Little Magazine 4

Oh Sweet Summer

Article 4

May 26, 2020

hola cola.

There are about ten million product recommendations out there. I’m going to share with you a short curated list of products that are A+ for your basic summer needs. Aka keepin’ your skin 100.

Currently listening to Le Kitsune’s Summer Quarantunes (Thanks Cath for the idea!) and writing in a bathing suit to get into the mood, bc I’m a silly goose. Alright let’s get to it!

sunscreen

Nobody loooves wearing it, but it’s serious business and we really need to. (Check your city’s UV index!) It’s really just silly to suffer the consequences and so much more difficult to undo the damage. By the way, sunscreen should go LAST in your skincare routine. So here are 3 recommendations, and here are my personal prerequisites:

-Broad Spectrum (or else why bother).

-No White Cast (bc that’s not cute).

-Doesn’t feel gross.

Supergoop ($22). You’ve probably heard of them. I tested their products during the brand’s sophomoric status and I wasn’t too impressed, but they’ve clearly learned. This product is a winner.

Earth’s Recipe ($15 on Yesstyle or $24 on Amazon). It’s been a while since I used this one but I still remember being incredibly impressed at how not gross this felt. If you’re put off by the yucky feeling of sunscreen, this gives you zero excuses!

Innisfree ($15). This is an incredibly popular sunscreen because it’s straight-forward, hits all the marks and is at a friendly price-point.

PS- Want to know a true model-secret? No model that relies on their face for a living subjects it to cruel punishment (aka uv rays). Most models’ faces are at least 3 shades lighter than their bodies bc they always protect their face (Makeup Artists then match). Use St. Tropez self-tanner to compensate for the difference. ONE PUMP is enough for the entire face. I like the mousse formula because it’s easy to distribute. Exfoliate in the evening, moisturize, then apply one pump all over your face starting with the forehead (at the scalp) only in the areas you would apply bronzer. I like to use my (clean) small blush brush to apply for quick application and control. The key is not to put it everywhere #nooompaloompasplease. Leave some space where you would wear swim goggles and stay mostly on the outer part of your face and a little over your nose bridge and on your chin. This creates a more believable, natural effect.

prep that skin.

Since we’re all still hopeful about easing Quarantine restrictions, but also can’t exactly plan a trip to Hawaii, treat yourself with this Malie Organics Body polish ($29) in Plumeria after your body wash in the shower. It really smells like everything you hope Hawaii would smell like. It also leaves your skin baby-soft, smooth and visibly polished (literally) and is a great prep step to reveal those shy winter gams.

Leland Francis is one of those product lines that I’m obsessed with. And while I think its rockstar product is the 29-Botanical Oil ($85), they also came out with a beautiful Body Serum ($80) that’s clutch in the summer. I like to apply it when my skin is still wet from the shower, which facilitates absorption. This will take your skin to the next level. It’s also a small-batch company from Los Angeles that’s clean, non-toxic, cruelty-free & vegan. Also, Dillon, the owner, is a friend of one of my clients— he’s a real person and he’s sweet as pie. Support local!

oops

…you did it again. You accidentally got too much sun. Or, if you’re like me and you turn transparent during winter, you’re bound to upset your skin when the sun suddenly decides to make a debut. You can thank Papa Lee for this beauty tip, but good ol’ Noxzema does the trick for me. Yup! He’s been slathering us in this stuff post-beach since we were kids, and it’s a hero at “removing the heat” and calms my angry, sensitive skin immediately. And it’s less than $5! Is your morning latte even that cheap? It’s an O.G. for a reason. It works. It has camphor, menthol, eucalyptus, linseed oil and soybean oil. Camphor reduces inflammation and reduces pain topically. The menthol lends the tingly, cooling effect. Apply generously as a mask (face & body), wait until dried, and wash off with cold water. Moisturize. Notice your happy tight little pores? Yer welcome.

If you’re in pain from a severe sunburn (RIP skin), this will save your life. Derma MD should rename Pink Silk “Life-Saver,” because I was literally taking pain medications during a painful bout of sunburn when a friend (Hi Madison) gave me the last bit of her Pink Silk sample from her Esthetician. It had saved her life once before and she kindly saved mine. It healed it in one day. HOW?! Angels are inside that bottle, I’m telling ya. They come out and mend your little lobster-sunburned-skin before heading back to heaven. It’s composed of caviar (of course), red algae peptides from Hawaii, and Angels. Jk on the last one, but I wonder, though.

“Tippy-tip:

Want to have a cute messy beach bun but have a lot of breakage from crisping your hair to the perfect ashy blonde, like me? Flip your head upside down and start a braid from the nape of your neck climbing up towards your ponytail. Not only is it cute but it’ll keep those little pesky baby hairs (that’s what we’ll call them) in place.”

Edit: Per someone’s request (someone awesome—Hi sis), I posted an example of what this could look like below. Y’all don’t need to see my mess, and I’m a sparkle Queen, so don’t mind the extra background, bc, well, I’m extra.

Now that is an up-close of my noggin. Please don’t judge the 4-inch roots.#Quarantinehair know what I mean, jellybean?

Stay fly. Til next week, buh-bye! :) -Renee