By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS

Summer is now in full swing, and despite rocky earthquakes, hurricane-strength storms and extended pandemic lockdowns, people in Mexico are finally beginning to venture out and socialize more, taking advantage of the sunny, smog-free weather (all those factory closings helped cleanup the air), albeit between bouts of heavy rains.

True, it may be a little too soon to head out to the beaches of Cancun or plan a trip to a major international metropolis like New York.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t take a short jot out of Mexico City to a nature park or meet with friends in a not-too-crowded café.

And you will (after four months cooped up in pjs) definitely want to dress for the occasion.

Now is a time to shed your quarantine sweats and get up, get going and dress up to meet the outside world.

When it comes to attire, summer is a time to abandon convention and let your style fantasy flow.

And, I think we all agree, no summer is more meritorious of such couture rebellion than this one.

If the quarantine taught us one thing, it is that when it comes to fashion and beauty, there are no rules anymore. (Were there ever?)

So whether you decide to go for a bohemian boho-chic, choose a romantic look with lace and ruffles, or adopt an Audrey Hepburn classicly elegant style, this is your time to shine in the sun and make up for all those lost months locked up in your house.

(Just be sure to wear a mask in public places and carry plenty of hand sanitizer. After all, the covid-19 virus is still lurking in Mexico, and you don’t want to get infected.)

Here, then, are some new products to help brighten your été and celebrate yourself this glorious summer season.

Start Bold

If spring is about pastels, summer is about bright, daring colors that make a statement.

Choose strong, stand-out shades of red, navy, green, yellow and orange.

Or you can opt to stick with the springtime mode and choose a light pink and soft denim look.

Again, it is entirely up to you.

Remember, this is the no-rules summer.

And don’t be afraid to slash a little skin.

Aéropostale’s new Aero Oneness summer collection is perfect for the season, cheerful and upbeat, with easy-to-wear styles that can be thrown into the washer when you get home to shrug off any resilient viruses.

Every piece in the collection is light and airy, and you can choose from timeless solids, trendy multi-hued pinstripes or dainty floral prints.

And like the summer of 2020, Aéropostale’s Oneness collection offers unlimited, nonjudgmental garments that are not confined to any particular age group, ethnicity, social circle or even gender.

The Aéropostale summer 2020 collection includes everything from ultra-feminine dresses and all-business jumpsuits to go-anywhere shorts and look-at-me T-shirts, all of which mix and match perfectly with one another.

The brand’s signature Tribe of Tees — made in ultra-soft cottons — continues to be the star of the Oneness collection, with tie-dyes and statement shirts, as well as neutral tops that can be worn over jeans or skirts.

And as summer begins to subside, the brand’s new Resort knits, inspired by long, sultry days at the beach and accented with mystical Moroccan prints, are ideal for the transition from day to night, summer to fall.

Be a Wonder

Feeling a bit shy about reassimilation into the world of social interaction?

Try a flash of superhero style with Revlon’s new Wonder Woman WW84 makeup collection.

Gal Gadot will have nothing on you as you rock this red-white-and-blue collection of lipsticks, eyeshadows, eyeliners, nail polishes and cheek blushes that will zap everyone’s attention in your direction.

Due to the covid-19 pandemic, the WW84 movie premier has been postponed until August, and the Revlon WW84 collection is officially slated to be release later this summer.

But you might be able to get a sneak peak and Wonder Womanize your style now at your local Revlon counter.

Many retail stores in Mexico are already jumping the gun and offering at least part of the Find Your Light, Dare to Go Dark collection.

And it is an extremely Marvel-ous look on virtually everyone.

Colorize You Finger Tips

Your face may be covered up, but your hands are in full view.

And while all that excessive hand-washing and gobs and gobs of hand sanitizer applications may have wreaked havoc on your normally impeccably manicured nails, don’t try to hide them or downplay them with neutral pink and flesh-toned polishes.

Instead, embrace the season with a splash of audaciously bright color on your finger tips.

Jessica Nails has just released its new summer 2020 collection in six unabashedly intense, shimmering Day-Glo shades made to brighten your day and your hands.

Neon colors never go out of style.

And Jessica’s daringly radiant Florescent Flamingo, outrageously luminous Blazing Blue, flashingly dazzling Vivid Violet, explosively hot Atomic Orange, no-holds-barred Laser Lemon and shockingly gorgeous Electric Lime are bound to light up the summer with firecracker shine.

The great thing about these six new Jessica polishes is that they can be mixed and matched to suit any style, and you can even use them to make a rainbow of colors on each nail, or create your own artistic design, turning your hands into a personal canvas of artistic expression.

And remember: All Jessica custom nail colors are made from an environment-friendly formaldehyde-, DBP- and Toluene-free formula that slides on smooth and stays fresh.

And with Jessica polishes, there will be absolutely no chipping and no peeling, so even if you aren’t the most talented nail painter on Earth, your manicure will look great for up to two weeks.

Double-Duty Sun Defense

Before you head out the door, don’t forget to lather on the sunscreen, and keep reapplying every few hours.

Guerlain’s new Abeille Royale Skin Defense not only protects your skin from the sun with a broad spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen, but nourishes it with a plethora of anti-aging ingredients, starting with the curative power of honey.

Abeille Royale Skin Defense protects skin against damage caused by four different light sources: UVA (including long UVA rays), UVB, blue light and infrared light.

And thanks to the addition of exclusive Guerlain royal jelly, Ouessant black bee honey and Moroccan euphorbia honey, skin’s collagen is protected and its natural synthesis processes are improved.

Honey is at the heart of all Guerlain Abeille Royale products.

And honey has long been known as one of the world’s most effective natural healing substances.

The result is firmer skin, a more radiant complexion and a smoother, more refined texture.

Pump Up Your Strength

After four months of sitting on the couch binging on Netflix’s Tiger King and Dead to Me, you probably could use a major redux in terms of your physical health.

It’s time to pump up those abs and other muscles with a nutritional boost from Vitamin Boutique’s Thermal Fusion.

Packed with natural enzymes to help jumpstart your metabolism, Thermal Fusion helps your body to burn even that most stubborn fat that seems to congregate around your waist and hips and which, even with diet and exercise, refuses to budge.

Thermal Fusion’s unique formula also increases energy levels, while stimulating natural diuretic activity and mental concentration.

Additionally, easy-to-digest Thermo Fusion contains chromium, which contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism and the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels, as well as immune system boosters, collagen, green tea, vitamin C and other antioxidants.

Thermo Fusion is available in two delicious flavors, fruity watermelon and fresh orange.

Be a Goddess

Finally, be sure to spritz on an aura of fresh, summer fragrance before going out.

Versace’s Eros pour Femme — inspired by the Greek god of love — is the epitome of classic sensuality and romance.

Flasked in a luxurious, rounded, gold-colored bottle that exudes elegance, Eros pour Femme opens with an all-encompassing burst of Sicilian lemon, Calabrian bergamot and Mediterranean pomegranates, an aura which is replicated in a citrusy lemon, sambac jasmine and peony heart.

The base close of Eros pour Femme incorporates a fusion of sandalwood, ambrox, musk and woody notes.

Versace Eros por Femme is available in Mexico at Palacio de Hierro, Liverpool and Sephora.

And while you are at it, why not pick up a bottle of Versace Eros Flame for your spouse or partner?

This manly scent of lemon, mandarine, black pepper, wild rosemary, ceder and pachuli complements Eros pour Femme.

…July 8, 2020