Sunscreen | Hooked On Beauty

Light Sunscreens, Heavy Protection

August 9, 2011 by carissa 1 Comment

Gone are the days of slathering thick, white, heavily scented sunscreens all over your face for the sake of skin protection. Here are two lightweight sunscreens for the face that I think got both the protection and weight exactly right.

Neova: DNA Damage Control SILC Sheer SPF 45

An SPF 45 that doubles as a *gasp* makeup primer? That’s right, Neova’s sheer sunscreen disappears quickly into the skin without leaving behind a slip or scent. It so efficiently disguises itself as a light lotion that you’ll be able to protect your skin effortlessly every single day. Its aloe base will nourish your skin so you won’t even need a separate moisturizer – it’s an SPF, moisturizer, and primer all rolled into one.

Supergoop Save Face Serum SPF 30

I’ve already professed my love for Supergoop, an effective sunscreen that I’ve purchased several times since receiving a tube for review years ago. Back then it was sold online only, but now that Supergoop offers over a dozen products using their famous formula, it’s found at Sephora, Nordstrom, Space NK and others. Their new Save Face Serum is perhaps their most elegant offering to date – the pump dispenser distributes the perfect amount of super lightweight sun protection that gives even the driest skin a big drink of vitamins and moisture.

I use at least an SPF 30 every single day, no matter what the weather yields. Using a light sunscreen ensures that your SPF routine is easy and feels more like skincare and less like an extra, messy step.

Filed Under: Sunscreen

Own Sun Care

July 18, 2011 by carissa 1 Comment

Our usual stop for vitamins in Pharmaca over the weekend in Boulder, CO yielded a purchase that I’m now officially obsessed with. We were looking for a new sunscreen for Mike which is always a task because he wants something light to wear daily (easy enough), but it also has to hold up and not drip into his eyes when he’s running (the challenging part.) We’ve been through plenty of options and were on a good winning streak with Supergoop for a few years but it was time for a change. I knew a little about Own; mostly how their founder and CEO was also the founding CEO at Method (the natural cleaning products) and had now engineered a fantastic natural skincare line that’s getting some great reviews. Now saying that Own’s Invisible Face and Body Block SPF 30 is unlike any sunscreen you’ve ever tried isn’t an overstatement. Its smooth, whipped texture reminds me of cake batter and its ability to disappear right into the skin leaving only the slightest amount of moisture behind is remarkable for a sunscreen or any type of skin moisturizer. It’s a safe formulation of 20% zinc that’s invisible on the skin with antioxidants like raspberry, cranberry, and carrot seed oils. It feels, blends, and smells like a body moisturizer you’d be happy to wear every day. It’s seriously revolutionary.

Our After Sun Repair ($12) and Invisible Face and Body Block SPF 30 ($17)

A look at the sunscreen’s texture. Dreamy whipped magic.

Of course the After Sun Repair lotion is amazing too. It smells so fresh and clean and can be used to soothe the face or body after sun exposure, or just for an everyday treatment.

They’re mostly sold online (I can’t find a listing of retailers on their site) and are apparently becoming quickly known for their better-than-Proactiv acne line and powerfully effective anti-aging offerings. They’re also U.S.A made and sourced keeping a close eye on their partner’s sustainability practices. What’s not to love?

Check out Own right HERE

Filed Under: 'Green' Beauty, Best Of, Found Online, Sunscreen

Sunburn Relief from Liz Earle Botanical Aftersun Gel

June 27, 2011 by carissa Leave a Comment

It’s true that sun and wind burned skin needs some extra TLC, but I’m not sure the thick green glop most brands label as ‘aloe’ serve as the best solution. Aloe isn’t actually bright green either, it’s yellowish so that beautiful green shade is actually dyes so looks as we think it should. Instead of pumping dyes into your skin, go for something that’s designed to soothe chapped, overexposed skin.

Of course I’m loving Liz Earle‘s Sun Shade Botanical Aftersun Gel, mostly because I love everything from Liz Earle. It’s still one of the best lines I’ve used to date. She uses organic aloe, to soothe and comfort the skin along with lavender, vitamin e, and glycerin to provide hydration and protection. It took the sting and redness out of my hubby’s bad burn a few weeks ago – but he only agreed to using it because it wasn’t sticky or greasy and didn’t have an scent to it.

If you’ve also been a little lazy in your SPF application, check out this gel and next time don’t forget the sunscreen.

Filed Under: 'Green' Beauty, Found Online, Sunscreen

Best Tinted Moisturizers w SPF, Spring 2011 Edition

April 28, 2011 by carissa 2 Comments

It’s that time of year again when I’m bombarded with tinted moisturizers to review. Over the past few weeks I’ve been in Tinted Moisturizer heaven, sporting a new one every few days. I’ve narrowed this batch down to 5 that I really like which also contain an SPF so you can catch some spring sun safely.

Coola Suncare Mineral Face Tint SPF 20

Coola Suncare makes SPF chic. I wore their Mineral Face Tint SPF 20 all last week. I enjoyed the light-yet-there coverage and faint rose scent. Their formulations are without parabens, phthalates, pertrochemicals, propylene glycol, and gluten. It’s a non-whitening mineral-based formula that uses Zinc and Titanium Dioxide to keep your skin safe. It’s available in just one lighter shade, so if your skin is medium or deep, you’d want to mix it with your current foundation to get the SPF benefit and a shade that matches.

Kate Sommerville SPF 55 Serum Tinted Sunscreen

Kate Sommerville is one of the best-known skin gurus around who sees first hand what happens to skin that has seen too much sun, so her Tinted Sunscreen boasts a huge SPF 55. It’s a surprisingly light formula with a tinge of color suitable for most skin tones, save for the extremes. Complete sun protection like this keeps the skin looking younger longer than if you use no protection at all.

Erno Laszlo Tinted Treatment SPF 15

Tinted Treatment SPF 15 from Erno Laszlo has a coverage and weight similar to Laura Mercier’s iconic formula, which is saying a lot. It settles beautifully into the skin and has 6 shade offerings from Light to Dark.

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer

To me, All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer is a really pretty foundation that just happens to have SPF 15 protection. Its coverage is surprisingly complete with a finish somewhere in between luminous and flat. 6 shades offered.

Skin 2 Skin Care Tint Anti-Photoaging SPF 30

Tint Anti-Photoaging SPF 30 can be worn as a foundation, but I like using the Tan shade as a moisturizer mix-in to get a pretty bronzy look and some SPF at the same time. More pigment dense than you’d expect, this formula is also a natural one that uses minerals to block out the sun.

Having SPF in your foundation is an easy way to protect your skin without adding another step. Find a formula you love and stick with it year round, your skin will look younger.

Filed Under: Best Of, Foundation, Moisturizers, Sunscreen

Sunscreen Plus… SPF’s With a Kick

March 14, 2011 by carissa Leave a Comment

I’m going to assume that you’re wearing some sort of sun protection daily, no matter what. We all know that even the smallest doses of daily sun can bring on spotting, wrinkling, and a loss of firmness.

If you’re looking for more than just a sunscreen, here are a few skin protectors that offer more than SPF alone.

Sunscreen Plus… A Sheer Skin Perfecter:

Sheer Tint Release is Esteé Lauder’s latest addition to their best-selling DayWear collection, it has all the benefits of the original moisturizer (antioxidants, SPF 15, quick absorption) but with an added skin-perfecting tint that blends perfectly into most skin tones. It’s a subtle hint of color that gives skin an even, more polished look that’s totally undetectable.

Sunscreen Plus… Age Prevention:

Of course the best age prevention for your skin is the sunscreen itself, but Daily Defense SPF 30 from Priori’s Advanced AHA line offers a blend of Lactic Acid to increase moisture and encourage skin cell renewal.

Sunscreen Plus… Primer:

Even the most sensitive skin can rock Coola’s FACE Mineral Sunblock as a tinted primer because it’s a gentle chemical-free SPF 20. Just because it’s mineral based (Titanium and Zinc), don’t expect the old school chalky finish, this light lotion gives a gorgeous glow you’d expect from a serious makeup line.

Filed Under: Estee Lauder, Found Online, Sunscreen

The Best Daytime Moisturizer to Keep Wrinkles Away

January 16, 2011 by carissa Leave a Comment

I use a zillion different moisturizers. It’s not that I’m fickle as much as I’m searching (like you) to find the best moisturizer that will somehow give me perfect skin. Though I’m not going to have perfect skin anytime soon, I’m certainly not going to be accumulating anymore damage either. The one moisturizer you should use every single day to ensure you have beautiful, sun spot and wrinkle-free skin is one with a good sunscreen.

If you’re normal to dry:

I used La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 15 for years in the past and really liked it, but now I’m pumping up my protection by using this one with a big dose of SPF 40. It’s the ideal cream because it isn’t greasy or cause breakouts, it absorbs quickly and fully without any color or scent. Best of all, it contains Mexoryl, a known sunscreen effectiveness enhancer so your protection lasts all day long.

If you’re normal to oily or have sensitive or troubled skin:

Obagi is a medical grade skin care line sold mostly by physicians. I love their Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35. It’s an approved sunscreen of the Skin Cancer Foundation because of its effectiveness that’s meant to be used on compromised skin. I love the feel of this sunscreen and can wear it daily under makeup and not even notice it’s on.

It may not seem like much, but wearing sunscreen daily will hands down keep wrinkles and spotting away longer than if you didn’t use anything at all. It’s a rare product that’s a guaranteed home run.

La Roche Posay Anthelios

Obagi Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35

Filed Under: Anti-Aging, Best Of, Moisturizers, Sunscreen