.:: CybeleSays ::.

What makes a great sunscreen for me? Yes, the high SPF protection and protection from both UVA and UVB. But the most important trait? That it sinks into the skin quickly with no leftover white residue. Haven’t you had this happen where it lingers? After you apply sunscreen you have to sit around and wait for it to absorb before applying makeup, and even then, it usually makes your face greasy? Maybe this is why some people don’t even apply sunscreen in the morning? Things that make you go hmmmm.

Anyway, this one does not leave a totally matte finish but I think it dries down pretty quickly and half the time I don’t even see that I have it on. Big plus! So am I shallow in just wanting a sunscreen like this? So be it … but I’m shallow with no residue on my face!

So all this brings me to a super recommendation for you - one that not only sinks in super quick but it’s quite purse-friendly. OLAY Complete All Day UV Moisturizer with Vitamins E & B3 UV Skin Shield SPF 15 Lotion (wow, that’s a mouthful!) is also non-comedogenic and contains vitamins E and C. They are somehow able to include a sheer zinc oxide (the sunscreen part) in this and it protects from both UVA and UVB. Big recommendation. $8.99/4oz @ drugstore.com.

Quite a few skin care products have come out and here are three I am giving my stamp of approval.

COLORESCIENCE PRO Illuminating Cleanser Mineral Powder Formula ($37.50/1.4oz @ colorescience.com) – this powder looks like diamond dust and is great at not only cleansing and exfoliating the skin with Salicylic Acid but it also removes makeup. No tightness of the skin after using this one. Big recommendation.

BURT’S BEES Sensitive Night Cream ($15/1.8oz @ burtsbees.com) – part of the new Sensitive line they just put out, which includes a Cleanser, Moisturizing Cream and Eye Cream. These contain Cotton Extract to help minimize the effects of potential irritants, as well as aloe. So your skin is getting what it needs but gently.

PREVAGE Day Intensive Anti-aging Moisturizing Cream SPF 30 ($129/1.7oz) – Liz Arden’s Prevage brand has received rave reviews and they just came out with two new products. This day cream not only guards against UVA/UVB rays, but it also contains the powerful ingredient Idebenone to protect the skin from daily environmental assaults. The other new one is their Night Anti-aging Restorative Cream ($132/1.7oz). Get them both @ prevageskin.com.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

I’ve just been settling for some sunscreens for the face lately that I don’t really like in hopes of just using them up – most leave white behind that just takes too long to absorb. But this DR. JART Premium BB Beauty Balm ($39/1.5oz @ sephora.com) is a whole new avenue for me! It’s a moisturizer, sunscreen (SPF 45), and treatment serum that contains brightening properties. All things I can use these days! The best part about this one is that it’s tinted and the tint is supposed to adjust to your skin tone, which it seems to do pretty well. I’m a light to medium olive skin tone and at first my face looked kind of chalky but that faded after 5 minutes or so and the coverage is pretty sheer, so perfect for just evening out the skin tone.

From what I understand, BB Creams are really big in Asia and they are just being made available stateside and I can see why. If they do all this multi-tasking, what’s not to like or love?

Will you be trying this from Dr.Jart+?

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

  ELIZABETH ARDEN Eight Hour Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick SPF 50 Sunscreen PA +++ ($20 @ elizabetharden.com) – I’m loving the totablility/no white residue of this sunscreen!! Yes, I’ve gotten better about making sure I have sunscreen on before leaving the house in the morning but tucking this one in my purse guarantees I will never have an excuse.

THE SEAWEED BATH CO. Foot Butter ($12.89/2oz @ seaweedbathco.com) – this reminds me of this one and is just in time for summer feet! The ingredients include: Cocoa butter, natural beeswax, bladderwrack, seaweed extract in safflower oil, neem oil, kakum butter, arrowroot powder, lanolin, vitamin E, peppermint essential oil, tea tree essential oil. Need I say more?

And there’s even a travel version of this one too, so like the above sunscreen, the purse will be housing this one too this summer.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

My 2 year-old niece, Collette, is really into swimming these days and I’m always concerned about the sun when she’s in the pool with her delicate baby skin. Of course this being Memorial Day Weekend, everyone is at the beach or the pool, including us. NEUTROGENA just put out a few new sunblocks for the season and one is made just for kids. Wet Skin Kids Sunblock Spray SPF 70+ ($11.99/6oz @ drugstore.com) and one for us adults, Wet Skin Sunblock Spray SPF 30 ($9.99/6oz @ drugstore.com) and same with SPF 50. New technology allows it to adhere well to skin that’s wet from swimming or sweating and it has their own Helioplex broad spectrum against UVA and UVB rays. As you can imagine, I was all over spraying these on us all!

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

It’s sad to say that most people only think of sunscreen when it comes to the spring and summer but I think overall we are getting better with it and soon every woman with think of donning it year ‘round. Incorporating it automatically in your moisturizer is a good way to always remember and the NEOVA line has one that’s getting high marks on my end. It’s called Day Therapy SPF 30 and think of this one as a deluxe sunscreen in that it not only protects against both UVA/UVB rays but it uses major anti-aging ingredients. The only other company I have heard of that embraces copper like this one does in its products is this one. It contains a GHK Copper  Peptide Complex, that’s a major antioxidant boost to the skin. So if you’re going to SPF it, and I hope you do often, why not help fight the signs of aging at the same time? $85/1.7oz @ nextderm.com.

This product contains Propylparaben, which is seen by some as an ingredient of concern.

Read my ingredient disclaimer here.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

I’ve been really good about using sunscreen on my face for the past few months, pretty much getting some on everyday no matter where I am going, if anywhere. However, I still can’t seem to get used to the ones that leave the white behind that takes a few to absorb and makes your face greasy.  I think it’s the protecting zinc inside that does this but that waiting time makes me reluctant to apply it at all so I went on a hunt. One I came across that has a low white factor, as I’m calling it, is from the PETER THOMAS ROTH line. It’s their Max Daily Defense Moisture Cream SPF 30 and not only does it block the sun’s rays but it’s also a super moisturizer for the skin. It contains the major antioxidants vitamins A and E and also Sodium Hyaluronate, which helps with the skin’s elasticity. And there is pretty much no greasiness to deal with here, so that saves time in the morning. $42/1.7oz @ sephora.com.

This product contains Propylparaben, which is seen by some as an ingredient of concern.

Read my ingredient disclaimer here.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

I’m always paranoid about one thing in particular when I got outside into a bright summer day – overdoing my foundation. Now I don’t wear foundation or powder everyday but moreso to even out the tone and just look polished. But for some reason, I feel like I can overdo it, when 95% of the time I don’t. One way to guarantee that one doesn’t is to use a tinted moisturizer. With most I have tried, I have felt that I don’t get enough coverage until I tried this one. FRESH MINERALS is one that I have been wearing lately and I really love the finish it leaves behind. Their Tinted Moisturizer comes in five shades and the Pink Porcelain matched perfectly! It incorporates a SPF 20, which every face cream should and just enough color to even out the tone. It also has vitamins E and C, so it’s also nourishing. I find this one especially great for when I’m in a hurry in the morning and don’t have time to fuss with my makeup but still want to look somewhat presentable. $25/1.4oz @ freshmineralsusa.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

The Johnson & Johnson line recently unveiled some new technology that they’re using is some of their products. CYTOMIMIC Technology was created to mimic the body’s own cell-to-cell communication. Think of this process as your skin’s cells on the telephone with each other and over time these telephone wires get weaker and the communication can slow down. With this technology, it mimics this activity to make sure that the telephone lines are staying strong or rather your skin is getting all the nutrients to help fight the aging process.

They’ve harnessed this technology in a few of their products including ones from NEUTROGENA, RoC and AVEENO. The only one I’ve tried so far is RoC’s Day Rejuvenating Moisturizer SPF 20 ($42.99 @ walgreens.com).  It’s a two-step process consisting of an activating serum and a rejuvenating cream and they claim you will see results in just a week but I’d say more like 5 weeks or so. I wouldn’t say it did away with the wrinkles around my eyes but it for sure makes them less noticeable to me. And kudos for the nice high SPF number!

Have you tried any of the Neutrogena, Aveeno or RoC products with this new technology? Do tell in the comments!

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

Time to get your sunscreen on! Don’t forget the season’s most important product! And yes, I say this with exclamation points and many of them!! I’m not perfect and I do forget so I recommend putting any you have front and center so it will become part of your daily beauty routine. And some of the below ones are the continuous mist kind that can be sprayed at any angle (all should be in this form!).

And also note that sunscreens do expire so may I recommend some new ones?

From L to R:

GOCLEAR Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 12 ($33/1.7oz @ sephora.com) – made specifically for the face, this oil-free UVA/UVB cream contains botanical extracts and particularly suited for those with blemish-prone skin.

COPPERTONE Continuous Sunblock Spray, SPF 30 ($9.99/6oz @ drugstore.com)  - these Continuous Spray sunscreens are some of my favorites as they are no rub and come out and apply totally clear. Rarely do I ever mention a product twice on the site but these are so great and come at a great price, that I have to.

OSCAR BLANDI Capri Sun-Shield Spray ($20/8oz @ sephora.com) – another product under the category of you-spent-all-that-money-on-your-hair-color-now-make-it-last. The sun can really wreak havoc on strands, so protect them.

HAMPTON SUN Continue Mist Sunscreen SPF 55 ($32/5oz @ hamptonsuncare.com) – I’ve been on the hunt for non-whitening-for-15-minute one for my face and this one is good for face and body and it’s totally clear!

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes. Some I bought.