Dr. Denese SPF 30 Defense Day Cream Review
As summer approaches, and we eagerly anticipate the transition from cold winds to warm sunshine, it is important to make sure we have everything we need to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Summer weather means it’s time to beef up your SPF protection and switch from heavy foundations that may streak and look oily, to more lightweight products like tinted moisturizers and BB creams. Stay protected while maintaining a fresh complexion with Dr. Denese SPF 30 Defense Day Cream, an oil-free flesh-tinted BB Cream loaded with SPF 30 UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection. It’s a 3-in-1 product that works a moisturizer, sunblock, and makeup primer, saving you time and money. You don’t have to worry about the color not matching your skin, since the moisturizer, which comes in one shade, is formulated with Dr. Denese’s Pro Melanin Technology™, and imparts an undetectable self-adjusting sheer tint for a flawless completion.
FTC Disclosure: This product was provided for review
Cost: $34.00 for 1.5 oz and $75 for 4oz
How to use: Apply a generous amount of the day cream every morning to the face and neck. The product is safe enough to use around the eyes, including the upper eyelid. Reapply every few hours if you’re spending the day outdoors.
What I like: The cream blends into the skin smoothly and leaves behind a nice, matte finish. You should wear SPF year round, so it’s a nice option as a multi-tasking primer when using foundation during the cooler months. It doesn’t have a strong odor, nor does it or leave behind white residue, characteristic of most sunscreens.
Extra Info: The product is not pigmented enough to cover flaws, but it will give you a smooth canvas. Hide your imperfections by placing concealer only in the areas you need it, after applying the cream.
Where to buy: drdenese.com
A Sunscreen just for Ethnic Skin Tones
People with rich complexions are blessed with a natural SPF due to the pigment melanin, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t wear sunscreen. No one is invulnerable to the sun’s harmful rays, and although dark skin people are not as high-risk as their fair-skinned counterparts, all complexions can burn and have a risk of getting cancer. So, what’s a dark-skinned beauty to do? Apply sunscreen, of course! If your skin color ranges from tan to olive to deep dark brown, there is a new fabulous sunscreen available specifically formulated for dark skin called EXTRASHADE. Infused with a combination of vitamins, botanical extract and antioxidants, EXTRASHADE, focuses on repairing sun damage instead of just preventing sunburn. When dark skin is damaged, more melanin production is triggered, which causes uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. The powerful combination of ingredients in EXTRASHADE protects the skin from sun damage, hydrates, prevents discoloration, and helps existing marks from becoming darker.
EXTRASHADE Daily Defense Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30 can be purchased online for $33.00 here»
Protect your skin with sunscreen lotion alternatives
When I went to the beach last month, I made it my goal to find the perfect spot on the shoreline that would allow me to have a picturesque view of the clear, blue ocean, against the pristine, white sand of Punta Cana. It also was very important for me to have this great view, while being shaded in to avoid getting burned by the sun’s harmful rays. I somehow managed to find the ideal spot, and as dozed off under the gentle swaying palm tree I had rested under.
I awoke, and was surprised to see that I had still tanned, as rays of sunlight snuck their way through the fonds of the palms trees. It was only then that I decided to apply sunscreen, but it was too late to reverse my tan. This summer, anytime you go outside make sure you apply sunscreen 15 minutes ahead of time, even if you plan on staying in the shade. These are a number of great sunblock options available that are more convenient that the traditional sticky lotion. Here are some great options you may want to try:
OHUI Sun Science Powder Sunblock Natural Skin (SPF 50), $49, is a lightweight powder sunblock that comes in a portable cosmetic compact. It’s perfect for on-the-go touch ups, especially since you are supposed to reapply sunblock throughout the day.
California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick: No Fragrance, $15.00, is a unscented, non-chemical sunblock stick that glides on easily.
e.l.f. Studio SPF 45 Sunscreen UVA/UVB Protection, $6.00, is a sunscreen loose powder sunscreen that not only protects the skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays, but also soothes skin with healthy ingredients including Aloe Vera Extract, Grape Seed Extract and Vitamins A,C & E.
SPF 30 Sunscreen Swipes with Zinc for Sensitive Skin, $5.00, are pre-moistened wipes that offer UV protection with just a few swipes. Genius!
Travel Essentials
After months of constantly being on the go, I decided to do something I haven’t done in years: go on vacation. As the countdown to my four days of relaxation and tropical bliss nears, like the savvy individual I am, I made a list of the thing I need to take with me.
1. Sunscreen– I never go a day without wearing sunscreen, even on cloudy days or on days that I spend most of my time indoors. UV rays can penetrate through windows, and indoor fluorescent lights also emit UV radiations, so I smear SPF on all day long. Finding a sunscreen that smell’s great and doesn’t leave white streaks of residue can be difficult, which is why I decided to purchase Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF45 for my trip. It’s a transparent SPF 45 mineral pre-filled powder brush that is easily portable and oh-so convenient for a quick touch-up when on the go.
Peter Thomas Roth 'Instant Mineral' Brush On Powder SPF 30, $30
Get Glowing Skin this Summer
Summer is coming, which means it’s time for you to shake-up your beauty routine. Switch from the moisturizing cleanser you were using during the winter months, for something lighter and make sure these summer essentials are on your vanity:
◊Slather on the Sunscreen
Protect y
our skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen every day. For optimal use, apply every 1-2 hours, and be sure to apply it at least 15 minutes BEFORE going outside. It’s important to note that sunscreens do not last forever, so be sure to always check the expiration dates and toss the one you used last year. Sunscreens with a SPF of 30 or higher are best for the summer months.
Try this: New Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock SPF 70 ($9.99)
◊Switch your Foundation with Tinted Moisturizer
Thick foundations tend to melt right off your face in hot weather. Tinted Moisturizers are much lighter and give you a fresh, dewy look.
Try this: Cover Girl CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer (about $7 at your local drugstore). I have been using this since high school, and it’s never failed me!
◊Protect your pout with Lip Balm
You’ve got the sunscreen for your body, and the tinted moisturizer for your face, but don’t forget about your lips! Your lips are one the most vulnerable parts of your body that can burn easily. Prevent your lips from peeling or getting sunburned by using a moisturizing lip balm that has at least SPF 15 in it. Wear alone, or under your favorite lip gloss or lipstick.
Try this: Banana Boat Aloe Vera with vitamin E Sunscreen lip balm ($1-2 at your local drugstore).
◊ Keep your Feet Soft & Touchable
During the summer your tootsies can breathe in a fashionable pair of sandals. Head to the spa and get a pedicure, or use a foot scrub twice a week to keep feet soft and healthy-looking.
Try this: Dr. Scholl’s For Her Pumice Foot Scrub 
