My Summer Desert Essentials
Today will be three months exactly since I pulled up to our apartment in Vegas with the moving truck. Since then, I’ve adjusted some of my beauty products and aspects of my day to day life in order to adapt to the heat and dryness the desert so graciously presents you with come summer.
I added SuperGoop! Unseen Sunscreen to my daily regime before putting on my make up and I am a true believer. I love how easy this goes on and that it has SPF 40. It acts as a primer as well, so it makes my make up go on smoothly as well.
Supergoop! Invincible Setting Powder
I picked this up when I picked up the Unseen Sunscreen because I wanted something to keep in my purse to reapply sunscreen throughout the day or for my drive home. I’m not a fan of smearing cream sunscreen over my face when I am already wearing makeup, so I loved this option to swipe on loose powder to help with shine and add a layer of SPF.
Lubriderm Daily Moisture Body Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 15
This stuff has been a lifesaver since moving to Vegas and I have my dear friend Kate to thank for this recommendation. I love this stuff for how it moisturizes because Lord knows my skin needs it now more than ever AND it has a tiny bit of SPF as well. It’s a great way to be covered when you are getting passive sun. My hope is Brian and I commit to really good sunscreen and moisturizing habits while here in Vegas that will carry with us throughout the rest of our lives. I’ve always been a big sunscreen fan, but never like I am now.
Benefit Cosmetics Total Moisture Facial Cream
I was here three days before my face became scaly. I needed to get a better night time moisturizer stat. I landed on this one by Benefit and so far I really love it. This moisturizer is the first one I have used that keeps my face hydrated through the night. When I wake up in the morning I can still see how hydrated my face is from this product. However, I would love to find a safe option at a decent price.
Ocean Potion SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
This is my all time favorite body sunscreen. It smells so good for sunscreen (the bottle says “smells like sunshine.”) It is so easy to put on when heading out to the pool or for a hike. I like to wear this for when I am intentionally spending time in the sun. However, like with the facial cream, I am looking for a safer option
Brita Large Ten Cup Water Filter Pitcher
Our fridge does not have a water filtration system, so we make due with our Brita pitcher The water here in Vegas is very hard and tastes pretty yucky right out of the facet, so we use our Brita pitcher to have fresh drinking water ready since staying hydrated is so important. We even will filter water and pour it in to these bottles so we have extra water on hand and it feels like a fancy brunch place.
Staying hydrated is key for everyday life and even more so when living in the desert. I already drink a ton of water compared to the average person, but it wasn’t enough for how dry it is out here. Within days I had headaches beyond belief and got light headed so easily. I upped my water intake and so far the headaches have subsided. I never leave the house without a full bottle of waterWe currently have about five of these water bottles around our house
Thank goodness for polarized sunglasses. The sun is so bright here and it reflects off of every surface in a way I have never experienced. I own one pair of polarized sunglasses and they have been a lifesaver. I’m seriously looking to add one or two more pairs to closet to add some diversity. I currently own a pair of Raen sunglasses, but sadly my style is discontinued. I’ve had mine for 5 years and love the quality and style.
I never thought I’d wear a felt hat in the summer time in the desert, but this hat in Whiskey has been my go-to whenever Brian and I are going to be out in the sun. Wide brim hats have become a staple when heading out for the day to protect my face from the harsh rays of the sun and keep me a bit cooler.
I usually wear a medium in Goorin Bros, but I sized up to a large due to the stiffness of this hat. Unfortunately, it looks to be sold out in everything but XL in Whiskey, but the Black option has a few more sizes.
We’ve had this for a while, but we’ve used our Yeti and Yeti Ice more in Vegas in three months than we ever did the three years we were in Ohio. The Yeti Ice is what sets this combo apart. It keeps everything super cold without the mess of ice. We take the cooler to friends houses, concerts in the park and even leave it in the car while on hikes so we can drink cold water when we get back to the car.
Essentials I’m still looking for:
Deep Conditioner
I picked up the Kristen Ess Deep Conditioner from Target in an effort to save my dehydrated ends, but truthfully I don’t think I like this product. I haven’t used it since getting my ends trimmed, so maybe it will work better now that my hair can actually retain the goodness it provides.
Scalp Cleanser
Like everything my scalp has been so dry since moving to Las Vegas. I am search of a great scalp cleanser that doesn’t break the bank, is safe and provides results. I’ve never been one to struggle with dandruff, but I can’t go more than two days without my scalp getting dry. And I really hate to wash my hair. I aim to wash it no more than three times a week (and to be honest, I’d love to get to no more than two washes a week).
Black Light Flashlight
If you watched my stories last week regarding the scorpion in our apartment, then you know why this is an essential. So many people recommended this to me regarding how to check for scorpions. Since they glow under black light you can turn off the lights and use the ultraviolet light to find them. Thinking about scorpion hunting gives me the heebie jeebies.
As I experience my first round of seasons in the desert, would you be interested in seeing my winter desert essentials (if there are any)?
xx,
Linds
