly and coily hair textures, Cruel claims that it "can be used on fine, medium, and thick hair types," too.
Dissolve build-up without interrupting your styling between wash days with Mielle’s scalp and edge cleansing oil. This product is described as a no-rinse and non-greasy oil that cleanses impurities from the scalp and hairline so your hair is prepped for an edge relay or other styling. And the best part? No water is required!
This isn’t an ordinary dry shampoo. Monday's Volume Dry Shampoo "adds texture and shape while absorbing excess oil to freshen on-the-go to give that ‘just washed’ feeling," notes Cruel, whenever your hair needs touch-up. Another perk Cruel loves is that the dry shampoo "doesn’t leave a white cast that other dry shampoos may leave." What more can you ask for?
You might also enjoy that the product has a subtle gardenia scent that will make your strands smell as fresh as it will look.
This product is a revamped version of an original Vacation sunscreen, now with more SPF! Developed by both beauty experts and fans of the original product, this sunscreen won’t leave a white cast, but instead will leave your skin glowing and moisturized.
Meet the experts
- Jessica Cruel is the Editor-in-Chief at Allure and Self Magazine.
- Dr. Dendy Engelman is a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
