As summer reaches its peak, many of us are on the lookout for solutions to sunburns, dry skin, and frizzy hair. A summer beauty survival kit can be your one-stop solution, offering products you can either purchase or create yourself. Discover some appealing ideas below.
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The Problem: Shiny Skin
Buy It: S.W. Basics Toner
A shiny T-zone can be a small annoyance during summer, but harsh chemical solutions aren’t necessary. The S.W. Basics Toner is formulated with organic apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, and essential oils, balancing oil production while retaining moisture. It only contains five ingredients, all sourced from fair trade, certified organic, or family-farmed suppliers, and has the EWG’s lowest toxicity rating for face toners. Available at Kroger, Fred Meyer, and other local grocery chains if you prefer an in-person purchase.
Renowned for its protective and healing properties, rosewater has been a staple in skincare for centuries. Even Cleopatra was said to have included it in her beauty routine. You can recreate the Queen of the Nile’s secret by making your own rosewater toner using straightforward instructions from The Healthy Maven. This toner helps reduce inflammation and shine without over-drying your skin. Simple and effective!
The Problem: Sunburn
Buy It: COOLA Radical Recovery After-Sun Lotion
For those who have overexposed their skin to the sun, COOLA’s Radical Recovery After-Sun Lotion is an ideal choice. This EcoCert certified lotion boasts 99% natural-origin ingredients, featuring organic agave and aloe vera as its moisture-retentive base. The agave has been used since Aztec times for its moisture-binding capabilities and vitamin richness. It also includes lavender, sunflower, sweet orange, and mandarin peel oils for antioxidant benefits, and is paraben- and phthalate-free.
If you’re seeking a cost-effective way to soothe sunburn, a ripe avocado can be an excellent remedy due to its high content of healthy fats, vitamins E and K, and antioxidants. Weelicious provides an easy guide to creating a homemade avocado honey mask that can be prepared quickly and helps reduce redness and discomfort.
The Problem: Chapped Lips
Buy It: Loving Naturals Lip Balm SPF 30
Many lip balms overlook sun protection, but Loving Naturals Clear Lips SPF 30+ Lip Balm incorporates non-nano zinc oxide, a mineral recommended by the EWG as an alternative to chemical filters. This balm combines grape seed oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter for nourishment. Although Loving Naturals has shifted much of its focus to baby products under the Adorable Baby brand, this lip balm remains available. For a vegan alternative, consider Badger Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 15, which is beeswax-free.
Crafting your own lip balm allows full control over the ingredients. Liz Stevens from Gimme Some Oven offers a simple recipe using rosewater, beeswax, olive oil, and sunflower seed oil to create a nourishing DIY lip balm in roughly 15 minutes. Note that this recipe doesn’t include SPF, so it’s best paired with a hat or a lip-safe mineral sunscreen for sun protection.
The Problem: Frizzy Hair
Buy It: Maple Holistics Silk18 Conditioner
Humidity often leads to frizz, but the Maple Holistics Silk18 Conditioner provides a solution by coating the hair shaft with moisture. This conditioner includes 18 silk amino acids along with argan oil, shea butter, pomegranate seed oil, and jojoba oil. It’s free of silicones, parabens, and sulfates, making it safe for color-treated hair and suitable for all hair types. Maple Holistics also offers a mail-in bottle recycling program, rewarding customers with free products for returning empty packaging.
Paula Parrish provides a classic tutorial with three versions of a DIY leave-in conditioning spray tailored for dry, oily, or normal hair. Each variation uses vegetable glycerin, lavender, and tea tree oil as a base. The glycerin draws moisture from the air into the hair shafts, which is especially beneficial in humid summer conditions.
The Problem: Dry Skin
Buy It: Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist
Summer skin tends to be oily in some areas, dry in others, and often dehydrated by day’s end. The Heritage Store Rosewater & Glycerin Hydrating Mist stands out for its simplicity, containing only purified water, vegetable glycerin, and Damask rose oil. Glycerin attracts moisture to the skin, while rosewater calms and softens. It serves as a mineral makeup setter, preps the skin for application, tames hair frizz, and acts as a cooling spray when chilled. The product is free from dyes, alcohol, parabens, or phthalates and is packaged in post-consumer recycled plastic.
Tip: Keep the bottle in a cooler for a refreshing, radiant complexion and a cool spritz whenever needed.
For those needing something more substantial than a mist, Susan from Rawmazing offers a whipped shea butter lotion that can be made in your kitchen using just three ingredients: shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil. Rich in vitamins A, E, and F, shea butter absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue. Whipping it in a stand mixer creates a lighter texture.
The Problem: Mosquitoes and Bugs
Buy It: Badger Bug Spray
While DEET is effective, it is a synthetic pesticide that can dissolve plastics and be absorbed through the skin. For most summer activities, a well-crafted essential oil repellent suffices, and Badger’s formula has been lab-tested for efficacy. Badger Bug Spray offers at least three hours of mosquito protection using certified organic citronella, cedarwood, lemongrass, rosemary, and geranium oils in an organic soybean and castor oil base. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and comes in a recyclable aluminum bottle from the same solar-powered, women-run B Corp in New Hampshire as their sunscreen.
Badger’s spray has been tested against mosquitoes and stable flies. For tick-heavy regions or where mosquito-borne illness is a concern, the CDC advises using EPA-registered repellents like picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) for extended protection.
DIY It: Essential Oil Bug Spray
A witch hazel base effectively carries essential oils and also acts as a mild astringent. The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s homemade bug spray guide presents several recipes, including a basic version with 2 cups of witch hazel, ½ teaspoon of citronella or lemongrass oil, and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use and reapply every one to two hours, more frequently than commercial options. Store in a dark bottle away from heat. Note: Lemon eucalyptus oil is not recommended for children under three or for pregnant or nursing individuals.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2013 by Mary Mazzoni and has been updated in 2016, 2017, 2019, and July 2026.
