The Summer Body Care Guide
My Tried-and-True Products for Fresh, Hydrated, and Glowing Skin—All Summer Long
Today’s letter is sponsored in part by Oak Essentials!
As a Canadian who grew up without Memorial Day, the start of June has always felt like the true marker of summer to me. The sun is out, the weather has settled, and the heat is officially on. So, in honour of the season being properly underway, I thought I’d share my tried-and-true body care favourites—especially now that we’re (hopefully) in fewer layers and spending more time outside.
I’m all about the products and rituals that keep my skin glowing, nourished, hydrated, and protected. So, keep reading for a breakdown of the body care that helps me stay confident throughout the season.
And where better to begin than with the latest addition to my lineup: Oak Essentials’ Microbiome Balancing Deodorant. It’s a truly clean, aluminum-free formula made with skincare-grade ingredients. I love how it blends potent plant-based elements like noni fruit stem cells, blue tansy, and chia seed oil to rebalance your skin’s microbiome—all while keeping you fresh throughout the day, no reapplying needed.
The deodorant has even earned my fiancé’s seal of approval (he’s both a longtime skeptic of cleaner formulations and has sensitive skin). The formula feels more like skincare for your underarms: innovative, effective, gentle—and it smells divine: calming, grounding, and fresh! It’ll have you covered all summer long.
Pre-shower—and I’ve told you of my love for it many times before—I always dry brush. Technically, I do this year-round, but I think it’s worth noting as a summer body care must-have. It gently exfoliates to boost glowiness and creates the perfect base for everything that follows to absorb. It’s also said to support the lymphatic system, which, again, can help boost the glow!
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I still love a bath during the summer. They help me unwind and reset at the end of the day. I love Oak Essentials’ Dream Bath Soak because it’s rich in magnesium and smells like a trip to the spa.
In the PM, post-bath, I like to layer—first, Nécessaire’s Body Serum with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides, then Oak Essentials’ Luminous Body Lotion mixed with the Dew Body Oil. Truly a match made in heaven! In the morning, I use Soft Services’ Speed Soak because it absorbs instantly and never feels icky or sticky when getting dressed right after.
Once per week, I’ll use U Beauty’s Resurfacing Body Compound fresh out of the shower before moisturizing to help soften, smooth, and—once again—boost the glow (which, as you may be able to tell, is the theme here).
And before we move on, my hands still need moisturizing in the summer! I like using the Sidia Hand Serum during this time of year because it’s lightweight and sinks in quickly—great for on the go.
I’ve done laser, but if you’ve done it too, you know the hair never truly, fully goes away (Ro couldn’t have said it more accurately—but still worth it!). I keep this in the shower for touch-ups and always use coconut oil instead of shaving cream to 1) protect my skin and 2) provide hydration!
Admittedly, I’m not much of a self-tanner (if I want a fake tan, I’d rather go for a spray), but if I’m in a pinch and truly can’t bear the sight of my pale legs, the Salty Face Tanning Foam is the best I’ve ever used. And while I usually prefer a more natural glow, sometimes a shimmer is appropriate. Victoria Beckham’s Portofino ’97 Golden Shimmer Body Oil is what I’ll go for. It’s great for travel too because it can also serve as your fragrance and hair oil.
We can’t forget SPF, especially since we’re exfoliating with acids weekly—remember?! I’ve yet to find a mineral sunscreen for the body that I’m obsessed with, so in the meantime, Soleil Toujours is my go-to chemical option. Send recs for a mineral!
Last but not least, in case you’ve spent a little too much time in the sun, soothe your skin with The Sun Stone. It’s a nourishing post-sun balm that melts into the skin to hydrate, cool, and replenish—and feels like it offers a little more than your classic aloe.
There you have it! All of my body care favourites for summer. If you try any of the above, let me know!
All please
Yes on deo!!!! 💃🏻