Summer is by far my favorite season of all time, there’s no such thing as too much sun in my book! But with that glorious sun also comes precautions when it comes to skin protection and makeup. In the summer time, less is definitely more and here are some of my go-to products to enjoy basking in the sun while still looking fresh and more importantly, keeping your face protected and radiant: 1. Moisture Up! – I think there is a misconception when it comes to moisturizers, some people feel that if they are naturally oily or live in humid places, they don’t need this step. On the contrary, leaving out moisturizer in your daily routine could develop more wrinkles. According to dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe: "When the skin barrier is compromised, which is what we see when it becomes dry, there's actually a low-grade chronic inflammation that occurs in the skin, low levels of ongoing inflammation ultimately lead to a breakdown of collagen and accelerated aging." Moisturizers that tailor-fit to each skin type are readily available from drugstore brands to high end products. Choose one that best suits your skin type. Personally, I love Embryollise Lait-Crème Concentre and I find this suits all kinds of skin types of all ages, especially combination skin which is the most common skin type. CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion is also a great budget-friendly alternative, not only does it already have SPF built in, it has skin care ingredients as well such as Hyaluronic Acid and Cermides which are great for anti aging. If you are oily or live in a place with high humidity, choose a light weight gel-based moisturizer, which will hydrate your skin but won’t make you look too oily when you start sweating. If you are on the dry side, choose a moisturizer that is cream based. I am loving NARS Luminous Moisture Cream for when I get drier skin days, or applying it to just the dry patches of your face, and NARS Aqua Gel Luminous Oil-Free Moisturizer for humid days when I tend to get more oily. 2. SPF or Bust – Unless your foundation has some sort of SPF already in the formula, it is always best to apply any SPF face lotion before applying any makeup during the day. Some dermas even recommend wearing sunscreen in addition to your foundation which already has SPF in it. SPF sunscreen protects us from UVB – which is one of the damaging sun rays that is responsible for burning skin. So the number of your SPF is a guide for how much UVB protection the product offers – the higher the number the more protection. The American Cancer Society recommends an SPF value of 30 or higher. Many of us don’t realize the skin-damaging effects the sun can cause, I too am guilty of basking under the sun all day especially in my teens and up, and using suntan oils with little to no SPF because of wanting to achieve the “tanned look”. We fail to realize that sun damage and its signs reveal itself later in life, and by then the effects can’t be reversed and just leads to more prematurely aged skin and worse, skin cancer. Lucky for us, there are so many makeup products out there that are infused with SPF and other skin care benefits to combat these premature aging signs. 3. Less is More – Summer is the perfect season to have the “No Makeup-Makeup Look” and a great way to do this is by keeping a Tinted Moisturizer or BB Cream handy for those summer months. A tinted moisturizer or a BB Cream is a great alternative to even out your skin tone (hyperpigmentation, age spots, etc) with a bit of coverage but still gives you the luminous glow of skin. What’s the difference? A Tinted Moisturizer is basically a moisturizer with a bit of color infused into it – it provides hydration but gives you minimal coverage and at times offer sun protection (SPF). A BB Cream on the other hand is an all-in-one product wherein it has the same attributes as a tinted moisturizer but has anti- aging ingredients infused and acts as a primer as well – making your makeup last longer. It is great for those who want the “no muss no fuss makeup look” and don’t need a lot of coverage. I find that even if you need added coverage, a tinted moisturizer or BB cream still does the trick: all you need is to use a concealer afterwards in the areas you need more coverage (such as dark circles, acne spots and the like) and blend it all out. For those who still want more coverage, try mixing a bit of your regular foundation (try half of the amount that you normally use) into your tinted moisturizer/BB Cream and voila! Added coverage but still retain the skin-like appearance. I particularly love KIMIKO Hydrating Tint which is more of a BB Cream since it delivers skin care properties as well, but has an SPF built in, and hydrates the skin while blurring imperfections. An added plus is that it is hypo-allergenic so it is great for those with sensitive skin. Another fave of mine is the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, it not only hydrates my skin and has a higher SPF coverage but it has great coverage while giving your skin a natural glow. 4. Stay Cheeky – Summer is all about the glowing skin and a flush to the cheeks. And who says you can’t wear blush even if you’re going swimming, right? I am currently loving Stila’s Aqua Glow Watercolor Blushes! A Water-based gel formula and weightless, blends effortlessly and gives a sheer wash of color with a luminous finish, but buildable. Best part…it’s waterproof! Another obsession is Becca’s Beach Tints, which are water resistant and ultra blendable. And what’s great is not only is it for the cheeks, but can double up as a lip stain and even eye shadow! Now that’s what I call multi-tasking. Great for on the go beach trips or if you just want a pop of color on a hectic summer day. If you want that added glow, Becca’s Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle is also a winner. It is exactly like their beach tints but it is infused with a highlighter… all in a whipped soufflé formula. Genius. 5. Lash it Out – like I tell my friends all the time, if you have absolutely no time to put on any makeup, just curl your lashes. I find that taking a few seconds to curl your lashes makes a HUGE difference. It instantly gives the appearance of being awake and bright eyed, and more so when you take a bit of time to put some mascara. Instant glam! If eyes are the windows to the soul, curled lashes are the keys to your front door. For those hot summer days, try a water proof mascara to jazz up those peepers. I am a huge fan of L’Oreal mascaras, especially the Voluminous line, not only are they affordable but the wearability and range of mascaras they have is insane. I also find that their formulation is not too heavy like other mascaras that weigh your lashes down, they keep them curled and fab! For bottom lashes, I love MAC’s Extended Play Lash, the slim brush is perfect for bottom lashes and those hard to reach areas. Smudge resistant, lightweight and long wearing. Now let’s go and have some fun in the sun!
xoxo, Lala
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