Memorial Day weekend is sort of the unofficial summertime kick-off. BBQ’s, pool party’s, officially being able to wear white and an extra day off of work all put me in a summertime state-of-mind. Here are some beauty tidbits, influenced by the summer months, that have been on my mind this weekend…

Summer is sandal season, which in turn makes it also pedicure season. I felt silly even contemplatin wearing close-toed shoes this weekend. No longer can I hide unkempt nails under tights, socks and a pair of boots. Just in time, NARS is celebrating their 15 year anniversary with a limited edition collection of vintage, previously discontinued, nail enamel shades. Perfect for summertime, I’m loving the shimmery tangerine Cha Cha Cha and deep grape Tallulah.

Giving up on my binkini body preparation plans of either tanning in my backyard or faking it with some self-tanner, I cultivated my base tan at a couple different pool parties over the weekend. I managed to hold my head high, despite a fellow sunbather inquiring if I had spent the last several months in the Netherlands, as that was the only reasonable explanation for my pallid frame which apparently was blinding him. I decided to embrace my paleness, and the lack of wrinkles and skin cancer that will hopefully come with it, and instead worry about what all the sun and chlorine was doing to my recently chopped, and finally healthy locks. It might just be my imagination, but it is already starting to feel a little dry after only two days in the sun and chlorine. Next time, I’ll come prepared with Phyto PLAGE Protective Beach Spray, which protects, moisturizes and nourishes the hair with UV filter, anti-UVB polymer, Olive Oil extracts, and Calendula, Willow and Rosemary extracts.

I’ll also be prepared with my base tan (a less-whiter shade of pale, if you will) and perfect pedicured toes…