Suncare Basics: Sunscreens Explained!

Suncare Basics by elbonner featuring l'oréal paris

The sun has finally made its entrance and it's hot as balls outside right now! It's reminding me how important it is to keep my face protected during the sunniest parts of the day when I can't escape to some shade. Now, there are different products for different times of the day, and I think a reason why people shy away from wearing a designated sunscreen during the day is because they're using the wrong kind. If you don't like wearing sunscreens during the day because of the texture or feel, this little post might help you out to see if maybe you're over doing it or if you just need to try something new!

Everyday Basics: what one would wear to work, to run errands, to sit outside and have lunch; anything that doesn't involve strenuous activity that could sweat off your sunscreen.

1: Milky& Light
 Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50- This is what I use daily in the summer time on work days and days where I won't be sweating or swimming. This sunscreen is light, non-greasy, mattifying, and broad spectrum. It is not water resistant, so not something you bring to the pool, but great for every day use.

 La Roche Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral sunscreen- Very similar to the Skinceuticals, but a bit cheaper and available at CVS! This sunscreen says that it is water resistant, but I tend to not use super light formulas when swimming because I feel like it comes off easier and I have to reapply more often. On the other hand, it is perfect for everyday use where you're not getting gross and sweaty!

2: Protective Moisture 
Origins "A Perfect World" Spf 25- A light, but powerful moisturizer, full of antioxidants that help keep your skin looking young for many years to come! They new make this moisturizer with an spf, so an extra sunscreen is not needed for non-water related activities. Good for people with dry skin.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer spf 30- Like the moisturizer above, this one has no scent and is gentle for sensitive skin. Because it has no scent, it's great for men and women and doesn't have an overly girly bottle. $20 and a high spf, you can't go wrong! This moisturizer in not formulated for use in the water.

Active Days: For days at the beach, long-haul outdoor runs, canoe trips, backpacking, hot beach volleyball matches, swimming, and all those fun activities you do during your time off that help you get your sweat on.

3: Moisturizing Outdoor
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream spf 50- This is what I wear to the beach when my face is being especially dry, so it's good for mature and dry skin, but not so much oily or acne prone. It's mineral based so it doesn't irritate your face and stays on without running into eyes after water activities or sweating.

Sun Bum Pro Spf 50- My all-time favorite active, facial sunscreen. This is a little less moisturizing than the Shiseido (and cheaper) , but not totally drying. Also mineral-based, so it doesn't irritate your skin. Made for people who work and play outside, so great for the beach or cutting the grass on a hot day!

4: Mattifying Outdoor

Coola Face Matte Organic Cucumber Spf 30- Smells like juicy cucumbers and keeps the shine away so you're not blinding fellow beach-goers with your shiny-ass forehead! This formula was made especially for oily skinned people who want the protection of a rich sunscreen without the glare. A lot of mineral sunscreens are oily and this was one of the first to develop an effective matte formula. Plus the tube is super cute!

L'Oreal Sublime Sun Sunscreen for Face spf 50- A great drugstore buy that is similar to La Roche Posay in formula, but better at staying on during water activities. This stuff is like nine bucks and is great for oily or acne prone faces.


I hope this post helped to clear up any confusion about what to wear and when. There are so many different formulas out now and not all sunscreens are made to be water resistant, so be vigilant in your label-reading! If you have any questions, feel free to comment and I'll do my best to answer them!

Instagram @e_bythesea

Man Stuff!

Man Stuff by elbonner featuring baxter of california

Much to my surprise and delight, I've got some man readers! Never a bad thing, I just feel guilty that  a lot of what I feature on this blog is female-focused. I've decided to make this Sunday afternoon post just for the dudes. It's the manly thing to not care too much about what you put on your face and body to keep it rugged and majestic, but, you have to admit, this stuff is fun. Especially, all the cool shaving stuff that's coming out now. Being well-groomed doesn't make you less of a man, it makes you a much better looking one. Here are some of my picks to keep things simple, but to up your game a bit.

Skincare 
1. Cleanser: Earth-Tu Face Wash- Simple name, simple ingredients. My boyfriend, the product minimalist, likes products that don't have a lot of crap in them and this cleanser is as simple as they come. Gentle enough for sensitive skin, it cleanses without over-drying. 

2. Moisturize/Protect: Baxter of California Super Shape spf15: Guys, you need a sunscreen and you need to moisturize your face unless you want to look like a grizzled crab fisherman at 30. Keep it simple and get a moisturizer with an spf so it's done in one step. Baxter's of California makes some great stuff (they're cleanser was awesome) and has some of the simplest, classy packaging I've ever seen. 

3. Eye Care: Murad Essential-C Eye Cream spf15- Don't scoff at eye creams. Anyone can benefit to a little extra help around the most delicate part of your body. The spf keeps eyes protected during outdoor activities and vitamin helps counteract sun damage. 

4. Pores: Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Mask- the minerals in this mask help to calm skin whilst clearing pores of gross stuff and keeping you pimple free. Masks are fun and your face feels sooo much better after a nice mask! 

5. Exfoliation: Lush Ocean Salt- Men, you have to exfoliate. It is so important, especially if you shave. Exfoliation helps with ingrown hairs and helps get all the dirt, grime and stress off at the end of the day. Nothing makes my face feel better like a good scrub. Don't be to harsh, you don't want to damage your skin, but this scrub exfoliates with sea salt and soothes with avocado butter. A personal favorite! (Bonus: can be used for the body too!)

Shower Essentials 
1. Body Wash: Baxter of California Invigorating Body Wash- Uses the power of limes to wake your ass up in the morning! No more ugly drug store body washes or horrible AXE-like bro-fragrance. This nicely packaged, clean and simple wash is citrus infused to get you going and smell nice too. 

2. Hair Care: Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Shampoo/Conditioner- This just came out and is a great everyday, gentle cleanser for your hair. The matching conditioner doesn't make hair greasy so you can go a few days between washings. Beach-inspired and made to give you some texture, this is great for the every-man. 

3. Styling: Woody's Grooming Clay- I think mens hair looks better a little more on the matte side (not so shiny). Unless you're going for a ultra-shiny, greased-back look, go for something that will give you more texture. Clay and cream pomades give you a softer finish and just look better.  No crunchiness, no nonsense! 

4. Soap: Saturdays Surf Pacific Beach Soap- Everyone needs a bar of soap. This one smells like a Drive down the Pacific Coastal Highway complete with herbal, citrus, and marine notes. A vacation in a bar. 

Shave 
1. Shave Cream: Jack Black Beard Lube- A good shave cream can make all the difference in the world to your shaving routine. I think the more emollient, the better. You're scraping razor blades against some of the most delicate skin on your body. It's going to get irritated. Try something that doesn't dry everything out afterwards. This stuff is always winning awards and is worlds away from your rusty-bottomed foam shave. 

2. Razors: Dollar Shave Club- A monthly subscription that gives you razor blades at a ridiculously low price? They're even delivered straight to your house? Surely you jest! Ranging from $1-$9/month, you initially get a handle and then receive blades once a month. SO CHEAP,  SO EASY, you can thank me later! (Boyfriend approved)

3. Shave Brush: The Art of Shaving Badger Brush- Make shaving fun again. Shaving brushes are all the rage and really help facial stand up so that you can shave them off better. It also looks like it just feels nice on my face. Almost makes me want a really embarrassing mustache problem (I don't).  

4. After Care: Kiehl's Ultimate After-Shave Balm- For those with dry/sensitive skin or those who just want to keep things smooth like Barry White, this balm goes on after you shave to calm everything the hell down. With ingredient like avocado oil, cocoa butter, and vitamin E your face will be softer than those microfiber blankets they have at Target all the time! 

Fun Stuff! 
1. A Good Comb: Baxter of California Pocket Comb- Something about a fancy comb just makes you feel like you've really made it in life. Maybe not as much as an Audi r8, but pretty close. Tortoiseshell (faux please!)  combs always look nice and will last you a lifetime of classy grooming. 

2. A Hardcore Sunscreen: Sun Bum SPF 50 Pro sunscreen- made with non-irritating mineral and chemical sun protectants, this stuff stays on throughout a multitude of activities and is small enough to keep in your pocket. Won't run into your eyes while working on your motorcycle on a hot day,  rock climbing solo in the desert, or playing a hot round of beach volleyball with Val Kilmer.

3. Home Fragrance: Sydney Hale Co. Sea Salt + Bay Rum Candle- Dudes love candles. I know a lot of guys who love candles more than I do and I think that's a great thing. This candle smells like sitting at a beach bar and drinking some Caribbean rum and boozing it into the sunset. Get some candles in your life, because no one wants to smell your steak 3 days after you've cooked it. 

Well gentlemen, I hope this satiates your wild, manly appetite for decent skin, body and hair care products catered towards you, the manliest (or gentlest) of men! I do think mens skin and hair care stuff is way fun and I really like learning about all the new stuff you guys get to have! Maybe I'll do this every once and a while to keep you all fresh to death. Party on, Dudes!

Instagram: @e_bythesea 

Summer Skin Moisture Savers

Summer Skin Moisture Savers by elbonner featuring a la roche posay

Warm weather is great for the soul, but it can totally throw your face into an adolescent, oily, unmanageable breakdown. It's horrible, it's annoying,but it happens to the best of us. What we tend to forget when we get a little oilier in the summer is that we still need to moisturize because sun exposure leads to moisture loss! You're sweating out the water in your skin and it either needs to be sealed in or replaced. What can make the difference is a good moisturizer.

Combination Skin

 Juara Sweet Black Tea and Rice Moisturizer- This is my favorite moisturizer of all time. I use this all year round, but I feel like it was custom made for my summer skin. I used to struggle with oiliness during the day when in the sun, but dryness because of thin moisturizers I used to keep the oil at bay. This stuff works with me to keep me looking fresh, but not too moisturized. 

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream- This works a  lot like the Juara one. It's a bit lighter for those on the oily end of the combination scale and smells like cucumbers floating in cool water. Just that alone makes it great for summer. Layers well under sunscreen and BB creams also!

Oily

Korres Pomegranate Balancing Moisturizer- At the height of my oil problem a few years ago, I was desperate for a moisturizer that didn't suck the oil from my face only to make it oilier out in the sun. I went out on a limb and tried Korres, a brand I'd never tried before and changed my skin for good! This stuff gives oily skin just enough moisture and packs in what can only be magic to keep all the shine away. I was blown away and recommend it to anyone with oil problems.

Alba Hawaiian Aloe and Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer- Great drugstore buy that I found very similar to the Korres moisturizer when I was low on cash and needed some oil control. It was very soothing if I'd had any sun exposure the day before and was very light/nicely scented. No breakouts and no problems!

Dry/Mature

Avene Hydrance Optimale Light Hydrating Cream- French skincare is always good. ALWAYS. Which is why I wasn't surprised when this skin cream from Avene moisturized my overly sensitive, newly dry skin when I was first having to change face products. My skin when from out-of-control oily to dry in what seems like overnight. I figured my skin was mad and went for something made for sensitive skin. This entire brand is based on the benefits of French mineral water and its soothing properties. It helped calm things down and was very moisturizing. I went with the light because it was summer time and thought any more and I would have been shiny. Go with the whole shebang if you're super dry.

Kiehl's Abyssine Cream + SPF 23- Super rich, super luxurious, and complete with a sun protectant. Sometimes, I find that putting a mineral sunscreen over a moisturizing cream can actually suck out all the moisture (the minerals act almost like a mattifyer) and render your expensive cream useless, I say! Go with one with an spf. This cream is formulated with deep sea minerals that live in the most extreme and damaging conditions on earth (thermal vents moving boiling hot water from the earths core, science whoa!) and are able to withstand damage from extreme heat. Great for the summer! Super thick and luxurious, I would only recommend this to the driest of skins.

Wildcards! Summer Face-Issue Helpers:
Acne: La Roche Posay Effaclar DUO Dual Action Acne Treatment- Pimples and summer go together like family barbeques and drunken uncle speeches. This is a much-loved acne treatment for those unwanted guests that works without excess drying or peeling.

Irritation/Sun Damage: Korres Greek Yogurt Advanced Nourishing Sleep Facial- Get all the benefits of a greek yogurt facial at night without ruining all of your sheets and pillows. This super nourishing mask is great for a day spent too-much in the sun or just general irritation from over cleansing (which we all tend to do in the summer, i.e. removing sunscreen). Since it's used like a night cream, you get eight hours (ha! I wish) of treatment rather than, say, 15 minutes. Another great from Korres.You really can't go wrong with them!

I hope this helps prepare for the oncoming onslaught of skin-bummers that come along with the changing of the seasons.Just remember to sunscreen up, don't over exfoliate, and have fun in the sun without worrying about your face!

Winter Skin Rescue

Winter Skin Rescue by elbonner featuring an origins skincare

When winter comes my skin turns into a dry, flaky mess that requires a lot of attention. To keep from getting red, itchy, wind-burnt, and broken out I use lots of great products to keep everything calm and sexy.

1. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate: smells like an herb garden with lavender and other apothecary favorites and melts into your skin to make you look moisturized and refreshed in the morning. I use this every other night (using a glycolic acid exfoliator on my off nights) and this keeps my skin from being red or itchy. This has never made my skin break out which is wonderful because this is a facial oil. Don't be afraid of facial oils,especially in the winter!

2. Kiehl's Rosa Arctica Cream: another great from Kiehl's, this cream is thick and luxurious and holds all of the moisture in! This is my night cream, but if your skin is super dry this can definitely be worn as a day cream. The arctic thistle in this cream has some magical skin properties that rejuvenate and hydrate the driest of skin.

3. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil: put in on your body, shave with it, deep condition your hair with it, remove your makeup with it. Coconut oil is my secret weapon in the winter for anything that needs moisture. You can get it at the grocery store, it lasts forever and smells like macaroons. WIN WIN.

4. The Body Shop Body Butters: thick, creamy, a multitude of great smells; what isn't there to say about this stuff? When you put this on in the morning it will remain on your skin until the next morning (if you're gross and don't shower like me).

5. Kiehl's Cream Eye Treatment with Avocado: Another thick and creamy eye cream with avocado oil that keep dry eye-skin at bay. Best winter eye cream I've tried.

6. Lush Angels On Bare Skin Cleanser: This is a freshly made,non foaming cleanser consisting of almond paste, lavender buds and lots of lovely skin ingredients that cleanse without drying. I like to stay away from foamy things in winter because they dry out my skin so badly and this is one of my favorite foamless cleansers. The smell is great for before bedtime when you want to relax.

7. Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizing Balm: Some tinted moisturizers don't have what it takes to keep your skin soft and foundation can dry it out all together. This tinted moisturized is THICK and won't leave you looking flaky. It has a decent coverage and saves you from fine lines showing up which can happen with some drying foundations.

8. Bliss Clog-Dissolving Cleansing Milk:another non-foamy cleanser that caters to acne prone skin types. Winter may dry out your skin, but it can irritate it and irritation makes me break out more than oiliness. This has a great smell and enzymes to exfoliate dead skin off your face leaving it soft and glowy.

9. Origins Modern Friction: This is a heavy-duty exfoliator wit bits of blue corn and rice that scrub away all the flakiness. Use only three times a week or you could damage your skin. It makes my skin smoother than anything else!

10. Aveeno Skin Strengthening Moisturizer: This lotion contains ingredients that help beef up thin skin (which I have) and helps it hold in moisture. Because my skin is so thin I have a hard time with my arms and legs getting dry half-way through the day and no one wants to see my hairy winter-coated legs at work. Aveeno products use colloidal oatmeal to keep in the moisture and it works like a charm.

Hope this helps and sorry if there's not a lot of quick wit and humor in this post. I'm tired and I need my bath, but I wanted to post something tonight! Keep it soft and sexy people!