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I don’t typically prep for summer. But this year in Ontario, the weather went straight from bitter cold to blazing hot. It’s like spring forgot to show up. Sure, we had a couple of mild days here and there, but if you blinked, you missed them). So this means my summer shopping happens in a panic the day before a trip up North or the first morning it’s too hot to wear jeans. Between the summer calendar of weddings, friend hangs and the cottage weekends already crowding my calendar, I need to be ready. The last thing I want is to run out of SPF or discover that last summer’s sandals are officially done as I’m on my way out the door. This year, I got ahead of it and made a list of every summer essential.
Backyard barbecue, beach day, patio happy hour, whatever, I’m ready for all of it.
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Summer beauty essentials
Your routine shifts the second the weather heats up. Suddenly you’re slathering SPF over every inch of exposed skin, troubleshooting the less glamorous stuff (boob sweat and thigh chafe, I’m looking at you), and, if you’re anything like me, dealing with the fallout from one too many hours in the sun. Here’s everything that gets me through it while still looking put together.
The Sun-Kissed Set, $50, at rhodeskin.com.
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This glow-up set bundles the makeup that creates the warm, lit-from-within look, without any sun damage. It’s the easiest way to fake that just-back-from-the-cottage flush, and the pieces are small enough to travel in your carry-on. Consider it your shortcut to looking bronzed.
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Cordless Heated Brush, $51, at amazon.ca.
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A cordless heated brush is a key move when outlets are scarce and your hair needs a quick reset. This one’s rechargeable and small enough to live in your weekender, so you can smooth out hat-hair before dinner without having to hunting for a plug. Styling and smoothing in one pass, no bathroom counter required.
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DesignMe Puff Me Sea Salt Spray,$3, at designmehair.com.
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Beachy texture: no beach required. Made with pink Himalayan salt, this spray adds soft waves with just enough body to make second-day hair look fully intentional. Spritz, scrunch and go.
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ShineOn Plumping Lip Jelly, $18, at tower28beauty.com.
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This non-sticky lip jelly delivers shine with a subtle plump without the tingle-to-the-point-of-pain situation. It layers over your favourite lippy or stands on its own for an easy, glassy finish. Throw one in every bag you own.
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Anthelios Ultra Fluid Face & Body Sunscreen SPF 50+, $31, at amazon.ca.
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No summer beauty bag is complete without a sunscreen. But a good one means you’ll actually reapply it. Derms keep recommending this lightweight, no chalky white cast protection that’s gentle enough for sensitive skin.
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T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Dual Voltage Air Styler, $349, at t3micro.com.
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The standout in this limited-edition lemon-yellow collection, and the only dual-voltage ceramic air styler in Canada, which is sort of the whole point: it works at home and overseas without fussing with a converter. The tool dries and shapes hair all in one go, so you get shiny frizz-free hair that actually holds its style. And it comes with a vegan leather tote that slips right into a carry-on.
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Hydrating Lip Balm in Toasted Coconut, $10, at thecalifornianaturals.com.
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Try this coconut-scented lip balm that keeps your lips soft when the sun and the AC start doing a number on them. The flavour is warm and a little tropical. Stash one in every pocket, and you’ll never be caught chapped.
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Vanilla Tangerine Ingrown Hair 2-Step Routine, $66, at bushbalm.ca.
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Swimsuit season and ingrown hairs are a package deal, unfortunately. And this Canadian-made scrub-and-oil duo is how you fight back. The exfoliating sugar scrub preps skin before you shave or wax, and the oil keeps bumps and razor irritation in check after. The vanilla-tangerine scent is a lovely bonus.
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Curél Intensive Moisture Deep Moisture Spray, $28, at shoppersdrugmart.ca.
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The ceramide mist makes a low-effort way to rehydrate skin that’s been through a day of sun, salt water and AC. The ultra-fine spray works on the face and body, and it sinks in fast and can even go over makeup. Your midday refresh doesn’t require a whole new beauty routine. It’s fragrance-free and created for dry, sensitive skin, which makes it an “easy yes” for just about everyone.
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Beauty Flash Dry Nail Colour, $12, at shoppersdrugmart.ca.
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A quick-dry polish for the impatient among us (hi!). It sets fast enough to survive a last-minute pedi before sandal weather, and the collection’s range of shades covers all the summer brights and soft neutrals trends. An easy, low-stakes way to feel a little more pulled together.
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Warm-weather accessories
Whatever’s on your summer agenda, you’ll want pieces that pull their weight with both function and style. This is the season for a little colour, statement accessories and breezy staples. These are the ones you’ll keep reaching for from now to Labour Day.
The Capsule System, prices vary by size, at keepyourcadence.com.
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I take a small pharmacy’s worth of supplements every day. So, hauling the full-size bottles to cottages and weekend-long weddings is not my vibe. These little magnetic capsules solve the packing dilemma. They’re refillable and leakproof. And the ASMR-like snap closure is so satisfying. You can portion out days of vitamins (plus serums and SPF) and leave the bottles at home.
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Raffia Anchor Basket Tote in Berry Multi, $525, at veronicabeard.ca.
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The raffia basket bag is an investment piece, and this one earns the splurge with its berry-multi weave and roomy, throw-everything-in shape. It’s polished enough for a rooftop dinner but happy to haul your towel and SPF to the beach. This is exactly the double duty a good summer bag should tackle. And it makes a plain linen dress look like a grid-worthy look.
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Quo Beauty Unbreakable Claw Clip Heart 2pk, $13, at shoppersdrugmart.ca.
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Two heart-shaped claw clips that twist sweaty summer hair up and out of your face in one move. They’re sturdy and hold a full ponytail’s worth of my thick, long hair.
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Uniqlo Silk Printed Scarf, $40, at uniqlo.com.
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A 100-per cent silk scarf deserves a spot in your summer bag. Knot it around your neck, tie it to your bag handle or use it to dress up a plain tank. It’s the finishing touch that makes an outfit look styled not thrown on.
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Shein Y2K Hollow Knit Dress, $29, at shein.com.
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Wear this deep-V knit dress with a little metal buckle detail over your bikini or to the patio for cocktail spritzes. The fabric’s hue flatters multiple skintones. File it under “vacation dress you won’t stress about.”
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Dermedial Anti-Itch+ Calming Oat Stick, $22, at saje.ca.
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Ugh, summer’s least charming side effects have arrived, too: bug bites, heat rash, the mystery itch you get from sitting in the grass. But they meet their match with this little stick. The oat ingredients help calm irritated skin on contact and glides on mess-free, so there’s no cream caked under your nails. Plus, it’s small enough to live in a beach bag. And it’s Health Canada-approved to be gentle enough for kids aged two and up – the whole cottage crew can use it.
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Straw Cloche Hat in Sand, $26, at lavieenrose.com.
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A classic straw hat that handles the two jobs you need it to: shading your face and finishing your outfit. The cloche shape reads a little polished, a little retro. And the sand colour goes with every swimsuit you own. Your scalp (and your future self) will thank you.
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Siesta Lattice Jelly Flats, $153, at amazon.ca.
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This answers the mesh-flat trend in jelly form. The pointed-toe slip-ons feature a woven lattice that reads far more expensive than it is. And the cushioned footbed allows you to walk in them all day. Light, breathable and easy to pack, they will take you from a beach-town stroll to a patio lunch.
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RB4376 in Havana, $176, at ray-ban.com.
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A good pair of sunnies quietly upgrades everything, and this pair features a warm tortoise that goes with everything. The lens shape flatters most face shapes. Buy once, wear all summer (and probably for the next five – if you don’t lose sunglasses).
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Gingham High Cut Cheeky One-Piece Swimsuit, $62, at ae.com.
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This one-piece makes an easy swimsuit choice without being boring, thanks to the high-cut leg and cheeky back. The gingham print is peak summer, and the cut is genuinely comfortable for an all-day pool situation. It’s proof a one-piece can be the fun option.
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Must-haves for outdoor activities
After a winter spent mostly indoors, anything that happens outside suddenly sounds like a great idea. The catch is that doing it safely and properly means a bit of gear. With beach and pool days, picnics, park hangs, ball games and outdoor concerts, there’s a lot to show up for this summer. Here are our editor picks that make it easy.
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Summer Playing Cards, $22, at saltyface.com.
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DO YOU WANT TO LEAD WITH THIS ONE? SEEMS LIKE A FUNNY SUMMER PICK. I’D BURY IT.
A deck of cards is the lowest-effort, highest-payoff thing you can pack for a day lounging outside. These ones are built for summer, so a splash from the pool or a sweaty cooler won’t end your game. Toss them in your beach bag, and entertainment is sorted.
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Settle In Outdoor Deck Chair in Scarlet Stripe, $473, at sundays-company.ca.
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This foldable deck chair is as nice to look at as it is to sit in, which is more than you can say for most camping chairs. The stripe is a proper summer nod, and it quickly packs down for the park, the patio or the cottage dock. It’s comfortable enough to settle into , as promised.
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Striped Inflatable Pool Float, $5, at shein.com.
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A striped lounger for the very important task of doing nothing in the pool. It’s roomy and costs less than a cocktail. It’s exactly the kind of thing you don’t want to spend a lot on but absolutely want to have.
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Pickleball Set, $60, at amazon.ca.
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Pickleball is the friend-hang sport of the summer, and this cute set gets the whole crew playing without anyone needing to own their own gear. It comes with paddles, balls and a carry bag, so you can go from “we should really try pickleball” to an actual game at the park or court. Keep it in the trunk of your car for impromptu summer matches.
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FujiFilm Instax Mini 13, $110, at amazon.ca.
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There’s something about an instant print photo just can’t compete with your phone pics. This camera snaps credit-card-sized photos you can hand out on the spot, stick on the fridge or tuck into a card, which makes it the unofficial MVP of weddings, cottage weekends and backyard parties. Bring it along with you for your summer travels and you’ll have something tangible to show for the summer.
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Thin Stripe Organic Cotton Beach Towel, $15, at simons.ca.
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This oversized organic-cotton beach towel (86 centimetres by 160 centimetres) is big enough to lie stretched-out on. The print looks understated, and the cotton fabric softens with every wash. You’ll have a grown-up towel that isn’t covered in cartoon palm trees.
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Yeti Hopper Soft Cooler in Dessert Bloom, $250, at yeti.ca.
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This soft cooler is a small splurge that will earn its keep every single summer. It keeps ice frozen through a full beach day, seals tight so no leaks and is far easier to haul than a hard-shell cooler.
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Ohme Oh My Yogurt Crunch Yum Pack, $34, at ohmefoods.com.
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I THINK YOU NEED TO ADDRESS THE PRICE HERE. WHO PAYS $34 FOR ASMALL BAG OF SNACKS. LOL
A grab-and-go yogurt crunch snack for when you need something to tide you over between the beach and dinner. It travels well and hits that sweet-and-crunchy craving without melting into a mess in your bag. Stash a few in your beach bag.
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Bubly Pop Berry Soda, $10 for a pack of 10, at realcanadiansuperstore.ca.
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A soda with prebiotics?! This beverage can be a choice for anyone cutting back on the heavy stuff without denying something fun to sip. It’s bubbly, lightly sweetened and a welcome break from plain sparkling water. Keep a few cold for the guests who skip the wine.