I was in the Outer Banks last week so I had a chance to work on my beach casual look. I only packed a pair of flip flops for my trip and didn't style my hair the whole weekend. The whole week consisted of beach waves and beach cover ups!
Day Look
My new Emilie M Aimee canvas bag is just the right size to fit all of my beach essentials and also transitions nicely for night. I got a ton of compliments on this bag all week long. For trips to the beach and pool, I packed my bag full with my Turkish-T Towel, Neutrogena SPF 55, my Nexus 7 tablet loaded with the new James Patterson book, Mistress, Lip Smacker Lip Balm with SPF, and sunglasses. Half the time I was there I rocked an Old Navy maternity two piece, and the other days I was bold and wore a regular bikini (embrace the bump!).
Night Look
We have a lot of reasons to celebrate today! Yesterday was the first day of Summer, and today is International Sun-Day! Today is the Sunday closest to the summer solstice, making it a special SUNday to celebrate the nearest star in the Universe, the Sun!
But before you go out and celebrate, make sure you are well protected from this star! I've been in extreme Outer Banks, North Carolina heat all week, and have been layering on Neutrogena sunscreen. I'm guilty of not wanting to wear high SPF sunscreen in the past because I was afraid I wouldn't get 'tan.' Well, that mind set has gone out the window now that I'm older (and I like to think wiser, too) and I worry about longer term skin damage and wrinkles.
I stocked up on SPF 50+ for this trip and pretty much forced it on everyone in my family. Especially when traveling south, the sun is so much stronger, and it never seems like you can enough sunscreen on. There is nothing worse than a sunburn on vacation! My family has been using the below sunscreens all weekend and we've all stayed sunburn free while playing in and out of the ocean and pool.
Ultra Sheer Liquid SPF 70
This goes on underneath your moisturizer and can be worn daily. I LOVE the way this soaks into my skin. I also have extremely sensitive skin, and this non-comedogenic lotion hasn't caused any breakouts or flare ups of my rosacea. I've been putting this on my face, neck and chest every morning when I wake up. You never know when you're going to eat outside or drink coffee on the balcony and the sun will reach your face. It has a sheer, not greasy, finish, and almost looks like it could be a skin corrector. Other benefits include: water resistant for up to 80 minutes, Helioplex technology, oil-free, and PABA free.
Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55
I loaded up with the Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55 before I even stepped outside. Being pregnant has made me even more cautious about protecting my skin. This kept me burn free but also allowed me to still get a bit of color. This sunscreen is super lightweight and absorbs quickly. I also didn't have any problems with using it on my sensitive skin (it helps that it's non-comedogenic). It's also oil-free, PABA free, and uses the Helioplex technology like the Ultra Sheer Liquid.
Beach Defense Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+
This stick is genius, especially when you don't want to get your hands sticky with sunscreen. It makes for easy, clean application. My niece and nephew also thought it was pretty 'funny' since it looks like deodorant, and made them a little less unhappy about sunscreen re-applications :) This stick didn't absorb as quickly as the Ultra Sheer, but I felt like it was better to use before going into the ocean because it was a bit thicker. The water just ran right over it on our skin, and kept us well protected. Like the Ultra Sheer line, it's oil and PABA free. To top it off, this one smells a little fruity :)
Neutrogena sunscreens can be purchased online at Neutrogena.com or found at your local drugstores like CVS or Walgreens.
How do you plan on protecting your skin this Summer? Please share below!
Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.
