Hi pretty ladies! The hot sun is out and shining brightly. At least it sure is here in Los Angeles! I spent 20 minutes in the sun the other day and my cheeks were already pink! That means it’s time to pull out all of my tricks to keep my skin protected from those rays!
I’ve been hard on my skin throughout my life. While finishing cosmetology school I worked at a tanning salon, and ended up there for a couple of years. This meant I took full advantage of those tanning beds in a major way! I wish I could turn back time and educate my younger self on the effects that UVA/UVB rays have on our skin. I’ve since undergone several painful laser treatments to remove brown age spots from my face, as well as removing several broken blood vessel spots. They both come from overexposure to the sun and lack of protection. Since I’m such a lover of the beach and being outdoors, I had to find products that would allow me to still live my lifestyle. Today, I want to let you in on my secret weapons that I use to protect my skin! Here we go girls!
PROTECTING YOUR FACE-
First and foremost, throw on a hat and sunnies! Whenever I’m poolside I wear this hat. I love it so much that I have it in almost every color and it’s super cute. It’s the simplest way to protect your face when you’re going to spend a considerable amount of time in the sun. Check your sunglasses to make sure they have UVA/UVB protection. Not all of them do!
Now let’s talk makeup! Fortunately, there are a ton of beauty products that already have an SPF built into them. I start with my favorite primer. I’ve mentioned it before in my previous post, How to Achieve the Glow from Within. It’s Bobbi Brown’s Primer Plus Radiance SPF 35. I received this as a sample from Sephora and I liked it so much that I got sucked in. The primer will give you a beautiful, radiant look plus sun protection. What more can I ask for in a primer?
Next, I apply one of my favorite makeup products, Chanel’s CC Cream. I love this CC cream because it has buildable coverage. For an everyday look, I’ll use a thin layer and apply it all over my face and neck, or for an event I’ll apply a thicker layer. Not only does it cover flawlessly, but it also has an SPF of 50! As for a more affordable option, try Loreal Infallible Foundation SPF 25, or Olay’s CC cream with SPF 15.
After applying the primer and CC cream, I brush Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral SPF 50 all over my face. It’s a mineral face powder that works as a sunscreen as well, and the fact that you don’t need a separate makeup brush to apply it is an added bonus! The coverage is really great, too. At this point, you’re three layers deep in sunscreen and I think that’s a fair enough amount to call it a day.
PROTECTING YOUR BODY-
Let’s move on to our bodies! On a daily basis I’m typically running around in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt or tank top. With that being said, I definitely still need to add some sun protection to my arms and chest. For that, I use Chanel’s UV Essential Sunscreen in SPF 50. I’m super excited to share some more affordable alternatives that I also use on a regular basis. I love this one by Alba Botanica, which also comes in a spray. On days when I’m aiming towards a little color but still want an SPF, I use this Hawaiian dry sunscreen by Alba Botanica, and it smells SO good! I stock up on this stuff! It instantly takes me away to a tropical destination. This Absolutely Natural Sunscreen with rose hips oil is also a top favorite of mine. I found it while vacationing in Maui and really love that it’s infused with antioxidants and nutrients.
QUICK TIP-
It’s super important to protect our hands from getting age spots from the sun while driving, and from the UV light during gel manicures. That’s why I bring a travel size sunscreen in my purse so I can apply it to the back of my hands when I’m going for a long drive or getting a gel mani. Over time, this will help your skin appear more youthful for longer and stay healthier!
Enjoy that sunshine ladies and don’t forget the protection! Thanks for reading along. I appreciate every one of you. Until next time, be well!
Love Always,
Kimberly