A Girls’ Guide to the Summer Essentials 

A Girls’ Guide to the Summer Essentials 

By Greyson Desormeaux

Photo by Greyson Desormeaux

As we near summer, it’s important that we know exactly how to spend summer 2025! Follow along as I dive into the secrets and tips for the girlies on having the best summer yet. 

Is there anyone who genuinely dislikes summer? The only ‘beings’ that come to mind are vampires. There’s no school! Also, you get to spend time with friends, visit the beach, and have a high UV index. It is undeniably and authentically THE season of the year. 

Many girls eagerly anticipate high UV index days and poolside tanning, but what they may not realize is the importance of having an effective tanning routine, the right products, timing, and preparation! It’s crucial to understand that achieving a great tan is not just about slipping into a stylish bikini and lounging on a towel for a few hours; it’s genuinely a comprehensive process, and you have to take caution if you burn easily. Wrinkles and sun spots!

Let’s begin with the most crucial aspect of a tanning routine: sunscreen. Not only is it essential for achieving a tan, but it may also be the single most vital step of the entire summer season, second only to staying hydrated, of course. Using a high-quality sunscreen with a high SPF is extremely important for protecting your skin cells. While intense ultraviolet rays can be beneficial for tanning, extended exposure without protection can cause numerous skin issues, such as premature aging, sunburn, sun spots, and a heightened risk of skin cancer. Some excellent sunscreen options include Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, and Beauty of Joseon Daily Relief Sunscreen SPF 40. For girlies with sensitive skin who require extra protection, consider La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen Gentle Lotion SPF 50 or Sun Bum Original Sunscreen lotion SPF 70.

Second to sunscreen, you need a good-quality tanning oil or lotion to get that perfect bronzy glow. I personally recommend Hawaiian Tropics protective tanning oil, Maui Babe browning lotion, or the Carroten intensive tanning gel. With just an hour or two in the sun with these products, you’ll have the glow of your dreams! Remember to apply an after sun gel like the Hawaiian Tropics after-sun body butter to really lock in that tan and add some much-needed moisture back to the skin. 

For more on how to dress like a cutesy summer girl, you can check out Avery’s article. This summer I hope to see the girlies wearing crochet tops, denim skirts, and cute swimsuit cover-ups. Speaking of swimsuits, some bang for your buck swimsuits can be found at places like Target, Walmart, or Hollister. If you are willing to splurge for an excellent quality swimsuit, you can check out Frankies Bikinis, Triangl, and Kulanis Kinis.

To add some pizzazz to your aesthetic this summer, tie seashells into your hair, wear tropical hair clips and jewelry, or even don a cute belly chain to complete your stylish look. Makeup is DEFINITELY not needed during the summertime, as the environment gives you natural blush and freckles, but if you want to add a little something, try the Saie Super Glowy Gel for a slight facial bronze, Benetint blush and lip tint for a cute blush, and Maybelline Sky High mascara for lashes that reach the sun. 

Now you have your tan and your look down, if you’re feeling bored this summer, there’s plenty to do other than doom scroll in your bed for hours. Try going on a bike ride with your family or having a twee-like picnic with your friends. For more hands-on activities to do this summer, paint a wooden crate to hold all your bikinis or paint your nails funky colors that make you stand out in a crowd! 

A digital camera is a MUST this summer. The picture quality is so good and the aesthetic of the photos are simply chefs-kiss. For the bookworms out there, books like The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L Walther and Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter are excellent ways to keep your mind engaged and active while still having fun!

For music inspiration this summer, check out this playlist!

For a wishlist or to find where to buy the things I suggested in this article, check out this link!

And for a super desirable trove of inspiration, check out this Pinterest board.