Rachel Roy's Best Summer Beauty Tips


With a focus on summer getaways, we sat down with designer Rachel Roy, and she gave us the scoop on her Summer Beauty Must Haves for a weekend on the beach. Below are her personal tricks to looking bright, fresh and flawless.

What makeup do you carry with you for a weekend getaway?
I always carry Burberry Lip Cover NO.04 in Rosewood and Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick compact - I use it as blush! It gives a bronzy glow before the sun gives me the real deal. I also always have with me Estée Lauder TurboLash Mascara.
Burberry Lip Cover NO.04 in Rosewood, Buy Now, $30
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick compact, Buy Now, $39
Lauder TurboLash Mascara, Buy Now, $32

How do you keep your make-up in tact during a day on the beach? I don't wear any! On the beach I stick with Strawberry Lip Smacker by Bonne Bell in extra large and Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne. It not only serves as a perfume but also as a spritzer to hydrate myself. Lastly, Clarins Spray-in SPF 50 for sun protection- so important!
Strawberry Lip Smacker by Bonne Bell, Buy Now, $2
Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne,Buy Now, $60
Clarins Spray- SPF 50, Buy Now, $32

How do you style your hair for a day on the beach? I usually wear my hair down with little maintenance or pull it back in a pony. One of my fave summer products is KeSARI Indian Oil Hair Serum- I'm obsessed! It combines natural botanical extracts from India with state-of-the-art technology and makes your hair so shiny and reduces frizz (an essential with beach air!) To me, the perfect beach look is tousled, easy, loose waves- similar to the look that Gisele Bundchen has perfected!
KeSARI Indian Oil Hair Serum, Buy Now, $26.50

Do you change your makeup and fashion routine in the summertime? Yes! During the summer I definitely channel my bohemian chic favorites - for example Raquel Welch, Bianca Jagger and Miss Trinidad, all circa the 1970's. In terms of summer fashions, I love high-waisted denim, men's style blouses out of sheer cotton and long maxi skirts and dresses.

What do you always make sure to pack when you travel somewhere warm? My must-haves when traveling somewhere warm are my Indian thong sandals, vintage 501 men's Levi's, a perfectly worn in brown leather belt, white tank tops, Theodora and Callum boutique print wraps and sarongs, gold door knockers and always my gold Manon body chain.

What are your three summer essentials? 1. My iPod- such a must for a day on the beach. See my summer playlist- it's on RachelRoy.com now! 2. Tunics- they are not only easy to wear in the summer time- but also serve as a great beach cover up. There are some in my Rachel Roy pre-fall collection that I am living in. 3. Lotion- I mix Jo Malone Rose-Scented Lotion with Chanel NO. 5 Lotion as my summer perfume - after a tan, it's really all you need!
Jo Malone Rose-Scented Lotion, Buy Now, $65
Chanel NO. 5 Lotion, Buy Now, $50

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Rachel Roy approaches the design of her eponymous collection with a feminine and modern point of view. Her goal is to create clothing for women who embrace fashion and dress with an effortless elegance and confidence. The results encapsulate a fresh version of glamour that evades the standard protocol for dressing today.

Originally from California, Rachel attended college in Washington DC. Upon graduation, Rachel pursued her passion for design, and moved to New York City to work freelance; styling magazine shoots and music videos.

Rachel launched her career at Rocawear and quickly rose to become Creative Director overseeing seven licensees and running all of the design departments and their teams for Rocawear Juniors and Girls.

Rachel launched her own collection, Rachel Roy New York, in Spring 2005. With striking silhouettes, a sophisticated color palette and inventive pairings which transition from day to evening, Rachel's iconic and versatile pieces - the trench dress, the dinner blouse, the day-to-night dress - have become must-have pieces in women's closets. In one of the fashion industries highest honors, Rachel was inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2007.

A frequent contributor to fashion stories in various publications, Rachel has been featured as a columnist for InStyle magazine, covered Oscar fashion for EXTRA TV on the red carpet, and has appeared on episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show, America's Next Top Model, and Project Runway. Rachel volunteers her time with a number of organizations including New Yorkers For Children and OrphanAid for Africa. In 2009, Rachel was recognized by the Accessories Council with an ACE AWARD for best brand launch for RACHEL Rachel Roy.

Roy has garnered editorial acclaim for both her lines in publications such as Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, W, Vanity Fair, Glamour and InStyle. Michelle Obama, Eva Mendes, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner, Iman, Halle Berry, Sheryl Crow, Estelle, Jessica Alba and Gwyneth Paltrow among others have worn pieces from Rachel's collections.