Hey! I did this bronze summer skin look a while ago when I was in Trinidad. It’s the look that I also wearing in my latest video (check it out here). This is a great look for warmer weather. Let’s face it, no one wants to wear a lot of makeup when it’s hot, but you still want that glowy, bronzy, sun-kissed look!
There are a few keys to getting this effortless look. First start with good skincare and good skin. The better the condition of your skin, the less product you would have to use. Definitely treat your skin with the utmost care, start with the basics, drink lots of water and wear sunscreen. Even if you don’t have amazing skin, you can still get this look. I know the trend now to pile on the foundation and to have super heavy contouring but this is a no #cakeface look. Pick the lightest coverage that allows you to even out your skintone. If you have eruptions or texture due to acne, you can’t really cover that up with foundation without looking overtly made up. So just pick something lightweight.
It’s 2015, and there are still a lot of people who believe that people with medium to dark skin do not need to wear sun protection. Yes, we could sit in the sun longer before burning, but that will inevitably have a negative effect on your skin for years to come. And it has been shown that the incidence of cancerous cells occur less in people with tan or darker skin, but the cases tend to be more severe as they are often caught later.
So (I’m about to get a little technical here) what does a sunscreen do? Sunscreens contain ingredients that provide protection against two types of radiation from the sun – UVA and UVB, which stands for Ultraviolet Type A and Ultraviolet Type B. Some sunscreens are physical sunscreens, i.e. they physically block or reflect the sun’s rays, or chemical sunscreens that absorb UV rays, therefore preventing it from the rays reaching the skin. When looking for a sunscreen, make sure it is labelled as a broad-spectrum or UVA/UVB product.
What do these rays do?
UVA rays can penetrate the dermis layer of skin, which is the thickest layer of skin and it protects the skin from stress. UVA contributes to premature aging, i.e. sagging and wrinkling.
UVB rays affect the upper layer of skin, the epidermis, and causes burning of the skin known as sunburn. This is the reason why sun spots or areas of hyperpigmentation appear in sun damaged skin. The skin produces excess melanin to protect from those UV rays!
Finding suitable sunscreens for dark skin is still problematic. Sometimes I think that companies really don’t care to bring out a product that works on all skintones. The first question that any person of colour asks is, “Will it leave a white residue on my skin?” Yes, so many sunscreens leave a white cast on the skin (usually from the zinc or titanium dioxide). You can stand up and rub the lotion onto your skin all day long and it will still leave you looking a little ashy. If you are going to wear a foundation, then it is not as obvious, but what if you want to go bare-faced? I even have this problem when testing out foundations that contain SPF, many of them still come off ashy on dark skin. So that’s problem #1.
I have another problem. I am virtually allergic to almost all sunscreens available in the US. I have not quite figured out which SPF ingredient or the ratio of ingredients that I am allergic to, but it is annoying. After one use, I get the red, itchy/burning sensation of contact dermatitis. Especially around the outer corners of my eyes and upper cheek/temple area. I just have to use the product ones. And I don’t even look at lip products with SPF. It turns my lips into sandpaper and it takes more than a week to heal.
Basically there are 2 products that I have found that don’t cause me to itch and that disappears into the skin. It’s my holy grail Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizing Cream with Sunscreen SPF 15 by LaRoche-Posey.
My SPF of choice!
What makes this one pretty unique in the US is that it contains Mexoryl SX, which is the only sunscreen ingredient approved by the US FDA in about 10-15 years. It has been available in Europe for decades, but the US is very slow to adopt newer technologies when it comes to sunscreen. Which kinda sucks as there are sunscreens in Europe that I would love to try.
Anyway, this sunscreen touts UVA/UVB protection, 24-hour long-lasting hydration that is light, non-greasy and safe for sensitive skin (which I can attest to!). This is a white, fairly thick cream that leaves absolutely no white residue on my skin. It contains Parsol 1789 (avobenzone), Mexoryl SX and Octocrylene as its active ingredients. It does provide me with all day moisturization on my face, but I cannot vouch that it lasts 24 hours. The cream is thick enough that I do not need to add another moisturizer even in colder weather. My skin is left with a little sheen that I like on my very dry skin, but for those with oilier skins may prefer something a little more matte. The best thing is that I am not allergic to it!
This product is a little expensive for a daily moisturizer, but it is worth every cent for me. Yeah, I want to keep those wrinkles at bay #foreveryoung. I also wish it came in a higher SPF. It is available at drugstores and online. Also check out the other SPF products from the La Roche-Posey line, they have products that leaves different finishes, formulas or different anti-oxidant properties.
Yes, this is my recommended sunscreen for tan to dark skin. So now, there is NO excuse not to wear sun protection!!!
FTC Disclosure: Products were purchased by me, Noire Tropical Beauty. All opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own. I have not been compensated for this review. For more
information, please see my Disclosure Policy.
It’s the weekend of The Makeup Show NYC! And it’s their 10th anniversary! Very, very excited!! Right now, I am making my list and trying to strategize which classes I am going to take. If you see me, hail me out!
Also, spring has completely forgotten us in the NE, but this weekend it is supposed to be in the low 70s.
I was finally able to pick up a Sacha lipstick from their recently launched matte collection. I grew up on Sacha Cosmetics that it was the only brand available in Trinidad and Tobago that catered to women of colour. We did get some foreign brands, but there weren’t a lot of options.Anyway, lipsticks have made a huge comeback and so have the 90s! Right now, matte lips are in and they come in a variety of forms and people are wearing darker colours all year round! Sacha Cosmetics released their Intense Matte Lipstick collection late last year and they have been popular both online and at home. Certain colours have been sold out for a while!
So I found myself, in Trinidad, at The Falls At West Mall at the Sacha store. They carry all their products that you may not be able to find at a store like Pennywise. They also have someone that can help you with colour selection. I paid TT$30 and on the website they are listed at US$10 and I bought the colour Wicked.
Sacha Cosmetics Intense Matte Lipstick
Wicked is a deep chocolate brown with a touch of red in it. Completely matte, drying but not there is a certain creaminess to it. At least on dark skin, it isn’t your super vampy colour and I would wear it during the day. The packaging is standard and plain, not the best quality or fancy but it holds the product. There is a fairly distinct smell, and it reminds me of fizzy cola. I get almost full coverage with one swipe and it does not apply patchy.
Here are some swatches of the product.
Swatch
On me!
In a nutshell, I liked this! It is a good product and not too drying. And I am glad that we have good makeup options available. I need to pick up some of the other colours as they come back in stock. But also check out my video review (yes, finally, I’m making videos!).
Video will be available when live…
Let me know what you think of the lipsticks. What is your favourite colour?
You can find Sacha products at The Falls At West Mall, Pennywise outlets all over Trinidad & Tobago and online for international shoppers.
Laters!
Overall grade: B+
FTC Disclosure: Products were purchased by me, Noire Tropical Beauty. All opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own. I have not been compensated for this review. For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.
Love this lip! It’s my first bright lip of spring! I’m so glad that winter is over, although it is trying its best to stick around long past its welcome!
Outer sleeve. How pretty is this??
Box
I picked this up recently and it is part of the Isabel and Ruben Toledo collaboration with M.A.C. Don’t forget that Isabel Toledo made the green embroidered Inaugural dress suit that First Lady Michelle Obama wore in 2009. This is a full, artsy collection that includes eye shadow palettes, lipsticks, nails, makeup bag and coloured mascara. I’m a sucker for pretty packaging, so I picked up just one lipstick.
How cute is this video and how adorable are they! (Video by M.A.C. Cosmetics)
