Hi everyone, I hope you have enjoyed a relaxing weekend. I am entering my busiest week of the year on Nantucket, and am in healthy double digits of makeup appointments for a seven day period. And you know—I wouldn’t change anything for a second.
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Ever since finding out my all-time favorite face sunscreen had been discontinued after writing about it a few weeks ago, I have been on a quest to find the best SPF. I have tried several different formulas for both face and body and I am sharing my findings with you in this Part One. I am breaking this into a series because I have a few more products on the way that I am excited to try and review for you, so there will at least be a Part Two in a few weeks.
A reminder about my skin: 40s, sensitive, on the drier side, with a good amount of sun damage already. The ultimate deal-killer for me in a sunscreen (or any facial skincare product, really) is shea butter—it breaks me out so I avoid it at all costs. I like to practice smart sun exposure, which to me means facial SPF every single day, body SPF when I’m laying out in the sun, and always a hat and polarized sunglasses. I do believe that getting a little naked sun exposure is very healthy though.
When it comes to ingredients, as you may already know I prefer the cleaner formulas. I do like a chemical sunscreen, though, for how invisibly it blends into the skin. In general, avobenzone is considered to be safer than oxobenzone, which I personally try to avoid.
Facial Sunscreens: Untinted
If you are like me and sit in front of a computer all day, you will probably love this Dew Good Illuminating Serum from Coola. This is a beautifully light formula that imparts a healthy glow to the skin along with SPF 30. It also has blue light filtering effects, so even on rainy days, I will wear this to the office.
Another great option with an SPF 50 is the Caudalie Vinosun Protect Daily Mineral Sunscreen. This is a zinc-based sunscreen that is a milky formula with a velvety feel on the skin. I like this for walks or laying out at the beach.
I also love the Naturopathica Calendula Essential Hydrating Lotion which is a zinc-based SPF 30. It has a rich, creamy texture and feels equally nourishing as it does protective on the skin. It’s a mild formulation that would be suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types.
Another great mineral-based sunscreen with a higher SPF is the Solara Guardian Angel Super Peptide Sunscreen Milk. This has an SPF 50 and a super silky feeling on the skin. Just be sure you give it a really good shake before using the dropper. It starts off white but blends in pretty well.
For the delicate eye area, I have used and loved for years the Supergoop! Bright Eyed Mineral Eye Cream SPF 40. It has a rich and hydrating texture with a built-in brightening effect. You might even be able to use it in place of concealer for something to just take the edge off any under eye darkness. I highly recommend this product because most facial sunscreens can be irritating to the eyes, and this is super gentle and safe to use.
For lips, I like the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm which has an SPF 25. My favorite scents are the Grapefruit, Pineapple, and Blackberry. I put this on anytime I will be out in the sun for longer than a half-hour and it’s an absolute staple in my beach bag.
Facial Sunscreens: Tinted
Truthfully, I could do a whole entire separate post about tinted SPFs, and might even some day. As I mentioned, I have been on the hunt lately, and it has been fun trying some of the new-to-me formulas that are on the market.
For years and years, I have been a devoted lover of the Saie Slip Tint SPF 35. I have used it on a daily basis for the last four years and get constant compliments on my skin. It comes in 14 shades and there is a color match for everyone. Slip Tint has a dewy formula that keeps my skin glowing all day. It has about a sheer to medium coverage and is definitely buildable if you prefer more coverage. It is great for dry skin and mature skin.
I recently tried the Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin after a dear friend repeatedly recommended it in her own newsletter. I am loving this formula! It feels light on the skin and provides a very sheer amount of coverage. It has an SPF 50 and comes in a few forgiving shades. As the name suggest, it is perfect for those no-makeup days. This is quickly becoming a favorite.
RMS has been a pioneer in the clean beauty movement for nearly two decades, and I was delighted and not at all surprised to fall in love with their tinted sunscreen. The Supernatural Radiance Serum SPF 30 has been my go-to for days when I want a little less coverage than a tinted moisturizer but a little more than the Weekend Skin. It imparts a serious glow to the skin and feels ultra nourishing. I wear the medium color which is a bit deep for me, but like most of these formulas, pretty goof-proof.
Another favorite that has been around for quite awhile is the Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15. Chantecaille can pretty much do no wrong in my eyes; they have always had cutting-edge formulas in beautiful packaging. I guess if I could change one thing it would be a slightly higher SPF, so I do tend to wear another sunscreen underneath it. It has a silky matte texture and it great for days when I don’t necessarily want that overly dewy look. It has a sheer to medium coverage and is somewhat buildable as well. It feels very smoothing on the skin and it one of the more sophisticated tinted moisturizers I have tried.
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Body Sunscreens
When I traveled to Italy with my sister a couple of summers ago, I was adamant about stopping into the pharmacy whenever we reached a new city. It was in Florence that I found this Caudalie Vinosun Very High Protection Water SPF 50. It is basically a spray oil that smells like heaven on earth. Seriously, it could be my summer fragrance. It feels ultra luxurious and is perfect for beach days. As you can imagine, it gives a gorgeous glow to the skin. Just be warned, anyone who is with you when you apply this will want to use it also. It is absolutely my holy grail of body sunscreens. I have only found it online via UK retailers but it is so worth the extra trouble.
I find most sunscreen smells to be quite disgusting, so when I found this unscented option from Coola I was stoked. The Classic Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 is clear and perfect for when you’re laying out in the sun. It also comes in a Guava Mango version that is not bad, but easy for me to get sick of when I am reapplying this in the summer. They do make travel sized versions of this spray which is perfect for when you’re going on a trip and you don’t know what the sunscreen options at your destination might be.
Another great formula for body is the Vacation Classic Spray SPF 30. I love the packaging but I must admit I do not care for the scent at all. It feels nice on the skin though and is great for days when I do want to get a bit tan but am not looking for a sunburn.
I’d be curious to know what your favorite sun protection products are, so do let me know. Also, what do you want to read about next week? I am all ears.
Have a beautiful week ahead!
xo
Jeannie
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