Summer Must-Have: Clinique Even Better Hand Cream SPF 15

Summer is the best time of the year, as far as I'm concerned. I spend as much time outside as I possibly can, drive with the top down when it's not raining (so, like all summer so far....) and love to spend time in and on the water. Obviously, sunscreen is an important part of my skincare regime. I always put sunscreen on my hands, but honestly find most too thick, too greasy or too sticky to be comfortable. Especially when driving.

Clinique Even Better SPF 15 is the perfect solution to the sunscreen on the hands dilemma. It has the tone correcting benefits of Vitamin C that is in their Even Better line, which means it will help reduce the appearance of spots and sun damage. It also has SPF to help prevent future discolouration. Some salicylic acid helps exfoliate dead skin cells keeping a smooth and even appearance. Hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture, and broad spectrum UVA and UVB sunscreen protection prevent the future formation of age spots.

It has a lovely rich texture that sinks right in, and a very soft fragrance. I'd call it beachy citrus, if I had to categorize it, but again, it is very soft. It is thick, but seems to melt upon application, while leaving softly moisturized skin behind. It isn't greasy at all, and adds a lovely glow to the skin. I've also noticed my cuticles seem to the love it. Clinique Even Better Hand Cream lasts for hours and allegedly through 2 hand washings! I have not put it to that test yet, but it does very well through one hand washing! And, watering the garden. Knowing that most people can accurately tell a person's age by viewing only their hands, I plan on looking after mine!

Clinique Even Better Hand Cream is available for around $35 at Clinique counters.

My Skin Is Soft & Safe With Vichy Sunscreen

Sunscreen on- check.

Having just enjoyed a glorious sunny & warm Victoria Day Weekend on the dock here in Canada, I was also able to use it to test drive this season's new sunscreens. And, by new sunscreen, I mean that sunscreen expires, and that key ingredients become ineffective over time. I learned this the hard way and from now on, May is the month to get the sunscreen for the season. 

Vichy skincare has been blowing my mind lately, so I was keen to try their sun care line, Capital Soleil. The Vichy SPF 30 Luxurious Protective Oil has got to be one of the loveliest sunscreens I have ever used. Protect yourself from the sun while improving the look and condition of your skin? And, smell absolutely wonderful while doing it? Sign me up! 

The amazingly light and sheer SPF 60 Soft Sheer Lotion is perfect for your face, chest- anywhere that may be sensitive to oily lotions, as it doesn't have a greasy look or feel. It is absorbed quickly, leaving no greasy feel and is fragrance free, making it perfect for children or sensitive skin. Both of these products have Vitamin E and white grape polyphenol which neutralize almost all types of free radicals for enhanced cellular protection. Next on the list to try is the Vichy SPF 50 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid which sounds like it would perfect to use on the face. Add a wide brimmed straw hat and I'm ready to face the summer sun!

Come on boys, the car is loaded up! Lets go to the beach!

Vichy Capital Soleil products are available wherever Vichy is sold, at most drugstores in the US and Canada.

The Future Called: It Wants It's Sunscreen Back

I love having my mind blown by amahzing skincare and beauty products. Remember Vichy proEVEN? Still loving it, still can't imagine life without it. So, now that Vichy proEVEN has made our skin tone gorgeous, we need to protect it. We knew that already but after a winter of living indoors like trolls under a bridge, the light is coming in through the cracks & as we tear off our layers, we can't forget our sunscreen. Just like the song says.

Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF50 is the latest product to impress me. I am a lover of warm weather and being outside in the sun, but I'm no fool. I keep myself covered in sunscreen at all times to enjoy the rays without cooking and turning into a piece of brown leather. We all know that look- besides being dangerous, it ages us and looks, well, awful. Please don't make me post another photo of Magda from There's Something About Mary. You know who I mean.  Enter Skinceuticals and their lastest sunscreen offering. From their website:

"A groundbreaking, weightless sunscreen featuring color-infused sunscreen technology that provides a universal tint and boosts daily radiance. PHYSICAL FUSION UV DEFENSE SPF 50 offers the photoprotection of trusted broad-spectrum, physical filters, zinc oxide (Z-COTE®) and titanium dioxide, and is enhanced by artemia salina, a plankton extract, to increase the skin’s defenses and resistance to UV and heat stress."

Indirect light - below is sunscreen, almost dripping away, above it is rubbed in.

The formula is a light as water, so even though I know there is a silicone in there, the chemical make up of it is so fine & light that it doesn't bother my sensitive skin. The zinc is also healing and so helpful with oily skin. Sunscreen on the face is a tricky endeavor. The wrong kind causes brutal breakouts, a white cast or turns into a grease slick. My favourite to date has been Shu Uemura Under Base Mousse SPF30. I still love it and likely always will, as it is a genius primer, and keeps shine at bay for hours. But spending a long day in the sun sometimes calls for stronger than SPF30. But the Skinceuticals is as incredible as the Shu with more protection. I've never used a product with this sheer, light as a feather formulation. Super sheer universally flattering shade that enhances skin, ability to hold make up in place, low/no shine and no breakouts. The formula is interesting in that it needs to be shaken before using. It sounds like it has a ball in the bottle like nail polish to help it mix.

The safest spot on the beach...

This is a key part of my summer skin protection arsenal. I plan to get one for my fair skinned/freckle-y daughter, and my oily skinned daughter who is using anti acne products that make her skin extra sensitive to the sun. It's perfect for all of us.

Skinceuticals are available in the US, check here for availability near you. Canadians check here.