The Summer Beauty MVPs: Products That Won’t Quit Before You Do

Summer is no time for high-maintenance beauty. Whether you’re spending the day at the beach, dancing your way through a music festival, cheering from the sidelines, enjoying sunset cocktails on a patio or squeezing in a weekend hike, your beauty routine should work just as hard as you do. That’s why we’ve rounded up the season’s standout products—from glow-boosting skincare and humidity-proof hair heroes to makeup that won’t melt the moment temperatures climb. These are the beauty essentials earning a permanent spot in our summer bag, wherever the season takes us. —Noa Nichol

Splash Zone Approved Looks  

• NEW Jumbo Size: Shiseido Ultra Sun Protector Clear Stick SPF 50+ – An invisible sunscreen stick that glides on seamlessly for effortless, on-the-go UV protection. $85 CAD available at shoppersdrugmart.ca
• Clé de Peau Beauté Protective UV Cream – A luxurious sunscreen featuring Adaptable Innershield Technology that helps defend against UV rays and environmental aggressors while maintaining hydration, comfort, and radiance throughout the day. $190 CAD available at holtrenfrew.ca
• Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush – A skincare-powered cheek tint that delivers a fresh, natural flush while helping skin look brighter and more hydrated. $34 CAD available at sephora.ca
• JVN Complete Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray – A salt-free spray delivers soft, natural waves & touchable texture without feeling crunchy or sticky. Plus the Oat Kernal Extract protects hair against environmental stressors through UV protection. $38 CAD available at sephora.ca

Picnic & Patio-Proof Beauty

• Biossance Squalane + 5% Niacinamide Brightening Eye Serum –  A first-of-its-kind roll-on eye serum designed to visibly brighten and revive tired eyes, powered by 5% niacinamide, vitamin C, and caffeine.  $59 CAD available at sephora.ca
• Glow Recipe Fig Bingsoo Glass Balm – A glossy, treatment-forward balm that delivers a sheer wash of colour with long-lasting hydration and a glass-like finish. $30 CAD available at sephora.ca
• Biossance Squalane + Pro-Peptide Lip Perfector – A deeply hydrating lip treatment that smooths, nourishes, and adds a subtle glossy finish, making it a beach bag essential. $26 CAD available at sephora.ca
• Shiseido Ultimune Oil – A lightweight multi-treatment oil that delivers serum-level care through a water-based, oil-like texture, leaving skin smooth, nourished, and naturally radiant. $98 CAD available at Shiseido.ca and Sephora.ca

Festival beauty that lasts the encore

• Glow Recipe LHA + AHA Korean Watermelon Toner Pads – Formulated with a blend of exfoliating acids, these pads gently refine pores and smooth texture while maintaining hydration—ideal for achieving clear, glowing summer skin. $42 CAD available at sephora.ca
• JVN Perfect Flexible Hold Hairspray – Hairspray with 24h flexible hold, strength, and frizz control. $39.50 CAD available at sephora.ca
• JVN StyleFix Stick – A pocket-size, multitasking styling stick that smooths flyaways and controls frizz for limitless looks—from sleek ponytails to tousled texture.  $24.50 CAD available at sephora.ca
• Lixr Beauty LixStick – A creamy, skin-conditioning lip and cheek tint with buildable colour and a soft satin finish. $48 CAD available at sephora.ca
• Clé de Peau Beauté Colour Eye Quad – A multi-dimensional eyeshadow quad with silky, blendable pigments that deliver depth and luminosity while caring for the delicate eye area. $103 CAD available at holtrenfrew.ca

Game, Set, Glow 

• Dewy Defense SPF 30 Hydrating Fluid Sunscreen – A daily SPF that offers undetectable protection with clean UV filters, boosting hydration overtime for dewy skin, bringing you the best of Korean sun-care. $47.50 CAD available at  sephora.ca
• Shiseido Eyelash Curler – A makeup kit staple beloved by artists and beauty editors alike, designed to create a lasting, natural-looking curl that instantly opens up the eyes. $38 CAD available at shoppersdrugmart.ca
• JVN Hair The Essential Dry Shampoo – Lightweight dry shampoo that refreshes hair instantly. $38 available at sephora.ca
• Biossance Squalane + Growth Factor Firming Moisturizer: This moisturizer visibly firms your skin with biomimetic growth factor, a plant-based peptide that improves the look of laxity, fine lines, and bounce. $87 CAD available at sephora.ca