From Instagram-famous mosquito repellant to the washable silk slip dress that won't make you regret setting foot outside, the R29 Shopping team has all your summer essentials on lock. Ahead, scope out 24 editor-approved buys you won't regret adding to cart.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum
"My hair always feels drier and frizzier in the summer, so I decided to upgrade my hair routine with Olaplex's new serum. Since my hair is thick but with a fine texture, a lot of leave-ins weigh me down. Olaplex's serum gives me shiny, smooth strands without a hint of greasiness. The instructions say to apply it on clean, damp hair, but the first time I used it (before reading the instructions) I actually worked it through dry hair, and it instantly calmed down some flyaways. On damp hair, it makes the air-drying process smooth as can be — literally and figuratively." — Karina Hoshikawa, Beauty & Wellness Market Writer
Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum, $, available at Sephora
Birkenstock Super-Birki Vegan
"Anyone else binge-watch The Bear? Anyway, in the episode where the power at the restaurant shuts off, I believe I spied chef Sydney wearing a pair of black Super-Birkis. I had to have these. (Plus, I think these are a chicer alternative to Crocs? Please don't @ me, Crocs ppl.) I got them in the popcorn hue from Zappos. Love 'em. I found these to be pretty wide and boxy so maybe size down if you must. But yes, The Bear — who knew it'd be a source of style inspo for me." —Jinnie Lee, Freelance Fashion Writer
Birkenstock Super-Birki Vegan, $, available at Zappos
Soundbot Water Resistant Bluetooth Shower Speaker
"This shower speaker landed itself in my Amazon cart this month, and I can confirm that it is worth the eerily small price tag. Trust, it will not give you Bose or Sonos levels of bass, but it will give you a great start to your morning with a lovely shower jam. It even has a button to pick up calls." —Alexandra Polk, Lifestyle Market Writer
Soundbot SB510 HD Water Resistant Bluetooth Shower Speaker, $, available at Amazon
Serenelife Bamboo Hanging Shower Caddy
"The second new addition to my bathroom is this chic bamboo shower caddy. It replaced the one-year-old metal cage that was, how do you say, drab and barely held my shampoo. So far I love it .and it holds all my essentials while looking lovely. I can’t attest to its long-lasting abilities because I only bought it this month, but I can say it has yet to fall down, wobble, or disappoint." —Alexandra Polk, Lifestyle Market Writer
Serenelife Bamboo Hanging Shower Caddy, $, available at Amazon
Megababe Body Dust
"Introducing my sweaty summer savior: This sweet-smelling body dust. I powder it in all the right places, and I notice a serious decrease in body odor plus sweat stains even after about five hours outside in the sun. I specify five because it is usually around that time that I like to reapply to my chest, armpits, stomach, and anywhere that my hyperhidrosis lives its best life." —Alexandra Polk, Lifestyle Market Writer
megababe Body Dust, $, available at Megababe
Quince Washable Silk Slip Dress
"This is the ideal summer slip dress. The quality is fantastic, the cut is flattering, and it's under $80. This has been saving me on scorching summer days." —Kate Spencer, Affiliate Strategist
Quince 100% Washable Silk Slip Dress, $, available at Quince
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa Tan Lines Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
"I’ve found it, the PINK body spray for adults. I secretly envy teenagers and their ability to mist themselves in fruity body sprays without looks of disdain. Now, I can, too. This spray smells as if Victoria's Secret Warm & Cozy got a nine-to-five or if Bath & Body Works’ Sweet Pea got a divorce. What I mean is, it has the fruity, flirty charm of a basic body spray but the perfect dash of maturity to pass as a perfume. That being said, I wear it mostly to the beach, pool, or on vacation since I don’t think it grooves too well with formal events. All in all, I recommend adding to cart before summer is over." —Alexandra Polk, Lifestyle Market Writer
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa Tan Lines Hair & Body Fragrance Mist, $, available at Sephora
Cushionaire Braided Slide Sandal
"I was wary about buying shoes off Amazon, but these slides have more than impressed. The memory foam sole is so comfortable I feel like I'm walking on air, but the braided style is totally on trend. They level up any summer outfit." —Charlotte Lewis, Sexual Wellness Content Producer & Writer
Cushionaire Braided Slide Sandal, $, available at Amazon
Kinfield Golden Hour DEET-Free Repellent
"I've never survived a summer without getting brutally bitten by mosquitos, but Kinfield's Golden Hour just may be my forever saving grace. How did I resist so long? Yes, I do recognize that the price tag is a bit high for bug spray, but this stuff works. I love it so much that I even wrote a whole review of it (which you can read here). The tl;dr version is that this DEET-free spray smells fantastic, and I haven't suffered from any bites in the past few months. It's a literal godsend. I'd skinny dip in Golden Hour if I could." —Jinnie Lee, Freelance Fashion Writer
Kinfield Golden Hour DEET-Free Repellent, $, available at Free People
Pride Blu Poem Tote Bag
"The perfect beach and Pride bag combined. This tote is huge and fits all your necessities and so much more! I adore the poem and the subtle rainbow stitching. It’s my new favorite everyday tote bag!" —Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer
Target Pride Blu Poem Tote Bag, $, available at Target
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier
"This freakin' heat wave, huh? In an effort to not pass out from dehydration, I started pounding these Liquid I.V. electrolytes multiple times a day, which have tremendously helped me stay saner, less lightheaded, and overall more replenished. They come in all sorts of fruity flavors (I've tried watermelon, strawberry, and lemon-lime so far), and they're all pretty tasty and refreshing. It's a bit sweeter than your average Gatorade (which to me has more of a salty aftertaste), but you can adjust the water levels to your liking. Me, I like to pour one of these powdered puppies into a vacuum-insulated 32 oz. water bottle filled with cold H2O and sip it throughout the day." —Jinnie Lee, Freelance Fashion Writer
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier (16 Sticks), $, available at Amazon
Casetify x Sailor Moon iPhone Case
"Are you kidding me with this Sailor Moon collab?! Having grown up watching the anime series (in Japanese, thanks to my dad), my heart sang when Casetify unveiled its epic lineup of cases featuring Sailor Moon and her badass cohort of friends. (Sadly, there's no Tuxedo Mask case.) I, obviously, had to cop the Sailor Jupiter case, since she is the best one (this is not up for debate), and like me, also happens to be a fellow brunette who loves the color green." —Karina Hoshikawa, Beauty & Wellness Market Writer
Casetify Catch Phrase Sailor Jupiter Case, $, available at Casetify
Baggu Giant Pocket Tote
"It's big-ass tote season up in my life right now!! Everywhere I go, I feel like I'm schlepping at least 50 lbs. of stuff, whether I'm packing for a beach trip, playing tennis, gathering stuff for a BBQ park hang, staying overnight upstate, or even just cleaning out my closet and hauling stuff to the textile recyclers. All that to say, this huge Baggu tote rocks, slaps, and slays. It's massive, but I swear it doesn't look ridiculous. And there are many giant pockets, not just one!" — Jinnie Lee, Freelance Fashion Writer
Baggu Giant Pocket Tote, $, available at Baggu
Free People Lala Metal Claw
"I had a plastic marble printed claw clip, and being the thick-haired lady I am, it snapped in half. After that, I decided I needed something stronger to grip all my hair without me having to touch it all the time. Plastic was not going to work. Then came Free People's Lala Metal Claw. I was standing by the checkout line at Free People, and there was a display of hair accessories. What caught my eye was this gorgeous beaded floral and gold delicate yet sturdy claw clip that perched at the top. I'm a sucker for pastel hues furthermore floral detailing. It was everything I loved and everything I needed. I've used it for a while now and never leave the house without it." —Vivien Lee, Affiliate Fashion Writer
Free People Lala Metal Claw, $, available at Free People
Westman Atelier Super Loaded Highlight in Peau de Pêche
"Okay, a $75 highlighter isn't going to be for everyone, but if you like a decadent makeup splurge, this is for you. I've been ogling Gucci Westman's edited line of glam-meets-clean beauty products for a while and finally took the plunge on this tinted highlighter. I have more than one product that promises to give you the 'golden hour' glow (and some are straight up just called 'Golden Hour'), but this is by far the best safe way to get a sun-kissed glow. It has the perfect blend of bronze, golden, and pink tones to give you that elusive beach bunny look safely, with a highlighter glow that feels luxe, not frosty. The compact itself is hefty, and the creamy formula has an enticing coconut scent, so the whole experience feels VIP, down to the faux tan that makes me look ready for a club in Ibiza (I've never been to Ibiza). It can be worn alone (pictured) for a more subtle glow or used with blush and contour for a fuller face. I usually apply it with my finger to anywhere I naturally get a lot of sun and then blend it a bit with my foundation brush. The lack of a white, frosty cast and tinted color also means it could work beautifully on deeper skin tones." —Marshall Bright, Affiliate Editor
Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tinted Cream Highlighter, $, available at Violet Grey
Dr. Woo Revitalizing Body Moisturizer
"As anyone with body ink knows, aftercare is everything. I got two new tattoos last month, and in addition to healing them with the help of Aquaphor, I tried this body lotion from celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo, whose work I'm obsessed with. I'm equally obsessed with his lightweight gel cream, which was formulated to improve the appearance of tattoos new and old. The texture is lightweight and feels really comfortable on, almost like a body serum. My skin drinks it up. Even if you don't have tattoos, I'd highly recommend it for anyone who doesn't love heavy, greasy body creams." —Karina Hoshikawa, Beauty & Wellness Market Writer
Woo Skin Essentials Revitalizing Body Moisturizer, $, available at Violet Grey
Tkees Gemma Sandal
"I think everyone needs a pair of Tkees sandals. This pair is so lightweight it feels like I'm wearing no shoes at all. Plus, the simple design and neutral colorways make them go with literally everything I own." —Kate Spencer, Affiliate Strategist
TKEES Gemma Sandal, $, available at Tkees
Skims Fits Everybody Scoopneck Bra
"I'll admit I pretty much don't wear a bra most of the time, but when I do, it's always a bralette. This style from Skims is pretty amazing. It's super-stretchy, comfortable, and because I have a smaller chest, I can wear it while working out, too. Plus, the size range and color options can't be beat." —Kate Spencer, Affiliate Strategist
Skims Fits Everybody Scoop Neck Bra, $, available at Skims
Amazon Kindle
"I use a Kindle mostly to check out books from the library. (Pro tip: Check out way more than you think you could ever read before a vacation, put your Kindle on airplane mode, and keep those books as long as you want.) There was no real reason to upgrade my perfectly fine older model, but I really, really wanted one of the new front-lit models for reading at night or on dark airplanes. (Unlike a backlit device, which shines light into your eyes and may help keep you up longer, a front-lit device shines the light onto the Kindle itself.) I waffled a bit between the Paperwhite and base model, and, after watching some dudes on YouTube do demonstrations with both in dark rooms, I realized the cheapest model would be more than sufficient for reading at night. The real beneficiary of this purchase is my fiancé, who now can sleep more soundly when I stay up late reading. And, since I didn't get the pricier model, I paid the extra $20 to have ads removed from the device. It's small, but I really like being able to see the cover of the book I'm reading when I pick it up." —Marshall Bright, Affiliate Editor
Amazon Kindle With Built-in Front Light - Black, $, available at Amazon
Kamiler Dresser With 8 Drawers
"The main reason why I bought this is because I needed a dresser, but I didn’t want to spend $300 on it. Living in NYC, you never know when you’re going to move so I didn’t want yet another piece of furniture. This dresser is fantastic. It’s super-easy to put together, doesn’t feel cheap, and there’s plenty of room!" —Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer
Kamiler Dresser with 8 Drawers, $, available at Amazon
Pocket Guide to the Tarot
"I bought this the other day, and I’m already in love with it. It’s so good! Whether you’re just starting out and getting to know the cards or if you’re a total pro and need a new perspective on Tarot’s meanings, this book gives a super-fresh perspective that you’ll simply be obsessed with — I know I am!" —Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer
Alan Oken Pocket Guide to the Tarot, Revised, $, available at Amazon
Truly Nice Melons Boob Butter
"While this Truly beauty product was meant for the boobies, I use this as a general body butter, especially on my legs. It smells just like summer, like paradise, and it feels so luxe. It absorbs super fast and leaves your skin ultra smooth and glowy. It also works to prevent chafing! Perfection! Can’t get enough, and I definitely need to buy more." —Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer
Truly Nice Melons Boob Butter, $, available at Truly Beauty
Alo Yoga Accolade Shorts
“I've always been curious about Alo Yoga, and I finally committed to my first purchase: a pair of soft French terry sweat shorts. It has a relaxed fit with an elastic waist, which makes it even comfier to lounge in. Plus, I love how it's high-rise and hits mid-thigh, too. These Accolade Sweat Shorts have become my go-to for walks, playing badminton, sleeping, watching movies, etc. They're a staple I recommend to anyone looking for a new pair of casual yet elevated lounge shorts." —Vivien Lee, Affiliate Fashion Writer
Alo Yoga Accolade Sweat Short, $, available at Alo Yoga
Youly Dog Float Vest
"I took my dog to the beach for the first time this summer and, out of an abundance of caution, stopped by my local Petco to get a floaty vest for him since it was his first time swimming in the ocean. In addition to being just plain adorable, the quality and fit of the vest are on-point. You can even clip a leash to the top. He seemed pretty comfortable with it on, and it was easy to hand-wash with some mild detergent and water. Hot Miso summer is officially a go." —Karina Hoshikawa, Beauty & Wellness Market Writer
YOULY Orange/Blue Dog Float, X-Small, $, available at Petco
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