As previously stated, I love to share recommendations for the things that I feel strongly about. As we ramp to peak summer excitement, here are my favorite things that I’d highly recommend taking advantage of during this more-exciting-than-ever hot girl summer.

The Adidas Slides

My go-to shoe for almost everything: taking the dogs out in the middle of the night, running to the pharmacy, rolling up to yoga. They are tres comfy, tres chic and tres go with everything. I have them in black, but have oft been tempted by other colors. Ringing up at $30, they’re the perfect affordable hot girl slide and de facto shoe of summer. Thanks Adidas!

The Amazon Bathing Suit

While the sustainability stakeholder in my brain is yelling NO, I have to be honest here: there’s really nothing else like it. Is it a sustainable option? No. Is it a stone cold hot girl summer option? 100 percent. Lately I’ve been lamenting the dichotomy of the women’s swimsuit market: you’re either paying $40 for a Target suit also purchased by your local 15-year-old cohort, or you can shell out $100 for a sustainable, bespoke version from a chic online brand that a) you can’t try on b) is fucking hard to return if you try it on and it doesn’t fit and c) the $100 is just for the bottoms. The Amazon bathing suit will top out at about $30, will be at your door in two days (for the many times I’ve forgotten to get a suit for the occasion) and there are sooo many fun options to choose from. Last year, I focused on tie dye and neon, while this year, I went for the underboob trend. And I don’t regret it one bit. Note that almost all of the Amazon heavy hitters specialize in the booty-revealing, up-your-ass varietal, so make sure your butt is ready to go (or not, whatever). To get you sexified and ready for anything summer throws your way, the Amazon Bathing Suit is a win for all assets.

The Glute Loop (XS/S Size)

Re: earlier booty comments: if you’re looking for a little boost, look no further. The Glute Loop delivers in the form of way-too-tight, insanely limited range of motion that will make your ass grass, all courtesy of the Glute Guy himself, Bret Contreras (also who I use for gym programming). Use it for sideways walks, hip abductions and kickbacks and watch your booty grow.

Glossier Lash Slick

I’ve always been a mascara hoarder. I love the stuff. While Hourglass’s mascara was my go-to girl before, I decided to give Glossier’s version a try. I can’t remember why I made the switch but let me tell you: Lash Slick is the classic your lashes but better, your naturals on steroids, and I am completely hooked. On top of the pump this mascara gives you, it also doesn’t run easily; sometimes I wake up the next day after attempting an argan oil makeup-remove, and this stuff is still kicking. Perfect for summer sweats, well worth it for the boost and the fortitude/stay-puttedness.

An adjacent tip - I’ve also been using the GrandeLash Lash Growth Serum. I’ve really seen a noticeable difference in the length of my lashes, but the tradeoff is darkened circles and hyperpigmentation around the eye. Beauty, you cruel mistress.

Sunscreen

If you know anything about me, you know that sunscreen is my holy grail in skincare. Use it - specifically on your face - every single day, and if you’re hitting the beach, make sure to use it aaaall over. I’m notorious for starting my summer with a weird tanline, courtesy of attempted full coverage, but my angle with the spray sunscreen never seems to reach all corners. Ah well. Use your SPF, use a friend to apply your SPF to your back, use caution in the sun, and your unwrinkled future skin will thank you.

St Tropez Self Tanner

Since we’re in the business of avoiding sun, there’s nothing like a fake tan to boost your ego a bit. It’s basically cellulite camouflage. This stuff is my go-to for a mostly natural look. I learned that it has green-grey tones to negate any orange, which is quite clever. Fair warning, wear some post-application clothes that won’t keel over if they get a little tanner-stained.

Paddleboard

If you live near water, paddleboard is the way to go; I prefer the inflatable version for storage and portability. Last summer with friends, Paddle Sundays ruled the scene. I inflated my board every weekend and used it as a glorified float to booze and cruise and feel amazing about life. (I’d advise having one kayaker in your group because they have more space for beer storage.) Once you get used to the inflation and deflation processes, it really isn’t that bad and well worth the ten minutes for setup. One note - if you’re planning on acquiring a cheaper version (which I did), beware standing up may not be as sturdy in choppy water. But either way, a tippy paddleboard is better than no paddleboard at all. I got mine on Amazon but know they’ve been a hot commodity and seem to be out of stock across the land. I tried out my friend’s Peak Board and was instantly jealous of how sturdy it felt.

Nike Booty Shorts

My go-to summer casual short of choice, all hail the Nike booty shorts. As advantageous for home chilling as they are on a run, I love the versatility and comfort of a good ol’ pair of these. The longer bike shorts are very in right now, but I’ve always loved being uninhibited and flaunting as much skin as possible, so short shorts it is for me. These also augment the assets, you’re welcome.

Here’s hoping your summer is hot hot hot and it is the Best Summer Ever. H.A.G.S.

My Favorite Things, Hot Girl Summer Edition