Summer Skin Edit
Everything you need for sun season—SPFs, serums, and the cult classics we keep restocking for a reason.
Summer’s in full swing, and if there’s one non-negotiable in our routines (aside from an iced matcha from Handlebar and a well-stocked beach tote), it’s SPF.
I recently joined a Zoom seminar with the Dr. Jason Diamond—yes, the celebrity skin whisperer—and I learned oh so much. We talked about skin longevity, collagen support, and how the most important thing isn’t the buzziest or most hyped serum at Sephora, but the things you do to protect your skin every single day. Like sunscreen.
Lately, I’ve been loving his Metacine system—science-backed, barrier-building, and a smart foundation for long-term glow. Paired with a high-spectrum SPF, it’s what I’m swearing by this summer. Add in my monthly alternation of Hydrafacials and low-dose acid peels, and I’m practically glistening.
Dr Diamonds Instafacial Metacine Trio PLASMA + EMULSION + INFUSION $875 USD
Everyday SPF: What Actually Works
My day-to-day favorite? The Supergoop SPF Setting Powder. It goes on like any finishing powder, leaves zero shine, and makes reapplying sunscreen in public feel totally normal. I keep one in every bag.
If you’re after a more traditional lotion, I’ve been using the RMS Beauty SuperNatural Radiance Serum SPF 30. It’s a gorgeous multitasker that gives you a hint of radiance while offering daily protection. It blends beautifully under makeup, hydrates without feeling greasy, and gives you that post-facial kind of glow—effortlessly.
RMS Beauty SuperNatural Radiance Serum SPF 30 and Supergoop! Re-setting 100% Mineral Powder SPF 35
Chemical vs. Mineral SPF (Let’s Clear the Confusion)
Chemical Sunscreens
Absorb into the skin and convert UV into heat. Lightweight and invisible, but they need 15 minutes to activate before sun exposure.Mineral (Physical) Sunscreens
Sit on top of the skin and reflect UV rays. Look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. They’re ideal for sensitive skin and work immediately.
Both are effective—what matters is finding one you’ll actually use.
From the Team:
Alex’s Summer Skin MVPs
Sun worshipper. Sensitive skin. Self-care realist.
“I’m a sun worshipper with temperamental skin, a family history of melanoma, and a laissez-faire attitude toward self-care. Most products give me a rash, a breakout, or both (a brash?), so I’ve largely been product avoidant—sticking to my tried-and-true CeraVe Cleanser and Moisturizer for 85% of the year. But when summer arrives, hot, dry, and chlorinated, I send CeraVe into hibernation and break out the big guns.”
Hydration
Bonus points for getting remotely close to the daily suggested water intake. Heal from the inside out, they say!
Oak Essentials Moisture Rich Balm I needed to see what the fuss was about, and it turns out, I’m all about that fuss
Both products contain seabuckthorn, which seems to be the magic ingredient.
Prevention
Dune’s Bod Guard for me
Vacation’s Mineral Sunscreen for the kiddo
Hair Care
“Chlorine turns my hair green, and not in a cool way. I don’t spend much time in the pool, but one dip and I’m toast. When I was a kid, my mom would hand me a bottle of ketchup to neutralize the tint. Science or myth? The jury’s still out. I’m proud to report I’ve since graduated from being a hot dog and now reach for OUAI Detox Shampoo.”
Self-Care
”As my 30s start to sunset, I’m officially in my self-care era, which means coming to terms with years of bad decisions. Enter, annual dermatology checks followed by a Taylor Paige facial (and hopefully some guidance too, because I have no idea what I’m doing).”
Dani’s Lil Summer Shelf
Sun protection, hydration, and French pharmacy gold.
Sun Bum for the whole family—it has never failed me!
Tinted Moisturizer with SPF. I Switch between Saie Slip Tint and Tower 28 depending on the day—both give just enough coverage and SPF to feel put together without trying too hard.
“I am currently using Violette Boum-Boum Milk, and I am dying to try Sophie Pavitt's Fridge to Face Blemish Defense Mist.”
Moisturizers
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré (souvenir from a Paris trip with Jen)
“Alex and I were just talking—we need a good chapstick with SPF. Send us your recs!”
Liv’s Real Routine
Acne-prone, low-maintenance, and totally dialed in.
“My skincare isn’t very glamorous—it’s from my dermatologist and esthetician. But it works. And I’m religious about it.”
Liv struggled with hormonal adult acne (especially around the mouth) until she found the Face Reality system through her esthetician Kelly in Ojai. Her Med spa membership allows her two facials a month + a product discount + serious results. We’re sold.
Daily routine:
Cleanser
Toner
Acid
Hydrogel
Acne Medication
Sunscreen
“It cleared my skin so fast. Like, shockingly fast. I had tried everything, and this was the first thing that really worked. I recommend it to all of my friends who are struggling with adult acne.”
For sun protection:
Suntegrity 5-in-1 SPF (a derm-recommended tinted SPF that acts like foundation)
Topped with BareMinerals Powder for added SPF and a little tint
Final Take
Skincare isn’t one-size-fits-all. I’ve tried facials, peels, even microneedling (not for me). But the one thing that always pays off? A consistent routine and products that work for you.
One of the most important—and underrated—steps in any skincare routine is sun protection. It’s your first line of defense not just against sunburn, but also against premature aging, long-term skin damage, and acne scarring. UV exposure can break down collagen, darken hyperpigmentation, and slow the healing process for breakouts. Whether you’re trying to maintain a youthful glow or fade old scars, daily SPF is non-negotiable.
From dermatologist staples to cult classics, our team’s summer shelves say it all: real skin, real routines, real glow.
Come chat skin with us in-store, or shop the Apothecary edit online.
Your skin deserves a little summer romance too.