Happy Fourth of July and Thank you to the following brands for gifting me with beauty products Made in the USA: ActivEssence, Mineral Fusion, eos, Schmidt’s, Kleenex, Jack Black, EO, VenEffect, Colorescience, Fairy Tales, Eclair Naturals, HFACTOR and DDF. As always, the opinions shared in the blog posts are my own honest opinions based on my actual experiences with the products.
Celebrate summer and the Fourth of July looking your best with help from these Summer Beauty Essentials. Don’t you just love to know when your beauty products are Made in the USA? I do!
These products have been rocking my summer beauty routine! Read on for details, especially the “My Take” sections where I’m spilling about everything from Did the Schmidt’s natural deodorant really work? to What’s the best face moisturizer with SPF?
Red, White and Blue Beauty Picks
The Red:
The ActivESSENCE™ Time Release Fragrance Mist uses a special Time Release technology to give you 12 hours of long-wear fragrance experience plus instant refreshment and skin-loving benefits. The mist leaves skin feeling soft and fresh all day long. A variety of scents are available for $7.99 each at Walgreens, CVS, Target.com, Amazon.com, Drugstore.com
My take: Finally, a skin mist that doesn’t dry out my skin! The scent isn’t too overpowering and lasts for hours and hours. I love that my room smells really nice after I use the spray, too. *Bonus Tip: Store ActivESSENCE in the refrigerator for an ultra-cooling body mist on hot days!
Each of Mineral Fusion’s nail polishes are 100% vegan. Chip-resistant lacquer provides flawless color and coverage free of harsh chemicals. Available for $7.99 at Whole Foods Markets nationwide and MineralFusion.com
My take: I’m partial to the Mineral Fusion Blaze nail polish color because it’s an orange-red that complements my medium skin tone. I can get great coverage and color on my nails with just one coat. I’m a fan of Mineral Fusions extra-thick brush.
Go red, white and smooth for 4th of July with eos lip balm. eos lip balm spheres are 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth. Available for $3.29 each at Target, Walmart, Walgreens and evolutionofsmooth.com
My take: If you were to come to my house or peek into my purse, you’d notice eos lip balms scattered throughout. I never go without an eos lip balm sphere, especially during the summer when the sun and heat tend to dry out my lips. The Summer Fruit eos featured here is a fruity lip balm that smells good enough to eat.
The White:
Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant offers all-day odor and wetness protection. Available in several scented as well as a fragrance-free version. Amazingly, Schmidt’s effectiveness not only matches that of chemical alternatives, but actually outperforms them without the use of aluminum or other unfriendly chemicals. Vegan, gluten-free & cruelty-free. Available for $8.99 at Schmidtsdeodorant.com & select Whole Foods
My take: I’m a believer. This stuff works. I tried it for the first time on a 95 degree summer day when I was outside, exercising! I stayed dry and my armpits did not get stinky at all. The only thing I’m a teeny tiny bit bummed about is that I tested the Fragrance-Free version. Wah, I sound like such a baby, but I would love to try some of Schmidt’s awesome sounding essential oil deodorants like Bergamot Lime or Lavender Sage. I’ll have to visit Whole Foods and look for Schmidt’s. I’m excited to find a natural deodorant that is everything it claims to be. It really does work amazing. Try it!
Kleenex Facial Cleansing Wipes These facial cleansing wipes are designed with an exclusive combination of multilayered, textured fabric and gentle cleanser, infused with a pro-vitamin complex. Get the natural radiance of a freshly washed clean in just one step. For all skin types. Alcohol free. 25 Wipes & Refillable Dispenser–$9.99 Refill Pack–$4.99 Available at Kleenex.com/facialcleansing
My take: Cleansing wipes make freshening up easy and convenient – even when you don’t have water. I take these in my beach bag and on summer camping trips. Kleenex wipes do a great job removing makeup, dirt and sweat without drying out my skin. The cloths are super soft, too.
Fairy Tales Bug Bandit Deet-Free Bug Spray This natural formula promises to repel fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, and biting flies all with a quick spritz. Fairy Tales Bug Bandit is a safe and effective spray that is ideal for the whole family! The formula features: Soybean Oil is proven to repel mosquitoes for 3.5 hours, Lemon Eucalyptus Oil is as effective as low levels of DEET – without the harmful chemicals, Cedar Bark Oil is not only great for repelling the bugs, it also adds a calming woody undertone to the blend, Citronella and Rosemary Oil smells great, but is also effective at repelling everything from ants to flies and mosquitoes. $13.95 for an 8 oz bottle at fairytaleshaircare.com
My take: Finally, a bug spray that my kids don’t run away in fear from because they hate the way it smells! Fairy Tales Bug Bandit actually smells really GOOD (unless you’re a bug! LOL) and doesn’t any contain scary chemicals and harmful ingredients. I like not having to worry about what I put on myself and my family to keep the bugs away. I’ll put this to the ultimate test on an upcoming camping trip where mosquitoes are going to be a real problem.
DDF Weightless Defense Oil-Free Hydrator with Sunscreen An amazingly light moisturizer that provides long-lasting, comfortable hydration with broad spectrum UVA-UVB protection. $55 at Ulta, Amazon.com and other retailers
My take: This is a great choice for an oil free moisturizer with SPF 45 broad spectrum protection. Perfect for everyday wear under make-up, it goes on like a light moisturizer and absorbs instantly into my skin. I like the hydrating effects it gives my skin without making my face look shiny. My skin feels smooth, but not slick or oily. Most importantly, my skin is protected from harmful sun rays.
The Blue:
Jack Black Sun Guard Sunscreen SPF 45 An oil-free, water and sweat resistant, vitamin-enriched lotion that won’t run or drip into your eyes. Quick-absorbing formula with exceptional staying power. Made with the very finest ingredients, combining the latest technologies with time-tested natural remedies to create formulas that are not only effective, but also lightweight and non-greasy. Available for $10 (1.5oz.), $21 (4oz.) at www.GetJackBlack.com
My take: Even though it uses zinc oxide, this light sunscreen easily absorbs into the skin without leaving a white sheen. It’s great for using at the pool, ocean or lake (anywhere we play in the water) because it’s water-resistant for 80 minutes. I like to use it on myself and the kids to help protect us all against sunburn. Mega Bonus points for not dripping down our faces and burning our eyeballs!
HFACTOR is the first hydrogen rich water in the USA! This specially-formulated, hydrogen-rich water may increase circulation, fight inflammation, improve allergies, promote muscle recovery and more. With no added sugars or harmful chemicals, HFACTOR is a crisp, cool and refreshing water with no added flavors. Available at h-factor.com
My take: Water is a beauty essential in my book. My skin looks better and I feel better when I stay hydrated. HFACTOR comes in a convenient, portable 11 ounce pouch with an adult-size straw. The hydrogen-rich water is a great way to refresh after strenuous summer outdoor activities or a workout in the gym. It tastes good, too.
EO Certified Organic Body Serum Organic Body Serums from EO® are made from exotic, organic plant oils that revitalize dry skin and restore radiance. Virgin Coconut Oil, Argan Oil and Avocado Oil are just a few of the organic plant oils that are carefully blended with pure essential oils to nourish and replenish your skin. Available for $21.99 each at eoproducts.com
My take: I have tried a lot of EO products and the EO No. 1 (Revitalizing) Body Serum is another winner. The serum is thin and glides onto skin smoothly. It isn’t sticky or oily at all. I love how my skin stays hydrated and gets a soft glow every time I use the serum. I almost thought it was unscented, but realized the serum has an ever-so-slight citrusy scent.
BONUS! All–American Summer Beauty Picks
VENeffect Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 15 enhances collagen production, helps reverse sun damage and dramatically improves skin elasticity while offering broad-spectrum protection from harmful UVA/UVB rays. Available for $145 at NeimanMarcus.com and VENeffect.com
My take: It’s never too early to use anti-aging products. VENeffect has a higher price tag than most of my everyday beauty products, but I like all the skin benefits it has to offer. I haven’t noticed immediate skin improvement just yet, but I like the way this lightweight moisturizer with SPF instantly absorbs into my skin without feeling oily or looking greasy. It doesn’t cause break-outs for me, either.
Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush SPF 30 This water resistant, broad spectrum sunscreen makes protecting your skin easy, 365 days a year. Perfectly portable and easy to reapply, it offers powerful SPF 30 UVA/UVB protection with sheer, natural-looking coverage and 80 minute water resistant protection. Available in Fair, Medium, Medium Shimmer, Tan and Deep for $57 at Colorescience.com and Sephora.com
My take: A sunscreen brush it a totally neat and new way to put on sunscreen. The container easily fits into my make-up bag, and application is super simple. It’s a lot like putting on blush – except instead of just your cheeks, you want it to go everywhere! Wearing at least SPF 30 on my face all day every day is very important to me, and Colorescience makes it easy to apply with a few quick sweeps of the soft brush applicator. This mineral sunscreen is a powder, so it goes on dry. My skin stays looking matte, never shiny. which I especially like when I use Colorescience Sunforgettable on my face.
Éclair Naturals Fizzy Bath Cupcake and Body Butter
Éclair Naturals brings the best of nature at an affordable price with sustainably sourced and produced products. Unique formulas are non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. Available at Rite-Aid (cupcake $4.99, body butter $9.99)
My take: I just love the Fizzy Bath Cupcake! Infused with pure sweet almond oil, Vitamin E and pure botanical extracts, it’s a perfect treat for a pampering soak. The body butter is super thick and adds a ton of moisture to my skin.
Tell me, what do you think about my Summer Beauty Picks? Got any questions about how they work or where you can buy them? Let me know in the comments section below.
