There are a lot of different ways to get around New York City, but walking, particularly in the summer, is our favorite. We love it so much, 20 miles of road goes car-free at the end of the season. New York is the city that never sleeps, but it’s also the city that rambles and strolls for hours on end. Even when we’re not looking to spend time outside, we have almost no choice. Unlike our friends in Boston or L.A., most of us don’t have the luxury (or burden, depending on who you ask) of using a car to get to places or store our daily necessities.
When we leave home, it could be for hours. Because of this, we’ve become experts at preparing for a long day spent in the stifling summer heat. This means wearing an outfit that’s breezy and sweatproof, prepping our skin with sunscreen, and using a bag big enough to fit our essentials without being so big to burden our shoulders. Just don’t ask us how to pack for the beach — we’re strictly in the business of hitting the pavement.
Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free SPF 42 Face Sunscreen with Hyaluronic Acid
Keys? Check. Wallet? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Covering every inch of exposed skin from the neck down with sunscreen is important, but so is protecting your face year-around. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” says board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Jane Yoo, MD. “Knowing that you are taking a simple step every day to prevent costly measures down the road is the approach to savvy skin care.”
“For the face, you may want to use a sunscreen that serves multiple purposes and provides anti-aging benefits,” Dr. Yoo says. Enter: the Shiseido Urban Environment Face Sunscreen. Made to hydrate and protect skin from UVA/UVB rays, it’s arguably the most crucial product you should never leave home without using. Even The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends this product as a daily essential. A non-comedogenic and oil-free formula like this is suitable for most skin types, including oily and combination skin, so you don’t have to worry about a sticky, greasy residue. In fact, it applies so seamlessly, it can double as a primer.
Salomon XT-6 EXPANSE
Have you ever had a blister in the summer? If you don’t want to experience another, you’ll need comfortable shoes you can spend hours in, without feeling like you’re actively giving yourself plantar fasciitis. Sure, Salomons were once primarily for trail lovers and hiking enthusiasts, but most of the brand’s styles work just as well with your favorite linen pants, too. They’re crafted for offroading, but no one said offroading couldn’t include taking a shortcut across the Great Lawn to the flea market on Columbus Ave.
Brümate Rotera 35oz
If you live in New York, you probably carry your water bottle with you everywhere — whether you’re walking to the movies or getting in your daily hot-girl steps. But you can’t just have any basic and boring water bottle — you need one that runs on all four cylinders, so to speak. Not only will you want a leak-proof twist top that hides your straw for more sanitary sipping, but you might also consider investing in an insulated bottle that comes with a dent-proof silicone sleeve for easy handling.
Vehla Dixie Sunglasses
Sunny days can’t fully be enjoyed with a pair of sunglasses. Having to squint to check which street you’re on won’t ruin your entire day, but it’s one of those minor inconveniences you’ll rue for hours. To be safe, always keep a spare pair in your go-bag.
Silk Seabreeze Skinny Scrunchies
As much as we all like to believe a blowout can withstand the humid breeze, you may ultimately need an emergency scrunchie to remedy your wilting style. Despite their utility, most elastics tug on hair and do more harm than good, but a silk scrunchie eliminates the risk of significant damage.
Donni The Pop Pant
Thanks to its tall buildings and lack of air circulation, New York City has an increased heat intensity to the average person. Sure, that outfit you painstakingly planned might work in Connecticut or Rhode Island, but in this city, prepare to sweat. Sometimes pushing through the sweltering climate is worth it, but if you want a foolproof summer uniform, consider getting yourself a pair of breathable cotton or linen pants. They may make you feel like you’re wearing pajamas outside, but far more comfortable than — sigh — jean shorts.
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote Bag
That tote bag you received as a free gift after ordering a new set of $300 sheets will always have a place in your life. But if you were being honest, you’d admit the accessory is not as pragmatic as you like to believe. What will prove itself useful is a canvas tote. There are plenty of iterations of this bag out there, but the L.L. Bean Boat and Tote Bag was the first (no, really, the first). The reinforced handles and double-stitched seams allow this bag to carry everything and anything you might need throughout the day — without giving you shoulder pain.
D.S. & Durga I Don’t Know What Pocket Perfume
You just spent $100 on a new perfume, but it seems to evaporate the moment you start working up an involuntary sweat. This oil-based rollerball from D.S. & Durga acts as a fragrance fluffer. Since it’s not made with actual notes, its sole purpose is to enhance your go-to perfume that tends to lose its oomph. IDKW can be worn alone, but we suggest layering it on throughout the day to elevate your scent of choice.
Megababe Toe Deo Foot Spray
When we think of “summer city feet,” we think about the inexplicable grime that tends to invade our soles after a long hot day outside. And, well, the sweat. Toe perspiration is one of those things we don’t love to think about but can seem catastrophic when you walk to your friend’s place where a strict no-shoe policy is enforced. This aluminum-free mist deodorizes feet while preventing more odor-causing bacteria, so you can walk miles in sneakers, sandals, or flats without stressing about the potential stink.
Maggie’s Organics Organic Cotton Socks Classic Crew 3 Pak
Speaking of feet, it’s time to throw out those ankle socks you’ve been holding onto since college. By now, they’ve probably been washed so much, each thread is holding on for dear life. You might as well be protecting your feet with a sheet of loose-leaf paper. Maggie’s Organic Cotton Socks look like your standard socks but are far more durable. Plus they aren’t as likely to bind your ankles or slide as you walk.
Ossa Persimmon Wristlet Phone Strap
Is a phone strap absolutely necessary? No. Can it make your life a little more convenient? Yes. Most people are comfortable carrying their phone in their hand for hours, but a wristlet allows you to go hand-free. It’s just an added bonus that it doubles as a cute accessory.
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