6 Summer Beauty Buys I Recommend From The Top of My Head To The Tip of My Toes.

Plus, four pairs of sheets that everyone swears by (even the organic linen snobs!)

Hello friends. Greetings and salutations to you all. Today, I’ve got a lovely little roundup of some of the new or otherwise noteworthy beauty buys that I’m really loving right now for summer. But before we get into it, I wanted to share my initial findings from a recent quest for the best new sheets. 

I woke up a few weeks ago only to find that I’d ripped a set of my linen sheets in the night. The sheets were not brand new—I’d had them for at least seven years—and were paper thin at that point, so I wasn’t shocked to see the huge hole in them. But I was curious if there were any brands I should be looking to for replacements, so I took to social and asked for your recs, and MAN did folks have a lot to say. Here are the options (linen and otherwise) that got the most votes.

Parachute Linen Sheet Set ($189; includes one fitted sheet + one pillowcase set)

I have loved my Parachute linen sheets for a long time (I have several sets) and was unsurprised to hear that you like them too. They don’t require a “breaking in” period, which is nice, and come in a slew of colors.

Lands’ End 400 Thread Count Premium Supima Cotton No Iron Sateen Sheets ($126, normally $209; includes one fitted sheet + one top sheet + one pillowcase set)

These sheets have a cult following after Annie Meyers-Shyer wrote about them, complete with a piece on The Strategist, as they are beloved by her entire family, including her mother, the beloved writer, director, and producer, Nancy Meyers. I have to confess: sateen makes my skin crawl, normally. But this set isn’t shiny, they’re just delicious, and Lands’ End seems like they’re always having a sale, so they’re a great deal right now.

Garnet Hill Solid Relaxed-Organic-Cotton Sateen Bedding ($178; includes one fitted sheet + one top sheet)

Another sateen suggestion, and I’m just as shocked as you are! This one came from a person with impeccable taste: stylist Thomas Christos Kikis. He DM’d me immediately and said he swears by them, and that he was turned on to said sheets by another chic friend who is an interior designer. I ordered a set immediately, and they’re currently en route, so will keep you posted!

Coyuchi Organic Relaxed Linen Sheet Set ($538; includes one fitted sheet + one flat sheet + one pillowcase set)

I had about a dozen linen snobs in my DMs (that’s said with love, my dears), all of whom raved raved raved about Coyuchi’s remarkable linen sheets. The flax is grown in France, woven in Portugal, and apparently truly organic linen like this is less than 1% of the market. I’m still living a life where toddlers toss their cookies in my bed from time to time (literally and figuratively), so I haven’t invested yet, but if you’re looking for a little linen luxury in your life, I would try these babies. The snobs have spoken, after all! 

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Tower 28 SOS Barrier Recovery Cream ($24)

Frequent readers of this newsletter know that I’m Team Tower 28 in a variety of ways. I’ve written about my love of the brand’s products for ages, and even called out T28’s mascara as being one of my favorite new products of 2022.

I’m also a well-documented fan of the brand’s amazing SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray, which I also use on my kids, so when I heard there was a new moisturizer in the SOS family, well, I was excited. To put it mildly. 

Despite the name, Recovery Cream is actually an extremely calming daily moisturizer that helps your skin chill out. I have this really cool habit of annoying my skin barrier, but then fretting because most soothing, calming moisturizers also make me break out, but not this one! It never stings, burns, or clogs my pores, and it hydrates beautifully, without making skin feel sticky. In other words, perfect for summer and beyond, and great for anyone who has skin. Ha.

K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask ($29)

I realize this hair treatment isn’t new, but if you haven’t used it, may this be your sign to pick up a trial size. As someone who highlights her hair and heat styles it, I’m always looking for ways to undo some of my beauty routine’s damage, and the buzz around this product had me intrigued. I was specifically interested when I read that the mask works on a molecular level to reverse damage, and has some clinical studies to back up the scientific claims.

It took a little trial and error for me to figure out the right amount to use (I have fine hair, so a little goes a long way), but once I did, it was pretty impressive. 

A few key things to note: Don’t condition your hair before using it. Just wash your hair (again, do NOT condition it) and let it dry until it’s just damp (the directions say to “towel dry,” but I’m not into that). I use one pump, which I emulsify in my hands until it turns white (this is key!), and then rake through my hair to distribute. Yes, I go from roots to ends, and I concentrate more on the top layers, as that’s where my hair gets the most attention from bleach and the hairdryer. 

Once it’s on, you let it soak in for four minutes, and then can go about your styling routine. Just to be clear: Do not rinse it out. If you are desperate for conditioner at this point, use a leave-in one after those four minutes are up, but if your hair is fine or medium, you probably won’t need it. You’re also supposed to use it approximately six times in a row to really get things going, and then after every three or four washes. 

I was shocked by how much I like this product, and how much of a difference it has made. I’m not super prone to frizz, but it tamps down what I do have, plus my hair’s shiner now, and feels bouncy and healthy. I liked it so much, when I ran out of my trial size, I bought the bigger size at Sephora immediately, which is a good sign in my book. 

And if my word isn’t enough or you are curious if it works on different hair types, I would recommend reading this piece on The Cut, which will surely solidify my suggestion. 

Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots ($19)

Sometimes my skin thrives in summer, and sometimes it gets congested and clogged thanks to a combo of sweat, sunscreen, and the stress of having to remember 47 different things for my kids’ camp every day. While I love the no-fucks-given vibe of Starface patches, there are times that I want my pimple care to be a little more undercover. For those times, I recommend the salicylic acid ones from Peace Out. 

They definitely work, and are so low profile, I have forgotten they were on my face, only to be startled mid-face-wash when my fingers come across a patch. They’re an Allure best of beauty 2019 award winner, and the daytime version is completely, wildly sheer. If you’re extra curious, get a combo pack of the daytime and nighttime patches, which I also have and love.

U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound ($68) in Rose

Again, you’ve heard me talk about U Beauty a lot over the years, as I’m a dedicated user of so many of the brand’s products, including the Resurfacing Compound, Super Hydrator, and the Super Body Hydrator, which is the most luxurious thing I have ever put on my body.  

I’m also deeply devoted to The Plasma Lip Compound, so when U Beauty decided to create three tinted version of this outrageously wonderful product, I just said yesssssssssssss. All three are great, but for me, the rose is particularly wearable and probs pretty universally flattering. And yes, it’s expensive, but it makes my lips look and feel better, plus a little goes a long way.

Makeup by Mario Surreal Skin Liquid Foundation ($42)

Has the internet freaked out about this foundation since it launched late last year? Yes. Are there millions of TikToks about how great it is? Yes. But is it still nice to hear about a product from someone who isn’t a professional beauty person, someone who has only the most rudimentary of makeup skills? Hopefully yes to that as well.

As always, since I’m not super into foundation, I always approach new ones with a side eye. But this one is quite lovely, in fact I think it’s my favorite foundation I’ve tried since Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation, which is the GOAT/go-to for pros all over the world. For me, the Makeup by Mario Foundation is really excellent for the days when I have to look extra presentable, but the occasion doesn't warrant booking a professional makeup artist. It doesn’t cake or pill or bunch up in my eye creases, and I love how little you need to use to look great. 

Best of all, it sheers out really nicely, so if you mix it with a bit of moisturizer, it gives sheer glowy skin with minimum effort. 11/10 recommend.

Eucerin Roughness Relief Unscented Lotion ($16)

Do you have perfectly smooth skin all year round? Well this one might not be for you. But if you, like me, sometimes get some keratosis pilaris on your arms, rough elbows, or other bumpy patches anywhere on your body, trust me when I say you need this.

Unlike some KP-specific products that sting or smell yikes, this lotion is really mellow, but still efficacious. I also use it on my feet at night, and they are much improved for the effort. It’s also works really well on your thighs and butt, two places I am not religious about exfoliating, but do appreciate when they are. (And you will be too, especially if you’re wearing a thong or extremely cheeky bathing suit, like literally everyone over the age of 13 seems to be right now. At least in LA.) One thing to note: the formula has AHA in it, which can make you more sensitive to sun, but that shouldn’t be a problem for you because you use sunscreen every day, right? 

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Okay friends, that’s it for now. If you want to follow me on @hillarykerr, I’d love it. And if you have anything to say or ask (preferably nothing terribly mean), please drop me a note either via DM or in the comments below.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’m truly so glad you’re here. If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. All products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.