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?
Aloha! I just got back a few days ago from my family vacation to Maui. First of all, I must say that it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth with some of the friendliest people. I was surprised to discover how popular skin and body care were and was inspired by many of the innovative beauty products that I encountered. After experimenting with some of them myself, I truly believe that Hawaii is the home to
some of the world's best beauty products.
What's so great about Hawaiian skincare products? Why?
1. Luscious, exotic flora = Products are natural and smell wonderful
Hawaii's natural beauty is breath-taking. Almost everywhere you go, there are naturally growing palm trees, coconut trees, plumeria flowers, and hibiscus flowers to name a few. Since nature is an important part of the state's character, many of the popular Hawaiian beauty brands are natural, featuring botanical ingredients like gardenia, pikake, and plumeria that tone, protect, and nourish skin. For example, classic Maui brands like Island Essence produce moisturizers with scents like White Ginger and Lokelani Rose. Luckily, the Hawaiian love for pure and natural products means that many Hawaiian products including Island Essence lotions are toxin-free. I was delighted to find that all of the natural products that I came across were super efficacious and felt great. Many of the fragrances use floral extracts and oils rather than synthetic ones, making them healthier for your skin and body as well as lighter and more natural smelling. Sometimes, I think floral scents are too heavy or old lady smelling, but the ones that I found in Hawaii were surprisingly refreshing. I bought some Moku Pua Body Mist in Plumeria Jasmine ($12) at a tropical fruit plantation with nourishing and moisturizing essential oils. I try and stick with natural products when it comes to fragrance because you're putting it on a large area of skin. It's hard to find a good natural body spray or perfume since there are only a few on the market. Moku Pua makes a variety of them as well as other nice natural hair and body care products.
2. One of the state's biggest industries is agriculture = Products feature really powerful fruits
The state's climate allows for tropical fruits such as pineapple, lilikoi (passion fruit), and papaya to flourish. These fruits contain enzymes to brighten and even skin tone by providing mild chemical exfoliation, vitamins A and C to promote cell turnover and growth, and other antioxidants to protect the skin from aging. And everywhere you look, you will see coconut trees. Recently, on the mainland, coconut oil has been the beauty buzz word for its extremely softening, hydrating, naturally antiseptic, and antioxidant properties, but Hawaiians have been using it for a while. This skin saving ingredient can be found in many of the moisturizers, soaps, and scrubs in Hawaii. Maui Soap Company makes a selection of beautiful moisturizing glycerin soaps in a variety of different scents all infused with coconut oil. My personal favorite is the Mango Papaya with mango and papaya extracts. In addition, Hawaii is known for its cultivation and manufacturing of sugar cane. Sugar scrubs like the Maui Soap Company Sugar Scrub ($10) provide soothing mechanical exfoliation that is much more gentle than salt or nut grains. This scrub also contains macadamia nut oil, another Hawaiian staple, which helps heal, soothe, and nourish skin.
3. Warm, sunny weather = Hawaiians know about sun care
If
you walk into a CVS or Rite Aid in New York City, you'll find that most of the products
in the sun care aisle are chemically-derived sunscreens with controversial ingredients like oxybenzone. In Hawaii, it is very easy to find good mineral-based sunblocks that can help deflect rather than absorb sun rays (as chemical sunscreens do) to offer you the best protection during those beach days. You can find natural mineral blocks like the Elemental Herbs Sunscreen SPF 33 ($8), the EWG's #1 rated sunblock, and the Coola SPORT Citrus Mimosa Mineral Sunscreen ($36) at many shops and craft fairs. Unlike many typical drugstore sunscreens, many natural Hawaiian sunblocks have a more subtle scent and lighter feel. And many of them offer more beneficial skin ingredients like the nourishing jojoba and almond oils as well as the shea butter and cocoa butter found in the Native Maui Organic Mango Extract Sunscreen SPF 30 ($38). In addition, Hawaiian brands like Maui Organics make excellent after sun care products. Soothe irritated or sunburned skin with the Maui Organics Cool Aloe ($15). While most after sun aloe products are filled with preservatives, dyes, etc., this Cool Aloe has only two ingredients: organic aloe vera gel and lavender oil.
For more information on chemical vs. physical sunblocks: http://beautyforlife127.blogspot.com/2013/06/summertime-means-sunscreen-time.html
The only downside to Hawaiian beauty is that many of these products tend to be on the pricier side. It may not be financially feasible to use all of these products daily, but I would definitely recommend trying a product or two if you have the opportunity. You can find many of the
popular Hawaiian personal care brands in most gift shops if you ever travel there or order them online.
Additionally, one of
the state's biggest industries is hospitality, and Hawaii has some really nice spas. Many of the treatments incorporate the best of Hawaii's natural products into their treatments. Book yourself one! It's a great way to sample the islands' wonderful beauty products and beauty services. I had a Hanakatsumi Body Ritual, which consisted of a manual and chemical exfoliation, massage, and hydrating coconut creme wrap. My skin still feels super soft...I highly recommend it!
Overall, Hawaii was heaven for a healthy beauty junkie like myself :)
Yay! Summer is on its way, and it's certainly getting warmer. What does that mean for your skin? Since there's more moisture in the air, it's probably feel less parched than it did in January. In addition, your makeup may feel a little heavy and sticky in the heat. Check out these tips for summer beauty:
Tip #1: Swap your moisturizing creams for moisturizing gels.
I don't know about you, but I can't stand the feeling of moisturizer on my body on a hot summer day. So one of my favorite beauty products of all time is the L'Occitane Citrus Verbena Sorbet Body Cream ($36 in department stores). It's a non-sticky, gel-like body cream that melts into your skin, provides hydration, and cools skin. Plus, the light lemon scent is perfect for the summer. Another refreshing summer product is cooling gels, which provide just enough hydration for your face in the midst of summer heat. Use the Boscia Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel ($38 at Sephora) as your evening summer moisturizer. This gel disappears into skin, but keeps moisture sealed in, brightens, and minimizes pores. And it's much more light-weight than a traditional moisturizer.
Tip #2: Boost the SPF
SPF 15 for daily wear is okay for the winter, but kick it up to SPF 30 during the summer when rays are more intense. Remember that mineral sunblocks are ideal for sun protection. Just dab a generous amount of bareMinerals Advanced Protection SPF 20 Moisturizer ($30 at Sephora) on your face every morning. It hydrates and provides mineral-based sun protection. And don't leave the skin on the rest of your body defenseless against the sun! You may not care about wrinkles on your arms, but you can certainly get skin cancer there. Rub some Vaseline Aloe Fresh Body Lotion SPF 15 ($8 at drugstores) on any exposed skin - neck, shoulders, arms, hands - before you go about your day. I like this Vaseline product a lot because it's affordable, easy to find, and most importantly, healthy. For more information on SPF, mineral sunblock, and sun protection for the beach, check out: http://beautyforlife127.blogspot.com/2013/06/summertime-means-sunscreen-time.html
Tip #3: Rethink your coverage
Heavy foundations can feel and look worse in hot weather. Increased oilyness, perspiration, and humidity can make your makeup feel sticky on your face and cake more easily. I know my foundation looks like a mess at the end of a 90 degree day...liquid foundations can sometimes feel as if they're melting off your face. Stick with a BB/CC/DD cream or tinted moisturizer if you can. They are a little bit lighter than an actual foundation and get absorbed by skin more easily. The Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel ($28 at Sephora) is a BB gel that is light and ideal for summer weather. If you really prefer fuller coverage, try a mineral makeup like the Becca Perfect Skin Mineral Powder Foundation ($40 at Sephora), which often stays better through perspiration and heat. The powder foundation type will also help control humidity-induced shine.
Tip #4: Repack your purse
There are three items that you should add to your purse during the summer. First, remember to pack your sunglasses. Not only do they protect your eyes against developing cataracts, but they also protect the area around your eyes from wrinkles from the sun. Second, I find myself brushing some Alison Raffaele Transparent Finish Powder To-Go ($46 on dermstore.com) on my face at some point during the middle of the day. It's a weight-less, clear powder that absorbs excess oil and sets makeup. This to-go version comes with the brush and mirror attached to the powder. The powder dispenses into the brush for easy application and storage in your bag. Lastly, keep some Evian Mineral Water Spray Duo To Go ($14 at Sephora) handy to spritz your face throughout the day. The cold mist will feel so cool and refreshing on a hot day. The water formula also sets makeup, restores hydration, and helps remove sweat.
Tip #5: More vitamin E, less mineral oil
As I mentioned, you have an added sun stressor on your skin during the summer. In
addition to protecting your skin from the sun during the day with SPF, it is also important to
assist with repairing any damage related to sun exposure during the night. Using a vitamin E treatment can help with the recovery process, provide antioxidant protection against the sun, and soothe sunburned skin. The Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light ($48 at Sephora) is a summer must-have. This product is a pure oil, and argan oil is rich in natural vitamin E. You may be thinking that the oil may feel too greasy in the summer, but Josie Maran makes a "light" version that is fast absorbing and super lightweight. On the other hand, mineral oils (baby oil, petroleum jelly) attract sunlight and can cause burns. Remember in the 1970's when people used baby oil to tan? So make sure you're not using mineral oil or products that list mineral oil (or derivatives of it) as an ingredient in the morning.
Tip #6: Tone down the deeps and have fun with brights.
Put those deep shades away. Dark eye and lip makeup can get magnified by sunlight and often looks too heavy during the summer. Ditch the ruby lipstick for a more natural looking shimmery peach lip gloss like the Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Amber ($19 at Sephora). Shimmer is nice in the summer because it reflects the sunlight and gives off a pretty glow. Another part of summer fun is bright nail colors. The brightest pinks, oranges, blues seem more "acceptable" in the summer so take advantage of it! I personally love the new Sally Hansen Triple Shine in Pixie Slicks ($5 in drugstores), an ultra shiny bright pink color with a hint of coral...super fun and pretty for summer!
Enjoy the warm weather everyone!
**All product recommendations are toxin-free
