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| Above: My desert beauty “must haves.” All items fit effortlessly into my Neiman Marcus “Camp Gorgeous” bag…I’ll be using this all summer, indeed! |
Packing is an inordinate challenge for me…anytime I travel, my goal is to establish the prefect balance between options and excess. Many times, this regrettably does not occur. However, sometimes, said balance is achieved!
For my most recent trip to Tucson, Arizona, I was able to carefully edit down my beauty “must haves” to a streamlined collection, perfectly tailored to an extremely hot desert environment.
Kindly scroll on for images and descriptions…
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| Above: My most recent sunglass purchase…these timeless oversized Chloe “Havana” sunglasses are a rare blend of black and brown and feel very comfortable on the face. Even in intense heat, these don’t slide down my nose!They keep me from squinting and protect my sensitive, contact-lens-wearing eyes. |
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| Above: The Rachel K CC Cream in Neutral is a fantastic base for skin facing extreme weather conditions. This lightly tinted, SPF 35 (physical sunscreen), mattifying and waterproof cream is a powerful base that helps my foundation to stay put in a sweat-inducing atmosphere. Full review of this Korean cult favorite very soon! |
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| Above: Even if the SPF protection of the Rachel K CC Cream, Amore Pacific CC Cream and Sulwhasoo Powder have a combined SPF of over 100 (is that even possible?), a SPF 50 hat made by Helen Kaminski is the final barrier to make sure that harmful rays of sun have no chance whatsoever of touching my face. |
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| Above: I love YSL Rouge Volupte in #1…this pinky beige features lush full coverage and perhaps may be one of the most flattering nudes ever crafted. It creates a sophisticated lip that is polished without looking overdone. |
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| Above: I am on my second tube of Tom Ford gloss in Naked…hydrating and creamy, this creates the quintessential shiny pale pout. |
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| Above: Vogue and Coco Chanel’s biography…poolside reading at its most chic ; ) |
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| Above: Purely physical sunscreen is immensely difficult to find these days…I was happy to stumble upon this SPF 50 version by Cerave. I will be using this on my body all summer long! |
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| Above: The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is so refreshing when sprayed on the face…it wakes me up and imparts a natural glow. |
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| Above: I always have a large silk scarf in my possession…it is excellent for extra sun protection and can also help to create a classy impromptu hairstyle. |
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| Above: The products in action…freshly applied (in lower left corner), doing their job (in the top right corner), the gorgeous pool (in lower right corner) and after 6 hours outdoor in 105 degree weather (in the top left corner). Everything held up remarkably well! |
Bottom Line: Due to the extreme heat and rural terrain, desert vacations can be very low maintenance. Although they may not demand a plethora of beauty products, a few key items are a must. Oversized sunglasses, a protective foundation base, a wide-brimmed hat, a glossy nude lip, some fabulous reading material, serious SPF, a refreshing facial mist and a multi-purposed silk scarf collectively make my time in this arid wonderland a beautiful experience!
What are some of YOUR vacation must-haves?
**PR sample provided for
review, however, as always, all of my opinions are expressly and unequivocally
my own. This post contains affiliate
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Comments (23)
Hello Rachel!
According to http://www.ewg.org/ and many dermatologists, one should use physical sunscreens instead of chemical ones. The issue is the white cast. Only recently have I discovered the amazing world of Asian physical sunscreens, which has helped me circumvent this problem. Have you tried "Biore Perfect face Milk"? No white cast, great oil control and it leaves the skin remarkably smooth. In fact it is so light and inobtrusive that can be used as a face primer. I'm completely hooked.
However, Asian sunscreens come in very small packages (30-40ml), so I only wear them on my face.
On my body, I have used the CERAVE sunscreen in the post and had to return it because of the white cast. I found my HG in "Livestrong Thinksport 50+". The only one I found on ewg.org that offers both excellent UVB AND UVA protection, and it's packed with plant extracts and other natural ingredients – totally opposite from the La Roche-Posay ones I used to wear.
I love "Biore Perfect Face Milk" and "Thinksport Livestrong"! Give them a try when you can 🙂
Abraço,
Paula
Hello Paula,
Thank you for your detailed comment! I completely agree with you that physical sunscreen is preferable for healthy reasons. Despite the fact that dermatologists report it to be better for the skin, it is very difficult to locate physical-only sunscreens! The Asian world of sunscreens is vast and lovely…I use the Koh Gen Do UV Milk on my face and do not get a white cast. It is definitely my favorite facial sunscreen! I will have to look into the Biore Perfect Face Milk…I am not sure if we have that in the States but I shall investigate ; )
I did notice that the Cerave yields a white cast on the body, but I don't mind that much…I was in intense heat and sun yesterday and reapplied twice and didn't get burnt at all! I love the idea of the Thinksport Livestrong…thanks for the tip…will have to see where I can purchase that!
xoxo and talk soon,
–The Beauty Professor
Thank you for taking the time to answer my comments. You're always very attentive to your readers!
I forget to say I conveniently order "Biore Perfect Face Milk" on ebay (from a seller in CA) and I buy "Thinksport Livestrong" on amazon.com.
I will look into Koh Gen Do UV Milk as well!
Abraço,
/P
PS. Still speaking of summer essentials…
I find Paula's Choice AHA Body lotion and Paula's Choice Retinol Body lotion are my staples, along with the abovementioned physical sunscreens. These two PC products give me exfoliated and soft legs. Are you acquainted with her products and website? She's also known as "cosmetic cop", analyzing the claims and formula of thousands of make-up and skin care products and making suggestions in various categories.
/P
Of course…my pleasure! Interacting with my readers is such a joy! Thanks for the tips about where you get your sunscreen..that will come in very handy. I have heard a lot of good things about Paula's Choice products (and have read her website many times over…it is such a wealth of knowledge!). Thank you for the recommendation!!
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
Cool blog… My summer holiday essentials are skincode face suncreen spf 50, tea tree oil, dr hauschka rejuvenating mask, which i use as a moisturiser, pukka organic rose water and weleda or apivita sweet almond oil which moisturises and cleanses face and eyes, as well as adds some glow to my legs. I like things simple 😉
Thanks, D! I so appreciate your sharing your summer essentials…your list is lovely, simple and natural. I haven't tried the skin code sunscreen but love tea tree oil and sweet almond oil…they are wonderful multi-taskers!
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
skincode, it is the only spf 50 sunscreen i've found that leaves my skin totally matte, i really hope it works for you if you ever do decide to try it 😉 speak soon, enjoy…
Awesome…I will definitely have to track it down because SPF 50 and total matte finish are two very alluring qualities for a single product ; )
xoxo and talk soon,
–The Beauty Professor
hi rachel
i think something was wrong with sending comment so i have no idea if went though or not
anyways you look great i got sulwhasoo powder and love it i use it with amore cuhion cc
now where do i get the rachel k cc here i heard about it ,but never been able to get it in usa
BTW i ordered amorepacific time reponce cellular foundation suppose to be like sensai will see when i get it ,ill update you on that
but plz give me websaite i can order rachel k
enjoy ur vacation xoxo
Hi Nona,
Thanks for your comment and sorry to hear that you had some difficulties with your last comment posting! The Sulwhasoo/Amore Pacific combination works nicely, no?! It truly lasts the entire day, even in extreme conditions. The Rachel K CC cream can be ordered from the company website (https://www.rachelkcosmetics.com). I have it in the shade Neutral because the Original shade is very very light. Neutral is still light but works well for skin in the light (rather than fair) range.
The Amore Pacific Time Response Foundation sounds fascinating…please do keep me posted on how you like it!
xoxo and have a wonderful week,
–The Beauty Professor
You look fabulous in that hat and sunglasses. Polished with a somewhat Greta Garbo mysterious quality. Summer chic that's simple but glamorous. Good to know that such a thing is achievable.
Thank you so much!! Your compliment is so descriptive and generous…I love it!
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
Hi Rachel, hope you have a great time. You look great. Tried to get the mac orange lipsticks but like u said, they were all scooped up at this point! Oh well, I'm sure there will be another goodie from your summer list for me to try. Thanks for the update on the longevity of your products. I too will NOT let the sun touch my face because I'm light as well and freckle so easily! I can't say enough good things about the LMdB peau vierge. As you mentioned, I too find that my skin looks better & my makeup goes on remarkable smooth! It is my 1st step everyday as well. xoxo Happy summer.
Thank you so very much!! Such a bummer about the MAC orange lippies…it is as I suspected. I have a feeling, however, that some will start popping up on Ebay as certain people buy extra to sell, knowing that the LE collections are sold out quickly. That is fantastic that you shun the sun on your face too…not a single ray will penetrate my sunscreen, sunglasses, hat defense ; )
So happy that you are loving Peau Vierge (I am about to put some on right now!)…I knew you would.
xoxo and happy summer to you!
–The Beauty Professor
Hi B.P I also wanted to ask you if you needed to switch yet to 204 in the amore pacific? I know you mentioned once summer color arrived, you may have to. Is the 104 still working? I want to order it but had to return 106 because it was too dark/yellow. With self-tanning, I wonder if I should go with 204 based on your swatches. Thanks as always!
Hi Lynn…since this week is my first foray into tanning, I haven't had to change my foundation shade quite yet. #104 is working thus far, but I have #204 on stand by just in case. It is just a hint darker and still has a beautiful yellow undertone!
Will keep you posted when I make the switch…xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
I'm waiting for your Rachel K CC review. I've been using IT Cosmetics CC Cream and loving it. I want to see what you can teach me about Rachel K. The only place I found it was on ebay for about $40. Does that seem right?
Hello dear Marcia!
Good to hear from you! I am in the midst of working on my Rachel K CC cream review and will also be covering her mineral powders in three shades. Initial thoughts…excellent coverage, wear and SPF for long days in the sun. It won't be replacing my beloved LMdB Peau Vierge for all the other days of the year, but I really like it overall. I haven't tried anything from IT Cosmetics yet, but have read good things! I just checked and you can also order Rachel K products on her website (www.rachelkcosmetics.com…the CC Cream in Neutral retails there for $39 and they offer free international shipping! Full review soon…have a wonderful rest of the week.
xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor
Thanks so much. I'm just worried that the Neutral would be too dark. Looking forward to your review.
Of course! Neutral is actually quite light, but I know how lovely and fair your skin is, so the Original could be a match as well. I will try to get some swatches up ASAP ;
xoxo and enjoy the weekend!
–The Beauty Professor
Paring down is very difficult for me! Especially if I don't have three days to over-pack (which is what they call my packing in my family)! I took off in a hurry for New Orleans and instead of thinking through what I needed and wanted, I tossed it all in a Lay/N/Go and tossed that in my rolling bag. Fortunately it fit! The lotioins and potions are always an issue. Color not so much. I am just going to buy one of everything in your post and set it aside! No kidding. I share so many of your sensitilibies and sense of color! Just found you and will continue to read!
I am with you on this, Judith…packing well is both a science and and art form and takes lots of brain power and stamina to do it right! So glad you found your way here…thanks for sharing your very relatable perspective on packing and I look forward to interacting with you in future posts!!
Take care and keep in touch…xoxo,
–The Beauty Professor