July Beauty Must Haves: Things You Need to Own This Month

With the hundreds of beauty products launching every month, it’s not easy knowing exactly which skin serum, nail polish or perfume you should spend your hard-earned cash on. Let me take the guesswork out of beauty shopping for you with a short list of the-top-10-Beauty-Gypsy-approved absolute must-haves.

Benefit Cosmetics Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer

Benefit says their new Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer acts like a magnet, keeping foundation locked in place all day long. And I am inclined to agree. Using a tip from the brand’s pro makeup artist – don’t blend primer into the skin, simply apply makeup on top – I found that my foundation did not shift one bit until I hit the make-up remover right near sunrise. The primer itself feels nice and creamy in consistency, and glides across the skin with a cooling touch. It’s not exactly weightless as there is a semi-sticky feel that’s by design so it can physically grab your makeup like a magnet. Not heavy or weighty… just a bit sticky before the foundation goes on top. $32 / £24.50

Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint

There is little that makes me happier in summer than finding a make-up product that’s super-light, easy to blend, looks natural and doesn’t need to be touched-up. Tough order but this Sheer Color Cheek Tint from Bobbi Brownmanages to tick all the boxes – it lasts all day, it’s the prefect natural-flush pink, and it feels like nothing on your skin. Good thing because the one thing my sallow complexion cannot do without is a touch of blush! $26

Bite Beauty Cuvee Cream Deluxe Lipstick

Yes, yes… I know! $34 for a lipstick is right out there in the stratosphere but with champagne grapes, freshwater Tahitian black pearls and Japanese silk powder, the super limited edition (only 1,200 of each shade) Bite Beauty Cuvee Cream Deluxe Lipstick is a once in a lifetime purchase. And yes, it also provides long-lasting antioxidant color, in case you were interested in the formula benefits. $34

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Vapor

Vapor looks gorgeous against a summer tan and is the perfect palette cleanser if you’re sick of bright nail colors. It’s as if Tom Ford melted down the most perfect pearl and bottled it – and for the price, maybe he actually did! $30

Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes

This one is perfect for those super-sweaty days and lazy nights when you absolutely need to clean your face, lack of water or energy notwithstanding. In addition to being wildly pretty, the Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes have coconut water to balance out oil, papaya to exfoliate and aloe vera to soothe. All of that adds up to two things: they’re great for your skin and they smell like vacation. $6

Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Arancia di Capri Shower Gel

It’s expensive but so worth it for a special occasion or when you want to make a crappy day feel better. This fresh Mediterranean vacation inspired shower gel is enriched with vitamin E, which helps to stave off signs of aging. And its moisturising qualities mean your body will be left feeling wonderfully soft, making sure your skin will be summer-ready in an instant! £26

Kama Ayurveda Organic Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera is one of the most versatile beauty ingredients but finding a good quality, unadulterated bottle is becoming next to impossible. That’s what thrill me so much about this new launch from Kama Ayurveda – it’s 100% organic, cold pressed and absolutely safe to apply on either skin or hair. INR 500

Bumble & Bumble Surf Travel Set

The legions of fans who are devoted to Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray can get an even bigger dose of beachy-wave goodness with the newly introduced Surf Foam Wash and Creme Rinse Conditioner. And when it’s all packed up in this handy travel set that’s perfect for tossing in your weekender, the wonder is complete. $28

Fresh Life Eau de Parfum

There are times when I have bought Fresh products more for their gorgeous, zingy fragrance than actual usability. So, you will have to race me for first picking when this EDP launches later in the month. Founder Lev Glazman wanted the fragrance to smell the way it does when he’s hanging out by a lake in the country, which has happily translated into notes of earth, air, sun and water. To be more specific: citrus, cucumber, bergamot and magnolia. It is summer in a bottle. £29 for 30ml

Paul Smith Sunshine Edition 2013

This one falls in the I-love-the-bottle-so-much-that-the-fragrance-doesn’t-even-matter category. Dressed up in light yellows, pale greens, gentle purples and pretty pinks, the flacon is inspired by the birth of the sun on summer mornings. Thankfully, the fragrance itself is just as inspired, with a medley of pink fruit, sweet peach, jasmine, peony, rose and white musk. These are limited editions, though… so once they’re gone, they’re gone. £22.10 / INR 3,990 for 100 ml