Well, it’s sunscreen (and tornado!) season out here in the District of Columbia, so I feel obliged to write you a short note alerting you to a sale on EltaMD at Dermstore. It really is my absolute favorite sunscreen brand, and I am even more attached coming off two weeks hiding from the sun during a heat wave in Kansas and on a bright beach in New York. I’ve been using this every day under makeup, and this SPF 50 lotion is great for me, the kids, and for my husband’s hair-free noggin. This spray is also great (but make sure you get adequate coverage, spray it in your hand as well as on your body to make sure you have enough on to be protected).
I have also been using EltaMD skincare for the last couple of months, and highly recommend their moisturizers and serums, though they are monstrously expensive. I try to stock up during sales, and if you want to try ‘em, now’s your chance. This serum is fabulous if you are struggling through Retin-A flaking or any compromised skin barrier issues, as is this moisturizer. And I love this light daily moisturizer as well. I have recently changed from an 11,000 step skin routine to a simplified one and all three of these figure into it and do not aggravate my capricious skin.
In other too-expensive-but-on-sale right now news, Jordan Samuel Skin is having a 20% off sale through July 10th. I discovered this small brand through some skinfluencers I love and trust, and it makes the first cleansing balm I can use that doesn’t cause me to break out, but does dissolve my heavy sunscreen every night. It comes in two flavors, regular and sensitive, and the sensitive is just terrific, and comes in a giant bottle that has lasted me a year. I also really love this moisturizer which is chock full of good stuff, mixes and layers well, and has no fragrance, essential oils or other irritating business. (Side note: for years I used moisturizers with “natural” fragrances without realizing that essential oils and citrus stuff were the culprits for a lot of my woes. This might be true for you, too, Barrie Godchildren! I love the smell of that Weleda Skin Food goop and all the Origins too, but MAN it is hard on my face.)
One more thing! This is not sunscreen related but I want to introduce you to a gadget that has removed a specific anxiety that creeps up on me every summer, and often causes me to scream at my family. I hate mosquitoes, and I tend to get bitten by them more than most, and my delicate ladylike skin tends to react allergically to 80% of the bites I get. But what truly enraged me during past summers is that everyone in my family would just leave the back door open as they tromped in and out from grilling, basketball, or anything they were doing on the patio. And the three of them don’t get bitten much! So then, after screaming “SHUT THE DOOR” for an entire day, I’d just get chewed unmercifully at night. It was terrible and actually, now that I’m writing this, I’m still kinda mad about it? There is not enough room to put in a screen door, and screen curtains broke within weeks. But then my husband really turned things around by ordering this relatively inexpensive thing which closes the door automatically.* I am telling you tears came to my eyes when I saw how well it worked! It is honestly one of the best gifts I have ever received, because anything that lessens the anxiety of impending rage over preventable physical discomfort is a win for me. My hero.
At some point I will loop you into my other mosquito-amelioration techniques, but for now, I’ll be highly moisturized and sunscreened, listening to the wonderful sound of a door slamming every time a person goes in or out.
Enjoy the long weekend!
Love, Your Barrie Godmother
*Click on “see all buying options.” I’m sorry that it says it ships so late, but I suspect that there are a million of these from other places that are worth trying if you can’t wait for your very own door slammer.