This Is The Makeup We Wear To The Beach Because It Doesn’t Melt Off Our Face
Natural, “no-makeup” makeup, packed with spf.
Image: Mattel Films
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by The Candidly Team
We know what some of you are thinking. Why wear makeup to the beach at all? Then again, you clicked into this article so you see probably get where we’re coming from and what we’re getting at.
Whether going to the beach or to the office, wearing makeup in the scorching weeks of summer can be a hot mess. We’re faced with all kinds of issues: shine, sweat, patchiness, sunblock application - all those makeup-destroying things.
On top of that, we’re all aware that the most critical, anti-aging thing we can do for our skin is protect it from the sun. In fact, 90% of aging is a direct result of sun exposure. (We wrote all about this HERE.)
But the point we’re getting today at is that we’ve recently been introduced to some incredible new makeup products that CONTAIN spf. They’re so good that we’d scrounge for them even without the spf. And yet, the fact that they offer an added layer of protection and are made with ingredients that somehow seem made to withstand the blaring heat of the sun means we can look fresh-faced and natural (no-makeup makeup, anyone?) all day long. Yes, even at the beach.
There are 6 impeccable products we’ve thoroughly tested and highly recommend for your most youthful, radiant, aprés sun look. And here they are:
1. The SPF Cream
WHAT: Emma Lewisham Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Face Cream*
Why we love it: To those wondering, yes, we absolutely do require an actual sunscreen and not just spf makeup for protection Nowadays, there are an overwhelming number to choose from. We tend get romanced by words like “dewy” and “glowy” but often that just means glitter, and glitter makes older skin look older, not to mention, in the sun, a “glowy” spf cream can leave us looking very, very greasy. This luxe cream/sunscreen duo is full of plumping, wrinkle-fighting skincare ingredients with broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection and 20% zinc oxide for protection against UVA and UVB. The finish is not greasy, but a smoothing satin that we love. If you’re a minimum coverage kinda gal, you can also just use this as your foundation.
And you can use the code CANDIDLY15 for 15% off.
Price: $62
2. The Tinted Serum
WHAT: Ciele Tint & PROTECT Serum Foundation With SPF 50+*
Why we love it: This formula is so silky and light we actually enjoy applying it. But the real holy sh** factor is that it gives us the closest thing to “glass skin” since we turned 40. Another big win is that it’s noncomedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores, which is critical if sweat tends to break you out. It’s full of protective antioxidants and helps shield us from UVA, UVB, blue light, and Infrared radiation, but it also leaves an immediate, brightening effect, so we look like we have that kiss from the sun, even as we’re going to great lengths to arm ourselves against it.
A little before and after for reference:
Price: $44
3. The blush
WHAT: Ciele Flush & PROTECT SPF 45+ Powder Blush+*
Why we love it: Whenever we apply sunblock or a tinted spf, our face can look a little ghostly and dimensionless, because we’ve drowned out our natural flush. But applying blush over sunblock can feel a little weird or like we’re undoing our sun protection. We’re therefore obsessed with this blush which contains spf, also from Ciele. Many powder blushes are awful on mature skin, sinking into lines and making us look dryer and older. This one is velvety and glassy, and sooo beautifully natural. We actually prefer it to cream blush on hot days, because we never look shiny. The shade Shy* is a perfect, dusty rose, but we also love Cozy*, a blurred, nude hue that really creates that our-skin-but better filter.
Price: $34
4. The Gloss
WHAT: Supergoop! Glow Gloss SPF 40 Lip Balm with Peptides and Shea Butter*
Why we love it: The formula isn’t sticky and it never dries us out. The finish is supremely pretty and plumping, and we feel better knowing our lips are being hydrated rather than depleted throughout the day.
Price: $22
5. The Dark Circle Corrector
WHAT: Colorescience® Total Eye® 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35*
Why we love it: We’ve been sitting around WAITING for someone to ask us why we need an eye corrector with spf. For starters, an eye corrector is SOOOOO much better at covering dark circles than concealer which can sink into lines and come off too pale. And just think of how glaringly dark those circles can get after a day of salt and sea. This corrector is a bit of wizardry in terms of coverage, and it protects one of the wrinkliest spots on our bodies from the sun. The whole Colorescience® line of SPF makeup is pretty incredible tbh.
Here’s a before and after:
Price: $63
6. The Non-Irritating, Water-Resistant Mascara
WHAT: Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves® Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara*
Why we love it: Every mascara messes with our eyes in the heat. We end up itchy and irritated and whatever doesn’t melt off, we rub off. This is a thrilling mascara for sensitive eyes. It stays put and is water-resistant to boot. There’s a reason it had an 11k waitlist when it first came out.
Price: $20
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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