Most Wanted is a weekly series in which one Who What Wear team member or friend of the brand will share the top 30 fashion and beauty finds on their current wish list. As a beauty editor, I spend a lot of time compiling lists of the best skincare, makeup, and hair care products. Whether it’s the best drugstore eye creams or the best designer makeup picks, a large part of my job is to sort, sift, and shuffle through a very saturated selection; the goal is to deliver an edit of top-performing products that require no trial or error to trust. I bring a similar shrewd sense of judgment to my personal shopping habits. I start by adding every single promising product to my cart. From there, I whittle it down little by little until I have a group of products fit to be purchased. That’s what I’ve been doing to establish my personal summer beauty edit. While I love summer and everything that comes with it—the swimming, the hiking, the long days spent outside—my hair and skin don’t. After enough time spent in the water, my hair becomes rough and breakage occurs. After enough time spent in the sun, my skin becomes uneven and texture appears. Clearly, I’m in need of effective products that will do all things I need them to without complicating my low-key (AKA lazy) summer vibe. Ahead, see all the products I’m purchasing—including an SPF lip balm, an exfoliating mask, and a vitamin C body serum.
I’ve only recently realized just how susceptible my lips are to sun damage, so I plan to wear this SPF 30 lip balm all summer long. The sun protection is the main reason why I’ll be buying this, but I also like that it has a blend of moisturizing oils and a refreshing, minty scent.
Speaking of my lips, I’ve been relying on physical exfoliants for years (i.e. lip scrubs) to remove dead skin and keep them feeling soft and smooth. However, I recently found this on Instagram. It’s an enzyme exfoliant, so it uses papaya and pineapple enzymes to slough away dead skin. This isn’t a want; it’s a need.
It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Phlur fragrances. This is one of the newer launches from the brand, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. With notes of tangerine, lemon, amber, and ginger, it sounds like the perfect summer scent.
I’m obsessed with this maximalist and slightly kitschy claw clip for summer. You can catch me wearing my hair up in easy, no-fuss styles every day.
This high-tech device uses sound wave technology to target fine lines and wrinkles, making the skin look smoother, fuller, and plumper. As someone who’s in her late-20s and starting to see fine lines and wrinkles develop, I’m going to use this to get a proactive jump on them.
I’ve been dying to try this product ever since I first saw it making the rounds on TikTok. It’s supposed to be a good dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($49), so yeah, I’m intrigued.
I know almost $100 for a hairbrush is crazy, but I’m making a point to purchase high-quality essentials that will last me years (instead of repurchasing lower-quality products in a wasteful way). Not only is this one beautiful, so I’ll display it proudly on my vanity, but it’s handcrafted in Italy out of ivory-hued resin and gently detangles hair while stimulating circulation and distributing natural oils. It also has a glue-free design, so it’s safe for use when heat styling.
Spending time outside always leads to freckles and dark spots. To keep my skin tone bright and even, I’ll be using this exfoliating mask weekly. It uses AHA, BHA, and enzyme exfoliation, so it works in a matter of minutes.
I think I found my summer nail color. It’s this rich, verdant green, called Palma, from JinSOON. I love it, and I know I’ll be wearing it on my digits all season long.
I love vitamin C body products, but they can be hard to find. This will be my new go-to. It contains potent vitamin C to brighten and even the skin, while sea buckthorn and amla help reduce free radical damage.
This lotion smells incredible. It’s bright and fruity and basically smells like a tall glass of fresh grapefruit juice. I’m planning on using it every morning after I get out of the shower to moisturize my skin and put a pep in my step.
In the spirit of high-tech skincare, I’m also yearning for this LED mask, which features red LED lights to boost collagen and elastin production and prevent lines and wrinkles from forming. It also features blue LED lights to target breakouts.
Speaking of my morning routine, before I even hop into the shower, I’m committing to using my dry brush. Dry brushing has a long list of purported benefits, including sloughing away dead skin cells, smoothing the skin, increasing circulation, and even detoxifying the body and minimizing cellulite. All I know is that it makes me feel good, so I’m going to make sure I do it every morning.
I want to keep my hands protected from the sun. It’s something I’ve never been super cognizant about, but I’m changing that this year by using this non-greasy, moisturizing hand lotion with SPF 40. In fact, I might keep one in my car to keep my hands protected on long drives to the beach.
For casual days when I’m going to get coffee, pick up dinner, or go to the farmer’s market, I’ll reach for this effortless lip serum from Makeup By Mario. It has a melting formula that washes the lips in moisture while giving the lips a high-shine look and a hint of soft color.
When I want something bold, I’ll reach for this lip color. It’s moisturizing, highly pigmented, and gives the lips a cool high-shine, vinyl-like effect. I love the shade Poppy, which is a bright orange-red.
A friend of mine swears by this hair serum for thickening her hair and encouraging new strands to grow around her hairline. As a thin-haired girl, that perked my ears up. I can’t wait to try this to see if it does the same for me.
Getting into a good workout groove has been a struggle, but this prop kit from Melissa Wood Health totally changed that. I use it in tandem with Melissa Wood’s Pilates videos. It includes ankle weights, a resistance band, a ball, and a bag to hold everything. It’s a rare workout kit that’s both functional and beautiful.
Speaking of working out, I need a new yoga mat. This one has been saved on my Amazon wish list for, well, forever. It’s a thick, 1-inch, cut, so it’s sure to feel comfortable even during long floor workouts.
My nails are naturally thin and weak, so I know I need to introduce a nail strengthened into my routine. This one promises a 77% increase in nail strength thanks to its star ingredient—celery seed extract.
Sure, this hat is technically a fashion accessory, but it’s also skincare because the wide brim offers shade to the face, neck, and shoulders.
This is a beauty editor’s dream come true. I hate feeling like I have to skimp on SPF just because I’m running low or I’m using a body sunscreen that’s too expensive. This giant jug of sunscreen will keep me protected throughout every upcoming beach day (and I don’t think I’ll be running out any time soon).
This summer I’m making it a point to reapply sunscreen more often. One of my favorite ways to do that when I’m wearing makeup is with an SPF face mist. This one from the iconic ’80s-inspired brand, Vacation, is at the top of my list.
I’ve wanted to get laser hair removal for, well, forever, but it’s so expensive and it’s difficult to make the time to go into a professional office for regular visits. So, I’m turning to IPL (intense pulsed light), which is a method of permanent hair removal that’s safe for at-home use. I’ve used this device a few times, and I can definitely tell that the hair on my legs and underarms is growing back slower and sparser.
As someone who struggles with rosacea, soaring summer temps can really do a number on my skin. That’s why I’m planning on keeping an ice roller in my freezer. Whenever my redness flares and my skin feels hot to the touch, I’ll roll this over it to cool it and soothe it. (It also works like a charm on morning puffiness.)
This serum is like a green juice for your skin, providing it with antioxidants, vitamins, and skin-brightening ingredients. It’s incredibly hydrating, and it’s just what my skin needs during a long, hot summer.
I’m convinced I’m not responsible enough for expensive sunglasses. I’m always losing them or breaking them, which is why I’ve resigned myself to a collection of inexpensive (yet still trendy) styles. This pair is next on my wish list. They’re only $15, but they look cool enough for me to wear all summer long, saving me from the eye wrinkles that form when I squint.
A combination of body wash and body scrub, this product uses salt, tangerine citrus butter, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid to clean and exfoliate the skin. I like the fact that it has a luxurious lather to make a standard shower feel a little more spa-like.
This resurfacing body toner is the perfect companion to the aforementioned body wash. With a blend of potent exfoliating acids, it goes to work, targeting hyperpigmentation, bumps, blemishes, and clogged pores. The best part? It doesn’t need to be rinsed off. Just let it dry and follow up with moisturizer.
The third and final Nudestix product that’s on my wish list is this body lotion, which contains moisturizing oils from coconut, yuzu fruit, carrot, and sunflower that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. It also uses glycolic and lactic acids to smooth and brighten the skin.
Up next: I’m 32 and Asked Derms What I Should Do to My Skin—Here’s What They Said.
