Summer Skin Savers Part 4 — More Sunblock, SPF Moisturizer, and Shimmer Lotion Picks
Though it’s been rainy and unseasonably cool this week in New York City, we’re far from bidding summer adieu, with temperatures recoiling and nearing the 90-degree mark later this afternoon and tomorrow. Other cities, meanwhile, have suffered through sweltering heat since mid-July — among them Dallas and Houston, where temperatures have hovered around the 105-degree mark for over two weeks. As we move further into August, typically the hottest summer month, we should expect the sizzle to continue, so it’s essential to keep your skin hydrated and to remain vigilant about sun protection.
And while we recently presented you with some fantastic sunscreen options, we’d be cheating you if we didn’t mention these offerings. Read on!
L’Occitane Sun Verbena Protective Body Lotion SPF 15, $24. Available at USA.Loccitane.com
Ideal for daily use, this milky, easily absorbed, lightweight lotion smells like fresh-squeezed lemon, awakening the senses and giving you an energy boost to ready you for the day ahead. The limited-edition scented lotion seeks to capture the zesty aroma in the Mediterranean air during the summer season by incorporating the sparkling scent of organic Verbena extract from Corsica, the herbal freshness of verbena leaves, and invigorating lemon and grapefruit notes. Aside from the crisp, citrus-y yet herbal scent, this replenishing lotion dries quickly and leaves skin feeling softer and smoother, while octisalate, avobenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene provide SPF 15 protection. The L’Occitane Sun Verbena Protective Body Lotion SF 15 has easily claimed the top spot on my list of summer body moisturizers since it covers all the requisite bases, hydrating and soothing, safeguarding skin without leaving behind any chalky residue or balm-like grease, and infusing skin with the type of perky scent that captures the fun-loving summer spirit.
Super by Dr. Nicholas Perricone Daylight Savings SPF 25 Moisturizer, $38. Available at Sephora.com
It’s pretty audacious to name your skin care line Super — even if the moniker is a reference to the vitamin-packed, antioxidant- and fatty acid-rich superfoods at the heart of its products’ formulations. And yet the Super by Dr. Nicholas Perricone collection lives up to its lofty name, wowing us with each new addition to its product family. From the Bright Eyed eye cream to the Detox Elixir and Hyper Hydrator, we have yet to meet a Super product that didn’t merit an excellence medal. The Super by Dr. Nicholas Perricone Daylight Savings SPF 25 facial moisturizer is no exception.
This brightening, skin tone-evening moisturizer relies mainly on turmeric, an Indian spice chock full of curcumin, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, soothing skin irritated by sun exposure, psoriasis, and environmental stressors. Some researches even believe curcumin could lessen the risk of developing skin cancer. Other ingredients include Vitamin C ester, a fat-soluble substance that penetrates the surface of the skin and combats visible aging signs and discolorations resulting from free radical exposure, and DMAE, an antioxidant membrane stabilizer that works to make skin appear more firm an wrinkle-free. In terms of sun protection, the Daylight Saving cream is infused with zinc oxide, a physical sunblock (meaning it’s mineral-based and not chemical-based) to safeguard your visage from UVA and UVB rays without risking exposure to any potentially inflammatory chemical sunscreen agents.
Mybody Protect & Serve Tinted Sun Shield. Visit MybodySkincare.com for more information.
Are you a fan of Philosophy? Then you’ll surely be interested in knowing about the latest venture from one of the brand’s original owners, skincare expert David Watson. Teaming up with makeup artist Therese Clark, David Watson and his wife Christine developed mybody, a line of targeted, clinical skincare products formulated with an all-inclusive, holistic approach to skin health. These products were designed to be customized and personalized according to each woman’s needs, and they are dispensed by medical professionals to ensure ideal results.
One of the more universal products in the line is the Protect & Serve Sun Shield, meant to be applied over your moisturizer after cleansing skin in the morning. Packaged in an air tight bottle with a handy pump dispenser, this velvety smooth product features titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that deliver broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 30 protection. In addition to functioning as a sunblock, this lightly tinted, mousse-like, lightweight face shield works as a makeup primer, minimizing the appearance of enlarged pores, and smoothing lines and wrinkles for a more even canvas.
Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55, $10. Available at mass food and drug retailers. Visit Ulta.com and Target.com (where it’s on sale for $7.04!)
This heavy-duty, dermatologist-recommended, fast-drying sunblock features Neutrogena’s Helioplex sunscreen technology, a mix of chemical sunscreens avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone. It’s potent enough for days at the beach and won’t leave any white residue on skin (thank heavens!), but it’s not quite so lightweight that you’d want to use it on a daily basis, when your exposure to the sun is limited to walking from your home to your car or from the office to the train. This product, then, is ideal for days when you need a super-sized amount of protection from UVA an UVB rays.
Still, make sure to reapply every two hours and immediately after a swim in the ocean or pool. While no sunblock is ever truly waterproof — it might be water-resistant, meaning it will stay in place after a quick dip, but no sunblock can truly cling to skin when immersed in water for extended periods of time — the Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch sunblock didn’t even prove to be water-resistant. During a recent trip to the beach, I spent less than five minutes wading in the water and, when I looked down at my arms, the formerly “invisible” sunblock was now glaringly conspicuous, its original, creamy white color staring back at me like the Ghost of Sunscreens Past. Worst of all, it had smeared and streaked, leaving areas of my arms completely naked exposed. Had I not been quick to apply another layer of sunblock, a major sunburn situation would’ve undoubtedly ensued. The lesson: keep this sunblock within reach, gals!
Fake Bake Golden Faux Glo Shimmer Instant Tan Lotion, $11.52 at Amazon.com
Don’t be green with envy over your friends’ sun-kissed skin! Take action and give yourself a healthy faux glow with this vanilla-scented bronzer from Fake Bake. When you first squeeze the tan lotion out of the tube, you might be intimidated by the dark, maple syrup brown color, but don’t panic — as you rub it onto the skin using steady circular motions, you’ll notice that the color lightens to a light bronze shade with a hint of caramel for a glow that looks deceptively natural, with no patchy sections, unseemly streaks, or orange undertones. Though it’s billed as a “shimmer” lotion, this is more of a self-tanner, so that you won’t find an abundance of glistening pearl particles (as with the Glominerals Body Glisten or the Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Boy Shimmer Lotion). Plus, since it doesn’t contain any potentially harmful tanning additives, the Fake Bake Golden Faux Glo Shimmer Instant Tan Lotion can be washed off with some good ol’ soap and water. My one piece of advice when using this product: wear the enclosed application gloves as the tanning lotion will adhere to palms rather quickly and, once dried, will involve a lot of scrubbing with soap and water to fully remove.
Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50 Facial Moisturizer, $11.97 at Walmart.com
Women with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis can always count on Cetaphil for non-comedogenic formulas (meaning they don’t aggravate or cause acne) that are free of fragrances and other potential allergens. Designed for daily use, the Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50 was developed to hydrate skin while also protecting it from UVA and UVB rays with a mixture of physical blocks like titanium oxide and chemical sunscreens like octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone. A long-time favorite, this moisturizer with SPF protection has been repackaged in a slim tube with a pump dispenser, making it way more travel-friendly.
Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase Wrinkle Repair Daily Cream SPF 30, $28. Available at Walgreens.com
Ask any dermatologist about the leading cause of premature skin aging and he’s likely to name sun exposure as a major culprit. The Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase Wrinkle Repair Daily Cream SPF 30, then, employs a two-pronged approach to ensure youthful-looking skin: first, a combination of octinoxate, octocrylene, octisalate and avobenzone protect skin from UVA and UVB rays, thereby delaying the emergence of wrinkles and fine lines; second, a unique formula works to restore the skin’s structure, allowing the upper layers to absorb more moisture, thereby smoothing the appearance of existing wrinkles. To accomplish the later feat, this lightweight, non-greasy cream relies on: kinetin, a plant hormone found in all Kinerase products that stimulates cell division and hence works as a growth factor, facilitating the skin renewal process; SymRepair, a moisturizing ceramide complex that fortifies the skin barrier, increasing its moisture-retention capacity; and QuenchT, a botanical formula incorporating kola nut, maté ad guarana extracts to soothe skin nd combat any redness.
This is the type of facial moisturizer you’ll want to use well after summer is over since it really does improve skin texture and clarity. It’s an investment for all seasons!