With summer in full swing, my weekend plans mostly consist of finding time to get outdoors and get a tan. Since I’ll never actually get a golden bronze look naturally, I have to make due with the slightest of colour on my fair skin (as long as I have tan lines, I’m happy – that means I actually got some sun). With increased sun exposure though comes the need to keep your skin safe. Since skin cancer is a major concern, I always try to sport products with SPF in them so I can enjoy my time in the sun and not gain a sun hangover of sorts afterwards.
I have a ton of products from hair to skin that I’ve been using constantly now for sun exposure. It was hard to narrow it down to just five picks, but if you’re going to be spending some time outdoors this summer, I would look into these stellar products.
Sun Bum SPF 30 Original Sunscreen Lotion
I’ve talked about this sunscreen a few times already on my blog, but I just love it so much. Whether it’s the coconut scent or the cute branding, I always find myself reaching for this sunscreen the most in my collection.
The Sun Bum SPF 30 Moisturizing Lotion Tube, 177ml
formula protects your skin from the sun’s rays (available in 15, 30, 50, and 70 SPF formulas), and also contains Vitamin E, which helps to neutralize free radicals, the main cause of premature skin aging. The formula is also gluten free, paraben free, oil free, cruelty free and vegan.
Bali Body Natural Tanning and Body Oil
I’ve been following Bali Body on Instagram for a while now, and although the Australian brand is mostly e-commerce, they do sell some of their products in Bali itself. I was dying to try out their tanning oils so I made sure to stop at Gooseberry Intimates in Seminyak back when I was there in January to pick some up.
They have a variety of different formulas, but this one in particular is a natural sun tanning and body oil, which helps to give you a deep golden glow while also hydrating skin. It’s made with coconut, grape seed, jojoba, and more natural ingredients and contains SPF 6 (I apply this over top of the Sun Bum SPF 15). Since it’s an oil, you can also apply it during the day or night to hydrate skin. It doesn’t have a scent but definitely helps you achieve a tan. After one use, I found this gave me a darker colour than I normally would have gotten (and I didn’t even use it in Bali, this was Winnipeg sun!).
You can order their products online and they offer free, tracked shipping. Don’t let the little bottle fool you, there’s 110 ml of product in there (which unfortunately sucks if you were planning on just taking a carry on for your sun travels).
Olay Luminous Brightening & Protecting Lotion SPF 30
Since I ran out of my previous moisturizer, I’ve been reaching for the Olay Luminous Brightening & Protecting Lotion SPF 30 since a) P&G sent it over for me to try out and I’ve always been a fan of their moisturizers, and B) I like wearing a day cream with an SPF in it.
This particular moisturizer is very lightweight and absorbs quickly into your skin. Even though I may not be in the sun during the day for long, I still like to wear something with an SPF in it since your face often sports the first signs of aging (especially around the eye area since the skin is a little thinner there). This moisturizer helps to regenerate skin’s appearance and fades the look of dark spots over time. It also helps with premature aging thanks to the SPF.
Klorane Sun Lightening Spray with Chamomile and Honey
Okay this next one doesn’t actually contain SPF, but it’s still perfect for the season. Are you a blonde looking to go blonder? Klorane Sun Lightening Spray with Chamomile and Honey – Blond Hair , 4.22 fl. oz.
can help make that happen.
This spray (there is also a shampoo and conditioner in the line as well – review coming soon!) infuses natural sunny highlights into blond to light brown hair. Remember Sun-In from your childhood? It’s kinda like that. With a combination of authentic chamomile and honey, this spray gradually lightens hair for the perfect summer look. It also acts as a treatment making hair look and feel softer. You can either apply it all over the hair or on select strands for a highlight effect.
CoverGirl Vitalist Elixir Foundation
Finally, if you’re going to a special event during the daytime this summer make sure you sport a foundation with an SPF in it. I have a few different foundations that offer an SPF, but one I’ve been loving and that gives you amazing coverage is the Covergirl Vitalist Elixir Foundation.
I actually did a whole review on this already, but this formula is infused with skincare ingredients and offers an SPF 20. It’s a full coverage foundation that corrects, protects, and perfects, plus feels lightweight. What else could you possible want?!
In case you haven’t caught on yet, the number-one thing to remember for summer beauty is make sure it has an SPF in it. Sun damage can take years to show up, so it’s best to prevent it early.
What are your favourite summer beauty products?
Please note, all products except Bali Body was provided by PR. All opinions are my own.
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Being a beauty blogger, very rarely do I feel the need to go out and purchase makeup. I just don’t need any more mascaras, foundations, primers, lip products, etc. I once heard a blogger say that this gig totally takes away from the excitement of makeup shopping, and I totally agree.
Okay, I know I totally sound like a brat, but it’s true. Every time a brand releases a new product, I lust after it, but then think,”Shayna, do you really need that eyeshadow palette? You have 50 other others just like it.” Well, you’re right, inner monologue, I don’t.
Except sometimes I do. When I saw Kylie Jenner preview her new vacation collection on Snapchat a month ago, I knew I had to make an order. I’ve mentioned her products before on my blog, and although I find anything the Kardashians do to be short lived, it doesn’t look like Kylie Cosmetics is going anywhere anytime soon. Her products are bomb, and unlike the countless other brands and products the Kardashian/Jenners represent, Kylie just gets it. She’s actually passionate about her line and it shows in the quality of the products.
Since I live in Canada and she charges $15 for shipping (plus the fact that the Canadian dollar is so low), I pass on all her releases (except one, I did order her birthday matte lip set). When I saw the Vacation eyeshadow palette and the four matte lip colours though, I knew I had to bite the bullet. Plus the fact that she was offering free international shipping over $60 definitely helped.
I asked my friend who also loves Kylie’s products if she would go in on an order and she said that she wanted to get the Send Me More Nudes matte lip set as well. Since we both wanted it, we decided to just split the set since there were bound to be two colours in there that we each liked less.
The Send Me More Nudes Matte Liquid Lip Set ($45 USD) is also available in her velvet formula, but since we both love her matte one (it’s honestly one of the best matte liquid lip formulas I have tried, from any brand), there was no question that this would be our choice. There are four liquid lip colours (no pencils), Naked (sandy beige), Birthday Suit (nude warm beige), Commando (terracotta beige), and Bare (nude pinky beige).
Since I love nudes and pinks, I knew this set would be a winner, as I was digging all the colours, except one, Commando, since I find that nudes with orange undertones usually don’t look good on my skin tone. I chose to keep the two nudes, whereas my friend kept the two pinks, however, after swatching all the shades, every one is a winner (especially if you’re wearing a tan).
Honestly, I’m loving all these colours, even Commando (although it’s still my least favourite if I had to rank them). Since I only have Koko K in the full size, and Dolce K, Candy K, Kristin, Leo, and another Koko K in the minis, I’m so happy to have full size of some of her nude colours.
If you’re a reader of my blog, you’ll know that I have a ton of matte liquid lipsticks already in a variety of nude shades, but here’s the thing, her formula is one of the best. It stays on and settles on your lips. A lot of formulas I try tend to be a little tacky in the inner lip area. Not these. They dry down and stay there.
Although a lot of items from her vacation collection are sold out (including the eyeshadow palette, which I also purchased), this set is still available, and you guys, it’s so worth the money. Plus for $45, it’s less than two lip kits. Although I do enjoy the use of the pencil, you definitely don’t need it, the brush helps the products glide evenly on your lips.
You need this. Go order it. Trust me.
Have you tried any of Kylie Cosmetics’ matte lip formulas? Did you buy anything from her vacation collection?
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I often like to peruse drugstores on my lunch hour. One, it’s a nice way to get my steps in, and two, I love seeing what’s new from all the different brands. Here in Manitoba, there are a few different stores that seem to rule the marketplace, but one that I actually rarely ever go to is Rexall.
About a month ago, their PR team reached out to me to try out some of their products, and since I don’t usually shop there that often, I was excited to see what they have in store. Here’s the thing about Rexall, there are some big ones here that have most prestige brands like The Balm, NYX, and more, but then there are the smaller ones that have your basic beauty brands that are available everywhere. We don’t have that many Rexall locations, and when I usually run into a Rexall, it’s usually one of those smaller stores and I stick to the essentials.
Here’s the thing though, Rexall has their own line of products, something that totally makes sense for a drugstore to have, but I totally didn’t know they did this. Although they did gift me with a gift card, I was actually digging some of the Rexall Be. Better line products, their in-house line of cosmetics.
As part of their summer proof beauty tips, they sent me an abundance of items perfect for the heat and sun, something I totally need this summer since I’ll be travelling a lot. First off is a staple, and not really a beauty item (although it’s good for your skin), their Hydrate Artesian Water, which is a good reminder to keep hydrated often. I workout a lot, so drinking lots of water is super important (not to mention it’s smart to always drink water when out in the sun). Speaking of the sun, I was super pumped to get the SPF 30 Sunscreen Sport and General Protection Lotions, since these come in a travel-friendly bottle, making it perfect to toss in your carryon or your purse.
I apply a moisturizer both morning and night, two different ones actually. For the day, I’ll usually wear one with a sunscreen or skin-conditioning benefits. They sent over the Argan Oil Day Cream, which preps your skin for your day ahead. It’s also lightweight and contains hyaluronic acid, which is commonly found in most moisturizers. For both morning and night, I do apply a serum, and their Argan Oil Serum is great to boost skin’s radiance, whether you’re just waking up or heading to bed.
Finally, after a day in the sun, it’s super important to moisturize your skin, I love applying a thick body butter so my skin is properly nourished at the end of the day. I usually reach for a body butter from The Body Shop, but I’m totally digging their Coconut Oil Body Butter, which is perfect for keeping your skin nourished after a long day out in the heat or by the pool (or the Vegas heat).
Unfortunately, they didn’t send me the prices for these products, but since it’s their in-house line, I’m assuming they are all super affordable. Also, when I checked out Rexall in store, I noticed they had a number of beauty tools as part of their Kit line, which I’m totally planning on picking up as well (i’m a sucker for cute packaging, plus who doesn’t need cotton pads to wash everything off or for toner?).
Like I said, depending on which location you visit, their bigger stores have some cosmetic lines like The Balm which are harder to find here in Canada. I’ll definitely be stopping by more often to see what goodies they have in store (plus they have Air Miles, always a win in my books).
Do you shop at Rexall for beauty products?
Please note, I was sent this product from PR. All opinions are my own.
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