It’s finally summer! And the weather here has been really A+! I already have a number of events lined up. For the next 3 months, my weekends are going to be pretty full. So of course, I am living in open-toed shoes, I am taking full advantage of the warmth. Hence, I have to make sure that my nails are always polished, both hands and feet. I own a lot of nail polish…like a lot. So I give myself manis and pedis once a week, and I never wear the same colour on my fingers and toes. I love all textures of polish, but there is something about crème nail polishes, especially on dark skin that I love. I think that there is no distraction from shimmers and glitters, so that it is all about the colour. So I am drawn to really bold brights, or intense light colours. It’s all about the contrast with the skin colour. Here are the four best summer nail polishes, in pastel cremes, that will pop on women of colour. And better yet, these are all vegan friendly! These are must-have.
Side note: Yes there are a lot of Mischo Beauty polishes here. These were all bought by me, and this post is not sponsored. I just love the brand.
Look at that matte lip pencil! It’s the NARS 413 BLKR limited edition palette. Details below.
NARS Cosmetics introduces the limited edition 413 BLKR Cheek & Lip Palette –the latest addition to the exclusive NARS 413 BLKR Collection. Paint the town pink with a glowing gradient of sheer, blendable blushes and iconic Laguna Bronzer paired with the essential fuchsia 413 BLKR Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. Go block by color block or master a full-spectrum touch-up in a New York minute.
Named for the brand’s first flagship address in New York City’s West Village neighborhood, Founder and Creative Director François Nars draws inspiration from the fast-paced city when creating the 413 BLKR Collection.
Presenting NARS Summer Collection 2016, Under Cover
For Summer 2016, NARS Summer Collection makes a getaway with this limited-edition collection—high-fashion moments steeped in exclusivity and ease. New, rich Lip Covers saturate lips with coastal color, while Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows transform sheer tones and glistening shades for eyes. Dual-Intensity Blush completes the look with a touch of the sun – an insatiable rush of blush.
François Nars’ love of the lens meets the glamorous glare of the French Riviera. Inspired by the sensational whirl of an editorial photo shoot, each lush vignette captures the wit and wonder of his behind-the-scenes world. Original illustrations by contemporary artist Konstantin Kakanias bring each moment to life on covetable, limited-edition packaging.
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.
Building on François Nars’ love of French Polynesia, NARS introduces the Last Resort Collection just in time for the upcoming summer season. Lavish on a private paradise of sun-washed exclusives—an intoxicating escape for the senses.
The limited edition collection is your endless source of summer featuring a Laguna Bronzer compact with mini Ita brush, four Tahiti-inspired temporary tattoo sheets and the beloved Body Glow and Monoï Body Glow II.
Shades include:
Tahiti Bronzer and Ita brush
Tahiti Bronzer , $59
An extravagant exclusive for skin, steeped in NARS’ iconic Laguna bronzing powder and mini Ita brush. Intoxicating warmth. Instant tan. The golden life.
Tattoos, $35
The pulse of Tahiti, the mark of a moment: a set of four limited-edition temporary tattoos transport and transform with exhilarating edge.
Body Glow
Body Glow, $59
The burnished aura of high noon tropics, captured in an addictive blend of shimmer and shine. Part glistening monoi oil, part gardenia-infused coconut oil—pure paradise.
Monti Body Glow II
Monoï Body Glow II, $59
Escape into the senses with the essence of Tahiti. Monoi oil imparts instant hydration and exaltation with the sumptuous splendor of gardenia, refined in coconut extract.
