Top 10 Beauty Products to Get Your Glow On
Sun bathing is so 1980. Achieving a summer glow without the damaging rays is the way to go. Here are the top 10 beauty products to get your glow on: 1. Gabriel Cosmetics Zuzu Luxe Bronzer 2. L’Occitane En Provence Pivoine Flora Shimmering Oil 3. CoverGirl Champagne Enhancer as a highlighter 4. Laura Mercier Foundation Read more
LATHER Go Coconuts Body Scrub and Body Whip Review
There is nothing I love more in the summer (or for a mid-winter wake up) than the scent of coconuts. The fragrance makes me nostalgic of my childhood spent on the beaches of Rhode Island--from Prudence Island to Narraganset and Portsmouth, the scent of coconut-scented sunscreen filled the air. Read more
The Body Shop New Lip Gloss Collection Review
I’m a sucker for good lip gloss. You can never have too many and you’re never too old for a juicy, fruity, super shiny gloss. The Body Shop’s new Lip Gloss Collection is packed with juicy flavors, mouth watering shine, and moisturizing glazes of color. With 11 super-glossy shades Read more
Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Lotion Sunscreen Review
Life after Melanoma for me has been an interesting balance of educating myself and others about the dangers of the sun and skin cancer awareness ... and finding ways to enjoy my time in the sun without being totally paranoid. Part of that mission has included trying every sunscreen Read more
Hydrated Summer Lips with Nivea Lip Butter
Once summer arrives, I need everything to feel and be light, simple and effortless. From my clothing, to food to my beauty products, everything needs to have that summery carefree essence to it. Do you agree? Which is why a few of my beauty products from winter, fall and even Read more
Life after Melanoma for me has been an interesting balance of educating myself and others about the dangers of the sun and skin cancer awareness … and finding ways to enjoy my time in the sun without being totally paranoid. Part of that mission has included trying every sunscreen under the sun. I’ve used Aveeno body and face washes in the past, but this was my first time using their sunscreen. Read more
I’m so excited about Supergoop! Gradual Self Tanning Mousse because it’s the answer to a little ongoing internal battle I’ve been having with myself for a while.
When using self tanner, do you moisturize first? After? Both? Then … how soon after do you apply sunscreen? Since my life changing battle with Melanoma, sunscreen has become a necessary and important part of my daily routine, but where does it fall into your beauty routine when you’re also moisturizing and self tanning? All of these products can get confusing to know how and in what order to use … and then there’s Supergoop! Gradual Self Tanning Sunscreen Mousse. ($38) It’s 3 in 1. Just one step to tan, moisturize, and protect! The perfect answer to this dilemma I’ve been quietly keeping to myself. Read more
No summer beauty routine is complete without the incorporation of a great sunscreen. Which for me means one with at least an SPF of 30, one that isn’t greasy feeling and oily looking and one that does not leave my skin looking chalky. And I’ve found my perfect sunscreen for summer just in time for a Memorial Day weekend teeming with outdoor activities.
MD Solar Sciences Mineral Creme SPF 50 Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen is the perfect combination of natural, lightweight, matte with an SPF of 50 and is pretty much invisible on skin with the exception of a really pretty glow. The Mineral Creme rubs in quickly and easily and best of all I can’t even feel it on my skin…even after reapplying it my skin never felt greasy or clogged.
This is absolutely the best sunscreen for my face. In the summer my skin is more prone to breakouts than at any other time of the year and MD Solar Sciences Mineral Creme SPF is specifically formulated for acne prone skin. Besides feeling and looking amazing on my skin, this sunscreen also contains antioxidants, naturally derived Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide and does not contain parabens, allergens, gluten, fragrance or irritants. Aesthetically, I just love the packaging of this sunscreen with its pink tube with the lime green cap; it just screams summer. For me this sunscreen had absolutely no cons and I am elated that I found the perfect sunscreen to use all year round! (Shannon also did a review of their Mineral Lotion SPF 50.) Read more
With May being Skin Cancer/Melanoma Awareness month, now seems like the perfect time if any to talk sunscreen! As you may have read earlier this month, I was diagnosed with Melanoma just a couple of years ago. Life after Melanoma requires a lot more preparation when spending time out in the sun and while I was once a sporadic sunscreen user, I am now a faithful daily user. Something I’ve learned over the past few years of trying almost every sunscreen available … they are NOT all made the same! They come in a variety of forms, apply and protect differently, and most of all feel different.
I may be jumping the gun here, but I already started online shopping for our honeymoon in October and sunscreen was top of the list. Being prepared for nice weather and vacation means my sunscreen and sun safety product arsenal gets restocked. As I was doing some shopping for the honeymoon, I added Sun Bum’s Continuous Spray Sunscreen SPF 70+ ($15) to my shopping cart. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Sun Bum and a friend of mine swears that it’s the only sunscreen she’s ever used that doesn’t feel like a thick film coating her body. I’ve been dying to try it! Read more
Willa Born to Glow Daily Tinted Shimmer Body Lotion hydrates skin and evens skin tone with natural SPF 15 coverage. Formulated to dry fast, the natural sunscreen keeps your skin protected and doesn’t feel greasy. Vitamin E acetate moisturizes and fends off free radical damage to diminish the impact of environmental aggressors to keep your skin young and healthy. This is NOT a bronzer so you won’t look like you have a fake tan.
Admittedly this product does contain a bit of shimmer, but it’s not overwhelming. That said, at my age I would wear not this in the daytime. It would be perfect for a late summer afternoon at a pool party or backyard BBQ. It’s light enough for the hot humid weather and has an SPF of 15 so you’ll have some protection (I do recommend SPF 30). Apply to the collarbone, shoulders and décollete for a bit of sparkle. Read more
I’ve been hearing buzz about L’Oreal Paris’ latest RevitaLift debut, Miracle Blur, ever since my friend and celebrity makeup artist, Billy B. raved about it one day on Facebook. If he thinks it’s amazing, I knew I had to check it out. Thanks to Aprill at Glitter.Gloss.Garbage, she had an extra one she sent my way.
First things first, I was initially confused as to what exactly Miracle Blur is. Were you? Read more
I’ll admit it – as important as it is to my skin and to my overall health, the idea of sunscreen still makes me cringe. The goopy texture, the overwhelmingly summery smell, the way it gives my makeup an unwanted oily sheen and feel, the way it just never fully blends in, no matter how much I rub at it… the list goes on and on! But alas, we outdoorsy gals simply can’t live without it, so I’ve suffered through the unpleasant applications and tested my share of lightweight creams, sprays, and oils in search for a more pleasant yet still protective alternative.
Luckily, Kiehl’s and its Super Fluid UV Defense is here to save us beauty mavens from some common misconceptions about sunscreen. For one, it’s not just for summery sunny days – UV protection is necessary on a daily basis, especially for preventative anti-aging measures – and two, it doesn’t have to be a total drag when it comes to mixing with your makeup! The SPF 50+ formula is ultra-lightweight and can be worn over your daily moisturizer, making it undetectable under makeup, yet still succeeding in preventing dark spots, wrinkles, and other unsightly skin damage! At only $34 for a 1.7oz bottle, it’s a small price to pay for youthful, protected skin!
- Alex Gambardella
Guest beauty post for A Girl’s Gotta Spa! from my friends at TheFind.com.
Guest beauty post from The Campus Diva
It’s finally summer – we skipped spring – and all of a sudden the beaches are at full capacity. Since we haven’t seen sun like this in almost a year, you may realize you’re forgetting things in your overloaded beach bag on your first couple of trips to the sand and waves.
You may have forgot the magazines, but that’s okay because you remembered your iPod and headphones. You might realize you forgot snacks, but you did remember your wallet, so you could just buy food there. However what you really don’t want to forget and what there’s no replacement for is your beauty.
Make sure you pack these four products and you’ll be a sun stunner all day on the beach.
1. SPF face moisturizer
We all know how amazing the sun feels, but also how bad it is for our skin. Divas do not have skin wrinkles at an early age because of the sun – you’re smarter than that. Two great SPF face-specific moisturizers I would recommend because they are not heavy or leave an oily residue on your skin are the Eucerin Everyday Face Protection SPF 30 Face Lotion and Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock with SPF 30 for Face.
You may think SPF 30 sounds high, but when you’re in the sun all day with no shade and you may not be an expert re-applier, 30 is a great number. I use the Eucerin one every morning all year round, so I just keep the Aveeno in my beach bag for the days when the rays are extra intense.
2. Leave-in conditioner
Nobody likes knotty beach hair, or windblown, sea-salty string hair, and that’s what you’ll get if you don’t properly protect your hair for the beach environment. First of all, you have to remember the beach is not a fashion show, but you do want to look casually good. Don’t straighten your hair prior to going – the frizz will be out of control. Let your hair dry naturally and spray it with the leave-in conditioner of your choice. This will help protect your hair from the salt in the air and water, and it will also keep your hair waves somewhat tamed.
I personally recommend all Moroccanoil hair products. Although the Hydrating Styling Cream is a little different than leave-in conditioner, it has the same effect and I think it makes hair look and feel great.
3. Tinted Lip Balm
When it comes to makeup, every Diva should have a product or two that they never leave the house without. Mine are lip balm and mascara. For lip balm, I never stray from Palmer’s Cocoa Butter and I definitely over-reapply throughout the day. However, this is not enough for the beach sun. Sorry ladies, sunburned lips are not in style this summer. You’re going to need something with a little SPF in it, and something with a little color will make the rest of your neutral face pop. My favorite tinted SPF stick is definitely Burt’s Bees. It comes in a bunch of different shades and keeps your lips protected in the sun.
4. Mascara
My other must-always-have product. Obviously the water will make mascara run, and nobody likes a girl who sits in the sand because “the water will ruin her makeup.†Buy the waterproof version of your everyday mascara, and go splash away in the waves. I recommend the Maybelline XXL Extensions Waterproof Mascara. It lengthens, adds volume and lasts all day. Totally worth the $11.
Between your luscious and healthy beach hair, extended eye lashes and color-filled lips, you’ll be turning heads while you listen to your iPod and eat the food you had to buy due to your forgetting the snack bag. Having a non-sunburned face never hurt anyone, either. Enjoy the beach!
When reflecting back on my memories of my 6-year old self, I recall sitting on the counter making chocolate chip and walnut homemade cookies in the kitchen of my Aunt Patty. I was in love with her. She had a brilliant smile and at the time, she was my favorite aunt. My mind quickly moves to the next memory of sitting on her bedroom floor as she lay in her bed instructing my Uncle David to give me a small orange stuffed lion and an over-sized teddy bear (pictured.) They debated back and forth whether she should give me her comic book collection. They decided no because I was too young. I didn’t understand why she was giving away her stuff to me.
Next she asked me to go into the living room, sit on the couch and, “Do not turn around no matter what.” Tell that to a 6 year old and what did I automatically do? As my beloved Aunt Patty, all of 29 years old, attempted to rush down the hall to the bathroom I snuck a peek at her. My eyes grew wide and my mouth fell open in horror. My aunt was bald. I quickly turned around and quietly cried. I could not comprehend what was happening.
My memories are blurred for the month after that day and I remember all too well standing in a funeral home sobbing as I stared at my Aunt Patty in her casket. My mother told me to go tell my Uncle David that I was sorry for his loss…but I couldn’t because who was sorry for my loss?
My Aunt Patty died from Melanoma. A skin cancer that is the most common form of cancer for ages 25-29. Although you can get melanoma regardless of age, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than 5 sunburns at any age.* (Skin Cancer Foundation)
MDSolarSciences, a skin cancer prevention and sun protection company, was founded by leading dermatologic oncologist Dr. Robert J. Friedman. Not only does MDSolarSciences sell broad spectrum UVA and UVB sunscreen, but they also have clothing, eyewear (coming soon) and UV detection products AND they are committed to educating the public. I had a chance to try their Mineral Screen Lotion SPF 50, which is for both adults and children, as well as for those with sensitive skin.
Upon first look, it is immediately clear that this sunscreen is like no other. It comes out of the tube like an aloe vera type lotion would–thin in consistency, but not too thin. When applied you will notice in an instant that this product is silky smooth…and the “white residue/ashy” look you are used to with typical sunscreens? Not happening with this one! As you smooth it over your skin, it disappears! And it is so lightweight, you honestly will forget you have it on! (But still remember to reapply every 2 hours when outdoors having fun in the sun!) There is no fragrance, which a long time ago as a teenager that typical coconut scent was everything–now protecting my skin trumps that.
Every time I use sunscreen, I am always reminded of my aunt.
Have you tried their sunscreens?
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