Sun Screening in the Summertime

If you know me, you know that I preach about the benefits of effective sunscreen. I wasn't always so meticulous with my suncare routine. For many years, I allowed the sun to color my skin, chasing that ever-elusive golden complexion. However, as I became more interested in rejuvenating my skin and brightening my complexion, I started using sunscreen daily. After witnessing its incredible properties firsthand, I am now a true believer and appreciator of its capacity to protect the skin from free radicalization and the accumulation of the signs of time.

The higher the Sun Protection Factor (SPF), the more efficient the product is in preventing skin damage. In my opinion, it's always better to layer your sun protection separately from your moisturizing or makeup products. Treat sunscreen as its own entity. Many foundations and moisturizers on the market include SPF. However, since the SPF is integrated into another product, you don't get as much protection as you would from an SPF product designed solely for sun protection. Essentially, you'd need to wear a ton of foundation or moisturizer to get adequate sun protection from the SPF included in the product.

I know that many sunscreens can be difficult to work with, so I thought I would round up a few that I enjoy using. These products are makeup-friendly, so you can rest assured that they won’t mess up your makeup.

Neutrogena – Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50 Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB

A mouthful for sure, this sunscreen launched several years ago to rave reviews, and I can personally attest to its popularity. It remains my holy grail among drugstore brands. The Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen gives the skin a great supplement of moisture. In the hot summer months, it can double as your moisturizer. This sunscreen has no white cast, but please note that the finish is very dewy. If you love glass skin, this doubles as a makeup primer.

Shiseido – Ultra Sun Protector Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50

Shiseido has been making incredible beauty products since 1872. This luxury brand creates exceptionally refined products that feel luxurious on the skin. The Ultra Sun Protector Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50 is a favorite of mine. It also doubles well as a primer and provides tremendous moisture. I found it gave a slight golden glow to my skin, leaving it looking moist and plumped up.

Ultra Violette – Supreme Hydrating Facial Screen SPF 50

My latest discovery, this sunscreen applies smoothly and feels very hydrating on the skin. I have worn this under makeup and on top of my skincare, and it does not disappoint. The Ultra Violette Supreme Hydrating Facial Screen SPF 50 packs a wallop of moisture, so expect a glowy appearance on your skin that lasts for hours.

La Roche-Posay – Anthelios Ultra-Fluid SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen

This sunscreen is oil-free, super lightweight, and leaves a matte finish on the skin. The Anthelios Ultra-Fluid SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen is water and sweat resistant for the first 80 minutes after application, making it ideal for working out or having fun in the sun. This sunscreen is lightweight and works well under makeup or on clean skin, offering versatile sun protection that adapts to any skin type.

Sun protection is a must in our day and age, as unprotected sun exposure can lead to discolorations and cause wrinkles to form prematurely. Remember to apply and reapply during the day, as protection fades every two hours or so.

Until next time, dear beauty reader, stay beautiful!

Blushing Beauty

Your blush is blushing beauty! Blush is having a moment; it is currently one of the best-selling items in cosmetics, and everyone and their momma is launching a blush these days. The market is flooded with blushing beauty tools to flush our cheeks and slay that healthy-looking skin.

Blush has always been one of my weaknesses, and I likely have more blushes than I will ever use. Here is a list of a few of my favorite blushing beauties.

MAKE UP FOR EVER – Artist Longwear Skin-Fusing Powder Blush: This latest powder blush features a new, talc-free, gel-based, skin-fusing technology that bonds with the skin to help the pigment remain longer on the skin. A lovely assortment of colors and textures are available, and blushes are transferrable into a custom palette should one desire. Great pigment mixed with technological innovation, MAKE UP FOR EVER hits it out of the ballpark yet again.

Saie – Dew Blush Blendable Liquid Blush: Saie has been making waves in the Clean Beauty space, and this liquid blush shows off the impact on the market. Easy to blend, this liquid blush comes with a doe-foot applicator and can be blended with brushes, fingers, or a sponge with ease. Bright and vibrant color and muted tones enhance the complexion and give the skin life.

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna – Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush: Say what you want about celebrity brands, though most are unabashed money scams in my opinion, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty is a stand-out! My success rate with their products is high, and when I tried the Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush, I loved its pigment and blendability. Use it alone on the skin, over or under your foundation; this product blends easily, does not disrupt other products, and plays well with other products and brands.

RMS Beauty – ReDimension Hydra Powder Blush: Normally, I steer clear of glowy, reflective, or metallic blushes. My skin has some texture from acne, and though I have had treatments and laser treatments, I am usually more prone to matte or satiny textures for my cheeks. The level of hydration in this luminous blush is unparalleled. I have found that it does not accentuate my texture in an unflattering way as it diffuses the appearance of my skin and gives it the most lustrous radiance. A blush topper like no other, this product is a showstopper!

NARS – Talc-Free Powder Blush: NARS has been making incredible blushes for decades now and has long been a reference in both lip colors and blush colors. The recently reformulated version is, of course, as its title suggests, completely talc-free. This new texture glides well and builds up pigment well, blending beautifully on the skin. Of course, the legendary colors are all omnipresent; however, NARS has a lovely mix of subtle and bold shades to choose from.

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez – Soft Pinch Liquid Blush: I know, I know, I just wrote that I don’t like celebrity brands, and here is another one. However, the quality of the product and the relatively accessible price point make me include this liquid blush here. The first time I tried it, a simple drop on each cheek was more than enough, and the size of the bottle ensures many days of blushing, beautiful cheeks. It glides well on top of liquid and cream products, just as well as it does on clean skin. Trying it over a powder and it still blends out beautifully, truly a well-designed product. Trying it helps you to understand its virality online.

Choosing favorites today was a little tricky as I truly love all of my blushes. Hopefully, one of these blushes will transform you into your very own, blushing beauty. Stay gorgeous, sending you good vibes and reminders of sunscreen!

Dewy Skin Is In

Let us face it: wet, luminous, glazed, and glossy complexions are all the rage! From Maison Margiela’s extremely reflective makeups in their Spring/Summer 2024 Couture runway show to the endless glassy complexions we see in the media every day, there has never been a better moment to let your skin shine.

Here are a few quick tips:

Skin Type: If you have oily skin, many fine lines, or uneven texture, these types of products can enhance and amplify your skin's texture. Combination skin types will likely love the glow if they powder the center of their faces.

Placement: Light reflective products look beautiful on the cheekbones, forehead, and any smooth part of the skin.

Products: There are many products on the market right now to help you get your glow on. Here are a few of my current favorites:

·        Charlotte Tilbury – Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick: The most recent launch in this list, I got this to test out for my annual Clin d’oeil judging panel box of goodies. I didn’t think I would enjoy it, but I love it. It’s super smooth and blends effortlessly. I avoid it in the T-zone area. It’s a hybrid product: some will love it as a glowy foundation, for others, it will be a highlighting stick.

·        Saie Beauty – Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Multipurpose Illuminator: This luminous gel is an incredible and easy-to-use product to wear on the face or body to give the skin much-needed radiance. The texture is super fluid and works well on top of other products. I have often used this on top of other products or even mixed within to give the skin a more illuminated effect.

·        Glow Recipe – Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops Serum: This serum packs a hydrating punch that doubles as an excellent primer for makeup to give your skin that radiance without any shimmer. Purely glossy, this product looks incredible on the skin alone or under makeup. This product has gained cult status and for good reason: it is a wonder, a beautiful hybrid of skincare and makeup.

·        MAKE UP FOR EVER – Mist & Fix 24HR Hydrating Setting Spray: How could I not include one of my favorite brands in the mix here? This setting spray has become a favorite of mine since it was relaunched a few years back. Packed with hyaluronic acid to retain moisture, this setting spray refreshes the makeup and holds it in place while leaving the skin looking marvelously moist. It works wonders as a setting spray and can become a quick primer with grip action if you spray it prior to applying makeup.

·        MAC Cosmetics – Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer: MAC has been killing it for years in the complexion department, and this primer, launched in 2023, is no exception. It helps products to grip and spread better on the skin, giving the skin the most gorgeous luminous and dewy finish. Wear it under a matte foundation and watch it breathe new life into your complexion. A new must-have in my kit, I am already on my second tube.

Hopefully, some of these suggestions can be of service to you, dear beauty reader. Until next time, stay beautiful and take care of yourself!