should i use different skincare in the summer

Beauty's Highly Reviewed Sun Protection May Not Be What You Expected

in

@bufferingbetty

You tyrna look forever young or nah?

Real talk: Are you trying to postpone wrinkles as long as you can? If you’re not engaging with SPF, you’re not doing anything to prevent signs of aging. Play games and you’ll crinkle up sooner than you think. Wrinkles make you look dignified. But when they appear at an age that some would say is too young, well, dignified becomes “Ay, bendito,” in a blink. Here is some sun protecting skin care products that have been reviewed a wild amount of time from some of your favorite retailers. Hoping this will help you get to picking the right one for yourself.

Target

 
 

Blue Lizard Sensitive Sunscreen Lotion

Reviews: 150!
Average rating: 5/5 Stars

Need to know: SPF 30, $22.99
Available at Target
Shop here →

 
 

Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen

Reviews: 218!
Average rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Need to know: SPF 50, $12.39
Available at Target
Shop here →

 
 

Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Face Lotion

Reviews: 383!
Average rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Need to know: SPF 30, $14.69
Available at Target
Shop here →

Ulta

 

Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer

Reviews: 135!
Average rating: 4/5 Stars

Need to know: SPF 30, $28
Available at Ulta
Shop here →

 
 

Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer

Reviews: 819!
Average rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Need to know: SPF 15, $3.99
Available at Ulta
Shop here →

 

Sun Bum Sunscreen Lip Balm

Reviews: 1267!
Average rating: 3.8/5 Stars

Need to know: SPF 30, $3.99
Available at Ulta
Shop here →

Sephora

 
 

Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen

Reviews: 338!
Average rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Need to know: SPF 35, $65
Available at Sephora
Shop here →

Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen

Reviews: 397!
Average rating: 4.3/5 Stars

Need to know: SPF 50, $19, My favorite, great for dry skin!
Available at Sephora
Shop here →

 
 

Coola Full Spectrum 360° Sun Silk Drops

Reviews: 613!
Average rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Need to know: SPF 30, $46
Available at Sephora
Shop here →

 

Josie Maran Argan Daily Mositurizer

Reviews: 1,000!
Average rating: 3.9/5 Stars

Need to know: SPF 47, $34
Available at Sephora
Shop here →

 

Time to Head To The Beach!

Toners For Dry Skin: you might need more than one!

in

@bufferingbetty

We're just a little high maintenance in this dehydrated corner.

It's funny how just a year ago I wasn't even sure of what a toner does. More accurately, I was skeptical of toners even serving any skincare benefits and not just a scam to get beauty junkies to buy more of the industry's promises of perfection in a jar. Fast forward to Summer 2018 and your favorite squishy beauty blogger has got a few toners sitting in her cabinet. 

About my skin: 
I have normal skin that leans dry If i'm not careful. The seasons play a starring role in how my skin behaves. In the winter, my skin needs a wild amount of attention. The heat in the summer makes my skin a little oily but the extra SPF I apply to my skin can dry out certain areas like my forehead and cheeks. In the fall, my skin just -ugh, perfection!!! And in the spring, we cool. 

Having a few toners is more than me just being high maintenance. No, really! My skincare has always been responsive. I look at my skin and focus on how it feels. It tells me what it needs. 

At our last Meet Pepper B present's Beauty Hour event, we had skincare expert, Niambi, teach us about natural skincare. She is the creator of Pholk Beauty formally known as Bloomsbury Square. Niambi said, "my skincare is a conversation." It was one of the night's major takeaways.  Instead of doing the just same old routine, pay attention to what your skin is asking from you. 

Soothing and Hydrating Toner:

The Esteli Coco Rosa Hydrate Toner Mist has brought some balance to my life. Toners I had been using were too potent to use daily. I like to use this toner on days when I have exfoliated my skin because it feels gentle and hydrating. I spray it on a cotton round apply it to my face to ensure that I'm getting all of the goodness all over my skin. I don't like the smell. It's slightly rosy but has a spicy note to it. I've said in the past how I don't have a great sense of smell. If you blindfolded me and put a plate of strawberries in my face, I probably guess that the scent is coconut. It's just not in my skill set. That said, there is something that is zesty and just off about the scent. But I like how my skin feels when I use this toner, so I look past it. I also use this to remove excess oils from my skin before I use an epillator for my uninvited, unnecessary, ladystache. This product also claims to be makeup setting spray or a skin refresher but I don't agree. Lastly, a tip I picked up at #BeautyHour with Niambi was using a toner before a mask to prep the skin. This toner has come handy for that too!!

And not that it really matters, but I just love the color of the bottle. Deep, jewel tone-ish shades of green bring me so much zen. 

Retexturizing Toner:

United State Balancing Tonic by Origins has been a part of my life for almost a year and I'm ready to put a ring on it. There were spectacular changes to my skin with this product. On the corners of my jaw, below my ears, I have been getting rough textured skin. It was a build up of dead skin. I didn't want to use a physical exfoliator too often because that tends to break out my skin. This balancing tonic was able to remove the dead skin without damaging my skin. I just have to use it sparingly on my nose because it's more sensitive. I cannot use this toner after sun exposure or using a physical exfoliator because my skin just doesn't like it. This is more of a winter product while the Esteli toner I can use year round. 

Honorable Mention - The Gram or YT Made Me Buy

Social media doesn't always influence my purchases. I stalk the "new" or "just in" sections of Sephora, Ulta, and Beautylish so much that I am already a quarter of the way through a product when I see my fave vloggers hauling it. Which always prompts me to think "Yuh been sleeping, gurl!" It doesn't happen often, but when it does the product is usually -eh. Hype is just hype. I grabbed the mini version of the Mario Badescu  Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater while standing in the checkout line at Ulta. It's a trap because it was only $5 so I didn't give it too much thought. Plus, I had been wanting to get a toner with rosewater. It gives excellent hydration that doesn't last. I've been using it this summer as a quick hydrater after being in the sun or to freshen up my face after the gym so I don't have to over use my moisturizer. She's not cheap. If you want a product like that, this can fill that need but don't expect sparks to fly when you use it. 

What toners are you using?