Unlike my chic colleagues (hi, Jamie and Alyssa!), I’ve never been to the US Open or any Grand Slam tennis tournament, but that won’t stop me from dreaming about it. I can picture myself there now—sitting courtside in Arthur Ashe Stadium, feeling the sun beat down on my shoulders, listening to the thwack of the tennis ball, and sipping on the event’s signature cocktail. Call me prepared or delusional, but I’ve already planned the exact outfit I’d wear and hand-picked the specific beauty products I’d bring to New York. (It’s my form of manifestation, okay?).
Regarding the latter, the focus is on transitional, summer-to-fall beauty products to align with the event’s timing and ensure I’m ready for all weather—hot or cold, rain or shine. And since my product picks are well worth investing in outside of US Open attendance, I’m sharing them with you, dear reader. Ahead, see the 10 practical beauty products that serve “courtside chic” and bridge the seasonal gap.
In the seasonal in-between, I want a little more coverage than my dewy summertime skin tint can provide, yet I still want to look natural in bright daylight. That’s where Chanel’s Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation comes in. It’s one of my all-time favorite natural-looking formulas—it offers light-to-medium coverage and a hydrated, luminous finish. It’s the epitome of “your skin but better.”
This is one of those rare internet-viral beauty products that *actually* lives up to the hype. Rhode’s Pocket Blush has become a staple in my makeup routine year-round, but especially during the summer-to-fall transition. The creamy, buttery texture blends out easily, even when my skin starts to get a bit dry from the temperature change. And the bronze-terracotta shade, Toasted Teddy, suits the post-summer, sun-kissed look I’m going for.
Don’t sleep on drugstore makeup. Target, CVS, and Walgreens carry some of my all-time favorite products, including an iconic bronzer, luxe-feeling lipsticks, and a Kendall Jenner-approved mascara. This highlighter is no exception. It melts onto the skin, leaving behind a translucent, reflective finish. It’s so pretty—perfect for wearing in bright daylight, as there’s no chunky shimmer or obvious-looking tint. It’s a true “glass skin” product, if you ask me.
I can’t shut up about Armani Beauty’s Eye Tints. The creamy formulas couldn’t be easier to use. I apply them straight from the applicator and blend them out with my fingers. After a few seconds, they set down to a budge-proof finish. I own almost every shade and finish, but I use Cashew (a matte tan color) the most. It adds the perfect amount of definition, making my eyes pop.
Here’s another effortless eye shadow I recommend for summer-to-fall makeup looks. Much like the Armani Eye Tint, you can swipe it on straight from the stick and blend with your fingers. The new and improved formula is 100% smudge-, flake-, and creaseproof. And the shades! It’s hard to choose a favorite, but if I have to, it’d be Strapless, a soft, shimmering nude.
Leave it to celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes to create one of the most exciting mascaras on the market. Coined the “Microscara,” it features a tubing formula and an incredibly small brush that grabs every last, minuscule lash for exceptional length and definition. After a summer embracing the no-mascara trend, this is the perfect formula to wade back into fluffy-lash waters for fall.
If I’m sporting fluffy lashes, I want my brows to match. So, obviously, I’m bringing Merit’s Brow 1980 Tinted Eyebrow Gel-Pomade out to play. It uses kaolin clay and mineral pigments to beef up sparse brows for natural-looking density and volume. The best part? There’s zero flaking, smudging, or crunchiness.
I’ve been on a real lip liner kick lately, and Make Up For Ever’s Artist Color Pencils have been my #1 pick. They glide across my lips with no tugging or skipping, depositing smooth, long-lasting color. Anywhere Caffeine and Wherever Walnut get all the hype (deservedly so), but lately, I’ve been obsessed with Completely Sepia, a soft nude pink that suits my natural lip color like it was made for me. This will be the base of all my summer-to-fall lip combos.
I’m a simple girl. All I need is a good lip liner (already secured) and a moisturizing lip oil to go over top of it. Guerlain’s Kiss Kiss Bee Glow Hydrating Tinted Lip Oil is my sophisticated selection. It’s formulated with honey to provide up to 24 hours of hydration without any stickiness. And the sheer, glowy tint it gives my lips? So pretty.
Last but not least, everyone needs a multi-purpose face mist to prep, soothe, hydrate, and set their skin, whether or not they’re sitting court-side at the US Open. This is the one I recommend right now. Rosemary, mint, orange blossom, grape extract, and lemon balm are a treat for dry, dehydrated, or dull skin, and it smells incredible. On the last warm days of summer, a cooling spritz is much appreciated.
