Sunscreen

A Little Bit of Sunshine

May 17th, 2023 by Karen 13 Comments

I’ve been listening to songs with the word sunshine in the title all morning. No particular reason other than it’s sunny outside today in my neck of the woods (Marin County), and the temperature is at that sweet spot where it’s warm enough to go outside in jeans and a t-shirt. It’s so nice!

If only it could always be just a little bit warm but not too hot – maybe I have to move to Hawaii for this? I’m still manifesting that one-story house in Kailua with a white picket fence and pink roses. LOL!

Anywho, if you have a pick-me-up playlist, add these three sunshiny songs stat.

Sunshine on me

A little bit of sunshine

I’ve got a pocketful of sunshine

While we’re on the topic of sunshine, I recently discovered the wonderful world of Korean sunscreen. They get so much hype amongst derms and skincare enthusiasts online, and now I see why they have such a devoted fanbase.

I’ve got three in my arsenal right meow: Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36, Laneige Hydro UV Defense SPF 50+ and Etude House Sunprise Mild Watery Light SPF 50+.

Side note, all of these brands are owned by Amore Pacific, and I write for Innisfree and Laneige.

Some quick thoughts…

Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36

The tube is decently sized and you get a good amount for $16. While all three sunscreens have a lotion-y and light texture compared to American sunscreens, this one is relatively thick compared to the other two and not as moisturizing. It doesn’t feel as weightless as the others, for sure. I wish the SPF was higher, but if I’m working from home, it does the trick. Oh, and this one smells the most sunscreen-y. I like it enough, but I probably won’t buy another bottle.

Laneige Hydro UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50+

Oh my gosh, SO GOOD that I just put a jumbo-size tube in my cart! Absolutely lovely, and very much like the Shiseido sunscreen that I used and loved for years, but even better because it’s more moisturizing and feels even lighter on my skin. I love that I can reapply it throughout the day, and it doesn’t feel heavy or sticky. Layers well underneath makeup, too. I don’t mind the light, floral scent either. A pretty, dewy finish that’s not too shiny. My dry skin loves it. It’s currently on sale now on the Laneige website, by the way.

Etude Sunprise Mild Watery Light SPF 50+

Believe it or not, this was a Mother’s Day gift from El Hub and Connor! I love it, too. It’s the lightest and thinnest in texture of all three, almost like a gel, and it just melts right into my skin. Like Laneige, it’s a joy to reapply. Now, it’s not as intensely moisturizing as Laneige, but it should be enough if your skin isn’t excessively dry. The scent is kinda lemony and fresh. Very light. A perfect summer sunscreen for very hot days! You can find it on Amazon.

One last sunshiny-related bit. Cookbooks make my heart sing, and here is the latest edition to my library.

So, I’ve actually never made Korean food before, and I’m kind of intimidated by all of the elements involved in a Korean meal. Apparently there’s a lot of side dish action! While I live for a bevy of side dishes, especially ones involving veggies or various fried dumplings and whatnot, I don’t know if I could handle cooking an entire Korean meal with all the fixings by myself. It seems like a lot to juggle!

Have you cooked Korean food before? Where should I start?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by essie (@essie)

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

Sunscreen Shout-Out! Avene Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense Sunscreen and Tinted Sunscreen 50+

June 24th, 2022 by Karen 7 Comments

This sunscreen has been in heavy rotation ever since I discovered it last summer.

I suspect that both of these bad gals will be good to the last drop! (Side note: what’s the last sunscreen you finished?) I’m well on my way to finishing both of the new liquid lotion mineral sunscreens from Avene because they’re THAT good.

Like many makeup huntresses, I’m always on the prowl… I’m always looking for that elusive “no-makeup makeup” skin — just the barest hint coverage, with just enough tint or pigment to even things out a touch, but to find something that delivers a no-makeup makeup look, offers brilliant sun protection, feels light as a feather and leaves absolutely no white cast behind? That’s the stuff of legend, or perhaps just an internet rumor, or a figment of a beauty lover’s imagination… Or is it? I’m starting to believe that the new Avene Solaire sunscreens are as close to “the one” as you can get, and, yes, in case you were wondering, both of them create the most natural-looking dewy finish, so secret admirers will assume your supernatural glow is a natural, rare gift from the heavens above.

avene solaire uv tinted before — Wearing no makeup or sunscreen…

avene solaire uv tinted — And here I am wearing the Tinted version as my base.

Essentially, these are all that and a bag of cheese puffs. After I work in the lotion (it’s very thin and absorbs super quickly), no greasy goo is ever left behind, and my eyes don’t sting, not even after I sweat.

In the tinted version, rather than the typical too-pink beige that seems to be the go-to color of most tinted sunscreens, Avene opted for a darker medium tone. It looks more like a bronzer at first glance, but it should suit most skin tones based on the comments on the Avene website, as long as one blends it in thoroughly. I’m a tan gal, and the tint and sheer coverage are absolute perfection for me.

INGREDIENTS, TINTED:
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: ZINC OXIDE (12%) INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: WATER, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, PROPANEDIOL, JOJOBA ESTERS, TRIDECYL SALUCYLATE, METHYLHEPTYL ISOSTEARATE, POLGYCLYCERYL-4 DIISOSTEARATE / POLYHYDROXYSTEATEARATE/SEBACATE, NIACINAMIDE, NYLTON-12, METHYLPROPANEDIOL, COCO-CAPRYLATE, IRON OXIDES, SILICA, AVENE THERMAL SPRING WATER, SODIUM CHLORIDE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 DIPOLYHYDROXYSTEARATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, BISABOLOL, ALLANTOIN, ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN EXTRACT, LECITHIN, PHENYLPROPANOL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALUS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE, ISOSTEARIC ACID, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, SODIUM HYDROXIDE.

INGREDIENTS, UNTINTED:
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: ZINC OXIDE (12%) INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: WATER, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, PROPANEDIOL, JOJOBA ESTERS, TRIDECYL SALICYLATE, METHLHEPTYL ISOSTEARATE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 DIISOSTEARATE / POLYHYDRIXYSTEARATE/ SEBACATE, NYLON-12, NIACINAMIDE, METHYLPROPANEDIOL, COCO-CAPRYLATE, SILICA, AVENE THERMAL SPRING WATER, SODIUM CHLORIDE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 DOPOLYHYDROXYSTEARATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, BISABOLOL, ALLANTOIN, ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN EXTRACT, LECITHIN, PHENYLPROPANOL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) EXTRACT, TOCOPHEOL, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE, ISOSTEARIC ACID, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, SODIUM HYDROXIDE.

The dry patches and pimples I get sometimes (those jerks), which will avail themselves of any excuse to pop off, haven’t made an appearance when I’ve used either of these sunscreens, so I’ll be keeping them close for the rest of the summer, and perhaps the rest of my life?! That’s a grand statement, but dang, ’tis good stuff.

Oh, yeah, in case you were wondering how the tinted version compares to Bliss Block Star (another rock star tinted mineral sunscreen), Avene’s has a dewy finish, while Block Star is matte. Avene also has a higher SPF at 50+ compared to Block Star’s 30. Both are great, though!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Putting Sunscreen on Top of Makeup Is a Thing

June 3rd, 2022 by Karen 7 Comments

mac prep primes skin k — It’s a good day to (re)apply your sunscreen.

Good morning and happy Friday!

Something fascinating I learned recently about liquid sunscreen is that you can touch up it throughout the day by reapplying it directly on top of makeup.

MIND BLOWN!

This is assuming you’ve already got a layer (or two) underneath your usual face paint. Chances are you’re already wearing sunscreen underneath your foundation, blush, etc. if you’re going to bother reapplying your sunscreen in the middle of the day.

Oh, and this is also assuming you’re not wearing super dark blush or a black smokey eye! It seems to work best when the shades aren’t too intense.

That said, here’s the gist:

Texture is key. A liquid sunscreen with a watery gel-like consistency works best. Anything too thick or heavy will move stuff around. Two to consider are Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen and Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence.
You’ll want to pat, not rub. Use your fingers, a sponge (don’t wet it; leave it dry) or a synthetic foundation brush to pat the sunscreen on your skin. Patting minimizes moving the making underneath. Keep patting until the sunscreen’s fully absorbed. Wait a minute, then do another layer.

A kitty makeup tip — Oh, Tabs! I miss you, buddy.

Start with the non-colorful areas first. If you’re using a sponge (leave it dry) or brush, start on the parts of your face that don’t have a ton of bright and intense color first, like your jaw, around your nose and mouth, and your forehead, so that you’re not mixing too much color. Wait a minute or so for the, then do your blush and eyes last.

If this seems too out-of-the box for you, then you could always go the more traditional route with a loose powder sunscreen that comes with an attached brush. Colorscience makes one that’s supposed to be pretty good.

Building those happiness muscles, day 12

The two simple things I’m grateful for today are 1) Laneige Lip Mask (this best thing for dry lips, I swear), and 2) my friend, Kelly.

So, Kelly and I met through our kids. Her daughter Kensley and Connor have been BFFs since preschool.

Not only Kelly’s super easy to talk to and the nicest person, she’s also a real-life MacGyver!

Case in point: yesterday I took Connor Claire to play at their house and as she was getting out of the car, she dropped her favorite water bottle, which then rolled onto the sidewalk and into a storm drain. 🙁

I had pretty much given it up as lost forever, but Kelly saved the day by fishing it out of the gutter using a pool noodle, duct tape and a hook.

Seriously, everyone needs a friend like her!

I hope the rest of this beautiful day treats you well. Take care of yourself!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sunscreen Shout-Out! Bliss Block Star

June 1st, 2022 by Karen 9 Comments

I discovered Bliss Block Star Sunscreen last year around this time, and it’s been a go-to ever since!

“Hey, now! You’re a block star. Get your game on, go play.
Hey, now! You’re a block star. Get the show on, get paid.
And all that glitters is gold;
Only shooting stars break the mold.”

SORRY, GIRL, but I had to do it. 🙂 This song burrows its way into my brain whenever I pick up Block Star, which, by the way, is the newest item to join the Bliss permanent lineup. It’s a physical sunscreen, and, like all of the items in Bliss’s skin care collection, this tinted mineral sunscreen is cruelty-free.

I wore it on my mug the other day when El Hub hugged me, and he said, “You smell really good.”

Good sign!

It smells like lavender, and it lingers for about 15 minutes or so. I like it, and apparently so do the peeps in my circle!

The tan tint is a surprise. It appears lighter and peachier than the CeraVe tinted mineral sunscreen, so I assumed it wouldn’t work for someone like myself with tan skin, but it completely disappears after you rub it in.

There’s a slight cast at first…but after it sets (about 10 minutes), it disappears, and all that’s left is a smooth, matte finish.

This lotion feels silky, and I don’t feel like I have to jump through any hoops to get my skin to absorb it, likely due to the inclusion of dimethicone. If you’re a fan of that distinctively smooth, silicone-style slip, you’ll probably like how this feels on your skin.

I also like how it doesn’t burn or sting my eyes, and that I can layer it throughout the day. It’s an extremely easy sunscreen to touch up and reapply with, and I think it’s even easier to use than the CeraVe.

If you’re debating between the CeraVe and Block Star, I’d say go for Block Star if you like lavender and like the feeling of a “silicone slip,” and opt for CeraVe if moisture is your top priority. Both are solid choices, IMO, and you can’t go wrong with either.

A 1.4-oz. tube is $19.99 at Target. Definitely going to keep this in the rotation.

Building those happiness muscles, day 11

Keeping it simple today. The two things that I’m grateful for: 1) sunny days that aren’t too hot, and for 2) smooth pens that don’t skip when you write. LOL!

Hope things on your end are great! Happy Wednesday.

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!