It took seven days for winter to melt away in Sydney and deliver the first signs of Spring. Amid the rising temperatures and conflicting feelings over my wardrobe—there’s nothing like heat to make you question your sartorial choices—the changing season delivered a perfect opportunity to clear out my beauty bag and reconsider what I’m actually slathering on my face during sunny days.

There’s a reason spring cleaning is an annual ritual for most, and consider this your unofficial invitation from GRAZIA’s editorial team to ‘Marie Kondo’ your cosmetics arsenal. Personally, I’ve switched from a multi-layered skincare regimen to hybrid makeup, haircare and body care products that can work double duty.

What you’ll see below are my non-negotiables; an illuminating SPF50+ with the perfect amount of tint, the definitive dry shampoo for lazy girls (or individuals with over-excited oily scalp like me) and a vegan, natural and roll-on deodorant that smells like gum trees and doesn’t demand constant re-applications.

There’s also a chic razor ergonomically designed to curve with your body, the ‘Pool’ candle from Troye Sivan’s fragrance line Tsu Lange Yor to give your room a balmy reset and a lip balm that’s equally stylish as it is effective.

As I get older, I’m less interested in complicated routines and investing time into a convoluted getting-ready process. (Exactly the reason why you won’t find any multi-pan eyeshadow palettes.) Instead, I present to you a curated list of effective, unfussy and straightforward products that do all the heavy lifting so you can focus on the finer things. 

I lived with an irrational fear of unknowingly walking around with a sweaty upper lip ever since Emma Roberts called someone out for it in 2005’s Wild Child. The cruel joke is that it’s unavoidable in heat, so I’ve omitted any heavy base products for Westman Atelier’s breathable dual foundation and concealer stick. As an admirer of her vital skin complexion drops, fans of this product will revel in this creamy formulation too. However, you’re also benefiting from the velvety consistency and easy packaging. With medium coverage, dewy finish and skin-loving ingredients, simply stipple into your skin with your fingers or a small brush to even your tone and boost moisture. (Sans the ‘is that perspiration or is that highlighter’ feeling.)

I’ve used Glossier’s Cloud Paint since 2019 and having circulated through a few of the shades now, the ‘Dusk’ is a non-negotiable for me. I was actually put onto this product by AOC in a rare makeup tutorial and instantly adored the subtle brownish-nude tinge. It adds enough depth to the cheeks without feeling overbearing. I suffer from redness and have pretty defined cheeks as it is, so this product is marvellous at warming the apple area. 

Alexa Chung cited Sam McKnight’s texture spray as one of her cardinal beauty products. What more needs to be said? Though my thick and curly hair doesn’t require additional volume, it often calls for a touch of dry shampoo between washes to keep my oily scalp at bay. It’s a light aerosol,  which is great for those averse to their hair feeling ‘full’ and weighed down by product. I recently overhauled my entire hair wash ritual, so I’ve found between Act + Acre’s scalp detoxing system and a really refreshing shampoo from Italian brand Davines, the spray is the ideal add-on for extending the time between cleanses. Just make sure you balance it out with a super nourishing leave-in conditioner and hair oil to keep your lengths bouncy and hydrated. 

If it’s the season for adjusting our beauty needs, trust Troye Sivan’s beauty brand Tsu Lange Yor to be the definitive addition to your sanctuary. They say the home is where the heart is, and I’ve chosen the ‘Pool’ candle to transform my space into a summer fantasy all year long. Inspired by the community pool in Fitzroy, the fragrance is green, airy and blissful. Featuring notes of gin and tonic and sunscreen (what a duo!), this scent is refreshing, vibrant and perhaps can be held responsible for making you crave a few Aperol Spritzes. How brat of him. 

Since appearing on the makeup scene in 2020, Byredo has disrupted the industry with design-led packaging that deserves pride of place on your dresser. Even the most simple products, like this lip balm, are curated to be their most beautiful. The metal-snap close is surprisingly satisfying and the hint of pink is a discerning flush that hydrates and colours your pout. Most of all, I love that the curve reminds me of Tiffany & Co’s silver bone cuff. That piece is perennially atop my wishlist, so while I can’t cross it off yet, I’m tricking myself into getting the same stylish effect by proxy. Très chic, no?

Without being that person, I naturally have long eyelashes which means my mascara transfers to my under eye and eyelid when not curled. After investing in Kevyn Aucoin’s award-winning eyelash curler, I’ve found my eyes to appear more lifted and full. During the day, I simply apply a coat of Ere Perez’s aloe lash gel while I reach for a black tubing mascara to gently define and lengthen my outer corner in the evenings. I recently underwent laser eye surgery so I try not to be too generous in that department, making the curler an investment for feeling put together without the extra labour. 

A common theme in this list is utilitarian beauty products that also are aesthetically pleasing. It should come as no surprise then that Nécessaire’s The Deodorant has made an appearance. The gel is a clear and quick-drying concoction of 5% AHA, which personally isn’t my favourite chemical exfoliant but does an excellent job here in optimising underarm pH and preventing odour. The roll-on applicator glides like a dream and has the added advantage of smoothing bumps. Plus, the formula features my actual favourite skincare ingredient, niacinamide, which works to reduce brighten and tighten skin. 

After being traumatised by the reign of pressed powdered highlighter in 2016, I swore off the product for a few years. That was until they received a rebrand and began appearing on the shelves as creamy glow sticks. After a few weary tries, I’ve fallen in love with this one from Violette_FR for many reasons. As a Parisian living in New York, I trust anything she puts out as French women know their way around the beauty department. Secondly, the package is a really fine tube—or as Violette says herself, “super tiny and chic”—which results in a more precise application. You can either apply directly onto the skin or pick up the product using your finger and dab onto the high points of your face; cupid’s bow, brow bone, bridge of your nose and cheekbones. It leaves you with a lived-in radiance, something that never goes astray. 

In a world where you can buy stylish pans (Our Place), designer socks (Loro Piana) and stylish bedding (Tekla), it was only fitting that the first aesthetic razor be introduced to market. Enter Lui, a bodycare brand based in Melbourne. Co-founded by two friends, Rebecca Harding and Ingrid Kesa, the razor delivers a close finish over any area of the body thanks to the specific handle design and sharp blades. (Which just so happens to be cased in a moisturising Vitamin E cushion, too.) Most women have been shaving since high school but still don’t know the first thing about razor care or even which direction to shave in. (Guilty as charged!). Lui is revolutionising this space and making sure people with all body hair types can achieve their desired look.