Summer beauty rituals for staying golden long after the sun goes down.
Hey Boo!
Welcome to Love Fraîche. Let me introduce myself: I’m Koko St. James, cultural anthropologist, food writer, serial entrepreneur and licensed esthetician.
Today, we’re going to explore beauty, but after sunset. What does that mean exactly? I never thought you’d ask!
In this lovely month of August, we get to bask in beautiful sun rays, delicious Vitamin D and lots of summer fruit. A lot of us get the luxury of a few days off to enjoy it all, but what does that really look like?
Golden hour in Santa Monica. A cascading sunset at Nobu. Perhaps an intentional 7 p.m. drive down Pacific Coast Highway with a cool breeze caressing your face. Summer beauty shifts with the hour, too. Around this time, we inevitably run out of a
favorite product and the battle over our summer color commences.
Do we stay with our summer shade or reach for something a bit richer and warmer for those summer nights that turn golden and pink as the day ends? My personal favorites for summer are NARS Tinted Moisturizer, Hourglass Skin Tint and Smashbox’s luminous tinted moisturizer.
Our freshly waxed or shaved legs are top priority. Our local esthetician has been working on our ever-changing summer skin because it’s hot, we’re growing more hair, and between air conditioning, direct heat and sunlight, maintaining hydration becomes its own beauty ritual.
Instead of hot teas and coffee, we’re reaching for nutrient-rich smoothies filled with fruits and vegetables to supply the pick-me-up necessary to power through the day. Hair appointments become their own source of rejuvenation, while a good kiki with our stylist supplies a revival caffeine could only wish to fulfill.
In August, we stand in the golden rays of summer and let the sun soak in. Maybe it’s a concrete summer in Brooklyn, putting together our best looks for a block party. Maybe it’s an evening by the coast. Wherever we are, as summer begins to wind down, we relish in it while keeping our skin hydrated for the cooler months ahead. (I’ll explain later, LOL.)
Enter: Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is something our bodies naturally produce, helping the skin retain moisture while also playing a role in cushioning our joints and maintaining moisture in the eyes. As the temperature climbs, I tend to bump up my skincare accordingly.
Peptides and hyaluronic acid become two of the main things I reach for during my wind-down and wake-up routines. HA helps the skin hold onto moisture, while peptides can support the skin and its overall appearance. Together, they help keep my skin feeling supple, hydrated and healthy.
And at this point, makeup is minimal but still visible. Dreamy, but realistic. Not overly powdered, but more like a glazed donut: warm, lively and glowing.
Dreamy pinks and oranges cascade across the tops of eyelids and cheeks, showing off all the work we did during the winter months. We adorn our lashes with our favorite long-lasting mascaras, with brown and blue having a moment right now. They not only make the eyes pop, but give you a slight edge with that subtle touch of color.
In the sunshine, one may look like an angel—or some sort of celestial being. One, I can recommend as a start down this road is OSEA's Hyaluronic Sea Serum.
And Then There’s the Hair
The humidity outside requires a change in hairstyle and products: more anti-humidity spray and less hair on the shoulders. Maybe instead of silk presses, we lean more into braids, twists and other low-maintenance styles as we prepare for the cooler fall months, when our hair can last a little longer without needing to be manipulated.
For me, a hydration-and-lipid combination is important for maintaining moisture. I’ll start with a water-based product and follow with something lipid-rich—hair grease, oil, shea butter, etc.—to help seal that moisture in.
It’s all part of adjusting the ritual to the climate you’re actually living in.
Staying Golden
I’m currently in Texas, where 108°degree days are a regular occurrence, and I keep asking myself: What can I do to offset all this dryness?
Here’s my checklist:
Eye drops? CHECK.
A barrier mist of some sort? CHECK.
HA-based body serum? CHECK.
Hydrating lotion? CHECK.
Drinks: coconut water and homemade Gatorade? CHECK.
Doctor-recommended supplements? CHECK.
An electrolyte gummy with water? EXTRA CHECK.
Making sure I’m eating nutrient-dense foods according to the season? CHECK.
Because riding summer out and staying golden is ultimately about finding you while adapting to the world you currently live in, not just existing in it.
