SPF

Skincare: Herbal Choice Mari SPF-15 Day Cream

August 26, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Herbal Choice Mari SPF-15 Day Cream

If you are even a sporadic Style Chicks reader, you know how strongly we feel about the daily use of sunscreen, 365 days a year, rain or shine.

I have become increasingly concerned about chemicals in sunscreens being absorbed transdermally into my system. A lot of chemicals such as oxybenzone are readily absorbed into your body and have been shown to cause allergic reactions in some people and cause toxicity. Synthetic fragrances and dyes can also get into your system, and can cause topical reactions as well. Trading sun protection for a rash or toxic chemicals in your system doesn’t sound appealing, does it?

That is why I like Herbal Choice Mari SPF-15 Day Cream. It is oxybenzone and octinoxate free. It is also free of chemicals and nano-particles, which can penetrate the skin and get into the system. It is also free from petroleum based ingredients. And from the Herbal Choice website, all the other things it is free of: “free from synthetic fragrances or dyes. Free from gluten, dairy, soy, corn, no GMO. Free from phthalates, parabens, preservatives. Free from beeswax, insects or animal ingredients”. And it is also Cruelty-free, vegan and vegetarian. Covers all the bases, doesn’t it?

While it comes in tinted shades (like a tinted moisturizer or a light BB cream), I selected the transparent shade. It does leave a bit of a white film. However, I’m finding of late that if you apply a sunscreen that leaves a white tint, then foundation is truer on my skin. I’m quite fair and have a cool skin tone, so consider one of the tinted shades if you aren’t quite as pale as I am.

So, the big question is, if it doesn’t protect the skin via chemicals, then how does it actually work? It contains Non-Nano Zinc Oxide, a well-known sun shield. It is a full-spectrum sunscreen, so you are protected from both UVA and UVB rays. It also has lovely skincare ingredients such as organic olive oil, organic lemongrass, organic lavender, and organic sage.

It has a delicate lemongrass scent that dissipates on the skin. The formula itself is incredibly emollient and makes my skin feel smooth and supple. It comes in a lovely purple glass jar to protect the formula, and it is quite pretty on its own.

I’m very happy to have found a sunscreen that not only protects and nourishes my skin but is also free of so many dangerous ingredients! I often hear absorption of chemicals as a reason women don’t choose to wear sunscreen, but there are alternatives, and this is a great sunscreen that won’t harm your body and is great for your skin! It also comes in an SPF 30, which is recommended by many dermatologists.

Find this great sunscreen at Nature’s Brands.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XPTiXi78-0[/embedyt]

I received this product for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and Iâ€™ll do my best to answer it!

Herbal Choice Mari SPF-15 Day Cream

August 26, 2016 · Leave a Comment

If you are even a sporadic Style Chicks reader, you know how strongly we feel about the daily use of sunscreen, 365 days a year, rain or shine.

Find this great sunscreen at Nature’s Brands.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XPTiXi78-0[/embedyt]

I received this product for testing and review purposes.

Product Review: Miracle Skin Transformer Lip Rewind

July 20, 2015 · Leave a Comment

My lips have been a bit wrinkly since I was 5. In pictures from a Disney World trip when I was 3, my lips were lineless and vibrantly red. I must have pursed my lips a LOT between the ages of 3 and 5.

That’s why I love Miracle Skin Transformer Lip Rewind Advanced Peptide Lip Treatment SPF20. It smoothes my lips and makes them incredibly soft and defined. I am really impressed with how plump it made my lips without stinging like a lot of lip plumpers. Just smooth and soothing. I tried it in Pink, which is a great everyday summer color.

Find Miracle Skin Transformer Lip Rewind Advanced Peptide Lip Treatment SPF20 at Nordstrom.com.

Miracle Skin Transformer Lip Rewind in Pink

Product Review: Nars Cosmetics Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30

June 21, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Awhile back I went to my local Nars counter to restock on a few items and met a lovely makeup artist there. One of the products she introduced me to was Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 in Terre Neuve, which I didn’t purchase that day, but have purchased since and absolutely love it. Nars has since come out with a Matte version, so I thought it would be good to review the Radiant Version. I haven’t tried the Matte version but there are reasons I think I would stick with the Radiant one for now.

The artist informed me it was a tinted moisturizer, but it is so much more than that. As the name implies, it has a Broad Spectrum SPF of 30, so it is really more of a SPF-moisturizer-skincare product that happens to even the skin. The skincare ingredients are also impressive: Botanicals and seawater work to reduce hyperpigmentation and hydrate skin, and it really does work as a surge of moisture to the skin. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now and I’ve never seen my skin get dry when I’m wearing it.

My favorite use for Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is around the eyes. Most products that are targeted as an SPF for the orbital area tend to irritate the eye area and eventually end up in my eyes, leading to irritation. Not only does this product stay in place and not irritate the delicate eyelid skin, it provides fantastic light coverage for circles, keeps the area moist and non-creased, and is a great eyeshadow primer. It really provides a radiance to the eye area, so if you are interested in an easy no-makeup look, this is a great product for around the eye. When I want more coverage or brightness I layer Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly over it.

The color range for this product is great as well. Terre Neuve is the lightest shade with a neutral pink undertone. Very few tinted moisturizers go anywhere near the pink undertone range, which is why to date I have always ended up simply mixing in a matching foundation with my moisturizer, which never gives great results. I appreciate Nars giving a nod to us pale women with this product and the subtle undertone variations. Subtle enough, in fact, that Lyn was matched to Finland, which has both pink and yellow undertones in the lightest shade. She and I always end up getting matched to the same shade (we are siblings and all), but this product addresses the slightest of undertone differences.

The only downside to the product is that the amount that one needs to use for proper SPF coverage results in a cakey, unrealistic foundation look if your skin is in the least bit dry which is why I plan on sticking with the Radiant version vs the Matte version for now. This doesn’t really bother me since I layer it on top of a regular sunscreen, and around the eyes it is better than not wearing sunscreen. But adding another layer of sun protection is always a bonus.

All in all this is a fantastic product: it is a moisturizer that packs a punch, gives even tone to the skin, gives a nice layer of SPF, doesn’t irritate, and leaves a dewy, youthful finish. I’m very pleased I found it.

Find Nars Cosmetics Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 at NarsCosmetics.com for $43.00

Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30