Sunscreen recommendations

I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s when nothing said “summer” like a reflective mat and baby oil.  While most of my contemporaries spent their time “tanning”, I spent the majority of my teen years trying to “burn so bad I tanned”.  This goal traces back to an early conversation with my mom, riddled with bad data. 

“Mom, how come you tan and I just burn?”  I asked, peeling swatches of skin off of my blistered shoulders.  

“I burned as a kid, too, until Grampa Harper took us to Mexico and I burned so bad I started to tan.”  Hmmm.  “Burned so bad you tanned, huh?”  Burned so bad you tanned.  I liked what I was hearing. Staring down at my fiery red skin, I had the feeling it wouldn't be long.  I remember looking up at her bronzed skin thinking "yessssss, yesssssss..........here I come tan skin....." 

It’s important to mention that while my mom and I share DNA, my skin sided with my Dad’s Irish-German DNA.  In other words, my skin is so pale it could be referred to as “lavender” or “clear”.  With freckles.  My mom's side is rumored to have some Native American. 

I'll let you decide if my mom’s strategy was simply incorrect or lawsuit worthy.  I only mention it because there is a silver lining to a burnt childhood.  Somewhere in my 20's it became clear that this "burn so bad you tan" theory had holes.  I overcorrected with a sunscreen vigilance rivaled only by vampires.

There is A LOT of information about sunscreen out there.  Mostly conflicting.  Chemical sunscreens are great, except that they are bad.  Mineral sunscreens are the way to go, unless the particles are too small and then they are bad.  This one looks unnaturally white, that one makes your skin looks greasy.  You only need SPF15, but if you don’t have SPF50, it won’t work.  Oh, the options, the information, the studies!  

It all makes my head spin and I make a real effort to stay up to date.  The only agreed upon concept is that if you don't want to tackle melanoma in your lifetime or look 100 when you're 80, you have to wear sunscreen and that sunscreen has to block both the "UVA" and "UVB" rays, aka "broad spectrum".  I feel like I have tried them all and I've decided to share a few of my favorites. 

Important note:  Winter does not mean that you get to lay off the screen.  Wear it everyday.  EVERYday.  Face and neck.  All Year.  As a rule, I like an SPF of 30 or higher.  Why not?:  

Skinceuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50:  This is a new favorite that's showing quite a bit of promise as an all around solution to both the ghost-face, the greasy-face, and the sticky face problem that most sunscreen wearers encounter.  The texture is almost powdery after it's applied.   I don't use a foundation primer when I wear this.  If you have an oily t-zone, I would call this a "must try" for you.  Only one I've been wearing.

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Broad Spectrum SPF 50:  This is like an old friend.  It’s liquid, so it’s good for my oily T-Zone.  It goes on white, but the white goes away quickly.  Doesn’t make my makeup look weird. My every day goto when I’m in a “chemicals are fine” phase and I'm out of my Skinceuticals. 

Cotz Face for Natural Skin Tones, SPF 40:  This one is great for super sunny days or as an everyday sunscreen with or without makeup afterward.  “Chemical free” sunblock and natural color so you don’t get the white cast. Silky feel.  When I’m in a “chemicals may shorten my life” phase.  Or in Florida.  Similar to the Skinceuticals one mentioned earlier.

Peter Thomas Roth Oily Problem Skin Instant Mineral Powder SPF 30:  I love this stuff SO much.  The experts say to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, to which I say: GROSS!  Especially if you have makeup on.  This is a powder that you can swipe on easily throughout the day over whatever you have on your face.  Never looks too “base face” or powdery.  Perfect product.  Get it.

What are your favorites?

Keely

Radiance

From time to time, I come across a benevolent soul who tells me I have nice skin.  For years, my gut reaction was to point out the 17 reasons the benevolent soul was wrong.  It usually resembled Ms. Schumer's version (adult language and all.  If you haven't seen it, it's delightfully graphic):

Through much inward reflection, I have learned to say something like “thank you” instead.  It saves time and so far no one has exploded from my brazen acceptance of their compliment.

While I’m tempted to turn this into an analysis of why so many girls are convinced they are hideous and subsequently spend well into their 30’s and 40’s learning to accept their body/face, I will not.  Although, really quick, wouldn’t it be great to get rid of "body acceptance" as an agenda item of the female experience?  Permanently?  Imagine the time and energy it would free up!  

For now, I’m going to keep it light and discuss the makeup I’m using to trick people into believing I have nice skin:

Giorgio Armani Designer Lift Foundation:  This foundation brand is still the best in my book.  The “Luminous Silk” gets a lot of prizes from magazines and makeup artists, but I think the "Designer Lift" tops it by a mile.  I have an oily t-zone and the "Luminous Silk" was a bit too luminous.  The "Designer Lift"  has the same luminosity “Luminous Silk” provides, with a bit more coverage.  I honestly think it changes the texture of my skin.  It seems pricey, but one bottle can last me a year.  If you use a foundation brush you only need a drop (a drop!) of product for your whole face.  So good.

Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Soufflé:  Becca is a brand that doesn't get enough attention.  Let's change that!  This blush is a cream, but not gross-creamy.  More light weight.  I guess like a soufflé!   It brings natural, flattering color with some built in highlighter.  In my personal makeup product hierarchy, blush ranks higher than mascara for waking up my face.  This is the one I've been reaching for most often as of late.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed:  Another winner from Becca for the radiance factor.  I have the Rose Gold, and plan on getting the Opal.  I use it to highlight my cheekbones  and have been pleased with how, well, radiant, they look.  I thought I was buying it for special occasions, but I have wound up wearing it whenever I feel like looking fresh.  Best highlighter I have ever used.

Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer:  Receives a ton of awards as "best concealer" by makeup artists.  Again, the price may seem scary, but one tube lasts me more than a year.  It's very pigmented, but light so you don't need a lot.  I use it in my t-zone as well as under-eye.  Lives up to the hype.

If putting on all of these items takes you more than 4 minutes, stop checking your texts because that's all it should take.

What makeup makes your face look good?

Keely

Lipstick Rules

I spend a lot of time thinking about lipstick. 

I am openly enthusiastic about any balm, gloss, salve, paste, oil or spackle that the purveyors of lip products would like me to consume.  Is the perfect peachy pink urban legend? Will I ever find it?  What if it’s limited edition?  Where’s the closest Sephora? Does Tom Ford lipstick EVER go on sale?  These are the questions with which I often grapple. 

A glimpse into my makeup bag.  And my mind.

With that small taste of what’s happening in my mind, it may surprise you to learn that I also have a long-time interest in all things personal growth.  No episode of Oprah or Super Soul Sunday goes unwatched in my home.  I believe Deepak Chopra when he tells me we are all One.  I am determined not to judge anyone but the Housewives on Bravo.  I make sincere attempts at daily meditation, balancing my chakras, eating lots of green things,  “consciously parenting” and “consciously partnering” when I remember.  I give my time and money to others when I can and own a couple of dogs.  In summary, I am aware that a life filled with happiness, peace and joy is “an inside job,” and I consider myself, for the most part,  ON THE JOB.   

So, how do you reconcile a deep, passionate love of all things lip with an understanding that achieving happiness, peace and joy is an “inside job”?  At a glance, one could easily conclude that coveting Giorgio Armani Rouge D’Armani lipstick in #508 is, at best, an “outside job” or, at worst, giving into the larger idea that a women’s value can be based on how well she presents herself.  It would appear lipstick and, say, yoga fundamentally don’t match up.  A frivolous waste of time, energy, and, most of all, money. Right?  

No way.  Yoga and lipstick can match up and I’d bet my Tom Ford Lip Color Matte in Pink Tease on it.

Stay with me here.  What if applying lipstick at intervals throughout the day is not merely compliance to some superficial beauty expectation thrust upon women by society, but instead a way to pause, momentarily, the mayhem in our too-busy lives?  What if we apply lipstick as a way to treat ourselves to a bit of luxury and self-care multiple times a day?  What’s more of an “inside job” than self-care, people?  Swipe on some Shiseido’s Benefiance Full Correction Lip Treatment and tell me your soul doesn't feel as nourished as your lips! 

A stretch?  Perhaps.  After years of occasional shame spirals fueled by the question of whether or not lipstick lust is an acceptable hobby, it finally occurred to me that wearing lipstick has nothing to do with how I need or want other people to perceive me.  I realized that I don’t put on a red lip (or, more accurately, Nars Audacious lipstick in Michiyo) so that the stranger at Whole Foods thinks I’ve got my life super together.  I swipe on my Bobbi Brown Pale Pink Lipstick for me.  I have learned to embrace the fact that I occasionally (frequently) daydream about the perfect eye-popping pink.   Love of lipstick is a part of my "inside job". 

I told you I think about lipstick a lot.

What surprisingly shallow things are a part of your "inside job"?

Keely