Our Summer State of Mind series focuses on that free, easy-going mentality of summer – we're refusing to pack comparison culture (think: unattainable body ideals or out-of-reach jet set lifestyles). Instead, we’re shining a spotlight on different perspectives and the way we bring summer sentiment into the everyday – from the people you spend time with and the music you play, to the lightweight formulas you lather and fresh scents you spritz. After all, summer is a mindset, not just a season. Here, Team Cult Beauty explore the want-and-need summer essentials for everything from quick trips and staycations to balcony hangouts and fun-filled days in the sun, wherever you are.
Racing to make it to the platform or impatiently waiting for the airport gate to open? It’s the season for enjoying yourself, packing light and streamlining your skin care routine amidst the hustle and bustle of summer. Wherever the summer takes you, your skin more than often tells the tales of your travels. From tired-looking eyes after adventurous late nights to that golden hue from lounging on the beach, our skin (and pamper) needs vary depending on where we are.
Once you block out the curious stares from strangers while you rummage through your make up bag, the daily commute doubles as a great GRWM station (no pun intended) for the last-minute fixer-uppers. On the long list of train bugbears — after missing the last available seat and questionable etiquette — not feeling like your freshest self is up there. Almost at your destination? Put your seatbelt back on in time to top up on your SPF, re-apply your favourite lip oil and drench yourself in your sweet-scented fragrance before touchdown...
All aboard the Cult Beauty Express, a round-trip journey to enviable radiance that’ll leave your skin glowing on arrival, and here’s what you’ll need for the ride...
(ALMOST) MIST A STOP?
Does anything say summer quite like Sol de Janeiro’s Cheirosa ‘59 Perfume Mist? *Crickets* That’s what we thought — this holiday-in-a-bottle hero surprises your senses (and those of intrigued onlookers) with delectable notes of velvet plum, sugared violet and vanilla orchid. Conveniently slotting into your tote bag or backpack, this on-the-go essential cloaks you with a confident aura that’ll have you feeling like your best self — no matter how many... shall we say interesting (?) whiffs you come across.
SHOP ALL SOL DE JANEIRO >>> THE WINDOW SEAT
If the thought of touching your face on any transport gives you the ick then this one’s for you. Enter: Ultra Violette’s Preen Screen SPF50 Reapplication Mist, an easy-to-use skin care staple that comes with no strings (read: white cast or residue) attached. Made to diffuse lightly and evenly over make up or bare skin, this protective shield safeguards against sun damage and harmful UV rays peeking through the train or plane’s windows. The best part? Not only are you supporting your barrier with ample hydration but thanks to niacinamide and vitamin E, this soothing formula works overtime to balance excess oils and minimise the appearance of pores throughout the day. We’ve got you covered — literally.
SHOP ALL ULTRA VIOLETTE >>> ROAD TO THE ARCHES
Keep your brows on the right track wherever you are with Charlotte Tilbury’s Brow Fix, an everything-proof formula made to hold hairs in place for up to 24 hours. If your eyebrows tend to go any which way, this no tell-tale formula ensures your desired fluff or feather won’t budge while in transit from the desk to dinner table — or different time zones for that matter. If excellent staying power wasn’t enticing enough, how about its shine-boosting properties to seal the deal? That’s right — a moisturising blend of natural polymers, silk thread, panthenol and watercress extract lend their hair-softening benefits to your brows for a glossy finish.
SHOP ALL CHARLOTTE TILBURY >>>
THE HAND-IWORK
In dire need of some palm-to-palm TLC? If there’s one thing your tote bag (or carry-on) would be incomplete without, it’s a trusted hand cream. And that’s where BYREDO’s Bal d’Afrique Hand Cream swoops in to save your skin. Aside from fast-tracking you to peak main character mode thanks to its bold yet monochromatic packaging, which might grant you some nods of approval, this quintessential everyday luxury is bursting with skin-soothing benefits, lasting moisture and delicate notes of Moroccan cedarwood — everything you want (and more) from a hand cream. Going full steam ahead to softer, subtlety perfumed skin, this shea butter-infused formula revives suppleness in seconds!
SHOP ALL BYREDO >>> PREP YOUR POUT
The worst — well *almost* worst — thing you could do while being on the go, is let your lips pay the price. That’s why Gisou’s Honey Infused Lip Oil is a sure-fire way to keep your pout plump, protected and sporting ample shine. Powered by the brand’s Mirsalehi Honey — an all-star ingredient that’s rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants — this lip-loving essential delivers reflective gloss (minus the stickiness) and a subtle golden hue. After all, nothing says ‘put together’ like a Gisou glow, right?
SHOP ALL GISOU >>> SKY EYE PATCHES
Soar your way to well-rested skin with Augustinus Bader’s The Eye Patches, your in-flight pilot taking your complexion from dull to tour de radiance. Fly in style thanks to these golden hyrdrogel patches loaded with glow-giving benefits and skin-soothing ingredients, perfect for recharging your skin in-between continents. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid, texture-refining niacinamide, fermented polysaccharide (an iconic brightening agent for dark circles) and, of course, the brand’s TFC8 complex. Our favourite thing? This self care staple is sure to camouflage the look of jet-lagged skin just in time for landing.
SHOP ALL AUGUSTINUS BADER >>> MORE ON THE GO HEROES >>> Feel ready for your next adventure? We bet you are... SHOP ALL SUMMER BEAUTY >>> 
