Aftersun

At this time of year, I like to search for contrast. It’s not hard to find. In fact, it’s everywhere—embedded into the energy of midsummer. 

Entering a crisp, air-conditioned room after a sweltering walk home. An unhinged night out followed by a self-care morning. Lazy afternoon naps to wrap up a hectic weekend. An ice-cold beverage hitting a sweaty upper lip. Diving into frigid water on what feels like the hottest day ever. Listening to Beach House during the day and Charli xcx at night. You see, contrast is everywhere.

Nevertheless, with all these fluctuations, it’s nice to have something that remains stable, like your beauty routine. My empties haul this month is anything but wishy-washy—it’s filled with products you can count on to help you through the summer, from self-tanner to aftersun lotion and more. Shall we?

Empties, explained

Beauty by Earth Self-Tanning Lotion

This self-tanner is perfect for beginners or anyone looking to play it safe. The lotion applies clear, so you won't have to worry about staining your sheets. The resulting color is a subtle bronze, enhancing your natural tone without drastic changes. Unlike most mousse tanners that require rinsing off within a few hours (or risk looking streaky), I've comfortably left this on for an entire day without any issues (though I’m not saying you should).

The DHA (dihydroxyacetone) in this tanner, which is the active tanning ingredient, is derived from beets, making it a more natural choice. It's also enriched with coconut oil and shea butter for ultimate hydration and skin softening.

There are two shade options: Fair to Medium and Medium to Tan. If you prefer a deeper bronze, opt for the latter. Otherwise, start with the lighter shade and build up the color as needed. You can always apply it two nights in a row for more payoff.

⏳️Time to empty: If I use this once a week, it’ll last me two months, maybe three. 

Saie Glossybounce

I absolutely flew through this lip gloss, especially in the shade Bounce. It's natural enough to wear without makeup, but the glossy finish also serves as the perfect finishing touch for a full glam look. The texture is smooth and seamless, never sticky.

The ingredients are impressive too: castor seed, jojoba, and coconut oil to keep your lips plump and soft.If you prefer a more neutral lip over a pinky shade, go for Push—my go-to gloss for achieving a 90s lip and the ideal partner for a brown liner moment.

⏳️Time to empty: I finished this gloss in just over two months.

Kulfi Free The Brow

This product is a brow gel, growth serum, brush, and comb all in one. The gel-tool hybrid offers a lightly laminated look when you use the purple comb or a natural, organized bushy brow when you use the spoolie tip.

Vitamin E and sunflower oils nourish the brow hairs, preventing them from sticking and getting pulled out like with many popular gels, while keeping them groomed and precise. Plus, the hold lasts for hours.

⏳️Time to empty: This one lasted about two months with once-daily use. 

Billie Sensi Body Lotion

This is the perfect summer body lotion. It's fragrance-free, so it won't sting when applied post-shave. The formula is packed with soothing ingredients like aloe vera, allantoin, and shea butter. Plus, it's a huge bottle for only $10, so you won't feel money guilt when covering your skin from head to toe every day.

⏳️Time to empty: This bottle lasts me about a month with once or twice-daily use. 

Still Hot: Rhode Pocket Blush

Reporting for my Gen-Z beauty editor duty: reviewing the latest Rhode drop, obviously. Now, I'll admit…I haven’t always been a major Rhode girl. I think the brand is fun and user-friendly, which is great, but I was never too obsessed with the products themselves—until this drop.

Using the Pocket Blush couldn't be easier. You can swipe a brush on the product first for an airbrushed finish or apply it directly to your skin for more pigment. Every single shade is buildable, so you can keep it low-key or make a statement.

I tested all six shades and ended up with three favorites, which I rotate depending on the occasion, outfit, and other glam choices. Below, the winners: 

• Toasted Teddy: My favorite of the bunch is a deep terra cotta hue that can even be used as a bronzer. It looks chic and never overdone. I pair this one with some fake freckles, brown or maroon eyeliner, and even pop it on the lips.

• Sleepy Girl: I've always loved mauve blush, so it's no surprise this shade is on my winners list. It's a soft pinky hue that doesn't look artificial like bubblegum shades can. This is the shade I reach for when I'm wearing no other makeup because it blends seamlessly with a bare face. Blush newbies will love this one.

• Spicy Marg: I've never been a fan of bright-colored blush, but this shade changed my mind. Spicy Marg is a vibrant coral hue that's as buildable as the rest. It adds a lively detail to your skin without being overly pigmented. Before the photoshoot for this newsletter, I went all out with Spicy Marg to see how it would look on camera (as in I applied 3+ layers for the drama), and it turned out to be the perfect statement detail.

💌 Until next time

That’s all my sweet finis. Thanks for reading, I hope you love this newsletter as much as I do.

Reader update

You may be thinking…this newsletter is shorter than normal! You’re right, but not to fret—this month I’m experimenting with two sends instead of one. The good news? You’ll get to read your favorite email twice this month. Keep an eye out for a mid-month send with an exciting Inspo Expo section and so much more.