Our Editorial Team's Must-Have Summer Essentials

Do you want to change up your routine for the summer season, but aren’t sure where to get started? Sometimes poking around in your friends’ collections is the best way to find what you need!

The summer months bring all kinds of challenges, from sun damage to sweating, from traveling to lazy days at the beach, we all have our go-to’s to enhance our favorite time of the year and ensure nothing gets in the way of our enjoyment.

In today’s article, the Daily Life editorial team shares some of our summer must-haves to get you inspired!

Our Summer Essentials & Must-Haves

Marina - Social Media Specialist

Maybelline New York Dream Fresh BB Sunscreen SPF 30

Image via walmart.ca

When the sun is hot, things get sweaty, and my skin is naturally inclined to look extra shiny by the end of the day. Maybelline’s weightless BB cream allows me to do quick makeup touches throughout the day, and has an added bonus of also being a sunscreen! It’s a win-win situation.

LEUCHTTURM1917 Notebook

Image via indigo.ca

I’m a writer, so having a notebook when I’m away from home and at the lake in the summertime is essential to ensure I can write anything and everything down when inspiration hits. I also do a lot of freelance work for clients, so I like the option to be able to work on my projects on the fly. I especially love this notebook because rather than traditional lines, the pages have dots in them so you can really make each page your own.

Bed Head After-Party Smoothing Cream

Image via amazon.com

I’m Italian and Lebanese, so it’s inevitable that I have naturally wild, curly hair! That being said, I’ve been using this product for years to keep my curls in check. After a shower or a dip in the pool, putting a bit of this cream throughout my wet hair keeps it smooth and in control for the rest of the day. Frizzy hair be gone!

The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter

Image via thebodyshop.com

I love keeping my skin fresh and moisturized throughout the hot, and often dry summer months. I love The Body Shop’s Coconut Body Butter as it’s super natural and feels amazing on my skin.

Sydnie - Managing Editor

Om Organics Essential Summer Mist

Image via omorganicscanada.com

This is an all natural bug spray that is a must-have for summer. It doesn’t contain harsh chemicals, so I feel safe using it on myself, my niece and even my dog! I really enjoy the smell and even though it’s a smaller bottle, it lasts a long time.

Halfmoon Mod Meditation Cushion

Image via shophalfmoon.ca

Over the past year, I’ve been working on my mind, body and soul connection through meditation and yoga, and discovering what wellness means to me. One thing I love is being out in nature. I am a typical Cancer who loves to be around water, and love being immersed in the outdoors. This Halfmoon meditation cushion gives me a comfortable seat to sit on the grass, on my patio or out at the lake. With the handle and its smaller size, it’s easy to pack on my summer vacations.

Columbia Splendid Summer Hat

Image via columbiasportswear.ca

I am a fair-skinned blonde who burns easily, and now with a little wisdom under my belt, know how important it is to take care of my skin and eyes when out in the sun. This hat is not only useful for blocking the sun but super cute too, adding a bit of fun to any outfit. Cute and useful? Add to my shopping cart!

Pura Botanicals Ambrosia Beautifying Serum

Image via purabotanicals.ca

Summers around here get hot and sweaty, and I am sure to be really mindful of my skincare routine, making sure my skin doesn’t get weighed down and my pores don’t get clogged. After a refreshing shower, I will add in some of this beautifying serum to my routine. It is lightweight and refreshing, and the next morning my skin looks fresh and flawless. It’s like it works magic overnight! This beauty brand is one of my favorites.

Mady - Junior Content Coordinator

Que Collapsible Water Bottle

Image via Indigo.ca

This is my new favorite water bottle! It holds 20 oz, uses non-toxic materials and is dishwasher safe. I love being able to fold it up after a hike so it takes up less space in my bag. Pro tip: only put water in there when you go camping, as it can be a bit time consuming to clean thoroughly.

Sunlit Large Beach Blanket

Image via Amazon.ca

Nothing helps me de-stress and recharge for the week like the beach. I’m lucky that I live in a community with a man-made lake! When I have free time on the weekend, I pack up a bag with fruit, sunscreen, and a good book and I relax for the afternoon on the beach. I ordered this beach blanket from Amazon because you can fill the corners with sand so it stays put if the wind kicks up.

Jack Black Moisture Therapy Lip Balm in Mint

Image via sephora.com

I love this balm because I find it super soothing on dry or burnt lips. It also helps prevent further sun damage because it is SPF 25. I have the mint scent and I like the tingle! This is a must-pack for every day - from a sunny day at the beach or brunch on the patio.

Indigo Herb Garden

Image via Indigo.ca

My mom has a green thumb, so I associate fresh garden veggies with summer dinners. I’m not quite as talented, but I like to pretend I am with my own at home herb garden. This sits on the window sill in the kitchen and I love having fresh herbs to toss in some homemade pasta!

Sarah - Senior Content Coordinator

Lululemon Dance Studio Crop Pants

Image via shop.lululemon.com

Crops are my middle ground between pants (too toasty for summer) and shorts (I will never wear, despite how hot it gets). I spend a fair amount of time outside with my dog and in the garden and these are easy to move in. I can also wear them to yoga, the gym, the dog park, etc. I like that they aren’t skin tight and they have pockets for my dog bags/garden tools/coffee money.

Baseball Hat

Image via adidas.ca

I’m super vain about my skin, so I keep it covered as much as possible. Sunscreen can only take you so far, so tag-teaming with a ball cap gives me desirable shade. It also helps when I don’t feel like doing my hair (which is often), but I was mistaken for a man last time I wore it for my morning coffee, so I might be overdoing it.

Pixi Glow Tonic

Image via beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca

Summer = sweat for me, but I don’t want to succumb to August acne, and I find many exfoliants to be too harsh for my skin. I’ve just finished my second large bottle and will keep this as a kit staple. It gently exfoliates, is kind enough for everyday use, plus contains 5% glycolic acid to keep it clean. Bonus: it can help clear up sun damage over time.

Huge Sunglasses

Image via amazon.com

The bigger the better - I do not sparkle like a Twilight vampire, so I need to cover as much of my face as possible lest I burn like a dry stick in a campfire. We have over 300 days of sunshine where I live, so having these to block the welcome but sometimes harmful rays seems a sensible choice. Combined with my ubiquitous ball cap, I probably look like I’m evading capture, but at least I can fend off wrinkles for a few more years!

Natasha - Content Editor

Fjallraven Kanken Backpack

Image via fjallraven.com

I much prefer to carry a backpack than a bag, especially in the summer while I’m adventuring around. Fjallraven’s Kanken backpack has been around for like a million years, comes in like a million colours, it’s durable, and you can choose from multiple size options with varying support. Plus, it’s a super cute, timeless style that always looks good. Highly highly recommend Kankens!

Deck of Cards

Image via amazon.com

I always keep a deck of basic playing cards in the aforementioned backpack. If you’re like me and you spend a lot of time outside during the summer, hopping from festival to festival and farmer’s market to farmer’s market, it’s nice to be able to kill downtime without opening Instagram for the 30th time in the last half hour. Everyone knows how to play basic card games, and it’s a great way to keep things fun and lighthearted wherever you are, whoever you’re with.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 Instant Film Camera

Image via amazon.com

There’s something unequivocally summery about Polaroids, so my little Instax Mini 70 gets a lot of use during the summer months. Small and lightweight, it’s better than lugging around a DSLR camera (especially on vacations), and even if you don’t get the perfect shot, there’s something immediately endearing and classic about a Polaroid photo. Since they print and develop instantly, you can head home and scrapbook/photo album/vision board to your heart’s content.

I also like to hang my mini Polaroids on strings on my walls around the house for some quirky, personalized decor. I’ve actually also started giving them as little gifts too; for a friend’s going away party a few months back, I got someone to take a Polaroid of us together, then gave her the photo to take with her.

Mayari Birkenstock Sandals

Image via softmoc.com

As a person who chooses most of my clothing based on versatility, Birkenstocks are a summer no-brainer. They mould to your unique foot shape, they’re sturdy, solid, and you can walk forever in them without issue. Depending on your preferred style, you can get away with wearing Birks casually or more formally (the Mayari style I have makes this transition happen really nicely).

Did any of these resonate with you? What are your summer essentials?

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