We believe summer dressing and beauty routines shouldn’t be complicated. Heat has a way of making everything more stressful, and a recent study showed that for women, being dehydrated by just 1.36% can significantly affect mood, cause fatigue, and hurt precious concentration.
The pieces that will last the heat waves are the ones that you reach for to protect your skin, move with you, and make the sweaty weather feel just that tiny bit more comfortable.
This edit focuses on summer essentials that are functional, wearable, and easy to reach for many seasons to come.
Lack of Color Holiday Bucket – Polka Dot Coco, $119.00
A good summer hat needs to do more than look nice. It has to stay on, pack down easily (bonus points for foldable! This one is), and offer sun protection – both in UPF rating and how broad brim the design is.
Lack of Color designs tick so many of the boxes, and their “Holiday Bucket” is what we consider a perfect hat.
The wide-brim design is made from 100% cotton canvas with a UPF 50+ rating, so it offers serious protection without feeling inflexible.
The neck tie is great in windier conditions, and the soft cotton lining keeps it comfortable on long days. There’s a variety of colours and sizes to pick from too, and having a go-to hat is definitely underrated when it comes to staying sun safe.
Read: How to Make Sun Safety Easy This Aussie Summer And Avoid Burns
Naked Sundays CabanaClear™ SPF50 Water Gel Serum Jumbo, $62.00
Summer sunscreen lives or dies by texture. If it feels heavy, greasy, or leaves a cast, it simply won’t be used enough.
CabanaClear earns its cult status by doing the opposite. This is a completely transparent, water-based SPF50 gel serum that feels more like skincare than sunscreen. It’s silicone-free, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic, which makes it particularly friendly for breakout-prone or sensitive skin.
Read: “It Feels Like Water” The Sunscreen SPF-Haters Love: CabanaClear Naked Sundays Full Review
The jumbo size makes sense for daily, generous application – and the lightweight finish means reapplying doesn’t feel like a chore. This is the kind of SPF that fits seamlessly into real routines, not just beach bags.
ECCO Cozmo Platform, $269.95
Comfort footwear often gets pigeonholed as boring, but this design by ECCO has built its reputation on proving that doesn’t have to be the case.
ECCO’s Cozmo Platform is a flat sandal that still feels substantial enough for all-day wear, and the PU sole keeps things lightweight, while the leather lining adds durability and comfort that gets better over time.
We love that this design is versatile enough to move between casual outfits or more polished summer looks, and the lemon butter “Straw” shade and milk chocolate “Taupe” keep the choices modern, but timeless for next summer.
Dermal Therapy Heel Magic, $14.69
Summer shoes have a habit of exposing problems winter usually hides. Dry, cracked heels can turn uncomfortable quickly too, especially with increased walking, sweat, and sun exposure.
Heel Magic is exactly what the product looks like – refreshingly straightforward and easy to apply. The solid stick format makes application mess-free, and the formula focuses on proven hydrators like urea, shea butter, lanolin, and petrolatum to soften and repair rough skin.
Used morning and night, it delivers visible improvement within days. From there you can use as needed, but many users report not needing to top up often.
Lanolips Sun Balm SPF 30 Tropical, $14.95
Lips are often forgotten when it comes to sun protection, despite being one of the first areas to burn or dry out. This sheer SPF30 balm makes daily protection effortless, and makes it an easy swap in when out and about.
Tropical is an untinted shade, so works perfectly layered over your favourite lip liner or lip stain.
The lanolin-based formula provides long-lasting hydration, SPF 30 broad-spectrum protection helps shield lips from UV damage, and ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, and vitamin E keep things comfortable rather than sticky.
Bondi Active Sport Club Caffe Set, $120.00
The mood boost a matching set gives us needs to be studied. This bike short and scoop-neck bra combo is designed to move easily between exercise, errands, and downtime, without feeling too plain.
Made from recycled nylon and elastane, the set offers stretch and support while staying breathable.
Thoughtful details like silicone leg lining to prevent ride-up, a phone pocket at the back, and removable cups make it functional. The tonal colour blocking keeps it more elevated, and there’s two flattering shades available.
We The Stars Sekmet Artisanal Sunglasses in Olive Green, $200.00
A good pair of sunglasses becomes a part of your outfit and protects your eyes. We The Stars has a gorgeous range of shades and accessories inspired by vintage couture and ancient Egyptian symbols that offer strong UV protection.
We’ve spotted the “Sekmet” design in olive green as our top pick, available in three colour ways.
These artisanal, hand-made frames are crafted from olive green acetate and fitted with a level 3 green lens, offering sun protection without overly darkening your view.
Rexona Women Clinical 96-Hour Deodorant Roll-On in Shower Clean, $8.00
Summer heat has a way of testing even the most reliable routines – especially on long, high-movement days when stress, humidity, and heat all stack up at once.
Rexona Women Clinical Protection is designed for people who sweat more than ‘average’, or simply want reassurance that their deodorant will hold up without mid-day reapplication.
You don’t need to permanently switch from your usual go to, but the switch up might be welcome in the hot months.
Read: Sweaty Babes, Rejoice! Cute Picks for Your Sweaty Bits are Here
Innour Natural Marine Collagen – Natural, $70.00
Hydration doesn’t always have to mean adding another step to your routine. This collagen powder works best when it fits into what you’re already drinking.
The Natural flavour is completely unflavoured and tasteless, with no sweetness or aftertaste – which makes it easy to mix into teas, coffees, iced coffees, or matcha without changing anything.
If you prefer something with flavour, the Summer Fruit and Berry options are noticeably pleasant without being overly sweet or artificial. They’re particularly good mixed into cold water in a tumbler and enjoyed slowly throughout the day.
The Innour range is formulated with hydrolysed French marine collagen. Used consistently, it supports skin hydration and elasticity, alongside hair and nail health.
Frank Green Big Chill Reusable Cup, $59.95
Most of us already have a collection of water bottles stashed away in a cupboard. The issue is rarely owning one – it’s actually wanting to use it when the “new” feeling goes.
The Big Chill is designed to stay out on your desk or bench without adding visual clutter. It’s chic, not oversized, and the straw lid makes sipping throughout the day near automatic.
With double-wall vacuum insulation to keep drinks cold without condensation, and a generous but manageable 710ml size, it works just as well for iced coffees and smoothies as it does for flavoured water or collagen drinks.
Rather than another bottle to rotate through, this feels more like a reasonable stay-at-home hydration pick that won’t take up kitchen storage space.
Why These Pieces Matter
Sun protection is an essential, but beyond that, it’s important to be comfortable and functional (and maybe a little cute) during uncomfortable weather.
These are the pieces worth keeping in rotation – and some might just be your new holy grail.
What would you add to this list?
WRS Team x
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