Multi-Tasking SPF Products: Because You Don’t Want To Slather On Sunscreen Every Morning
The sun makes a gorgeous picture, but it will wreak havoc on your skin
So, if you read this blog regularly, you know I’m UV-phobic (seriously: you can read about my fear and the related search for the perfect sunless tanner here). And based on some of the emails I got about my recent navigating the spf aisle post, I’m not the only one with this phobia.
One thing that was so rightly pointed out was that my original SPF post dealt strictly with sunscreen and SPF technologies – while that’s certainly an area that everyone can use some brushing up in, your average person doesn’t want to apply a layer of SPF, a layer of makeup, etc. So, you asked for it, here it is …
My favorite multi-tasking SPF products, after the jump!
For Skin: Option 1, A Brightening Cream With SPF Protection
Grassroots Vitamin C Power Brightening Cream SPF 25
It’s no secret that part of the reason SPF is so necessary is premature aging of the skin. Discolorations and age spots are actually a result of uneven accumulation of pigment in the skin, which is triggered by UV rays. The beauty of Grassroots Vitamin C Power Brightening Cream SPF 25 is that it not only provides sunscreen protection to help prevent these visible signs of aging, but it harnesses the power of Vitamin C to visibly brighten and even out skin tone. $32.50 at Kohls.com.
For Skin: Option 2, A Makeup Primer With UV Protection
ZO Skin Health Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30
Not everyone loves the idea of moisturizers with SPF, and I’m honestly one of them. I find that (at least with my combination skin), the sunscreen makes my skin greasy. I want moisturizer to melt into my skin and make it soft, not to sit on top of it.
But a primer? By definition, a primer should provide a barrier for your skin. So the idea of incorporating sunscreen into a primer is, quite frankly, a stroke of genius. Even better, ZO Skin Health Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 is both tinted and broadspectrum – meaning that it protects from both UVA and UVB rays (and if you don’t know the difference, I beg you to please read just the section of this post titled “UVA and UVB Rays Are Very Different”) without leaving a pasty white “geisha” mask on my face. It’s honestly an everyday product – one that’s so good that (despite the primer’s purpose) I can even skip tinted moisturizer on some days. $65 at select Nordstrom locations, STUDIO at Fred Segal and ZOSkinHealth.com.
For Skin: Option 3, A Powerful Sunscreen and Sheer Tinted Moisturizer
Josie Maran Tinted Moisturizer
I have a very, very hard time finding base colors that actually blend into my pale-but-ruddy skin tone, so the first thing I noticed with the Josie Maran Tinted Moisturizer is its unique color – I’d liken the butter shade to almost an apricot. It has a yellow base that neutralizes my natural flush, but still has just enough pink to blend right in.
Aesthetics aside, this product moisturizers well enough that I can skip my normal slathering of moisturizer, while a powerful broadspectrum SPF protects against damaging UV rays. Even better, the company is responsible with its products, so this tinted moisturizer is packed full of natural, organic ingredients. $38 at JosieMaranCosmetics.com.
For Eyes: Protect Delicate Skin
Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream with SPF 32
I grew up in a time (the 90s) when lady mags would actively tell their readers not to even think about applying SPF to the delicate tissue around the eyes. While I never quite understood why, it was advice I always followed – though it made me cringe. After all, the skin around the eye is some of the thinnest, most delicate skin on the body. It develops spots, wrinkles and creases long before other facial skin – not protecting the area from UV rays seemed like the most counterintuitive thing on earth.
Until I stumbled across Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream with SPF 32. Finally, a sunscreen made specifically for the eyes! Hurrah! My joy doubled when I realized that this luxurious cream is broadspectrum – so it helps smooth out today’s wrinkles while protecting against future damage. $31 at Macys.com.
For Lips: A Pretty Splash Of Color With SPF Protection
Philosophy Kiss Me Very Emollient Spf 20 Lip Balm in red
Philosophy Kiss Me Lip Balm is a cult classic, and the brand has taken the product to new heights with the introduction of SPF 20. The formulat contains Vitamin E, as well as kiwi and almond oils to moisturize, soothe and condition; the refreshing scent of peppermint keeps adds to the product’s allure.
At philosophy.com.
For Hair: A UV Defense System
Aveda Sun Care Kit
Everyday UV exposure can wreck havoc on strands just as easily as it does on skin, but we rarely take the time to prevent it (and if you have super damaged hair, like I do, it’s that much more important). Now, Aveda is making it easy to protect your crowning glory with the Aveda Sun Care Kit, which includes:
- Sun Care Hair & Body Cleanser- A color-safe formula that gently and effectively removes chlorine, salt and product build-up, while helping to maintain moisture balance.
- Sun Care Protective Hair Veil – A lightweight, water-resistant UV defense mist that forms an invisible screen to help protect hair from sun exposure for up to 16 hours, to minimize color fadage, damage and dryness.
- Sun Care After Sun Hair Masque – An intensive cream masque that restores sun-exposed hair, moisturizes, and helps defend against free radicals.
All three products for $72 at Aveda.com.
For Body: A Wallet-Friendly Lotion With SPF
Eucerin Everyday Protection Body Lotion SPF 15
Body lotion is a very necessary item for me – I have very dry skin on my legs, and without a super nourishing product, I’m miserable. That said, I do truly believe that this is an area where mass market brands lead the industry – it is not only possible, but extremely likely that the brand you pick up in the supermarket with be better moisturizing and have better technology than a brand you have to special order.
A good example of this is Eucerin Everyday Protection Body Lotion SPF 15 – the product is super moisturizing without being greasy, yet offers incredible SPF protection. A simple, basic lotion that does its job so well that I can’t live without it. $9.25 at Amazon.com.
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