5 Things to Remember When Choosing Sunscreen

Yesterday I shared a ton of facts about sunscreen (more than you'll ever probably want to know, but hey-- educating yourself is so important!) You can read that here. Today I'm giving you 5 things to consider when shopping for your sunscreen this year. Especially if you have babies or kids, this will hopefully be really helpful for you. Knowledge is power, friends!

1. CHOOSE MINERAL SUNSCREEN. Opt for products whose main ingredients are either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Chemical sunscreens are more popular because one of the complaints many people have regarding mineral (also known as "physical") sunscreens is the white, chalky-like residue they can and often do leave on the skin. However, Beautycounter's mineral sunscreens are formulated to blend easily onto skin with hardly any white residue. This is why I love Beautycounter.

Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, sit on the surface of the skin and physically bounce or reflect sun’s rays away from the skin. Mineral sunscreens are great for people with sensitive skin as well as babies and kids.


2. BROAD SPECTRUM PROTECTION. Opt for sunscreens that protect against UVA (the rays that age) and UVB (the rays that burn).  Beautycounter's newly reformulated mineral sunscreens protect against UVA, UVB and Blue Light, all things we want to avoid to keep healthy skin.

BONUS! Countersun is formulated with California Poppy, which is antioxidant-rich. It provides an effective shield from skin-aging rays (always a plus!) while being gentle and pleasant feeling on the skin. Smooth, nourishing formula blends evenly onto skin with limited white residue.

3. NO RETINYL PALMITATE. Some sunscreens contain Retinol or Retinyl Palmitate (as many facial moisturizers with SPF often do). Studies have shown that this vitamin A derivative may trigger the development of skin tumors and lesions when used on the skin in the presence of sunlight. Yikes! It's best to avoid this ingredient! It is never found in any Beautycounter products as it's one of many products on The Never List.

4.  NON-AEROSOL SPRAY. If you prefer the ease of a sunscreen spray choose a non-aerosol option, as the propellant chemicals of aerosol cans can be harmful. Beautycounter's new sunscreen spray is air-powered, delivering convenience without harsh chemicals. (They really do think of everything!)
5.  AVOID FRAGRANCES. Synthetic fragrances can have any number of harmful chemicals because they are considered "trade secrets" and they aren't legally obligated to report their ingredients. Isn't that crazy?! This is one of my favorite things about Beautycounter. All the ingredients are listed and everything has such a wonderful scent, usually made up of essential oils.

CASE STUDY


My friend Carmel went into a grocery store to do a little investigation, so I had to share it with you. On any given rack of over 30 sunscreens to choose from at your local grocery store (or Target, let's be honest), there are usually one or two that might be actually safe for your skin, despite how good their marketing makes the product look. Take a look below...

Take this Neutrogena brand, for example. Looks nice, tells you it'll protect you from the sun, but flip it over to reveal the ingredients. It has multiple ingredients very high up on EWG's harmful sunscreen ingredient list (scroll up to see it again). The worst offender is probably Oxybenzone. This "acts like estrogen in the body; alters sperm production in animals; associated with endometriosis in women. "WHAT?! We're putting this on our bodies?! Not me! It also contributes to destroying our coral reef, which is another reason BC doesn't put this in any products.

Now look at this kid sunscreen (so maddening!) "Paraben-free" doesn't mean it's still a safe product for your skin (just like a "gluten-free" donut still isn't necessarily healthy for you!), so be sure to check the ingredients! This one contains some of the worst offenders, yet again. 

Sometimes there a couple good of good options at the store like Honest Company, Alba Botanicals, and Goddess Garden. I've never used any of them, but reviews suggest since they are mineral sunscreens, the biggest complaint is that they don't rub in well. If you have a safe sunscreen you love, let me know! 

I did go into Trader Joe's the other day and checked out their sunscreen. I was shocked! Only 1 of 3 sunscreens they offer is safe. The safe one is this sunscreen stick. The other two lotions both have ingredients in the red zone from the EWG graphic above.


This might seem overwhelming (and I get it, it's a lot of information about sunscreen...ha!) but hopefully, it'll at least stop and make you look at your ingredient labels. Of course, there are also other ways to protect against the sun! A fun floppy hat, rash guards, and coverups all help. Here are some favorites below, along with the best (in my opinion) sunscreen choices

I'm wearing my Cabana Life Cover Up Rash Guard above on our honeymoon in Maui. I loved it!

sunscreen spray sunscreen / sunscreen stick Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer with SPF20 /floppy hat / talk to the sand hat out and about striped hat / striped rash guard / white eyelet cover-up rash guard front tie cover-up / sunglasses / beach towels / 


Let me know if you have any questions about any of this or other safe beauty and skincare questions! I'm here to help. If you like this type of information, be sure to sign up for my Safer Beauty Newsletter here, where once a month I share information about safer beauty and skincare options, Beautycounter sales and giveaways. 
Here's to healthy skin and soaking up the sunshine! 
xoxo
interior design website / services / portfolio
2

All You Need To Know About Safe Sunscreens

It's been so sunny and warm the last two weeks-- I'm in heaven! With the beloved sunshine comes sunburns. Enter sunscreen! Sadly, they are not all created equal.

Did you know sunscreen is one of the products where toxins and chemicals hide out the most?! It's true and it's a little bit scary, so I want to give you all my best tips on how to choose a safe sunscreen for you and your family + lots of facts about sunscreen (more than you'll probably ever want to know...ha!) I'm pretty passionate about using safe alternatives where you can for your house, family and beauty routine. Even with my design clients, I suggest low VOC emission paint! With sunscreen though, we're (hopefully!) all using it, so since it's typically a product that harmful toxins are hidden in, I at least want you to be educated. 


I have been using what I thought was a "safe" sunscreen for YEARS. It says "paraben, gluten, cruelty, retinyl palmitate and oxybenzone-free" on the label, so I thought I was in the clear. I didn't even read the ingredients because those terms were enough for me at the time. After switching out all my products for safe alternatives this past year or so though, I reached for my sunscreen while we were in Hawaii a month ago and was shocked to learn what I found on the label. Though it was free of a bunch of things, it still contains Octocrylene, an active ingredient which has concerns like "enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Use restrictions, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)", stated by the EWG.

Want to know the name of said sunscreen? Sun Bum. I was so disappointed! Thankfully I had Beautycounter's sunscreen with me, so that's what I used for the remainder of the trip!


With warmer days ahead, I'm giving you allll the facts then some, about sun and rays and sunscreen. Then in tomorrow's post I'm going to give you 5 tips on choosing a safe sunscreen for you this summer!

First, let's get the facts straight.

Did you know that 5 sunburns at any age increase your chance of skin cancer by 50%? That was enough to wake up this California-sun-loving-girl!

No need to get any SPF over 50, as the benefits max out. 
SPF = Sun Protection Factor SPF is the measurement for defense from UVB rays • SPF 15 = blocks 93% of UVB rays • SPF 30 = blocks 97% of UVB rays • SPF 50 = blocks 98% of UVB rays

UVB: UVB 
are the rays that lead to sunburn. On average, five sunburns at any age doubles one’s risk for melanoma.* *Skin Cancer Foundation

UVA: UVA = Aging sun rays. While UVA is almost undetectable because these rays do not change the color of the skin, they do penetrate deeper into the dermis of the skin, where they can potentially cause free-radical damage that leads to skin aging. UVA rays are equally intense no matter the season, AND they penetrate clouds and glass.

BLUE LIGHT: One ray that is becoming top of mind as we spend more and more time in front of computers, 
smart phones and tablets is Blue Light. Blue Light is a trendy topic in the technology realm, but, Blue Light is actually everywhere. When outside, light from the sun travels through the atmosphere. The shorter, high energy blue wavelengths that make up Blue Light, collide with the air molecules, causing blue light to scatter. This is in fact what makes the sky look blue.

EFFECTS OF BLUE LIGHT: Its skin-aging effects can potentially be as much of a concern as those caused by UVA & UVB. The latest research suggests it may damage skin proteins and lipids. When these are damaged, signs of age like loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation are possible.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is very helpful tool to find what's safe and what's not. Their database is full of thousands upon thousands of products and they rate them from 1-10 on their safety (1 being safe and 10 being toxic). You can literally scan the barcode of a product on their app and it'll give you a rating if it's in the database. They also have this helpful chart to keep on hand when searching for sunscreen and finding out about the ingredients in what you use. Green = safe, red = harmful.

I love using the app to help!

Okay, so those are the facts, friends. I'll be back tomorrow with 5 tips on how to choose a safe sunscreen, along with a couple other fun things like a case study and favorite items to wear in the sun.

Let me know if you have any questions!
xoxo



interior design website / services / portfolio
0

Spring Break Makeup Essentials

I clearly have my upcoming vacation on the brain this week! I know some Spring Break's are sooner than others, so I wanted to share my makeup essentials for our tropical vacay coming up. If you missed my swimsuit round up, find it here



Above are a few things to pack in your beach bag for simple, dewy and beachy makeup looks. I'm planning to go very minimal with makeup! I'll be wearing the Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer and giving myself a break from foundation, of course use sunscreen, a little blush (love the bright flamingo color-- just got it in the mail. A little goes a long way!), a swipe of gloss and maybe some bronzer. Did you sunscreen is one of the products that have the most harmful chemicals? A safe sunscreen that works and has good consistency is hard to come by, but this one is great! It comes in a face stick or all-over sunscreen.
 
PSSST!
If you struggle with razor burn or sensitive skin when shaving (like me!), here are some tips for you as I have extremely sensitive skin:

- Before shaving, use a scrub to exfoliate. This one is great!
- I use Trader Joe's shaving cream which has been really good for me. I make sure to run hot water through my razor before shaving, too.
- Putting coconut oil on my legs after shaving is the only thing that doesn't burn my sensitive skin! This is also super nourishing. 

My skin is so sensitive that after shaving and then going into ocean water with salt, it burns! These steps help cut down on that. Hopefully it helps someone else, too!


If you're local to West Michigan, I'd love to meet you TONIGHT in Hudsonville where I'll have lots of Beautycounter products at our PopUp event, along with lots of other local boutiques! Stop by my table and enter to win a $25 credit to BC :) RSVP HERE. 

Have a great day!
xoxo

** After switching over to safe makeup and skincare, I joined Beautycounter's team as a consultant! If you're interested in learning more about my decision to use non-toxic products, click here. If you want to sign up for my safer beauty tribe newsletter (just one email per month with helpful facts and promotions!), click here. If you are interested in trying a few samples or need help color matching, I'd be happy to help! Just email me: hello (at) michaelanoelledesigns(dot)com **


interior design website / services / portfolio
1

My Morning Makeup Routine

One of the things that have become more enjoyable for me over the past year is my makeup routine. I always felt like I was using a random conglomeration of products and I really had no clue what was in them or how they were affecting my body. Ever since I switched over to safer beauty and skin care products last year, I actually feel excited to put makeup on in the morning and get excited about taking good care of my skin with my skincare routine! I get a lot of questions on Instagram and in my inbox about my makeup routine, so I thought I'd outline it in a post!

I'm all about quick, easy, and natural looking makeup routine. I don't like heavy makeup but do like good coverage. I don't want a TON of products in order to look my best. I do want a simple routine that can be amped up for a night out!

I'm excited to share my daily makeup routine with you!

I'll do a separate post on skincare, but really quickly, I wash my face with this Rejuvinating cleanser, then prep with this face oil. Once that soaks in I apply my Nourishing Day Cream (below). It's light but moisturizing! It's a mix of organic coconut oil, safflower oil, and aloe to provide nourishing hydration, plus antioxidant-rich acai to protect against dry skin.



Once that's all settled into my skin, I apply my Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer. In the summer I might be able to get away with only using the Dew Skin, instead of both moisturizers, but it's winter...#imsodry ;) Dew Skin is one of my favorite product because it has spf20 in it (great for summer at the beach!), is a bit tinted, and is full of vitamin C which reduces the look of fine lines, firms the skin and brightens the skin. It's also the perfect base for my foundation, as it provides that dewy look.

Next up is my Tint Skin Hydrating Foundation! I've never used a liquid foundation before this one because I typically err on oily skin. I figured a liquid would make me more oily. Turns out I was wrong! This foundation is really lightweight but can be layered to create buildable coverage. It's also extremely hydrating (hence the name!) and is actually doing good things while it's on your skin, instead of clogging pores. Sodium hyaluronate, a natural moisture magnet, promotes smoother-looking skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. YES to all of those things!! I think this is one of the main reasons my skin is so much clearer since switching to Beautycounter.


I apply blush on the apples of my cheeks, all the way back to my ear. I love this blush because it has two shades in one...easily blendable or you can use one or the other! Mine is Tulip/Bloom combo.

After blush, I fill in my eyebrows, following their natural growth making sure to arch above the middle of my eye and extending the end of the brow past the end of the eye. If you need help learning how to fill in your brows, the video on this page does a great job at showing you! I use the Medium shade. If you don't fill in your brows and you have light brows, this could make a huge difference in your makeup routine. It does wonders for framing and defining your eyes!

Next, I curl my eyelashes with this curler and apply the Volumizing Mascara. It goes on smooth, doesn't clump and is a nice black color, without the harmful ingredients other companies use to get their formula black.


Finally (my favorite part!) I swipe on some color. Either a lip sheer (I love the Rose color for spring, seen to the right) or gloss. At night I apply the peppermint balm conditioner to keep my lips hydrated. It's so refreshing!


All of these things take me under 10 minutes to apply. And here's the thing, I feel really good about everything that's going on my skin! 

When I first started thinking about switching over my beauty products to ones with safer ingredients, I was most concerned about my moisturizer because it covered a big portion of my skin (our biggest organ)-- my entire face! Lots of eye and face creams are made with preservatives which can potentially release formaldehyde, causing immune system issues, among other things. Beautycounter's are all naturally preserved, some with phytic acid from green rice.

Next, I was worried about my lipsticks and glosses, considering sometimes it can actually get inside my mouth. Artificial fragrances are almost always found in lip products and can be a blend of ingredients that are not required to be disclosed by U.S. law and can include trace amounts of phthalates (potential endocrine disruptors). No thank you!! 

The last thing I was initially concerned with was my mascara since it's so close to another opening-- my eyes. Carbon black, a pigment used in mascaras to create the deep black color, has been linked to a range of adverse health effects, but Beautycounter's are naturally pigmented with naturally-occurring iron oxides. 

If any of the above products interest you, check out the Clean Swap promotion that's going on today and tomorrow at Beautycounter. When you purchase one of the Clean Swap products (Adaptive Moisture Eye Cream, Face Lotion, Mascara, Lip Sheers, Body Lotion, Shampoo/Conditioner or a face Mask) you get a FREE deluxe sample size of another product! I'd recommend trying the face oil or Adaptive Face Lotion as your sample :) Just wanted to throw that out there for you!

Let me know if you have any questions or need help color matching. Hopefully this helped give you a peek into my morning makeup routine. Let me know if you like this type of beauty post!

Happy Tuesday
xoxo



interior design website / services / portfolio
0

Back to Top