From byrdie
For spring, we’re running a series showcasing the skincare products of our most-loved beauty influencers and what they’re buying at Sephora. Each week, we’re sending one of our favorite gurus to their local store to document their entire shopping spree on Byrdie’s Snapchat. Make sure to tune in each Saturday to follow along, and check back here monthly to see (and shop!) the items that made it into their Sephora carts. Enjoy.
Confession: As beauty editors, we’re pretty meticulous about our skincare routines, but there have been a handful of times when we’ve forgotten to finish with a layer of SPF. Not because we don’t care, but because historically speaking, SPFs are sticky, thick, and chalky. But good news: Thanks to the ever-evolving formulas, there’s now a skin-protecting sunscreen out there that makes sense for every person and every lifestyle (and is actually enjoyable to use)!
From makeup-friendly mists and powders to barely-there lotions and tinted creams, we turned to beauty gurus Asia Jackson, Christina Caradona, Alex Garza, and Jessica Clements to narrow down safe sunscreen formulas that’d work for a variety of lifestyles. Whether you’re traveling, passing time at rooftop bars, staying active outdoors, or streamlining your warm-weather beauty routine, there’s an SPF for every summer agenda.
Need the details? From barely-there textures to tinted creams, these are the latest and greatest suncare finds at Sephora.
Asia Jackson is a true multi-hyphenate… She’s an actor, content creator, and vlogger with a passion for skincare, and given that she lives in sunny Los Angeles and loves being outdoors, she’s a pro at using products that’ll help protect her skin from harmful UV rays. Since she was heading to Long Beach for the weekend, she agreed to show us the current SPF-packed products she can’t get enough of.
Before anything else, Jackson tones her skin with a cotton pad and follows up with a tinted moisturizer. Next, she brushes the Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45 ($30) over her T-zone. “It doesn’t give me a white cast because it’s a translucent powder, and it helps mattify skin, which is especially great for those with oily skin, like me,” explains Jackson. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide block out the sun’s harmful rays and help prevent sunburn, skin damage, freckling, and uneven discoloration while giving the illusion of smooth, radiant skin.
What’s more, it’s portable and thus perfect for the girl on the go—just use the brush applicator to reapply as needed.
Another portable product Jackson never leaves home without? Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15 in Rosé ($24). Lips are forgotten when it comes to SPF, but take note: “They need just as much protection as the rest of your skin,” says Jackson. This one not only protects against damaging UV rays, but it also smooths lips with a blend of nurturing oils and moisture-preserving sugar that delivers long-lasting hydration, while antioxidant-rich grapeseed oil and vitamins C and E help fight wrinkles. Plus, it’s the perfect sheer pink tint.
Similarly, Christina Caradona of Trop Rouge likes taking advantage of the sunny New York weather by hanging out with friends at rooftop bars. But in order to spend so much time outdoors, she needs to ensure she’s got solid SPF-filled products in her beauty arsenal that will work well with her skin type. “Not a lot of people know this about me, but I have very dry skin, and whatever I put on my face and body has to be extremely moisturizing,” she explains.
Supergoop! Super Power Sunscreen Mousse ($34) is just that. “It’s lightweight and foamy, and you can use it on your face and body,” explains Caradona. Not only does it deliver SPF 50 protection, but the antioxidant-rich formula is super hydrating. Infused with shea butter and coconut oil, it absorbs quickly and leaves you smelling fresh and clean. Plus, it’s water resistant. “I never feel sticky or as if I’m wearing sunscreen whenever I use it,” the blogger shares.
After a day out, Caradona likes to get home, take her makeup off, and hydrate her skin because it usually gets drier after being in the sun. “Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream ($52) really helps put the moisture back into your face, especially after being outdoors,” she notes. The great thing about the product is that it’ll make your skin feel supple, smooth, and hydrated for up to 72 hours, thanks to hyaluronic acid. It also works great in the a.m. before sunscreen and makeup application because while it’s deeply hydrating it’s also super lightweight.
Alex Garza is no novice when it comes to keeping skin in tip-top shape. The Michigan-based vlogger regularly offers up her must-try skin tips and products with her fans, and with Memorial Day on her mind, she was happy to share the beauty essentials you’ll need to pack, whether you’re heading on a weekend getaway or staying local for a staycation.
First up: COOLA Mineral Face SPF 30 Matte Tint ($36). “I love this because it has that SPF 30 to protect your face,” Garza explains. It comes in a lightly tinted universally flattering shade that works for all skin types, from sensitive to oily. “The formula seeps into skin and blends perfectly,” she adds. Because it’s a BB cream, it smooths lines and fights signs of aging with its antioxidant-infused SPF 30 formula.
The next item Garza always has in her beach bag is Supergoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($28). “To use it, shake it up and spray it all over your face (yes, with or without makeup). It’s great for setting your makeup in place and controlling oil and shine with UV defense,” she explains. The antioxidant-rich formula helps soothe redness—thanks to rosemary leaf oil and peppermint stem oil—and improve your overall complexion, while the new spray technology delivers even coverage with a matte finish. What’s not to love?
New York City model Jessica Clements admits that while sunscreen is the most important step in any solid beauty routine, it can be easy to forget to reapply it throughout the day. With that in mind, she went to the Times Square Sephora to look for a few waterproof and travel-friendly products to help step up her SPF game.
Sephora Skincare Advisor Brandy recommended Fresh Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30 ($25) because the on-the-go stick applicator makes it great for taking around the city, helping to prevent damage from UV rays and free radicals because of antioxidants in the stick. The moisturizing lip, face, and eye treatment offers water-resistant protection and keeps skin soft and hydrated with the help of moisture-preserving sugar and a blend of avocado and black currant seed oils.
Clements also confessed to Brandy that she sometimes forgets to apply sunscreen while she’s doing her makeup; she was thus hoping to find something she could use afterward. Brandy’s suggestion? COOLA Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30 ($36); all you have to do is shake it up before spritzing it on your face. The mist sets makeup and gives skin a smooth matte finish. Cucumber, aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid help soothe, refresh, and hydrate skin while improving the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Last but not least, Clements wanted a good everyday sunscreen that wouldn’t leave her skin feeling sticky or chalky. Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($19) fits the bill, as the super-moisturizing, antioxidant-rich formula offers a ton of great anti-aging benefits. The product protects from UVA, UVB, and IRA rays, but also helps combat the dehydrating effects of sun exposure on the skin and replenishes moisture with oat beta-glucan. Of course, it’s oil-free, absorbs quickly, and most importantly doesn’t leave that dreaded white veil. And best of all, natural lemon, orange, and basil extracts give the product a subtle and refreshing scent.
Next up, Zoë Foster Blake on Mascara, Podcasts, and Taking Go-To Skincare Global