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Don’t Skip Moisturizer
While the sweltering heat and humidity are compelling reasons to ditch moisturizer, experts say you shouldn’t. “Starting with a moisturizing body care routine is key for any scent routine. It’s the foundation that can truly give a personal or signature scent its dimension and uniqueness,” Shapiro says.
Summer heat may not be the ideal time to lather on butters and creams, but King says starting your bodycare routine with a lightweight moisturizer is a good foundational step that will keep you comfortable. “Lighter moisturizers tend to feel better on the skin during hot months, while heavy moisturizers or body butters may feel oily or sticky,” she says. “This will also depend on personal preference, humidity, and your skin type.”
And, according to Kattan, a lightweight moisturizer (even an unscented option) helps boost your fragrance’s staying power. “Citrus and fruity notes fade faster, so layer them over lightly moisturized skin or unscented lotion to help the scent last longer,” she says. “Slow-evaporating ingredients like tonka and oud naturally last longer, and you can lock them in with moisturizer or petroleum jelly.” Kattan’s current go-to citrus combo for summer? Kayali’s Maldives 20 and The The Wedding Silk Santal 36, a duo she calls “lush, beachy, and romantic.”
Luckily, you’ve got plenty of options when it comes to staying moisturized in the heat. King herself loves using the Beekman 1802 Milk Shake Moisture Mist for Body, a unique sprayable moisturizer with a hint of fragrance. “It’s a great option because it’s lightweight but still hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid and supports the skin barrier with squalane,” she says. This one comes in three fragrances: lavender, honey and orange blossom, and coconut. If you want to go the fragrance-free route, we’ve gone through bottles of Abi Amé’s Summer Skin Hydrating Serum and Lotion, a milky, lightweight liquid that seeps into dry skin, leaving it smooth and soft, not tacky or greasy.
When Shapiro sets the stage for summer fragrances, she turns to the classic Eos Vanilla Cashmere Body Lotion, a buttery, warm, gourmand scent that is delicious alone but plays well with other fragrances. “Starting with a moisturizing body care routine can really add dimension and uniqueness to a personal or signature scent,” she says.
