Aja Naomi King's Summer Style and Beauty Essentials

Actress and L'Oréal Paris spokeswoman Aja Naomi King shares her beauty and fashion must-haves for when the heat is on

01 of 09

All About Aja Naomi King's Simple, Stylish Summer Routine

Aja Naomi King attends the 13th Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood Awards Luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on February 06, 2020
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For actress and L'Oréal Paris spokeswoman Aja Naomi King, the summer is already abuzz with excitement. The expectant actress – who recently wrapped her new film Boxing Day – is prepping for motherhood.

It's "the most important project of my life," King, 36, said, which means keeping her routines "light and easy" as she savors this special time.

"When I think about my summer beauty philosophy Sheryl Crow's 'Soak Up The Sun' comes to mind," she says. "This summer I want to feel a sense of freedom and focus on joy. My beauty philosophy is no different: [it's about] using products that allow my skin to feel pampered, which in turn puts me in a state of optimal relaxation."

"My beauty routine always revolves around nourishing my skin," says King, though with more time spent outdoors, she's also focused on "products that protect it in all that [sun] exposure."

Check out her essentials, ahead.

02 of 09

Mascara

Aja Naomi King Beauty Gal

"My makeup outlook in the summer is generally more minimalist, and I anticipate this summer to be even more so since I will have my hands full! A few coats of Lash Paradise gives me lots of volume so I can look rested, even when I'm not!"

Buy It! L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara, $9; walmart.com

03 of 09

Sunscreen

Aja Naomi King Beauty Gal

"I love this sunscreen. It's moisturizing and protects my skin, it's great for everyone but made with Black girls like me in mind so I don't have to worry about any kind of residue that might change my beautiful brown skin to grey. It's a summer must – but is great to have all year round."

Buy It! Black Girl Sunscreen, $19; blackgirlsunscreen.com

04 of 09

Hand Sanitizer

Aja Naomi King Beauty Gal

"For me, I don't think the use of hand sanitizer will be going away any time soon. The great scent combined with the fact that it doesn't dry out my hands makes this a must to carry around in my bag."

Buy It! Amass Pseudo Citrine Hand Sanitizer, $20; amass.com

05 of 09

Candle

Aja Naomi King Beauty Gal

"One of my favorite things to do when I wake up is light a candle. I love filling my home with subtle, clean and fresh scents and this is one of my favorites. Not only do I get the pleasure of supporting a small business, but their candles are 100% soy, made with simple clean ingredients that make me feel good about having them in my home."

Buy It! Bare Candle Co. Avocado + Mint Candle, $21; barecandleco.com

06 of 09

Face Serum

Aja Naomi King Beauty Gal

"Summer skin is vulnerable to a ton of outside elements, so intense moisture is key for me. This serum is the absolute best for hydration – hands down. I wear it day and night and it doesn't leave a tacky residue like a lot of other serums I've tried, so it's perfect under makeup."

Buy It! L'Oréal Paris Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum, $24; amazon.com

07 of 09

Body Scrub

Aja Naomi King Beauty Gal

"A delicious body scrub that is very moisturizing but not too oily is perfect for making sure my skin is gently exfoliated, smooth and soft out the shower. This scrub makes me feel like I'm in a spa, which is the perfect way to start the day."

Buy It! Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub, $42; oseamalibu.com

08 of 09

Fanny Pack

Aja Naomi King Beauty Gal

"Summertime for me means switching to my summer bag, and in an effort to feel light and easy I'm very excited for this stylish fanny pack to wear [as a] crossbody. The bags from this woman-run company are not only beautifully designed but highly functional, making it incredibly easy for me to downsize and yet fit all my most necessary items. Bonus: with each purchase you can choose an organization for them to donate to like BLM or Stop AAPI Hate."

Buy It! Dagne Dover Ace Fanny Pack, $85; dagnedover.com

09 of 09

Sandals

Aja Naomi King Beauty Gal

"I've always been a huge fan of this brand and founder, Aurora James, not only for her impeccable taste but also her incredible impact in the fashion world. So of course, when looking for comfortable and incredibly beautiful summer sandals I knew exactly where to find them. These shoes make me feel fancy even if it's just for a stroll around my neighborhood."

Buy It! Brother Vellies Trieste Sandal in Pillow Suede, $285; brothervellies.com

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