Summer Sun Protection for Sensitive Skin

Ahoy mateys! I love summer. However, I don't love sunburns. We all need to protect our precious skin (and eyes...see yesterday's post on sunglasses) from the sun's damaging and harmful rays. 

I won't lie—I've done my share of laying out/tanning in the summer. However, my vigilance with wearing sunglasses and slathering sunscreen repeatedly on my face, neck, and chest has paid off. I realized this last year when I compared the skin on these areas to my back, which definitely suffered sunscreen neglect in the past. The difference astounded me. Freckles and sunspots mottle my back, but my face, neck, and chest remain pristine (and baby soft) in comparison. Additionally, because I've protected the particularly delicate eye area with sunscreen AND UV-blocking shades (and used eye cream since I was a young teenager) I'm 33 and have absolutely ZERO crow's feet. Boom! Take that, wrinkles.

Today I'm sharing my favorite, most-trusted sun protection products. These are the ones I've purchased repeatedly and will use by the pool this summer. The great part is that they can be used anytime (skip the SPF at night, however, because your skin needs time to breathe) during the year. The even better part is that for us sensitive skin people, I guarantee these products won't irritate. 

Purpose ($7.99 at Target) is the only moisturizer with SPF that I can use that doesn't make my skin get red, blotchy, and sting. The rest of the time I make sure that my moisturizer doesn't have any SPF, and I instead rely on the sun protection in my foundation. While you can use this at night, I recommend using a night-time treatment or moisturizer that doesn't contain SPF.

Shiseido UV Protective Liquid Foundation SPF 42 ($36.00 at Sephora or Nordstrom)This incredible came to my attention when I worked as a counter manager for Shiseido at Nordstrom. Honestly, once you use this, you might want to use it as a year-round foundation. Check out all the incredible reviews on Sephora.com Allow me to list just a few of the benefits: 

1. SPF 42 (no additional sunscreen required!)

2. Water/oil/sweat resistant (it will NOT budge)

4. Beautiful medium to full coverage without feeling too thick

Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 34 ($32.50 at Sephora and Nordstrom) This gem of a product moisturizes and protects your eye area, without any irritation. Don't let the price dissuade you, because this tube will last you throughout the entire summer and beyond.

Natural Ice Medicated Lip Protectant/Sunscreen ($1.69 at Walgreens) Forgot Burt's Bees. Seriously. I bought this last year before a trip to Lake Powell, because my lips get burned the second they see the sun. I was in a rush and this was highly visible at the end of an aisle, so I grabbed it before checking out. I'm so grateful I bought this miracle in a tube! It protects my lips, but I also discovered that it eliminates flaking and chapping. When I apply it, my dry skin seems to melt away. 

Happy shopping!

xoxo

Liz's Latest Finds - Lipstick, Self-Tanner, and Exfoliating Scrub

Oh don't worry, here's my "Monday Morsels" post on Tuesday!! 

So, I stopped by Sephora this weekend. Enough said. OK, well not quite enough, because I need to tell you about my latest finds. Prepare to start spending!

YVES SAINT LAURENT ROUGE VOLUPTÉ Silky SensualRadiant Lipstick in Nude Beige $35: After seeing the gorgeous Maskcara use this lipstick in Lingerie Pink in her birthday makeup tutorial, I developed a craving to sample this luscious product. I'm sure you've heard lipsticks described as "smooth," but compared to this velvety confection, the rest might as well be sandpaper. This product literally glides onto your skin, and nude beige is the prettiest, most perfect nude/neutral lip color I've ever seen.

KARDASHIAN SUN KISSED INSTANT SUNLESS SPRAY $19.99: You can get this only at Ulta, and it's definitely worth the trip to pick up a bottle. I got mine on sale for about $12 a while ago, and I really like several things about it. You can get away without using a tanning mitt, but I recommend having one on hand. Another trick/cheat you can use to smooth out streaks or drips is to have the plain, cheap round makeup sponges on hand (I use the Up & Up brand from Target) to smooth out problem areas.

Here's what I like:  
1. This product smells so much better than many self tanners. It does start to have a milder form of what I call that burnt tanning bed skin/buttered popcorn smell eventually (delicious description right?), but it's not as bad as many.
2. It has a nice, even mist when you spray it.
3. It provides an immediate dose of color that dries in about 15 minutes, it develops over the next eight hours, and it lasts about four days. 
4. I can spray it on my face and it doesn't make me break out. Woo hoo!
5. It's sulfate and paraben free!
6. I love the golden, just-got-home-from-a-beach-vacation glow it gives. As with any self tanner, you need to pay close attention to areas where it can cling and appear a tad darker, and I HIGHLY recommend doing a full-body exfoliation before using it. 

Here's what I don't like:

- Honestly, the only negative point is that some of the product collects around/under the cap. When I move from one area of my body to the next and stop spraying, I gently shake the can over the sink to get rid of any buildup. If you don't do that, you could end up with some random droplets of the product landing on you. 

SOAP AND GLORY FLAKE AWAY BODY POLISH $25: I heard about via a few YouTube reviews, but I didn't try it until this weekend. The soft, powdery, peach/vanilla/floral smell alone had me hooked. However, I am one of the pickiest people when it comes to a sugar or salt scrub (this gem contains both, in addition to peach seed powder). I like a hearty scrub that really works at eliminating dry skin (none of that useless liquidy, grainy crap) AND leaves your skin supple and moisturized. This meets my criteria. Also, the product has enough pliability that it makes the transfer from your hand to your body with disintegrating and falling to the shower floor! This just might be the scrub that keeps me from continually searching for a better one. 

Happy Shopping!!

xoxo

It's Friday I'm in Love . . . Assorted Awesomeness

Hey y'all, happy weekend! 

Sorry for the lack of a "Thrifty Thursday" post yesterday, but hopefully all the gems I'm sharing with you today will make up for it! There's jewelry, makeup, clothes, inspiration, and more...

If you saw my accessories post earlier this week, then you know I have a weakness for jewelry. I love these branch-like Kendra Scott bangles from The Jewelers Wife. 

Needing some motivation in your life? I highly, highly recommend joining the mailing list for life coach Danielle Dowling and perusing her website. When I read one of her incredible e-mails, my mind feels seriously illuminated and I have a renewed sense of energy. She's a seriously incredible woman empowering other women to realize their potential and live the best life possible!

I showcased some of my favorite nude nail looks on Tuesday, and I also discovered this incredible neutral nail polish color wheel on Pinterest. Can I please have every one of these gorgeous colors right away?! 

Need a pretty hook for your keys or coat? I've been looking for one that I really like for a while, and I believe I found it Anthropologie. How gorgeous is this mirror mosaic hook? And it's only $38 (ok it's not a Target price, but for Anthro, not too shabby).

I'm always on the lookout for great new anti-aging skincare products that can improve tone and texture. The pores around my nose will be my dying obsession! I'm excited to use the new extra strength version of the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel. Have you tried these? 

 I hope everyone has an incredible weekend. Live it up!

xoxo