Beauty Basics: Summer Skincare

There are plenty of beauty goods on the market, but sometimes minimalist is the best option. Amid a long recovery, budgetary issues remain, so our cleansing, moisturizing and sunscreen recommendations are reasonably priced, whether your main concern is price or source of ingredients. Summer means more sweating, the risk of clogged pores, heat rashes, dehydration risk, sun-induced flushes, and the occasional breakout. That means we need lighter cleansers and moisturizers, but sunscreen too and sufficient water, especially when chugging iced tea and coffee and liquor. The question you have to ask yourself is: what is my priority? There are various places to get beauty products, from drugstores to beauty boutiques to department stores. One has to determine if cost, source of ingredients or lack of questionable ingredients (SLS, a foaming agent, and parabens, preservatives) is your priority. Finally, you might want to add a toner to your regimen during the summer. To cut costs, use witch hazel. Another option is rose water, which is available at ethnic grocery stores for a few dollars.

Earthy Skincare

British skincare line Liz Earle, recently acquired by Avon, has always been rooted in nature. The women owned company uses many plant-based ingredients, as well as essential oils, and avoids preservatives when possible. While the company is known for its popular cream cleanser that comes with a muslin cloth, its Brightening Treatment Mask is among our favorites from the brand. In just two minutes, the creamy mask packed with white clay, witch hazel water, aloe vera and camphor oil clears impurities and lifts the skin. Also firming the skin is green mineral silt while sweet almond oil is employed to smooth the skin.

For a summer-friendly facial cream that isn’t heavy or oily, the Skin Repair Light Moisturiser contains echinacea and hops extracts to tone, antioxidants in the form of wheatgerm oil and beta-carotene, and fatty acids via borage and avocado oils

Budget-Friendly Anti-Aging

CeraVe, a skincare brand from Coria Laboratories, a unit of Valeant Pharmaceuticals, makes two cleansers and four moisturizers that are non-comedogenic and made without fragrances. All products employ the company’s MVE technology that claims to release ingredients over a period of time to be absorbed more efficiently.  Their early spring launch was a nighttime cream made with their own ceramide, and hyaluronic acid to help the skin create more ceramides and fatty acids. Their latest launches include a new facial cleanser and a daytime moisturizer.

Safe for normal to oily skin, this new cleanser also contains ceramides and hyaluronic acids to cleanse skin gently. The new daytime facial cream is meant to follow the cleanser, with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, to feed the skin while creating a barrier. It also offers protection from damaging rays thanks to the blend of chemical and physical blockers, the latter of which comes in the form of micronized zinc oxide.

Reliable Drugstore Go-Tos

While the aforementioned items are great, reasonably price skincare options, these tried and true products are worth a mention too.  When in doubt, opt for our drugstore skincare favorites.

• Purpose Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion With Spf 15 has long been a great over-the-counter option for sensitive skin. Their hypoallergenic daily face moisturizer contains physical and chemical blockers, is free of fragrances and oils, and will not clog pores. It retails for about $10.
• Eucerin Everyday Protection Body Lotion Spf 15 is a great everyday body moisturizer for summer because for $10 you get a body lotion and sunscreen in one.
• St. Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Moisturizing Body Wash. Most St. Ives body washes are now paraben free. St. Ives also offers its famous apricot face scrub for a few dollars.
• Lumene Time Freeze Instant Lift Mask is a bit pricey for the drugstore, at about $22, but it’s a great mask to do before events because it doesn’t take too long and instantly refreshes skin. The mask aims to quell puffiness and sooth skin.
• Blue Lizard makes affordable sunscreen with physical and chemical sunscreens. The SPF 30+ sport variety is water resistant and contains 6% zinc oxide (no white mess), in addition to some chemical blockers. At about $12, it won’t break the bank.

Most Liz Earle products are in the $20-30 range and are available online. The entire CeraVe product line is priced $12-15 and is available at major national drugstores.