Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Summer Sunscreen Testing Part 1: For the Body

June 2, 2017

As promised I have a sunscreen roundup series of everything I’ve tested over the past several months – 95 days to be exact. The sunshine here in Florida is stronger than anything I’ve experienced in California. Our first week here both Andrew and I got burned from being outside just a mere 5 minutes simply walking around our backyard. I immediately unpacked sunscreen bottles and sprays that I had brought with me from our move and we used everything up in a matter of a couple days because we sprayed it everywhere. After using everything up we began our search for the best formulas that weren’t greasy, didn’t have that sunscreen spray, felt long lasting and were the most effective at preventing burn and tanning. Unfortunately so far the only way to avoid getting darker is to stay out of the sun or be covered up entirely. Over the past three months we’ve put quite a few sunscreens to the test.

This sunscreen edit is going to be split up into two parts: body and face. In gathering all the tubes we’ve tested, I found that there were around 25 different formulas we tried and we gave each one a thorough test run (with the exception of the tinted face ones which I tested but my husband did not). Both of us wished there was a formula that could be truly suitable for both face and body and while there are many formulas designed for multi-use, we’ve found for the most part we have to use separate formulas. Many bottles we used up entirely, mostly for the body. We each have our favorites which I’ll mention at the bottom.

When it comes to sunscreen I have to admit it’s all a bit confusing. So many articles, doctors, specialists each have their own opinion on what the minimum SPF you should use. Some say sunscreens with high SPF numbers aren’t more effective over SPF 50. Others say the minimum amount you should wear is SPF 30 and if that’s the case then what’s the point of something with SPF 10 or 15? Also a look at some of the bottles I have and others online also show some have a PA rating which I wasn’t aware of. I did some research and discovered that the SPF (sun protection factor) measures how a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays, but that there is another rating to measure protection from UVA rays. This apparently isn’t measured in all countries and I looked up every sunscreen I tested and most of them don’t have a rating (a PA followed by + or ++ or +++). So while most sunscreens will say they are “broad spectrum” to cover both UVA and UVB protection, it’s difficult to measure how much UVA protection there is which appears to be due to the fact that there’s no adopted standard in the US. According to Skincancer.org, “To make sure you’re getting effective UVA as well as UVB coverage, look for a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, plus some combination of the following UVA-screening ingredients: stabilized a avobenzone, ecamsule (a.k.a. MexorylTM), oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide.”

Then there are different types of sunscreen such as physical vs chemical. This site and this article help break it down, but still as one with super sensitive skin, I always proceed with caution. Many of my friends prefer mineral sunscreens (which are physical and chemical free) but I know some people have sensitivity to zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide which are their only active ingredients.

All that being said I’m still learning about sunscreens. We tested different formulas to see what lasted the longest and also how each formula felt on the skin. Traditionally I’ve found that I liked spray formulas because they are easy for me to apply on my own especially on my back. I’ve read mixed reviews about sprays and the biggest concern is that you don’t always know that you’re getting the proper coverage since product is prone to evaporation when you mist it before it hits the skin. With sprays we’ve both made a point to try and mist each other and give each area several layers to try and get as full coverage as possible.

Up first are a mix of what we consider to be the longest-lasting formulas and then thoughts on some sprays. For body sunscreens it’s a must for me that there’s no white cast. I know many of them look white once you apply but the color disappears after a few minutes. In general the ones with a white cast tend to feel thicker and heavier on the skin. I wanted to see if I could find something that would be effective without being thick.

Shown from above from left to right. Note that a number of these are water resistant with a time limit. I can’t recall the last time I’ve been in the water for 80 minutes so I can’t report on the time claims. But I will note which ones did the best in water.

Supergoop! Super Power Sunscreen Mousse Broad Spectrum SPF 50 (c/o), water resistant 80 minutes
- Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%
- This is the latest from Supergoop! and I love this one. It’s a lightweight hydrating mousse that is long-lasting with a very light clean scent. It has a whipped texture when you dispense it and it’s easy to apply and blend into the skin. It contains Blue Sea Kale to provide antioxidant protection from heat rays, and shea butter, olive and avocado oils to keep skin hydrated. My husband felt this was too hydrating for his skin and for him since he sweats more in the heat this one felt a bit heavy on him but he does agree it lasts a long time. On me it was perfect.
Moroccanoil Sun Lotion SPF 30 and SPF 50 (c/o)
- Active Ingredients: Homosalate (12%), Oxybenzone (6%), Octisalate (5%), Avobenzone(3%), Octocrylene (2.5%)
- Both are hydrating lotions with the signature Moroccanoil scent but to me I detect a hint of licorice (which nobody else I know can smell in it so it must just be my nose). This is the most hydrating formula I’ve tried – these formulas have Argan Oil, Coconut Oil and Glycerine. Both the SPF 30 and 50 last a long time on the skin. For me I find them too heavy for every day normal use, I prefer them for the beach or outdoors. My husband on the other hand finds them hydrating but doesn’t mind the emollient feel. These have a super moisturizing feel and they do make the skin noticeably softer and helps with any dry patches or texture. The SPF 50 version noticeably helped prevent me from tanning a lot more than the SPF 30.
Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 85+, water resistant 80 minutes
- Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 15%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Oxybenzone 6%
- This one is a spray that works on wet or dry skin, on dry skin I felt it was just ok. It adheres well but the drydown isn’t my favorite and it wasn’t quite as effective on me at preventing darkening. Re-application on wet skin however is another story and I wholeheartedly like this one on wet skin. For some reason I found it adhered easily on wet skin and worked when we went swimming in our pool and at the beach. Your mileage may vary on this one.
Supergoop! Anti-Oxidant Infused Sunscreen Mist SPF 50, water resistant 80 minutes
- Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3.0%, Homosalate 4.0%, Octinoxate 6.0%, Octisalate 3.0%
- This is one I’ve used up a number of times, it does have a slight alcohol scent but it’s a non-aerosol and the bottle says it has 35% less alcohol than other sprays although it does not specify which brands they are referring to. I find the misting dispenser to be really effective at applying product. I feel like it gives a more continuous mist which dispenses more product. I like this one because it’s non irritating, easy to apply and I can get my back without getting my hands greasy and spray those harder to reach places on my own. The only downside is that excess from sprays can get on the floor so if you spray inside the floor can get a bit slippery.
Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50, water resistant 80 minutes
- Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.24%, Homosalate 8%, Octisalate 2.4%, Octocrylene 4.48%, Oxybenzone 2.88%
- This is both one of our top picks, we have tried a few other face sunscreens from Kiehl’s in the past and really liked them, for this formula they have both SPF 30 and 50. It’s a semi thick cream but is easy to blend, feels weightless, doesn’t have that greasy feel and has a good dry down. This lasted well in the pool and is completely fragrance/scent free. We found it really good at protecting the skin and since it has a lightweight texture it’s easy to reapply without feeling like you have layers of product on the skin throughout the day.
Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray, Broad Spectrum SPF 30, (c/o) water resistant 40 minutes
- Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 2.7%, Oxybenzone 5%
- I think I would 100% love this if it had a higher SPF. This is a light weight oil spray that has skincare properties to hydrate and nourish the skin and hair. It contains organic Indonesian Nyamplung Oil to protect skin and hair from the drying effects of sun, salt water and chlorine, senna extract defends from UV damage, Plane Tree extract fights free radicals. I really like the feel and hydration this offers. I rub this on my body and any excess on my hands I apply on the hair. It has a lightweight aloe almost honey-like scent that’s completely natural. The sun and heat can dry out the skin so I love that this is an oil that nourishes the skin. I need to invest in some of their After Sun Care like this After Sun Gel Ultra-Soothing product. If you have any good burn relief products you like that aren’t sticky let me know!
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Spray, Broad Spectrum SPF 50, water resistant 80 minutes
- Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 15%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 2.5%, Oxybenzone 5%
- This is another great sunscreen spray with SPF 50+ and it has no white cast. So many of you have raved and recommended Shiseido for sunscreens and I really think they have great formulas. However most of them have that white cast which I just detest. Many of you have said they fade after a few minutes and I think if you’re fair or light skin it does seem like it will disappear after setting. However on those of us with medium-tan to deep skin there’s still a contrast even with the dry down. Anyways this spray is completely clear. You can use it on both face and body but I prefer it on the body. It’s lightweight and has no greasy feel although it does have a slight hydrating effect with a glow. I found this to be very effective and long lasting in the water.

Up next are what we consider to be among the best non-greasy body sunscreens. At this point in our lives we’ve both agreed that we can live with a slightly greasy feel as long as there’s no hideous sunscreen scent. We are more conscientious about taking care of our skin. We have however found some great ones with no greasy residue.

Shown above from left to right:

Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50, water resistant 80 minutes
- Active Ingredients: (See above listing)
- Shown same as the above photo because this is in the top pick for my husband in favorites for effectiveness at protection, preventing burn and minimizing tanning while still being lightweight, quick absorbing and suitable for both face and body. For me it’s in my top three for body. It truly is non-greasy, unscented and has a nice dry down. We really love Kiehl’s – this tube is completely used up, my husband loves it for both the face and body. We need to restock soon.
Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen with Cellular Response Technology, Broad Spectrum SPF 50, PA+++
- Active Ingredients: Homosalate 10%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Avobenzone 3%
- This is in my top 3 for lightweight sunscreens. It’s oil-free for face and body, it is enriched with their Cellular Response Technology to preserve and protect the skin’s glow – and my husband even commented that my legs looked like they had a really nice glow with this on. Because it has a no-grease residue this is another good one for me to reapply every 2 hours and as the day progresses I don’t feel like I’m layering on tons of product.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen with SPF 55
- Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 2.8%, Oxybenzone 6%
- With this one I have mixed feelings primarily because it seems to have a lack of consistency. I bought a tube from CVS in store and then bought a multi-pack at Costco and while the product names are identical, the ingredient listing and order was not. I purchased them within a couple weeks of each other, both in Florida. I don’t know if one has a cheaper formula than the other or if they simply just changed it depending on distribution timing. This one has a creamy texture that’s semi thick but glides on the skin nicely. It does indeed have super sheer feeling finish but it’s not liquid so it doesn’t feel like it just dissolves on the skin. We both really like the formula, matte finish, long lasting effect. It did work to protect our skin – but as I’m already one who finds ingredients confusing, the difference in listings between the tubes makes me suspicious about quality.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid, Broad Spectrum 60
- Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10.72%, Octisalate 3.21%, Octocrylene 6%, Oxybenzone 3.86%
- This brand has been recommended to me by friends and readers for years. It’s one I’ve wanted to try for a while but every time I see it in person I can’t help but be completely overwhelmed by the options! This one is actually for the face but my husband likes this on the body because of the lightweight feel and matte drydown. He feels this is one of the most effective ones for his skin and likes that if he sweats it doesn’t sting his eyes. We picked ours up from Blue Mercury but I’ve looked at the La Roche-Posay site and have been trying to figure out what to try next. If you have any specific recommendations please let me know what formulas worked for you.

That rounds up our body sunscreen testing! We only had 1 miss which wasn’t included here because we used a face sunscreen stick on our body and both broke out in a horrible reaction. It’s not included here because I suspect it was user error rather than product error. We were lucky to have a lot of hits and I was super lucky nothing caused an allergic reaction as I’ve almost always broke out in red bumps with drugstore sunscreens. In summary here are our thoughts on the best, longest lasting and what we recommend:

Longest lasting ones on the skin for best water-resistant formulas for both of us include the Supergoop! Super Power Sunscreen Mousse and the Moroccanoil SPF 50, these are also the heaviest with the most emollient feel
Longest lasting formulas for skin but lightweight if you’re not in water include the Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen with SPF 50 and Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen with SPF 50
Best lightweight winners for my husband are the La Roche-Posay Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid Anthelios 60 and Kiehl’s
Best lightweight winners for me are the Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen with SPF 50 and Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Spray, I also like the Kiehl’s as well but prefer the other two if I had to only pick 2

Because of the improved lasting power of so many of these we’ve found that we need to triple wash ourselves in the evenings with shower gel. Some of these really stick to your skin! If you have any sunscreen favorites for the body let me know in the comments. Any brand recs appreciated but if you can leave the formula name as well those are super helpful as so many lines have multiple formulas it’s so confusing when I’m at the store to pick one!

Face sunscreen roundup to follow soon! For those curious about the accessories shown:

Photo 1: Beach towel from Design Within Reach, Tray from West Elm, Bikini top from J.Crew, iPhone case from Gray Malin, sandals by Joie, hat from J.Crew and clear pouch from Truffle.
Photo 2: Sun hat from Nordstrom (last year’s version, similar options here), shorts from Current/Elliott, yellow pouch Goyard, sunglasses from J.Crew, sandals by Joie
Photo 3: Hat and bikini both from J.Crew
Photo 4: Sandals are the Tory Burch Millers and pouch from Goyard

Press samples include Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray and the Supergoop! Sunscreen Mousse.

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Bronzer + Blush NARS

NARS Liquid Blush and Orgasm Collection Review

June 1, 2017

NARS has some new launches for the summer including a new cheek product called Liquid Blush ($30 for 0.5 fl 0z/15 ml) and a three-piece Orgasm Collection which features the new liquid blush formula, a special edition packaging Orgasm Powder Blush ($30 for 0.16 oz/4.8 g) and an Orgasm Lipstick ($28 for 0.12 oz/3.4 g). The Orgasm powder blush was one of my first high-end purchases many years ago and I used that blush with the Laguna Bronzer religiously (before my blogging days). Any extension of either colors always gets me excited. Something about a peachy pink gold shimmer just gets me. Up first is the NARS Orgasm Collection features three items: two cheek items and one lipstick.

For some reason I thought the Orgasm Lipstick already existed but perhaps I got this confused with the lip gloss version. The lipstick is a pretty peachy pink gold shimmer with a sheer finish. It gives the lips a pink peach gold tinge for a gorgeous summery look. It’s shimmery but not overly frosted and I like the look of it. It has a moisturizing feel without having too much slip. The Powder Blush has a special-edition packaging on the exterior with pink lettering and on the mirror there’s a little hashtag phrase embossed onto the surface adding a fun touch. The Orgasm Liquid Blush is a new formula of super pigmented but blendable liquid. It has a thin texture and this one appears more pink than the powder version. There is shimmer in the product but on my face I don’t see any – it just gives the skin a very soft pink glow in the most natural way I’ve ever seen.

I don’t have the lip gloss version of Orgasm, but I do have the Illuminator. Here they are swatched side by side. For the most part the Orgasm Powder blush has looked like a blush on me. Now that I’m a few shades darker it feels more like a highlighter on my medium tan skin. For more of a blush version right now I prefer Luster or Torrid for that peachy look.

The Liquid Blush comes in four shades: Orgasm is the lightest, a soft pink with gold shimmer, Luster is a soft peach apricot with gold shimmer, Torrid is a warmer/deeper coral peach, Dolce Vita is a matte rose. The finish of these is somewhere in between glowy and satiny. They have a very fluid pigmented texture and look almost scary pigmented straight out of the pump but they blend out easily. The bottles are on the small/tiny side but a little goes a long way so I really only need 1 pump for the face. Application-wise I used my fingers to dab and blend. You can use a brush or a sponge. I like that they blend but don’t disappear on the skin once you swipe to blend. The pigment is truly easy to control depending on how much color you want. There’s no detectable scent. Lasting power is very good for a non-powder formula – they don’t slide off and color-wise they don’t darken or oxidize (yay!). My favorite is Torrid.

It has moisturizing ingredients to give the skin a healthy looking natural glow without being too dewy. At the same time these have a satiny finish. The swatches look scary but I promise they can be blended out to a natural finish. Left to right below is Orgasm, Luster, Torrid and Dolce Vita. These come in a frosted small glass bottle with a pump.

Below I swatched them with a heavy hand but they will blend out for a sheerer finish. You can also layer powder blush on top for more intensity without the color looking too heavy. Definitely check out Karen’s post on Makeup and Beauty Blog to see how these compare to their powder versions (her post is super helpful!).

Swatches below, top left is Orgasm, top right is Luster (Orgasm Lipstick on both sides)

Bottom left is Torrid (Orgasm Lipstick), bottom right is Dolce Vita (with Dolce Vita Lip Gloss)

Foundation worn is Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in Sable

One last look:

Bottom line the liquid blush is a win. I find that both Luster and Torrid are great colors for me right now. Blended out they look similar on my skintone, but one is clearly lighter than the other. Dolce Vita has always been a tricky one for me as dusty rose colors tend to look dark against my olive skintone. The liquid version looks more rosy than brown which is workable, I just prefer peachy shades or bronzey colors. Orgasm Liquid blush is more pink than a peachy-pink-gold but I actually like it better than the powder blush version.

For the Orgasm Collection I was pleasantly surprised by the lipstick. It’s a nice peachy-pink-gold shimmer that I want to wear all summer long. It is on the sheer side though so if you want more color than shine you may have to add a liner underneath and blend it out. The blush is a nice addition with the added details on the packaging but if you already own it, no need to get another one. A number of you have asked if I’ll be reviewing the NARSissist Loaded Eyeshadow Palette and I’m still undecided. I don’t need another eyeshadow palette and have this one from Kat Von D Beauty and this one from Tom Ford on my radar so I’m trying to hold out. The reviews on the NARS one are overwhelmingly positive though so perhaps I need to take a trip to Sephora this weekend to look at it again. If you have any thoughts on it let me know.

You can find the Liquid Blush and Orgasm Collection online and in stores at Sephora and NARS Cosmetics. The Liquid Blush launches today! Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

Items in this post provided courtesy of NARS for review consideration.

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Chanel

Chanel Cruise Collection 2017 – Les Indispensables de L’Ete

May 31, 2017

Chanel summer launched a little over a month ago with their Cruise Collection called Les Indispensables de L’Ete. I’ve been testing these a bit longer than normal as I had such mixed feelings about the products I kept trying to make them work but in the end decided I just could not. I’ve been a long time fan of Chanel and the spring/summer collections are usually my favorite. This launch had a few items that caught my eye so I ordered them sight unseen as most of it didn’t launch in stores until weeks later. I did try the remainder of the items at a counter while I was in New York but did not pick up anything else. Much to my disappointment, out of items I ordered the only things that worked for me were the nail polishes. What I hauled:

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Colour ($58 each) in Light, Medium Light and Medium
Rouge Coco Shine ($37 each) in Golden Sun and Golden Sand
Rouge Coco Stylo ($37) in Panorama
Le Vernis ($28 each) in Coquillage, Coralum, Sea Whip and Sargasso

Up first are thoughts on the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Colour, I bought three shades as I found the original Sheer Colour formula ran a bit on the darker side for me. The new Les Beiges line are powders described as a powder bronzer and highlighter in one with illuminating pigments. They recommend you buy one darker than your skintone to use as a bronzer and one lighter to use as a highlight. The concept sounded promising so I didn’t trying for colors that could be both a highlight or bronzer. The colors ended up swatching a bit lighter on the skin compared to what I saw in the pan. They had an almost creamy feel to the touch yet looked extremely powdery on the skin. There wasn’t enough color or pigment to use as a proper bronzer or highlighter, yet there was too much shimmer to use as a setting powder. I tried it by dusting it all over and it looked way too shimmery all over the face. I tried the deeper color ones at the counter and they looked muddy on my skin. All three shades I bought were a complete miss for me – the product just sat on my skin, even over foundation and or any tinted moisturizer. I couldn’t make these work as a highlight, bronzer or setting powder. I can’t remember the last time I was this disappointed in a makeup product, although I tend to get let down by a lot of mascara formulas.

I had high hopes for the lip colors but was also disappointed with the ones I picked. I’ve been a huge fan of the Rouge Coco Shine and Rouge Coco Stylo lip formulas. Something was missing or changed with these. The Rouge Coco Shines in this launch had a sheer streaky finish that didn’t meld well with my lips. Golden Sun is a pretty light orangey gold but on the lips went on streaky. Golden Sand should have been right up my alley but also went on a bit streaky and even though it looked sandy in the tube it went on a bit dead-looking on my lips. The Rouge Coco Stylo in Panorama was a streaky goopy mess upon contact. The color is so pretty but was an utter fail on the lips. It almost disintegrates upon contact and doesn’t apply smoothly or adhere to the lips. Perhaps I got a dud – I can’t believe this would perform that poorly considering I’ve had such great experiences with the other shades.

On the left is Rouge Coco Shine in Golden Sun with the Medium Light Les Beiges on the cheeks. It’s hard to tell I have anything on but it just gives my skin a chalky look/finish.

On the right is the Rogue Coco Stylo in Panorama + Medium Les Beiges on the cheeks. This one too is also virtually undetectable but just looks powdery and emphasizes texture on the skin. Top from Nordstrom.

Swatches, all three are listed as limited-edition on Chanel.com:

Last we have the four Le Vernis nail polishes. I’m a coral lover so 3 of these were perfect for me. They do have a similar vibe to many older discontinued shades. I think Chanel Coralium is pretty much identical to Dior’s Coral Crush. (Comparison swatches below.) Coquillage is a creamy light orange, Sea Whip is a pretty peach, Coralium is a coral pink, Sargasso is a color I found an odd pick for summer. It’s a very dark green with a hint of shimmer. Right now Coralium is the only one that isn’t listed as limited-edition.

Swatches with each color shown with two coats, the pigment is excellent and coverage smooth with these.

Swatch comparisons, note that both sets are the same, just with different lighting to try and show the differences in color. Most of these have been discontinued. Colors you can find now include Tulle, Sea Whip, Coralium, Turban, Espadrilles, Aventure and Coral Crush.

When it comes to buying things sight unseen I think it’s a given that not everything will be a hit. I’ve been lucky so far that I’ve had mostly hits even when I order things without testing first. For the most part I found this collection a miss. By now most of you who are Chanel fans have most likely seen all of these at the stores near you. If you’ve tried it I’d love to hear your thoughts. Any ideas on how you’ve been using the powders would be great to read about for me. The lip items are just not workable for me color-wise or formula-wise, but I have plenty of other lip items to keep me busy for a very long time.

You can find the Chanel Cruise collection online and in stores now. I ordered my items from Chanel.com and Nordstrom.

P.S. I’ve finally revamped my blog newsletter thanks to Chloedigital! You can subscribe here. If you’re already subscribed the default is the daily/new post notifications. If you’d prefer to change e-mails to weekly you can now change it 🙂 Link is also on the top header!

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Skincare

REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask and Perfection Serum

May 30, 2017

I’m exploring more in skincare as I adjust to humid weather with our recent move. With humidity, heat, sweat, sunscreen and running I’ve found my pores are more prone to clogging especially around the places my sunglasses touch the face and especially around my chin area. I have yet to try any facial spas or clinics in the area yet so I’ve been relying on trying new products at home. It’s been quite a process to find skincare that truly makes a noticeable difference. Skincare takes time to work it’s magic and since I have sensitive skin I find it even more challenging to find products that work. REN Skincare recently reached out and asked me to try their Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask ($55 for 50 ml/1.7 fl oz) and Radiance Perfection Serum ($55 for 30 ml/1.02 oz). The descriptions sounded right up my alley so I gave them both a test run. I’ve been testing these for the past month, incorporating both into my weekly skincare routine and have been thrilled with the results.

The Glycol Lactic Radiance Renew Mask is the best at-home renewal mask I’ve ever tried. It’s a 10-minute exfoliating mask that removes dead skin cells for renewed, brighter, healthy and radiant skin. It acts like a gentle peeling mask that has a very subtle tingle sensation – but it’s not something you peel off. You apply a thick layer and it’s like a gel on the face. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wipe off the excess with a damp cloth (cloth provided) and then rinse. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being stinging) I would rate this a 3 for tingle in the sense that I could feel some action going on but there was no burn or sting which is huge for me. As one with sensitive skin I almost always feel the tingle and this one had a very mild sensation on the face. The description says this is not designed for those prone to sensitivity. I found it gentle enough for my skin but your mileage may vary.

This mask has what REN calls a cocktail of four AHAs – the combination encourages exfoliation and cell renewal:

Glycolic Acid from pineapple extract
Lactic Acid from passion fruit extract
Citric Acid from lemon extract
Tartaric Acid from grape extract

Also included are:

Omega 3 and Omega 7 from Arctic blackcurrant seed oil to repair and regenerate the skin, prevent scarring and reduce inflammation
Papain from Mexican papaya which is another exfoliant

Recommended use is weekly. I’ve used this 2x to 3x per week since getting this and I noticed results from the first time I used it. Congested areas around the nose and chin felt noticeably less oily and tiny clogged areas around my chin cleared up by the next day. Skin feels noticeably smoother and tighter but not too tight. By the time of this post I’ve used this 8 times and it’s been a skin saver. We spent a couple days in Orlando where it was humid with rain showers and thunder storms. I had on layers of sunscreen and my makeup melted off. By the end of each day we were all sticky and I could feel my skin getting clogged. This mask helped remove dead skin and congestion.

One pump is all I need to cover my entire face. Shown below is about a 1/2 a pump – it has a slight citrus scent but not heavily fragranced. It has a thick gel-like consistency that adheres well to the face. They include a soft cloth which you dampen and use to wipe the mask off. The texture helps remove the mask and dead skin without being too harsh. Rinse with warm water and skin is left feeling completely renewed. Also unlike with other exfoliating masks this one does not leave any redness on my skin.

After using the mask, REN recommends you apply a serum afterwards in conjunction with your moisturizer. The Radiance Perfection Serum is what they recommend to use with the Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask. This one has a blend of ingredients including Glabridin from licorice and Tyrosinase Inhibitors from Wild Canadian Rumex with Vitamin C to reduce age spots and help correct skin tone. It also contains Hyaluronic acid to plump the skin. With regular use this is supposed to help reduce the appearance of sun damage and skin spots – since I’ve been exposed to the most sun I’ve ever been experiencing in my life I’m more aware of preventing spots than ever.

I’ve been using this right after I apply and rinse the mask off at night. It isn’t super thick or sticky but I can feel product on my face. You do need to let it absorb and set for about 30 seconds and then it dries. I need to be better about using serums during the day but with the heat and humidity I’m all about lightweight creams and having as few layers of product on my face as possible since I’ve been more diligent in adding sunscreen to my morning routine. For this one I’ve reserved use for night and it has helped with radiance and brightness. My husband went on a 2-week work trip and when he came back home he noticed a huge difference in my skin. I think the serum has played a key role in brightening and improving texture. For reducing sun spots I suspect it will take more time for them to noticeably fade and I have high hopes this will be one to help them disappear with regular use.

Overall two winners for my skincare testing. I’ve used a few mini samples from REN in the past but never explored the line in depth. A number of you have recommended their masks, in particular the Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial. I love playing with masks as they’re fun for me to use and also easy to incorporate into my routine without requiring a massive skincare overhaul. I haven’t had any flare ups recently but I wish I knew about the Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask like six months ago. I think it could have been a skin saver when I had some flare ups. If you have any recommendations from the line please let me know in the comments!

I’m going to continue using the serum at night and see how it works to reduce sun spots. The Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask is hands down pure love for me. Going forward it’s going to be in my weekly routine. My skin has cleared up so I don’t think I will need to use it 3x per week, especially if I alternate with other purifying masks depending on what my skin needs. But it will definitely be on my weekly to-do list as it’s just what I need to remove dead skin and help combat congestion. REN gives a tip that you can add a bit of your own serum or oil to the mask to create your own custom exfoliating mask as well. I haven’t tried that with this but if you have let me know if you do that with any of your face masks.

Do you have any REN Skincare favorites? What’s your go-to renewal/exfoliating mask?

Thanks to REN Clean Skincare for partnering to sponsor this post.

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Florida Roundup Sales Travel

Weekend Links, Loves and Sales

May 28, 2017

Happy long-weekend! I hope my US readers are enjoying the extended 3-day weekend. I had a bit of an extra long weekend as my in-laws were in town last week so we took time off to spend time with them. We drove to Orlando to spend two days at Disney World at Magic Kingdom and Epcot where the humidity levels were unreal! (My hair and makeup did not last at all.) The four of us had a great time even though we were hit with some showers and small thunder storms. The remainder of the week we took them around to a few of our favorite spots around Tampa Bay and then drove south to Anna Maria to spend the day at the beach. A quick note on a couple of the items I wore over the week.

On the left I found a cute beach cover-up from Madewell a few months ago and it’s now on sale for under $35. I went with an XXS as sometimes their dresses and tops run a bit loose, but with this one I think I could have gone with an XS (I’m 5’3″). It’s gone through a few washes and didn’t shrink too much but it’s a bit on the short side.

With the warm Florida weather I’ve been all about lighter clothes and tanks. I had been eyeing this lace trim camisole from Rebecca Taylor but I found something similar at Abercrombie for under $40 (and it’s now on sale marked down even more). I’m wearing it on the right along with some of the cutest cut-off shorts from Current/Elliott (also here).

A closer look at the outfit items along with a few items I’ve been loving lately:

Shown above with some thoughts:

Outfit details same as what’s worn in the second photo, beach cover-up from Madewell, lace camisole from Abercrombie, shorts from Current/Elliott.
I think I could live in flip flops, the Joie A La Plage Nice (left tan and black) are on sale here, the Tory Burch Millers are still among my favorites and I have multiple colors – you can wear them for a super casual look or dress them up a little.
I recently featured some Delfonics pouches in this post here, a lot of you asked whether I like them more or less than the Truffle Pouches. They’re just completely different in material so I don’t know that I can really compare them. The Truffle pouches are made of a stiffer and more sturdy material and have lining inside the privacy ones. The Delfonics pouches are made of a PVC material that have a textured material to kinda make them feel like leather but they aren’t. The material is thinner making it more flexible. If you need something sturdy that will act more like a solid clutch go with the Truffle pouches. If you don’t mind a thinner material and need something super basic go with the Delfonics.
The Ouai Morning After Kit finally launched online at Sephora! It has minis of the Rose Hair Body Oil, Dry Foam Shampoo and Finishing Creme for $22 which I think is a pretty good deal.
Coral polishes are always in for me, but for many of you it’s probably more of a summer thing. Dior Coral Crush and Chanel Coralium are almost identical. Review on both summer collections to follow soon. If you want to know my take right now on which one to get, both formulas are really good but Dior has the better brush.
Still in love with the Tom Ford Sole di Positano fragrance. Other spring to summer loves here.
For those who can’t wait for my sunscreen post and keep asking questions (which I don’t mind), the Supergoop! SuperPower Sunscreen Mousse is indeed a good one. It has SPF 50 and is more of a long-wear sunscreen with moisturizing ingredients. It contains Blue sea kale which provides antioxidant protection and protects the skin from heat damage. It is water resistant and has a super fun mousse texture. The Everyday Sunscreen with SPF50 is a lighter weight one in feel (it’s what my husband prefers out of the Supergoop! line although his favorite is this SPF 50 one from Kiehl’s). Both of these have been good for me in preventing burn and minimizing the tan for me although being in the sun sometimes there’s really nothing you can do to prevent tanning 100%.
If you buy one lip moisturizer this season, make it one of the new Clarins Instant Light Lip Oils (reviewed and swatched here in case you missed the post).
Sunglasses in the Irving Style from J.Crew.

Summer bliss at Clearwater Beach

Weekend Sales and Deals

Weekend sales rounded up, first are the beauty sales:

Benefit Cosmetics – 20% off friends and family sale with code FRIENDS
Caudalie – skincare trio minis with Vinoperfect Overnight Renewal Cream, Vinoperfect Serum and Micellar Cleansing Water with orders $90 or more, use code RADIANCE, valid until 6/14
Clarins – 15% off orders with code MEMDAY15, valid through 5/29, receive a 7-piece glowing gift with any $100 order
Foreo – 17% off top sellers including Luna 2, Luna Mini 2, Iris with code FOREO17off, valid 5/29 to 6/13
Glamglow – 40% off any super sexy size product with code GGMEM17, valid until 5/29
Kat Von D Beauty – free full size Studded Kiss lipstick of choice with orders $75+, use code STUDDEDKISS, valid until 5/29
Kate Somerville – receive 3 summer ski treats with any $65+ order, use code SUMMERTREAT, valid until 5/29/2017
L’Occitane – free 3-piece hand cream set + tin with any $55 purchase, use code SUN, valid until 5/30/2017
Lancome – 20% off friends and family with code FRIENDS at checkout, valid until 5/30/2017
Molton Brown – 3-piece travel set with orders $70+ using code 70coastal, 6-piece travel set with orders $110+ with code 110coastal
Omorovicza – 30% off orders $200 or more with code SHINE30 at checkout
Origins – 9 piece getaway bag with any $65 purchase, use code GETAWAY, valid until 5/30/2017
Shu Uemura Art of Hair – spend $30 and receive free shipping, spend $75 and receive 4 samples + free shipping, spend $100 receive 1 travel-size + free shipping, spend $120 receive 2 travel-sizes and free shipping, use code MEM17, expires 5/31 at 7:30 AM EST
Smashbox – spend more, save more tiered savings, valid through 5/30, no code needed
Space NK – double N.Dulgence member points on purchases through 5/30
Tarte – 15% off the long weekend (enter e-mail at site to unlock code)
Tatcha – travel size Water Cream or Water Gel with purchase of $100 or more, use code WATERCREAM17 or WATERGEL17 at checkout
Violet Grey – $15 off orders $100+, $50 off orders $250+, $100 off orders $500+, $250 off orders over $1,000, valid until 5/29/2017
YSL Beauty – 20% off orders $50 or more 5/26 to 6/1 with code SUMMEREVENT17 at checkout

A few other ones that are on my radar:

Anthropologie – extra 40% off fresh cuts
Coach – summer sale up to 50% off selected styles
J.Crew – 30% off full price items with code SWEET, valid until 5/29
Joie – extra 20% off sale items, up to 60% off with code MD2017
Neiman Marcus – Designer Sale, save up to 40% off
Nordstrom – Half Yearly Sale, save up to 40% off now through June 4th
Rag and Bone – up to 50% off select items
Splendid – 30% off everything (including sale), use code SUMMER30, valid through 5/29
Shopbop – tons of items added to their spring sales section and so many good shoes!
Stuart Weitzman – 40% off sale spring styles

Any other good sales on your radar?

Press samples featured include the Supergoop! Sunscreen Mousse, Clarins Lip Oil, Tom Ford Sole di Positano.

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Dior Skincare

Dior Hydra Life Skincare

May 26, 2017

Today I have a review on the new Dior Hydra Life Skincare line and am thrilled to have been able to test every item in the collection over the past several months. The Hydra Life collection is a complete skincare routine created with gentle ingredients to make the skin look and feel healthy and luminous. I’ve used Dior skincare for years, their face cleansers and cleansing waters had been long-time staples and I was sad to see them discontinued. As one with super sensitive skin I am happy to report the Hydra Life line works well with my skin type. I’ve been switching things up as I’ve moved from the west coast to the east coast. Differences in climate, water conditions and air have made it necessary for me to experiment with new products and the Hydra Life lineup does not disappoint.

There are nine pieces in the collection and with these items Dior has four skincare programs they recommend based on your personal preferences. I have combination skin and and prefer the Mix It Up and Multi Mask as I don’t have super dry or super oily skin. You can read more about the programs here and see which items they recommend.

I put every item to the test and will cover each one by category: cleansers, masks and moisturizers and at the end I’ll share which ones were my favorites. The first thing I noticed with this line was the packaging. Everything is well designed and the products come with generous sizes. The pumps on the cleansers are just perfect – they dispense product well and the tops are sturdy which I really appreciate.

Cleansers

Up first are the four cleansers. These include a foaming cleanser, cleansing water, cleansing oil and exfoliating powder. I’m a bit of a cleanser fanatic, it’s the one skincare item I’ll try lots of because finding the right ones are so personal. For traditional face washing I prefer a cream or liquid cleanser, but these days with long wearing makeup I find double cleansing absolutely essential. Sometimes I will use three steps to cleanse my skin if you count exfoliation. The Hydra Life collection contains everything needed to completely cleanse and prime the skin for skincare and makeup. They do have a lightweight fresh scent but it’s not irritating or overpowering.

Shown above from left to right and ingredients also shown:

Micellar Water – No Rinse Cleanser ($42 for 6.7 fl oz) is a new cleansing water formula that has Echinacea flower extract to soothe skin and work as an antioxidant to cleanse the skin, remove impurities and leave it glowing. I am extremely picky with cleansing water even though it’s one of my favorite items to try. This leaves no film on the skin and does indeed remove all face makeup. It won’t remove long-wear eye makeup or mascara but then in my experience most cleansing waters don’t and I use a separate bi-phase remover for the eyes.

Oil to Milk – Makeup Removing Cleanser ($42 for 6.7 fl oz) is a cleansing oil with sweet almond oil to nourish the skin. It glides over the skin well and emulsifies easily with arm water to cleanse the skin. It has a nourishing moisturizing feel to it and does an excellent job at removing makeup. Normally with cleansing oils I tend to avoid using it on the eye area. It’s nearly impossible to not get some in my eyes when I rinse with water and it either stings or fogs up my vision for a few minutes until I completely rinse it with water. This one rinses off easily and does remove eye makeup. I still prefer to use a cotton pad soaked with eye makeup remover to remove eye makeup first, but this is an excellent cleansing oil. I do think it will be best suited for those with normal to dry skin.

Lotion to Foam – Fresh Cleanser ($42 for 6.3 fl oz) is a liquid lotion type of cleanser that has a pump which dispenses product into a light airy foam. Although it’s light in texture it has a moisturizing and cooling feel leaving skin refreshed. It contains a white tea leaf extract to remove makeup and purify the skin. It’s designed to be a cleanser and toner in one. It cleans the skin thoroughly while leaving it feeling soothed without that tight/dry feeling. There is a softening feel to it but without any film residue left behind.

Time to Glow – Ultra Fine Exfoliating Powder ($45 for 1.4 oz) is a soft powder you activate with water. It has sugar extract and lotus seeds to smooth skin texture and polish the face. I often find most scrubs too harsh but still need to use something to exfoliate and these kinds of face powder cleansers are perfect because they’re gentle but effective. Out of all the items I would say based on the size this is the one item that feels more on the expensive side but I find it’s made the biggest difference in improving skin texture for me.

Hydration

Up next are the two products for moisture that they have in the lineup. There is a Deep Hydration Sorbet Water Essence ($73 for 40 ml) and a Fresh Hydration Sorbet Creme ($69 for 50 ml). These are said to be suitable for all skintypes. For me I’ve needed skincare with more moisture as the water has dried out my skin a bit. However after testing a number of creams for dry skin I found them too thick and heavy as I really prefer weightless feeling products for serums, lotions or creams but the Hydra Life Essence + Creme combo is just perfect. Together they give the skin a refreshed feel for a perfectly balanced base.

The Sorbet Water Essence is a lightweight serum that glides on the skin without leaving any sticky residue or tacky feeling. It has a water-like feel in the sense that it’s weightless and refreshing. After regular use my skin feels more balanced and naturally hydrated. The Sorbet Creme is another refreshing product. It has a unique creme gel texture and gives the skin a more plumped and radiant look. For me it absorbs well into the skin but the essence helps it absorb better. I never tried the original version so I can’t compare but the current one is a win.

Masks

Last but not least are the three masks, each designed for different skin types. These are quick 3 minute masks. The Pores Away Pink Clay Mask ($69 for 1.7 oz)is one of the most gentle clay masks I’ve ever tried. It has a whipped texture that minimizes pores and gently draws out impurities. It has a refreshing cooling feel and only takes 3 minutes. Once removed the skin feels instantly bright and clean. Since this one is very gentle I don’t think it will extract deep imperfections but it is effective for those with sensitive skin. It rinses off easily and I like that when it dries it doesn’t shrink or pull the skin like some other masks do. I like this one best on my nose or T zone area because it’s a bit on the pricey side, I want to try and limit where I put it.

The Extra Plump Smooth Balm Mask ($69 for 1.7 oz) is the only one that I would say is not for my skin type. It is a balm designed for dry skin and I found it very hydrating. It’s a plumping mask with pine oil that you apply then wipe off and it does what the name implies. It smooths, plumps, hydrates and makes the skin look like it’s glowing naturally. Skin is left feeling super soft and smooth. For me it was just too hydrating. It has a soft light floral scent.

Last but not least is the Glow Better Fresh Jelly Mask ($69 for 1.7 oz) which leaves the skin fresh feeling with the most natural looking glow. It citrus fruit to smooth the skin and apricot seed powder to exfoliate. In terms of exfoliation effects the product is very gentle but it does feel more geared towards those with normal to oily skin.

Overall a beautiful skincare line with a nice variety of products. My favorites from the collection are definitely the cleansers with the top three being the Cleansing Water, Cleansing Oil and Exfoliating Powder. Each one cleans well without stripping the skin and I like that they leave the skin feeling clean, soft and nourished but without any film. The products in the Hydra Life line do have a soft light fresh floral scent so if you’re super sensitive to any scent you may want to try these out in person first. I have super sensitive skin but didn’t experience any irritation or break outs from the products. The Water Essence + Sorbet Creme is perfect for my skin right now although it does have a more hydrating finish and feels better suited for normal to dry skin types. With the humidity levels increasing as summer approaches I suspect this may be a bit too heavy for warm humid weather for my skin type. Overall a beautifully designed line with gorgeous packaging, generous product amounts and gentle but effective formulas. Regular use for two months has given me smoother looking skin that feels more plump and hydrated.

You can find the Dior Hydra Life Skincare Collection now at Dior.com and all Dior counters. Have you tried anything from this line yet? Or do you use anything from any of the other Dior Skincare collections? What did you think? I’ve been really interested in the Dreamskin 1 Minute Mask as I adore the cushion. If you’ve tried it let me know if you think it’s worth the splurge.

Many thanks to Dior for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions my own.

5 Comments

Giveaway

Spring Beauty Loves Giveaway

May 25, 2017

I have a spring giveaway that I’ll be running starting today 5/25 through the end of the month 5/31. It’s open to those in the USA who are 18 years or older. I’m giving away two goodie bags filled with some of my favorites items and more. To enter simply use the widget below. Two distinct winners will be selected at random through the Rafflecopter widget, contacted by me and receive a set containing:

1 MAC Liptensity Lipstick full-size (your color choice, color must be in-stock at Nordstrom or MAC)
1 MAC Lipglass full-size (your color choice, color must be in-stock at Nordstrom or MAC)
1 Ouai Rose Hair Body Oil full-size 3 fl oz
1 Diptyque Mimosa Small Candle 2.4 oz
1 Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light Palette (limited-edition palette with Luminous Light, Luminous Flush and Luminous Bronze Light, approx 9.4 g)
1 Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Pillow Talk full-size 0.04 oz
1 MAC Fix+ Scented Mini 30 ml/1 fl oz (can pick from Rose, Lavender or Coconut)
1 Bite Beauty The Perfect Pair Amuse Bouche Lipstick Set (minis in Fig and Meringue, 2 x 0.05 oz/ 1.55 g)
1 Peach and Lily Mask Trio Set (3 masks, 25g / 0.85 fl oz each)
1 Glossier Pink Pouch
1 Glossier Balmdotcom Coconut full-size 15 ml
1 Glossier Cloud Paint full-size 10 ml
1 Glossier Lip Gloss full-size 4.2 ml

Full terms and conditions inside the widget but quick rundown:

Open to US residents, 18 years or older
Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below
Two distinct winners will be selected
Runs from 5/25/2017 to 5/31/2017
Winners will be selected through the widget within 36 hours after end date and contacted via e-mail by me
Winners must respond within 36 hours or another person will be selected
Prizes will be sent out within 1 week after information confirmed via e-mail
Giveaway not sponsored or affiliated with any brands featured

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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