With summer now upon us, I wanted to share some of my beauty and fashion favorites that will keep you fresh and glowing all summer long.

Living in California, I understand exactly what extreme heat does to makeup—and it’s usually not very pretty. One way I like to keep my makeup always fresh is to wear only the minimal amount of coverage as necessary. Unless I have an event that I want to look extra put together for, I tend to gravitate towards light and breathable tinted moisturizers or BB/CC creams. I have recently started using the Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector and enjoy using it in conjunction with my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer for an added glow. This pair is perfect for a very natural look with skin that “glows from within.” How to: I like to apply half a pump of the Skin Perfector to the back of my hand and then take half of that product and dot it into the under eye area and the tops of the cheekbones. Then I lightly pat and blend it in with clean fingertips. This will help to reflect light and make you look more luminous and awake. I then mix the remaining product with my tinted moisture and apply it all over my face with a damp Beauty Blender.

Another beauty must for the summer is a hydrating lip balm or gloss. One formula I’ve really been loving is the new Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer. It has a refreshing minty taste and has a long wear. The shade I picked out is Forbidden Fruit—a bright candy orange. See full swatches of the collection here and a sneak peek on Instagram.

One product to help you achieve the perfect beach hair is the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish. Just spray a little product onto areas that need a little lift and then massage your hair to give it that texture and volume. For the best results, I like to work with second day hair. I first sprinkle The Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-Powder onto my roots, massage it in, and either curl my hair with a  flatiron or braid it to give the hair movement. One my hair is wavy/curly, I spritz a little sea salt spray onto to the ends and finish with a little of  the Dryspun Finish. And voila! You have gorgeous beachy waves with tons of body.

The best way to prevent premature aging is to protect your skin from harsh sun exposure. Unfortunately, many people do not understand how important this step is. I know some of you may be groaning internally—no one likes applying greasy sunscreen. However, I’ve been using a sunblock from MD Solar Sciences, the Mineral Crème Broad Spectrum SPF 50 UVA-UVB Sunscreen, and have really been enjoying it. The formula is slightly thicker than your typical sunscreen and so it does not have as much of that oily texture.

One thing I really like about this product is that it uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which both act as a physical barrier, versus your traditional chemical sunscreen. Also, I noticed that this sunblock helps to smooth out my pores, so I typically wear it in the place of a primer, under my foundation or tinted moisturizer. Check a full review here.

One the lines of sun protection, a hat is an absolute necessity during the summer. Sunscreen and sunblock can only offer so much protection, but a hat provides the maximum amount of protection. Also, a cute style can help to complete your outfit. Whether it be a casual floppy sunhat paired with a breezy sundress or a more structured panama and some distressed boyfriend jeans, a hat adds a flare of interest.

Lastly, a summer look is not complete without the perfect shades. When looking for a high quality pair of glasses, look for a classic style. The Prada frames that I picked out has a really chic, retro design which will not be going out of style anytime soon. The frames also have some silver detailing which adds a little edge.

Thank you for reading and I hope you were able to glean some useful tips to surviving the summer sun!

Guest Author: Victoria Cho  is the photographer, beauty editor and food enthusiast at My Life Through a Lens.