HOW I WEAR SUNSCREEN AS MAKEUP
I recently heard an influencer call sunscreen sun cream and I am totally adopting it. As sunscreen as become as staple in my day-to-day, it has definitely taken time, experimenting and trying different kids to get to a point where I feel as though I have a solid trio of goodness that I can use reliably for not only great sun protection, but also to gain a glow that looks fresh off the beach, bouncy and beautiful.
Now if you have been around for a second, you may have heard that sunscreen can be one of the most toxic skincare products out there. Too many brands have relied on gross chemicals like oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and avobenzone which are all proven endocrine disruptors and are contributors to allergies, can contribute to hormone disruption along with development and reproduction issues. No joke, these are no buenos for your bod.
My mom taught me a long time ago about titanium and zinc oxide and that these are the only 2 blockers that not only protect you ten-fold against the harmful UV rays, but since they are naturally derived ingredients, they don’t put your body through the toxic load that so many others do. It’s not joke, and I highly encourage you to read more about the different chemicals used and why you want to avoid them. Don’t take my word for it, check out what the EWG (Envrionmental Working Group) has to say about it.
Now the one thing about natural sunscreens is that they have developed an annoying rap with its white cast and consistency that takes eons to rub in and make disappear. Along with being thick and overbearing for the skin, not all zinc-based sunscreens have been created equally. Some are definitely great for the body, other’s are better for the face. You are here reading this because you want to get to the bottom of what it is you should be looking for, so I’ll cut to the chase.
I have never had an experience like the one I had when I first put on Agent Nature’s broad spectrum SPF 50. First off, this is one little bottle. 30 ml. only which, to my mind, is precious when it comes to product. That being said, a little goes a long way and wow does this cream cover. There is zero white cast, it is a liquid dream and gives the most perfect glow and base, which is why ever since I picked it up I haven’t put it down. I have already bought another to keep with me in my bag. I love when you can put a suncream on without needing to look in the mirror to see if the white streaks have absorbed in. This cream is almost a water-like texture and is so dewy going on the skin that I would use this regardless of whether or not it had sunscreen in it. It’s that good. This will be my go-to SPF for face no matter the whether, wherever I am because it has all the skincare ingredients I love matched with the protection needed to feel and look flawless all summer (and year) long.
I picked up this little bottle after reading about the goodness that Ursa Major is all about. Hailing from Vermont, Ursa Major focuses on creating skincare that uses the best that nature has to offer and has a comprehensive line of products that make skincare easy for anyone. I love the fact that their branding is minimal and unisex, which makes it perfect for men to get into… ‘cause let’s be honest, some men need a little extra help. Using clean ingredients that contain no harmful synthetics, fragrances, fillers or chemicals, their products have been made to be safe for you and the environment. This bottle of sunscreen is small but mighty and a little packs a punch. I first got this bottle to use on my face but as it is the thickest of casts on this list, it has become a chest, hand & arm fave. I use this sunscreen on the areas of my body that are always exposed (or could be exposed) to incidental sun exposure and where I can thoroughly apply it to help it sink into the skin. A natural oil first, sunscreen second and bam, skin feels great and is protected perfectly.
A pro tip of mine:
+ dry brush your body pre-shower
+ oil up post-shower with a coconut, almond or argan oil which have been shown to offer a natural SPF - they absorb a percentage of the sun’s radiation and prevent some of the damage it might cause
+ SPF up the backs of your hands, neck, arms (all over), chest and anywhere else on your body that you need sun protection
I have been a longtime fan of Lauryn Evarts Bosstick (back in the day she was still just Everts, those are the O.G. days of TSC) and was immediately interested in checking out her sunscreen when she launched it earlier this year. This is a sunscreen that has been created by someone who is really focused on bringing a product to market that they want to use. When you try any of the products that Lauryn has created, you know (especially if you’ve been following her journey for a while) that she is 100% using it, loving it and making sure that it has all the components that she can get behind and promote authentically. Healthy ingredients, effective and efficient to use, tested, tried and true. This sunscreen has quickly become my go-to for face and is actually now, what I consider to be, my makeup skin tint. Not only does it provide a beautiful glow, but it serves as an excellent base for absolutely anything else you want to lay on the skin. I tried it, I loved the consistency, the feel, the ingredients, but the only thing was that with my Snow-White complexion, I needed a little mixer to tone down the tint with it which is why I have my fourth fave sunscreen below.
This is my mixer, the sunscreen that I will mix with either of the above two sunscreens to create the perfect sun cream for the tone, texture and coverage that I want on my face, or body for that matter. I love that this sunscreen is milky, slightly watery even, and that it so easily can be mixed to thin out a product without thinning out sun coverage. I also like that with any tinted moisturizer and/or sunscreen, that I can create the most perfect colour for my skin.