Black Girl Sunscreen

Happy Friday! Sunscreen, Essie Glitters, the CVS Coupon Skinny and $5 Bike Shorts from Old Navy

April 28th, 2023 by Karen 3 Comments

Girl, first off, happy Friday. It’s a hot one here in Northern California, which is why 1) I’ve spent the morning looking for shorts (hello $5 jersey bike shorts from Old Navy), and 2) I went to CVS to buy sunscreen. While I was there I had the most enlightening chat about sunscreen with another sun protection enthusiast! Gotta love those random beauty chats with strangers.

Anywho, she noticed immediately how I was carrying three bottles of sunscreen (more on this in a second), and I noticed that she had a wide brim hat and oversized sunglasses!

We got to talking about our favorite sunscreens and how we both loved trying them all. I convinced her to try a bottle of Black Girl Sunscreen Kids (SO GOOD), and she gave me the skinny on using CVS coupons.

Oh my gosh, I had no idea that CVS coupons were so good! There was a Banana Boat buy one get one 50% off sale, and I got an additional $2 off coupon on top of that. I ended up getting a $12 bottle of sunscreen for $7!

I also ended up with a 30% off coupon for my next purchase! I’m going to save it for a pricier bottle of La Roche Posay Melt In Sunscreen Milk, which is what the lady who I was chatting with ended up buying with her coupon.

Anywho, side note, all this talk about saving money means I’m officially turning into my mom. LOL!

While I was there, I also grabbed a few things from Essie: a clear Gel Couture Top Coat, two glitters (Birthday Girl and Feel the Fizzle) and a pale creamy pink Gel Couture shade called Fairy Tailor.

I’m going to do this unicorn mani I saw on Essie’s Instagram.

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So pretty, right?

It’s been an exciting morning! I can’t wait to see what the rest of the day (and the weekend) has in store.

Hope you’re doing great and that you’re having a fabulous Friday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Checking In: Dance Competition Makeup Musings, Sunscreen on Rainy Days and Soup!

March 14th, 2023 by Karen 19 Comments

Connor’s first dance competition is now officially on the books.

The girls did great last Saturday! Although I don’t understand anything about how the teams were ranked and scored, I do know that when Connor’s team got called, the faces of the girls reflected pure joy.

Oh, and I have to say, I was kinda surprised (but also not) when I saw Connor leap up to claim the team trophy on stage, LOL!

On the makeup front, I’m happy to report that NARS Dragon Girl lasted most of the day, and hung on until the early afternoon. I could’ve touched up her lips right before they went on stage, but I skipped it as she still had enough pigment on. Seriously, this matte red is a classic for a reason. Grab it if you don’t have it already.

Because it was raining and I knew we were in for a long day, I actually didn’t wear a lot of makeup to the competition on Saturday, although if I did go full on, I I probably wouldn’t been right at home with all the lewks the ladies were serving.

One team had at least 20 girls rockin’ a full beat—big lashes, bright lips, cut creases paired with wings so big they could take off at any moment. You get the picture. And don’t even get me started on the hair! There were many big and elaborate styles. I couldn’t help but wonder if certain teams hired on-site glam professionals to get everyone ready.

If I wasn’t so preoccupied with trying to keep track of my child, I would’ve taken more pictures to appreciate all the artistry. Next time, perhaps.

One last thing re: makeup. Just in case Connor wanted to wear something more than lipstick, I brought “emergency” blush and glitter with me in my bag, but I think I was hoping for too much, LOL!

Anywho, it’s cold and rainy today again here in the Bay Area, and even though I haven’t seen the sun in days, out of sheer habit I put on sunscreen first thing in the morning.

Lately I’ve been into BSG Kids because I like how it doesn’t leave a film on my skin and layers well with all my lotions and potions and whatnot. If you haven’t tried this one yet for your face and neck, grab it! It’s affordable and comfortable. Looks great under makeup, too.

I’m off to chug another mug of green tea. (Did I mention how cold it is here?) Later on this afternoon, I’m going to attempt minestrone soup! Here’s the recipe I’m going to use in case you want to check it out. Seems easy enough.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sunscreen Shout-Out! Black Girl Sunscreen Kids SPF 50

May 31st, 2022 by Karen 8 Comments

Good morning, friend! Right before I sat down at my computer I slathered myself with my new favorite sunscreen, Black Girl Sunscreen Kids SPF 50. If you find yourself constantly annoyed by greasy, sticky, sunscreens that take forever to rub into your skin and leave a gray cast behind, then you’ll need to grab a tube ASAP.

It’s a chemical sunscreen with the following actives: avobenzone 3%, homosalate 15% and octisalate 5%. It doesn’t have parabens, fragrances, silicones or aluminum, and it’s cruelty-free.

I picked up at tube at Target for $9.99, so it’s pretty affordable and easy to find, although I do wish the 3-ounce bottle was a little bigger.

Anywho, it’s one of the most comfortable sunscreens I’ve worn, hands down. It’s not sticky, sinks in fast and doesn’t have an overly obnoxious sunscreen scent. Connor and I wore it last weekend to an outdoor festival in our town, and she didn’t protest as much as she usually does when I put sunscreen on her, LOL!

The festival was held by the local Greek Orthodox Church, and we specifically went to watch a dance performance by the kids dance troupe. They performed traditional dances from the island of Crete.

I loved seeing their sweet faces as they danced, and the details on their costumes were so intricate.

I hope you had a nice long and relaxing weekend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. If you happen to have any sunscreens that you’ve tried lately and liked, please let me know. I’m always on the hunt!