Search
Sun, Summer & Suncare - a list by palacinka
Options for This Page
About this list:
Summer does not start until June 21, but as everyone knows Memorial Day weekend has always been deemed the "unofficial" kickoff to the summer season. So, while you're off at the beach or out at a bbq this weekend to celebrate here are some of palacinka's reviews for sunscreen products that you should make sure to have at your side and on your skin to protect sun damage!
Qualifications:
Beauty go-to for ALL women of color around the world!
Murad Clarifying Body Spray for Acne
First to recommend
Description
This is one of those products that made me say “How could I have lived without this before?” This spray is incredibly effective. After using for just one week my chest and back was smoother, my little bumps were reduced significantly and the overall tone was better.
I used it each morning after my shower and it also reduced the number of new breakouts I got. After using regularly for several weeks I also saw an improvement in the lightness of darker marks left from previous breakouts. It has a slight eucalyptus/medicinal fragrance, which I will surely live with for these great results.
The design of spray bottle is great and very well thought out. I was able to reach any part of my back with it because it’s a 360˚degree nozzle. It was also quick drying (less than a minute for it to dry). Note: it did continue to have a slightly sticky finish on my body when it dried. However, it didn’t cause my skin to flake or any other irritations during the day.
I let my husband also try this because every year when the weather starts to get warm he gets pimples on his back. He used this every day for a week and was amazed that the pimples were not only gone but after continuing to use, they did not come back! My husband and I are won over and this will be stockpiled in our house for the summer season! (via Palacinka)
Updated May 14, 2008
List that features this:
This is:
Givenchy Glitter To Go Fresh'n Shine Body Gel
First to recommend
Description
Well, I do love shimmer/glitter and shine at night, especially during the summer when I have a tan or on vacation. This is such a great idea! The travel-friendly packets lay flat with a smooth, clear gel which gave me a nice shimmer effect. The shimmer is evenly distributed and the fine particles are a kaleidoscope of colors like red, blue and pink.
Even better, it gave my skin a “cooling” sensation, with a fresh, light, floral fragrance which was great for ultra hot temps. I used this in a few ways, after coming off the beach I applied it directly to my body (the shimmer didn’t come off on my clothes either – perfect!). At night I also mixed one packet with my tinted body lotion for a really nice and very moisturizing body lotion. This body gel will work with all skin tones too. This will be my secret little summer beauty weapon to a sexy glow! (via Palacinka)
Updated May 23, 2008
List that features this:
Murad Age-Proof Suncare Waterproof Sunblock SPF 30
First to recommend
Description
This was my first time using a Murad product and I was very pleased. This sunblock has a light lemony scent, which I liked. It was not greasy, and didn’t flake or ball up in the heat. I also found it very moisturizing for my drier areas of my face and small lines around my eyes, and even my legs and elbows. The tone and texture of my skin was fantastic after using this daily!
I used this successfully on both my face and my body and I did not experience any irritation or break outs. For the face, it does leave a sheen however, so if you want a more matte look, then it will be necessary to blot it and then apply a little pressed or loose powder over it. I usually wore this during a recent vacation without much other makeup and didn’t mind the sheen. I also liked that the Sunblock didn’t leave a sticky or grayish cast to my skin (which I hate!).
It was definitely water resistant, but after going in and out of the water several times I did reapply as most experts say is necessary. However, when I was home and used it for everyday wear I found that even through very hot days it stayed put and was effective. A little goes a long way with this product which also makes it a great buy. (via Palacinka)
Updated May 23, 2008
List that features this:
Avene Thermal Spring Water
First to recommend
Description
Many people would say water is water, but I think that it’s not always the case. In Asia and Europe most of my friends and associates always have a water spray on hand and use it regularly. They also have great skin!
I loved this thermal water and can say that it is one of the best water sprays I have used. I think it worked wonders for setting my makeup and also when I wanted to dampen my cosmetic sponge to apply my foundation for a natural, dewy effect. It’s a very convenient sized tube that’s perfect for any bag, the plane or the office/gym. It was so refreshing during the day or after work before touching up my makeup for an evening out. This was also wonderful to use in power masks or cloth masks as opposed to regular water.
It was also wonderful to use on my body after a gym workout or day at the beach – it left my skin soft and hydrated and also more soothed. The nozzle on the bottle is small but spray is a very strong fine mist (only a press or two is enough for the entire face), and there is no fragrance. This also made the perfect starting point to applying my richer night creams before bed. I found that my skin really absorbed the creams better, and after using it this way for several weeks, my skin has never looked better! This is a must have product for everyone’s skin care routine. (via Palacinka)
Updated May 23, 2008
List that features this:
Phyto PHYTOPLAGE Moisturizing Hair & Body Wash
First to recommend
Description
This is a fantastic, luxurious 2-in1 product that is perfect for summer trips to the beach or just trips in general! From Phyto I would expect no less, since I am a big fan of their hair products which also work very well for me.
The wash is a smooth silky liquid that is thick and rich. It’s very concentrated so just a few squirts of the tube produced all I needed to cleanse both my body and my hair. The lather is super creamy with a rich fragrance that I loved. It’s a lovely, decadent spicy, slightly floral scent that was not too overpowering, but did linger on my body and hair nicely after rinsing off.
Post shower my skin was very soft and hydrated and I skipped using lotion on most days (very dry skins will still need an after shower moisturizer). My hair was soft, shiny and not weighed down at all. All traces of chlorine/sand from the beach were gone from my as well.
Note: As a shampoo, this formula works best on naturally straight, wavy and healthy relaxed hair. (via Palacinka)
Updated May 30, 2008
Lists that feature this:
Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain
First to recommend
2 people recommended this item
Description
Tarte is always on the forefront of product innovation, and this product is their most recent example of this. It should be noted however, as in life; everything is not for everybody, no matter how good it might be.
Case in point: This is a lash stain (not really a lash enhancing mascara) and therein lies the beauty and/or frustration of this product, depending on your needs.
For someone like me with lashes that are not truly dark, and very fine, this stain was perfect to give me a nice, enhanced, natural look that was truly trouble free and long lasting. The stain deepened my lashes and gave me a more defined look (perfect for running around on the weekends or going to the gym). My lashes were lengthened slightly and had nice separation. I also liked the curved brush and the non-clumpy formula.
The stain did not flake or run (and I even went to the pool/sauna with it) which was great. However, it did not really increase the volume of my lashes (no Va Va Voom lash effect in other words). For this natural effect, it did indeed last about 4 days. I was very careful about applying it, since this is a stain (so take care that it does not touch your under eye area or face). Of course, it is possible to take off, with a generous amount of oil-based makeup remover and a Q-Tip.)
It should be noted that I also tried this with along with a Volumizing mascara and it did work well, but I did not get the 4 day results. It only lasted about two days. All in all, this is a great choice for those of you who want a natural look, love to apply a product and forget about it, and don’t need/want much lash “enhancement.
Note: When wearing this formula you cannot use any oil based product near the eye area or when removing makeup, as it will cause the stain to come off. (via Palacinka)
Updated May 30, 2008
Lists that feature this:
Kanebo Relaxing Foaming Body Scrub
First to recommend
Description
This smooth (yet fairly large) grained, foaming body scrub is the perfect complement to the body wash (see review above). I used this about 3x week before the body wash. After working all my critical spots (elbows, knees, feet, décolletage), and then rinsing, it left my skin smooth and super soft. The grains in the scrub are cushioned in a soft, fresh smelling gel/cream emulsion, which was very effective at exfoliating but not harsh on my skin at all.
The tube itself is a fairly large size, and I used for several weeks and did not even get half way though it. The fragrance mimics that of the body wash, again a green tea infusion. Its lovely pale mint green packaging looks nice in the shower as well for all you packaging junkies out there too! (via Palacinka)
Updated Jul 11, 2008
List that features this:
Kanebo Relaxing Body Wash
First to recommend
Description
Kanebo makes one of the best body care brands in the world. Why? Because their products combine great ingredients which really care for skin, feature a subtle yet still memorable fresh fragrance and create a “luxury” cleansing feeling.
The relaxing body wash is a smooth, silky, pearlescent light mint green color (as is the actual packaging). With a gentle press on the bottle the concentrated wash came out and was so soft and refreshing on my skin. (The fragrance actually brought me back to a wonderful business trip I took to Tokyo a few years ago where I had a “feeding frenzy” trying amazing Japanese skin care products). It was the green tea and bamboo extract fragrance that took me back. It a really is a light, relaxing scent.
I loved using this at the end of the day, especially after a hot, humid day, as this removed every trace of city dirt and grime, and left my skin soft and supple. If you have very dry skin, you will need a bit of lotion on key points like elbows, knees and legs, but otherwise, this provided a great amount of light moisture without feeling like there was any film or residue left on my skin.
A pampering treat that every beauty lover should have in their body care collection! (via Palacinka)
Updated Jul 11, 2008
List that features this:
Clarins UV Plus SPF 40
9 people recommended this item
Description
Ah, sunscreen, so many choices…and so little time. For my face, I am very finicky about the texture, the smell, the staying power and also the convenience level of the packaging (must be travel/gym ready). This new Clarins sunscreen was a relief in a sea of sunscreen I have been testing for the last month or so.
I love the little cylinder tube which is super portable. The formula itself is very lightweight and on the thin side, but so concentrated I didn’t need much to cover my face (so it is very long lasting). There is a light fragrance, which dissipated quickly. The lotion glided on my skin without a trace of stickiness, white cast, or oil. The finish was matte. I found that it was light enough to be layered over my favorite serum and under my liquid bronzer or tinted moisturizer that I tend to favor in the summer months. As a matter of fact, this is actually the perfect skin primer before makeup application. The lasting power was fantastic on days I was working, running around outside or actually sunning at the beach. I had no breakouts or irritation from the product and it didn’t run or melt on my skin. It also left my skin soft and moisturized without feeling oily, so on the weekends I would just wear this with a little mascara and lip color and I was good to go!
This is a non-chemical sunscreen which many of you will also appreciate. It’s made from 100% minerals. Yes, this is another product that is indeed worth every penny and I will be stockpiling!
Note: As an added bonus if you are like me and always around computer screens, Clarins has added protection against electromagnetic waves in this formula. (via Palacinka)
Updated Dec 22, 2008
Lists that feature this:
Lancome AROMA TONIC - Energizing Body Treatment Fragrance
First to recommend
Description
About six months ago I was sweeping through one of my favorite department stores and came across the tall striking green bottle at the Lancôme counter. I was in a rush, so I simply popped open the top and spritzed myself and quickly left.
Within about a minute, as I was walking I got the most amazing sensation – it was the most wonderfully, citrus-y fragrance I’ve ever smelled; lime, lemon, and green tea. Unfortunately, life got busy as it often does, and I never got back to the counter…
So when this treatment fragrance came to my desk you can imagine how I felt! This is THE scent of summer to me -- a semi-lotion-tonic-liquid-fragrance which actually cools your skin when it's hot. What is fascinating is that I've never gotten more compliments about a fragrance than when I wear Aroma Tonic. It's a great smell and not overwhelming. I can wear this fragrance for weeks on end and not get tired of it. It makes me feel so happy, positive and alive!
This really is the ultimate light, fresh, summery scent! It contains notes of lime, cardamom, green tea, osmanthus and ginger. The tart lime note gives this fragrance an uplifting, refreshing quality. The staying power is better than average for a body spray, I'd say. I can smell it up to three hours after spraying five spritzes. This LASTS and LASTS. I sprayed this on after my shower each morning and by late afternoon I would still smell it. Also, for all you “bottle snobs” (you know who you are), the Lancôme packaging and bottle is simply heaven to look at and hold!
It smells divine, but if you're not into green and/or citrus scents, this is probably not for you. Also, if you have dry skin, apply your body lotion/oil before spraying this fragrance all over your body as it does have some alcohol in it which can be drying.
Note: A few spritzes of this in a light body oil make an amazing massage oil for yourself or your loved one! Amazing... (via Palacinka)
Updated Sep 14, 2008
Lists that feature this:
This is:
palacinka
ThisNext's Beauty Expert Maven
We help take the guesswork out of buying your next beauty product (tm)
Sites
ThisNext: Become a Member
- Shopping ideas just for you
- It's easy and free
- Takes less than a minute
Lists
Natural and Organic Beauty
Updated Jul 1, 2009
The best and most innovative skincare, body care and cosmetics made with organic and/or natural ingredients.
Great Bodycare
Updated May 26, 2009
Favorite body care products for hands, feet and everything in between!
Plane Approved Beauty
Updated Aug 29, 2009
These are the best products to take on any trip - whether you are going by plane, train or boat! They will pass the FDA flight...
Amazing Scents!
Updated Aug 29, 2009
For the Fragrance lover who loves something distincitve, exciting and of course unique!
ThisNext Information
- Shopcast New!
- Retailers
- FAQ
- Blog
- About Us
- Contact ThisNext.com
- Newsletter
- ShopSafe
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
Copyright ©2005-2009 ThisNext, Inc.