Sunscreens We Love

We all know that it’s extremely important to protect our delicate skin from the sun’s harsh rays, especially during the summer! Whether you’re lounging at the beach or biking in the park, we’ve gathered a list of our favorite sunscreens. Get the proper protection your skin needs by slathering on the SPF and have some fun in the sun (in moderation of course)!

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 45, $9.99
Neutrogena spray sunscreen refreshes skin with it’s cooling mist while shielding you from the sun’s rays…perfect for those steamy hot days. This sunscreen is a beach bag essential for your next trip to the beach or pool. We love that it is waterproof and sweat proof too!

LA ROCHE-POSAY Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid , $18
The top-rated facial sunscreen is perfect for anyone because it quickly absorbs into the skin and leaves no residue or white film while offering maximum UV protection. This lightweight formula is easy to wear under make-up and is also waterproof, fragrance-free, PABA-free & non-comedogenic. We wear this one year round!

Avene High Protection Mineral Cream SPF 50, $21
For all of our sensitive skin gals out there this is the sunscreen for you. Avene has created this 100% mineral sunscreen specifically for those who need non-irritating protection from the sun. It has all the benefits of mineral makeup but in a sunscreen! And, it’s formula is hypo-allergenic and packed with Vitamin E.

Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen for Body SPF 50, $23
Kiehls has done it again! This new oil-free sunscreen for the body protects against both UVB rays (the ones that cause sunburns) and UVA rays (these cause signs of aging). We love using this lightweight formula on our skin and feel confident spending time in the sun with its high SPF 50 protection. Bonus: It’s also nourished with antioxidants and Vitamin E to keep skin looking young and fresh.

Cetaphil® Daily Facial Moisturizer UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50, $20.98
As women we are always conscious and mindful of smoothing sunscreen on our faces, and this is one of the best SPF/Moisturizer combinations out there. It has all the moisturizing proprieties we expect from Cetaphil products while also dishing out a SPF 50 count for protection. It’s non-greasy formula keeps you hydrated for up to eight hours while shielding you from the sun. You can wear it under your makeup or mix it with your favorite foundation to create a DIY tinted moisturizer.

Coppertone Foaming Oil Free Sunscreen Lotion SPF 75, $8.99
The foaming oil-free formula (so cool) is a revolution in sun care. It goes on super smooth and lightweight without a greasy feeling. It’s fragrance free and non-comedogenic so it’s perfect to use on your body and face without clogging any pores. It’s a great drugstore sunscreen and the price is right!

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick SPF 50, $20
If you are a fan of the Eight Hour Cream line then this is a great product to add to your makeup bag. This sunscreen stick is perfect for getting those spots that we sometimes skip over like our earlobes and nose. It’s small enough to fit in the tiniest of day clutches so you can easily tote it around.

Tips in case you do get a little too much sun…it happens to the best of us:

1. Take an aspirin. It helps diminish the redness and swelling of a sunburn and most of all eases the pain.
2. Use a cold milk compress on your skin. Soak a washcloth is a mixture of half ice water and half milk and apply to the skin.
3. Apply the Greek yogurt you usually eat for breakfast, and smooth it over your burn. After letting set for 15 min apply some aloe vera.
4. It is important to stay hydrated! Your sunburn has caused your skin to lose a lot of moisture so drink plenty of H20 or some fresh squeezed lemonade.

We sometimes burn because we’re not sure when to reapply our sunscreen, so here is a good rule to follow. Take the amount of SPF you are wearing and multiply it by 10…that is how many minutes your sunscreen will last until you need to reapply. (15 SPF x 10= 150 minutes).

Filed under Beauty, Living · Tagged with Anthelios, Avène, Cetaphil, Coppertone, Elizabeth Arden, Hawaiian Tropic, Kiehl's, Neutrogena, SPF, Sunblock, Sunscreen

Summer Skincare 101

Caring for your skin this summer is all about sun protection. Here’s what you need to keep your face, body, lips, hair and even your nails safe from those harmful rays, and to stay looking fabulous this summer…

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 50, $10.99
Protect your skin with a hydrating sunscreen. Hawaiian Tropic is known for a delicious tropical scent in their sunscreens. This new product is less greasy than the original, and is perfect to use as an everyday moisturizer with sun protection.

Josie Maran Argan Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, $38
Upgrade the SPF in your makeup with a tinted face moisturizer. It provides skin perfecting coverage as well as SPF 30, which is higher than most cosmetic sunscreens. I love that Josie Maran makes all of her products with Argan oil, one of the best natural moisturizing ingredients.

Doctor T’s Supergoop SPF 30, $8.50
Don’t forget about your lips! Lip products often don’t have a high SPF, yet our lips have the thinnest skin on our body. Supergoop’s lip balms smell incredible and are super moisturizing, perfect for a day at the beach.

Living Proof Restore Revitalizing Spray with heat and UV protection, $26
Your hair can fall victim to sun damage as well. The latest line to come from Living Proof’s labs helps repair dry and damaged hair while keeping it looking smooth and gorgeous. This conditioning spray protects from heat and the sun’s rays, too!
Tip: use spray on hair after a swim.

Essie Sun-e with UV protection, $15
Prevent nail polish from fading or yellowing in the sun with this top coat. No more dull summer pedicures!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Hawaiian Tropic® Sun Care via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Hawaiian Tropic.

Hawaiian Tropic is a trademark of Tanning Research Laboratories, LLC.

You can now also check out the Glam.com “Things We Love” hub sponsored by Hawaiian Tropic!

Filed under Beauty · Tagged with Essie, Hawaiian Tropic, Josie Maran, Living Proof, memorial day, SPF, sun block, Sun Protection, Sunscreen, Supergoop

My Top Five Foundations for Perfect-Looking Skin

I like to protect and even out the tone of my skin every day with a light foundation. I have tried so many over the past few months and found these to be the best and most natural. I am very sensitive to smell and perfumes so the five listed below have a slight pleasant scent if any. Here are my favorites whatever your budget:

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

Chanel finally came out with a super lightweight water-based foundation last spring and I think it is one of their best new products. The ultra-fine and oil-free fluid feels like a second skin and blends easily. It is available in 10 shades and contains SPF 15.

Buy Now, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, $45

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

Laura Mercier is a cult favorite and I must admit I am one of their biggest fans when it comes to natural-looking foundation. Even though the name says tinted moisturizer, this superb formula has coverage and evens out the skin perfectly. I like both formulas depending on the season (oil-free and regular). This foundation also has SPF 20.

Buy Now, Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20, $42

Sue Devitt’s 70% Triple Seaweed Gel Foundation

The Triple Seaweed Foundation is an oil-free gel formula that evens out skin imperfections and offers an instant healthy glow. I like that it is super lightweight and 70% water based so you can layer if for more coverage as needed. Also, visibly reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines–just love it!

Buy Now, Sue Devitt 70% Triple Seaweed Gel Foundation, $38

L’Oreal Visible Lift Instant Age-Reversing Foundation

For a lightweight and soft foundation, L’Oreal’s Visible Lift is a great product, especially for the price. It protects your skin with SPF 17 and evens out skin tone. Plus, it comes with a brush applicator and is easy to apply!

Buy Now, L’Oreal Visible Lift Smooth Absolute Instant Age Reversing Foundation, $15.95

Revlon PhotoReady

Revlon PhotoReady foundation gives you picture-perfect skin without caking and feels light on the skin. It can be found at your local drugstore but feels like expensive department store make-up.

Buy Now, Revlon PhotoReady Makeup. $13

Filed under Ask Melissa, Beauty, Blog · Tagged with anti-age, Chanel, foundations, L’Oreal Visible Lift Instant Age-Reversing Foundation, Laura Mercier, Makeup, Revlon PhotoReady, SPF, Sue Devitt’s 70% Triple Seaweed Gel Foundation