Monday, July 7, 2014

On-the-Go Summer Beauty Essentials

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!  I know that many of us will be spending time outdoors at some point this summer.  Here are a few must-have products to toss into your purse or beach bag before having fun in the sun:

1.  Hat and Sunglasses
The best way to protect your skin from sunburn and wrinkles is to physically shade yourself from the sun with a hat (whether it is a wide-brimmed one, baseball cap, or visor) as well as sunglasses.  Sunglasses help protect your eyes from cataracts caused by intense sunlight and the delicate skin around your eyes from sun damage or wrinkling from squinting in the sun.  Make sure that your sunglasses have a little sticker that says UV protection when you purchase them.  The bigger the sunglasses = the more skin that is shaded and protected.  And don't forget to slather on the sunscreen as well!

2.  Murad Essential-C Sun Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 35 PA+++
The biggest issue with using SPF products generally is that people do not reapply them often enough
for them to be effective for a long period of time.  For those times when you want an easy, mess-free reapplication, or for those days when you find yourself sitting outside at a restaurant or park without the proper sun protection, the Murad Sun Balm can save the day.  It is a non-sticky, non-greasy sunscreen stick that is gentle enough to be used on the face or body.  The formula simply glides onto skin and has a pleasant citrus smell.  There are a few sunscreen sticks currently on the market, but I prefer the Murad one for a few reasons.  First, most of the other sticks contain oxybenzone and/or BHT, but the Murad one does not.  Second, the Murad balm contains vitamins A, C, and E to provide antioxidant protection and broccoli extract to support the skin's natural defense against UV damage.  

3.  BITE Beauty BB for Lips ($24 at Sephora)
As we know, sun protection in the summer is super important, but we often forget about our lips.  Our lips contain skin cells that can certainly burn, so make sure that you're wearing some type of lip balm or lip color that contains SPF.  The Bite Beauty BB for Lips is a great option.  First, BITE Beauty makes some really nice naturally formulated lip products that are free of lead as well as toxins like parabens.  Like a BB cream for your skin, the BB for Lips works to repair, replenish, prime, and protect, and hydrate lips, while providing a natural, sheer coverage that looks beautiful in the sun.  It is available in 5 shades - Tawny (dusty pink) is my personal favorite.  

4.  bareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen ($28 on beauty.com)
I always try and keep some of the bareMinerals SPF 30 powder in my bag.  Whether you need quick sun protection for unforeseen outdoor activities or are hesitant to apply SPF over your makeup, this mineral powder is the perfect solution.  With a portable design, the powder conveniently dispenses into the brush, which is ideal for on-the-go application and touch-ups.  For makeup wearers, it blends perfectly into makeup without disturbing it.  For non-makeup wearers, it is a moisturizing powder formula, so it feels much less greasy and chemical-like than a traditional sunscreen lotion.  Plus, this product offers a very sheer level of coverage to enhance your natural glow.  The mineral formula contains effective physical sunblock protection against the sun and allows for a super light-weight feel that does not irritate sensitive skin.

5.  Vichy Thermal Spa Water ($14 at Ulta)
On a hot day, when your face is sweating or your makeup feels as if it is going to melt right off, simply spritz with some Vichy Thermal Spa Water.  First, it will help, soothe, cool, and calm skin as well as help remove sweat.  It will also help set your makeup to keep it in tact for the rest of the day.  Lastly, the light hydration will help re-energize and refresh your skin.  Most importantly, on a hot summer day, it just feels great.  Evian makes a similar product, but I prefer the Vichy one because I feel that the mist is finer and the bottle provides a fuller spray. 

Hope this posts helps.  What are your must-have beach bag products this summer?

No comments:

Post a Comment