HAPPY SUMMER!

Although summer isn’t officially here yet, it might as well be. The weather is warm, the days are long, and the sun is shining…finally! Since Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, I figured we’d get the season started early with a little throwback. Here are some of my favorite summer beauty tips from years past, all in 1 post. When the mercury rises, I guarantee these tips and tricks will come in handy. (Bookmark this page!) Despite sweltering heat and scorching temps, you can look effortlessly pretty all summer long.

• Summer Beauty Survival Guide (June 2011)
• How To: Beachy Waves (July 2011)
• Summerize Your Eyes (July 2011)
• Ask SugarSocial: How Do I Prevent My Makeup From Melting? (July 2011)
• Summer Essentials (July 2011)
• Summer Brights (June 2011)
• Summer Bridal Beauty Guide (August 2010)
• July 4th Beauty Survival Guide (July 2010)
• Summer Beauty 101 (June 2010)
• Cool, Simple Summer Hairstyles (June 2010)
• Beach Beauty Tips (July 2009)

Have a GREAT Memorial Day weekend, and enjoy the summer kick-off!! I’ll be back on Tuesday with more posts.

Feature image via Tom Merton/OJO Images; image above via Forest Woodward/Vetta.

Guerlain by Emilio Pucci: Terra Azurra

I admit, I completely forgot to post about this collection. Although it’s been in stores for a few weeks, I had to show you how drop-dead gorgeous the Guerlain by Emilio Pucci “Terra Azurra” collection is. Collaborations between fashion and beauty brands aren’t uncommon, but this one is truly special. It incorporates signature Pucci prints in the packaging and Pucci’s trademark colors into the cosmetics themselves. Let’s have a look.

Pearls d’Azure Illuminating Powder ($59): Guerlain’s signature Meteorites get all dolled for summer…in Pucci. The little multicolored orbs of shimmery powder (in pink, blue, orange, white, beige, and champagne) meld together when you run a fluffy brush over them. The end result: a gorgeously radiant face with a just-right summer glow.

Long-Lasting Eyeshadow ($59): This palette holds a quad of complimentary shadows that let you create a bright, bold look. Shimmery ivory, pink, coral, and charcoal shadows lend the eyes vibrancy, smokiness, and definition…a sultry combo for summer.

Powder Bronzer & Blush ($75): A marriage between Guerlain’s beloved Terracotta bronzing powder and Pucci’s iconic prints. Use the bronzer all over your face to give you a sun-kissed glow, and swirl a blush brush over the 3 strips of blush to give your cheeks a sun-soaked flush. Perfection for your complexion.

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shades of Nature Eyeshadow Palette

What better way to start off your Friday morning than with some eye candy? Sephora + Pantone Universe Shades of Nature Eyeshadow Palette ($55) looks just as good sitting on your vanity as it does on your eyes. Inspired by the trademarks of summer–cool blue waters, lush purple flowers, and multicolored sunsets–this palette packs 35 eyeshadows that are bursting with color. What I love most about it is it’s designed to resemble Pantone chips, and includes 7 actual Pantone shades. It’s definitely something design nuts will appreciate.

And beauty mavens will love it, too, because it’s got virtually every color you’d need to create a slew of different eye looks. The colors are perfect for creating a nice bright pop on the lid, or for doing a colored smoky eye (which is so amazing for summer). It’s got neutrals for daytime, office-appropriate looks, and there are also some deep, rich shades close to black that you can use to create a traditional smoky eye.

Available now at Sephora (Although the site currently says it’s not in stock yet, you can sign up for email notification when it arrives.)Images via Sephora

Givenchy Mister Radiant Body

Ok, first off, how can you not love the name of this product? Givenchy Mister Radiant Body ($49) gives you skin that you only thought was possible in magazines.

Suspended in the clear gel are iridescent microbeads in 3 different shades: brown, yellow, and white.  Each colored bead is filled with a skin-beautifying liquid. The yellow beads hold a pearlescent, shimmery liquid to give your skin subtle glimmer. Bronze bubbles are filled with a pigment that naturally tints your skin a light tan color (creating the illusion of–or enhancing–defined and toned legs and arms). The white beads contain vitamin E to nourish your skin. The tiny beads burst when you massage them into your skin, releasing all their goodness and making your body look absolutely fabulous. It’s kind of the perfect complement to summer skin.

Givenchy recommends exfoliating and applying a light moisturizer to your skin before slathering this on. If you start with a freshly-polished canvas, it will glide on even smoother and make you look more radiant.

What techniques or products do you use to get gorgeous summer skin?

Burberry summer ’12: Sheer Summer Glow

I love that Burberry’s summer 2012 beauty collection is totally in line with the fashion brand’s classic, refined aesthetic. Sheer Summer Glow is a collection inspired by the traditional Burberry color palette (think nova check and neutrals). Imparting just a hint of radiance to your complexion, this is a subtle, summery look that can be worn year-round.

Lip Mist ($30) is a creamy lipstick that gives a sheer veil of color to the lips with a dewy finish. From left in above photo: No. 212 Nude Peach, No. 210 Pink Heather, No. 211 Nude Honey, & No. 213 Field Rose.

Natural Highlighting Compact ($55, LE) is a powder quad that you can stow in your makeup bag for daily use, year-round. And it’s versatile, as the powder inside can be worn in 3 different ways. The 4 flesh-toned shades (milk chocolate, light tan, pale beige-pink, and bone) can be used individually to contour the face; use the darker colors on the left side of the compact on the low points (in the hollows) of your face, and the lighter colors on the opposite side on the high points of your face. Or use them individually as eyeshadows. Finally, you can swirl a fluffy face powder brush over the entire surface and use it allover as a universally-flattering bronzer.

The two-piece collection is available now at Nordstrom. Images via Nordstrom.

Fekkai Summer Hair

Every year, Fekkai launches a limited-edition haircare line specifically designed to protect your hair through the brutal summer months. I look forward to this every year because the products are typically fabulous, super moisturizing, and really help my highlighted hair not look fried during the scorching heat and sticky humidity. Also, they smell divine: faintly beachy and totally summery. This year, the following products are available in the Summer Hair collection:

• Beach Waves Spray ($25)
• Smooth Sailing Anti-Frizz Cream ($25)
• Cooling Shine Mist ($25)
• After Sun Mask ($25)

Beach Waves is a lightweight mist that will help create a tousled, windswept effect and coax out the natural wave in your hair, if you’ve got one. If your locks need a little more encouragement to wave, then you may want to try a curl-enhancing creme on your damp tresses before spritzing this on. It will help maximize the waviness and give it that piecey, beachy look.

Smooth Sailing Anti-Frizz Cream is great for combating frizz on hot, humid days. If your hair naturally wants to wave when the humidity rises and you’d like to keep it straight, this can help (it won’t keep your strands stick-straight, but it will fight the wave a bit).

Cooling Shine Mist is an aerosol spray that coats your mane with a UV protectant–like sunscreen for your hair. Spraying this on can help extend the life of color-treated hair.

If you’re outside a lot in the summer, the After Sun Mask is like an insurance policy for your hair–especially if you color or highlight it. Sun (UV rays), sand, saltwater, chlorine, and heat all suck moisture out of your hair, leaving it brittle and dry. (If you have wavy/curly hair and use styling/straightening products containing alcohol, it’s a double whammy.) And if your hair is color-treated, those effects are intensified because your hair is already compromised from dyeing. This is a repairing treatment for strands damaged by the outdoors. If you’re the forgetful type who may not remember to use a protectant on your hair before heading outside, this is a good solution to keep it looking healthy until autumn arrives (and really, let’s not rush that).

The collection is available now online and in select stores where Fekkai products are sold.

Chanel Summer ’12: Summertime de Chanel

This summer, Chanel is all about bronzed skin and juicy bursts of color on lips and nails. Throw in a metallic glint here and there, and you’ve got a collection that’s ripe and ready for fun in the sun. Summertime de Chanel is determined to make you a bronzed goddess this summer.

I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’m very underwhelmed by this collection (a first for me & Chanel!). To me, the collection seems small, with only a few items, and they’re standard-issue summer cosmetics. The only exception is the bronzer, which does feature pretty stripes to let you customize your color. As for the rest of it, it seems very blah…nude nails, nude lips, nude skin, lots of shimmer, and a coral lip. This is a letdown for a brand as revered as Chanel; I like more color during the summer months.

The full collection. All items shown here are limited-edition.

Soleil Tan de Chanel ($60) is a luminous bronzer that lights up skin with a sun-kissed glow. The stripes of  Available in 2 shades: Sable Beige (left) & Sable Rose (right).

Front: Rouge Coco Shine lipcolor ($32.50, from left): En Vogue, Empreinte. Back: Levres Scintilles/Glossimer ($29.50): (From left): Sirocco (sparking champagne shimmer – shown here 3 times), Calypso (vibrant coral with shimmer).

Burn This Now: Nest “Beach” Candle

If you’re in a summer state of mind and have extra cash to blow, consider the “Beach” candle ($45) by Nest. It smells gorgeously summery. Imagine throwing open the windows of your very own shore house on a gorgeous day. It kind of captures that kind of mood. The candles combines notes of coconut, “sparkling turquoise water,” lotus flower, melon, and sensual woods. Also, the packaging is chic and sleek, with a box draped in neutral stripes and a nubby white ceramic votive that will fit into any room’s decor.

Summer’s short enough as it is, so why not make the season last as long as possible by burning this now through Labor Day? $45 might sound like a splurge for a candle, but when you consider it could save you the millions that a beach house costs, you’re actually ahead of the game.

Image via Nest

Zoya Summer ’12: Beach & Surf

To celebrate summer, Zoya has combined 2 amazing micro-collections into 1 big collection: Beach & Surf. Inspired by the warm, sun-kissed colors of the beach and the cool, refreshing hues of the ocean, these shades take the colors naturally found in nature and pump them up about 20 notches. Whether bordering on neon or flirting with shimmer, these shades were made for warm weather. They’re perfect for pretty much any summer occasion (including a weekend at the shore). Pair them with your brightest bikini or maxidress for a trendy, of-the-moment look. Most of the shades in the Beach collection have a creamy finish (except for Tracie, which has a slightly shimmery effect), while all of the shades in the Surf collection are shimmery metallics.

First up, the Beach collection:

Lara: Medium magenta with yellow undertones and a bright, creamy finish.  Tracie: Lime/pistachio green with a faint veil of silvery shimmer infused throughout. Arizona: Think orange sherbet. Or creamsicle. Shelby: Colorful muted pink with lavender undertones. Wednesday: Faded turquoise with a seafoam green base. Reagan: A deep fuschia that borders on purple.

And the Surf collection:

Rory: Medium pink with lilac undertones, and gold and silver reflective metallic shimmer. Meg: Mermaid green loaded with gold and silver shimmer. Kimber: Medium magenta with red undertones and metallic gold shimmer. Zuza: Turquoise with gold and silver metallic shimmer. Myrta: Medium-orange coral with a red base, and gold and silver shimmer. Carly: Red-toned dark purple with red and silver metallic shimmer.

Zoya’s polishes are free of formaldehyde, DBP, camphor, and are suitable for vegans. All bottles are $8 each, or you can get a sampler of each collection for $48 (each bottle is 0.5 oz.).

I personally prefer shimmery shades on my toes, so I think the Surf collection would be fabulous for a summer pedicure. The shades in the Beach collection are so bright and fun. What are your favorites?

Images via Zoya

Bobbi Brown Summer ’12: Miami

Bienvenidos a Miami!

With its Art Deco architecture, South Beach, vibrant nightlife, and perfect bikini-clad bodies in the sand, it’s hard not to be inspired by Miami. For her summer collection, Bobbi Brown took her cue from the Florida coastal city, and created shades that reflect the best of what Miami has to offer: its beautiful beaches. These products are great for a natural daytime look, and transition beautifully when the sun sets and Miami really heats up.

Items from the collection

First up: redesigned packaging for Bobbi’s iconic (and my favorite) fragrance, Beach ($67.50). Gone is the sleek, tall round bottle; now the scent is in a square-shaped bottle with clean lines. But the scent inside remains the same: beachy, sandy, and reminiscent of suntan lotion. (Technically, it contains notes of sea spray, sand, Mandarin, and jasmine.)  It’s the perfect summer scent. (Image via Nordstrom)

Miami Beach Shimmering Fragrance Oil ($34): This glimmery oil combines subtle shimmer and Bobbi’s lovely Beach scent. Although it looks pretty sparkly in the bottle, it applies very sheer, with just a hint of shimmery sheen. (Just be sure to shake it up before you spritz.) And since it’s an oil, it will leave a residue on your skin until it dries, so be sure to wait until it dries before getting dressed (I learned that the hard way!). The only downside of this product is the price; for $34, it’s a really tiny bottle. The upside is that a little goes a long way. (Image via Nordstrom)

Miami Shimmer Cheek Glow ($39): This skin-illuminating powder/gel hybrid gives that back-from-the-beach glow. Use it like you would a luminizer, and sweep it over the high points of your face to add definition and give your skin a boost. These are pretty shimmery, so best to use them conservatively to avoid the disco ball effect. Available in Gold (pictured) and Miami (pale rose-pink). (Image via Nordstrom)

There’s more summery goodness after the jump.