Summer has unofficially begun, which means you'll likely be spending a lot more time outside and getting a lot more sun exposure.
A couple months ago, my favorite blogger Vampy Varnish asked her followers what their biggest beauty regret was. She admitted that while she took great care of her face over the years, she neglected her chest, neck, and hands and that those areas were now showing signs of aging.
Her blog really resonated with me. I'm only 25 years old; old enough to know better about taking care of my skin, but young enough to start making changes now that will keep me looking younger as I age.
I went out and purchased a bunch of beauty products that contain SPF, and have been using them for a month or two to get a feel for them. I figured, what better time than now to do a blog post about them?
Lubriderm Daily Motisture Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 15
One of the first things I bought was a daily lotion that has an SPF 15 in it. You are supposed to wear SPF every day. Even during winter months, the sun emits UV rays that can harm your skin over time. Wearing a plain body lotion with SPF is the easiest way to take good care of your skin.
I picked up this one by Lubriderm. It absorbs relatively quickly, has no scent, and leaves my skin moisturized. I apply it as soon as I get out of the shower. I got this 13.5 oz bottle at Walmart for about $7, which is a spectacular value.
Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport with Broad Spectrum SPF 30
For days when you plan on having direct/prolonged sun exposure, you're going to want sunscreen. Hawaiian Tropic is my absolute favorite. I consider it my summertime "luxury" item. I could easily spend less money on a drugstore brand, but you just can't beat the smell of HT.
This year, I found a sport version of it, so I decided to try that out. I LOVE it. It is SO lightweight and absorbs super fast, so you won't be trying to rub in stubborn white streaks of sunscreen all over your body. It is water and sweat resistant for 80 minutes, and comes in SPF 15 and 30. I personally prefer SPF 30, since I am on the fair side and I like more protection. This retails for about $7-9 at most drug stores.
Olay Fresh Effects Soak Up the Sun Protection! Lightweight Moisturizing Sunscreen (SPF 15) and Aveeno Positively Ageless Youth Perfecting Moisturizer (SPF 30)
I have very touchy skin that breaks out easily, so I don't like using the same sunscreen on my face as I do on my body. I have two different SPF moisturizers that I rotate between.
The first is Aveeno's Positively Ageless Youth Perfecting Moisturizer which, in addition to having an SPF of 30, has anti-aging benefits that brighten and firm your skin. It also reduces the appearance of wrinkles and slows future aging. My only complaint with this one is that it is a little heavy and leaves my face looking a little greasy after I apply it, but this is easily fixed by putting on some face primer after. This is on the pricy side, retailing for around $14 for 2.5oz, but worth it if you are looking for an anti-aging moisturizer that is gentle on your skin.
The second moisturizer I've been using is Olay's Fresh Effects Soak Up the Sun Protection. I found this at Walmart on clearance for a little under $4 for 2.5oz. It usually retails for about $13, but you can get it on Amazon as an add-on item for $4.88! You can't beat that! I LOVE this moisturizer. It is lightweight, doesn't leave my skin looking too greasy, and has SPF 15. It also has a lovely, light honeysuckle and white tea scent. It doesn't make me break out which is an awesome bonus. It would be perfect if it had anti-aging benefits like the Aveeno!
Hawaiian Tropic Lip Balm (SPF 45), ChapStick 8 Hour Moisture in Green Apple (SPF 12), Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect (SPF 30)
Did you know that there were lip balms that have SPF? The skin on your lips is very delicate and susceptible to burning. I originally picked up the Hawaiian Tropic lip balm ($2, Walmart) because it smells great and has SPF 45, which is a HUGE amount of protection! However, I noticed that when I wore it, it leaves a weird aftertaste in my mouth. I assume this is from the sunscreen in it, but there's no point in having a high SPF if you aren't going to wear it.
On my next trip to Walmart, I discovered this Chapstick in green apple ($1.50) and Aquaphor lip protectant ($3.80).
I am actually super impressed with the Chapstick. The green apple smell is amazing, it boasts 8 hours of moisture for your lips, and has SPF 12 with NO funky aftertaste. I use it every day now.
The Aquaphor Lip Protectant heals very dry lips, which is extremely beneficial to me right now, as I am on a medication that makes my lips dry and peel. It is fragrance free and has SPF 30. I use this whenever my lips are really dry and peeling, and it works better than the steroid cream my dermatologist prescribed me for my lips.
Sun Bum Beach Formula 3 in 1 Leave In
Yes, the sun can do a lot of damage to your hair, especially if it has been color treated. Prolonged sun exposure can cause your hair color to fade and your hair to become dry and brittle. To combat that, I picked up Sun Bum's Beach Formula 3 in 1 Treatment. Spray this into your hair to condition, de-tangle, and protect your color against UV damage. It also protects your hair against heat appliances, chemical damage, color fading, split ends, sun and wind damage, and tames frizz. That's a lot of power in one bottle! It also smells incredible, which will make you want to apply and reapply it (have you figured out yet that I like to smell like a giant coconut all summer long?). This goes for $15 for 4oz at Ulta.
Jergens BBHand Perfecting Hand Cream with SPF 20
Despite our best efforts to keep our faces looking young, we often forget about our hands, which are the first things to give away our age when we get older. Think about it: your hands get a lot of indirect sun exposure just when you drive.
Jergens has a wonderful BB hand cream, which has a broad spectrum SPF 20. Since it's a BB cream, it also hydrates your hands and smooths uneven texture; after two weeks, it is supposed to even skin tone and diminish the appearance of dark spots. I usually suck at applying lotion to my hands, but this smells so nice I've been pretty good at applying it daily (the bottle recommends you apply ever two hours. Small steps.). Basically, this lotion will whip your hands into shape and keep them looking youthful with regular use. $7 for 3oz at Ulta.
Zoya Armor Top Coat & UV Blocker
By now, you probably think I'm a crazy person. While there is no sunscreen for your nails, per se, Zoya's Armor Top Coat & UV Blocker does prevent your nail polish color from fading and getting dull from sun exposure. Keep your mani fresh during your entire beach vacation! This retails for $10 at zoya.com.
Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizer in Lime Coolada
Finally, we've talked a lot about products to help protect your skin from the sun, but what about taking care of your skin after being in the rays all day? For all of my SPF touting, I still forgot to reapply my sunscreen last week and got a little burned (d'oh!). It happens to the best of us from time to time. I picked up a bottle of Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizing Lotion in Lime Coolada. This works exactly like an aloe gel, without the cruel application of icy-cold gel to your burning hot skin. You apply it just like you would a regular lotion. I was skeptical at first, since I've only ever used aloe gels, but WOW. This gave me some relief from my burned back, smelled amazing, and left my skin incredibly silky, thanks to the Shea and cocoa butters in the formula. I read some other reviews of this lotion, and there are people that swear by this as a daily lotion. It's definitely a more sophisticated after sun option; another little luxury that your skin will thank you for. You can get a 16oz bottle at Walmart for $7.
That is everything, my friends! I hope that this post has given you a few new ideas on how to protect yourself during the summer and beyond. These are the products I like best, but search around for whatever works for your body and your budget. As I said before, there's no point in buying something you won't use! So find stuff you love, and keep yourself protected from head to toe so that one day, nobody will be able to tell your real age ;)
