If there’s one thing I can confidently say I’m an expert in, it’s navigating hot weather. I attribute this to spending my formative years — from the wee age of 4 to the adult-ish age of 24 — in Florida. Not born, but bred in scorching temperatures. These days though, I call New York City home and over the past five years, I’ve learned that the summers here rival that of the Sunshine State. 

So, it’s my honor to impart upon you all of my tried-and-true summer survival kit. Some crucial questions I’ll answer here: “What do I wear to stay cool yet fashionable?”, “How do I keep my makeup from dripping off my face in 90 percent humidity?”, and “How do I combat face oiliness?” Consider me your sweltering weather guru. 

Below, I’ve rounded up 18 fashion and beauty hacks that I consider must-haves for anyone aiming to look and feel good this summer — and prices start at just $7.

My Top Picks for Tried-and-True Fashion and Beauty Products for the Summer

• Buying In Every Color: Havaianas Slim Flip Flop, $30; nordstrom.com
• Lowest Price: Palladio Rice Paper Facial Blotting Sheets, $7; amazon.com
• Clean-Hair Hack: Crown Affair The Refillable Dry Shampoo, $42; sephora.com
• Eileen West Ballet Nightgown, $49 (orig. $82); macys.com
• Ciele SPF 50+ Blush, $34; cielecosmetics.com
• Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder Mini Size, $28; sephora.com
• Klassy Braless Sweetheart Tank, $38; klassyshop.com
• Trending: Puma Speedcat Ballet Suede, $80; footlocker.com
• For Dolphin Skin: Flamingo Moisture Plus Razor Set, $12; shopflamingo.com
• Cotton On Haven Multi-Tiered Maxi Skirt, $42 (orig. $60); nordstrom.com

Havaianas Slim Flip Flop

You will truly never catch me out and about on the streets of New York in a pair of flip flops — ahem, broken glass, mysterious puddles, and whizzing electric bikes. That said, I still find plenty of reasons to slip them on (safely) from my friend’s rooftop pools to weekend trips out of town. 

And when it comes to flip flops, there’s only one answer: Haviannas. The Brazilian-born shoes, as seen on celebs like Jennifer Lopez, are made from rubber, have thong-style straps, and provide a cushy footbed. I prefer this slim design because it’s more versatile for day-to-night looks. There are plenty of colors to choose from, but if you’re just starting out your collection, I recommend the black or light golden shade. If you’d prefer a more ’90s look, check out the platform version.

Palladio Rice Paper Facial Blotting Sheets

On one blazing hot summer in Tallahassee, one of my best friends showed me the splendor of facial blotting sheets. As a loyal user to this day (over a decade later), she recently told me, “they’re lifesaving, so much better than powder.” I can personally second this testimony. 

When humidity is cresting anywhere above 60 percent, our skin will naturally be a bit sweatier and produce more sebum. A quick pat using one of these rice paper blotting sheets will easily absorb that excess oil. The travel-size packages are also super easy to toss into your purse.

Crown Affair The Refillable Dry Shampoo

Having fine, thin hair is not for the faint of heart. Don’t get me wrong, I love my hair, but it comes with its struggles — mainly, a lack of volume and greasiness mere hours after showering — and it’s been a lifelong undertaking to figure out how to mitigate them. 

Just a couple years ago, thanks to one of my favorite influencers, Judy Kam, Crown Affair’s dry shampoo changed the whole game. Unlike most popular dry shampoos brands, this product is an aerosol- and talc-free powder that you apply with a kabuki brush or, like me, with your hands. The clean formula utilizes tapioca starch to absorb oil, persimmon extract for a pleasant scent, and tsubaki seed oil for hydration. Especially when heat and humidity are at an all time high, I rely on this dry shampoo to refresh my tresses and add volume sans any white cast. 

Eileen West Ballet Nightgown

If Pamela Anderson is wearing a nightgown as a dress, so am I. It’s flowy, breathable, and timeless. Similar styles to this Eileen West number live in my closet and get plenty of wear throughout the summertime. My favorite way to style this look is with a belt cinched around the waist plus a kitten heel or worn loose with a pair of moto boots or clogs. 

Ciele SPF 50+ Blush

By now, we all know we have to be lathering on our sunscreen. But, did you know that sun-protectant makeup has evolved past tinted sunscreens? A recent discovery of mine is this liquid, mineral blush that protects your skin against UVA, UVB, blue light, and infrared radiation. For a sunkissed look, June is my go-to shade.

Keep scrolling for more items to add to your warm-weather survival kit including tank tops with built-in bras, a travel-size perfume that smells like summer, and razors that’ll have your legs smooth and moisturized.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder Mini Size

Klassy Braless Sweetheart Tank

Puma Speedcat Ballet Suede

Flamingo Moisture Plus Razor Set

Cotton On Haven Multi-Tiered Maxi Skirt

One/Size by Patrick Starrr On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray

Salomon XT-Whisper Sneaker

First Aid Beauty Anti-Chafe Stick

Gap Linen-Blend Square-Neck Maxi Dress

Supergoop Glowscreen Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40

Rothy’s Casual Clog

Phlur Beach Skin Body and Hair Fragrance Mini Size

Caslon Wide Leg Pull-On Linen Pants