
Everyone knows that the New Zealand sun can be blisteringly hot- and over the past few weeks we’ve had some blazing days. And yes, I admit, I got caught out a couple of times. I know this is highly irresponsible of me, and if my beauty therapist Lisa is reading this I’ll probably get in deep trouble. BUT- I found a solution for those times I do slip up and forget to wear sunscreen. Or a hat. Because sometimes it just happens, right? That’s where Thalgo came in and saved me from misery with its beautiful Sun Repair Cream Mask, which can be used on your face and decolletage. This beaut contains:- aloe vera- which we all know is brilliant at soothing any sort of burn- water lily flower extract; which is intensely soothing - macro-algae from the Philippines to aide in preventing skin dehydration - the plant extracts jojoba and wheatgerm; which nourish your skin and help to replenish it
It sounds yummy, because it IS yummy. The texture is rich and silky, and my skin just drinks it up. Another multi purpose product; you can use this as a moisturiser after your skin has been exposed to the sun, or if you’re desperately in need of some proper pampering- apply a thicker layer and use it as a mask for around 10 minutes. I did this, and my skin felt so dreamy afterwards that I couldn’t stop touching it. A little bit goes a LONG way, so you really don’t need to use much at a time, it really is worth investing in.
http://www.thalgo.co.nz/catalogue/produit/sun-repair-cream-mask.149.html

This product is an AWESOME two in one; it provides a whole heap of protection with an SPF 50+ as well as giving you an instant bronze glow. It’s a good, decent bronze as well- and not at all shimmery so it doesn’t look obvious. The smell is so good I can’t even handle it- like vanilla and coconut- so summery! I found it to be really nice and moisturising as well- really important at this time of year for my poor dry skin. It works beautifully to even out your skin, and lasts for 4 hours- even if you go for a dip. I have given it a decent test drive over the past couple of weeks and the bronzer doesn’t come off on my clothes, and washes off with body wash in the shower. I really can’t say enough good things about it, it’s basically everything I want- and guess what? It’s lightweight enough and so easily absorbed that I don’t get sand sticking to me- not even at Piha. I high five this guy, and I think I'm going to go through it extremely quickly.
http://www.modelcocosmetics.com/shop/tanning

ModelCo DAILY FACE MATTIFYING SUNSCREEN AND LIPBALM SPF50+
Okay, so everyone knows by now how obsessed I am with multi purpose products. They just save so much time, space, and my bank balance. If this product isn’t multi purpose, then I don’t know what is. I’m going to list everything it is, because I love lists:
-It is a sunscreen with SPF50+
-It is lightly tinted
-It is mattifying
-It absorbs so quickly, and isn’t greasy in the slightest
-It contains Vitamin E, which makes your skin feel lovely and soft
-There is an inbuilt SPF50+ lipbalm IN THE LID! And it tastes like strawberries.
-It has a small compact mirror IN THE LID (can you tell I am in love?)
-The smell is lovely, a really light coconut scent- and it is suitable for all skin types, even my sensitive skin.
Have I convinced you yet? This is my beach bag staple, no doubt about it, and would make a gorgeous Christmas present as well...maybe for yourself.
http://www.modelcocosmetics.com/shop/tanning

Firstly, look at the packaging. Look at it. It’s so cool. Running with my theme again of (you guessed it) multi purpose products, this is both a facial tanner and a moisturiser. It has two pumps to dispense the 2 different products either separately or together, which I love. On one side is the self tanning gel which is really light, so don’t worry about going overboard! It also works gradually, so you apply it until you get the colour you’d like. The other side contains hyaluron serum which is a hydrating skin care ingredient, along with combined rosehip and argan oils- only my two favourite oils on the planet- my skin is addicted to them. So you can imagine how good it makes your skin feel! If you want to use them together, simply pump both dispensers at once and mix them together before applying (don’t forget to wash your hands afterwards!). Or if you’d like a darker tan for your face, just use the tanning gel on its own- easy! I found that it dried really quickly leaving no residue, and after 3 days I had a lovely natural glow. This is an awesome product, and about 6 million times better than either trying to actually tan your face naturally (a pretty huge no) or by applying a heap of bronzer. I love it!
http://www.modelcocosmetics.com/shop/tanning

I carry this in my bag at all times, because I find it to be the perfect sunscreen for every day- not just for myself, but for my two year old. Unfortunately he views my applying sunscreen on him equal to his worst nightmare, and he makes such a racket about it that I’m pretty sure that my neighbours think I’m torturing him. He’s a total drama-queen (I wonder where he got that from? Hmm). But this awesome product is SO easily absorbed, I find I can cut down on the hysterics by at least half- it’s so lightweight and lovely! I love it for myself because of how nice it makes my skin feel- all silky and moisturised, and it’s not greasy in the slightest. It actually just feels like a body moisturiser, which I love, and contains just the right amount of SPF for every day.
https://www.facebook.com/NiveaNZ

This is going to come as a shock to some of you, but some days I just can’t be bothered with makeup- cue collective gasp. I realise that this sounds pretty wayward coming from someone who writes a blog about makeup, but SOMETIMES I just like to go without. Like at the beach, or at playgroup...or just when I want to give my skin a rest. This is when I reach for Nivea’s Daily Face Veil, because it is simply divine. Much like the Nivea lotion I just mentioned, it doesn't contain any solid particles- which means that it absorbs really quickly into your skin. The smell is nice and light, it’s difficult to describe, but it just smells like summer in a tube to me- it’s not strong, so don’t worry. It’s hydrating, and leaves my skin looking radiant- this doesn’t have a matte finish, it’s definitely more glowing- but NOT shiny. Just fresh and pretty! The packaging is super cute and fits in my handbag (along with everything else I hoard religiously) perfectly. Oh, and if you wanted to use this as a makeup base, it’d be perfect too- given that it absorbs without leaving any residue. Nivea are onto a winner with this guy.
https://www.facebook.com/NiveaNZ

Tuscan Tan Full Self Tan Mousse
For all of you beauties who want a REALLY dark, glowing, gorgeous tan- this is the product for you. As you know, I’ve been trialling oh so many self tanners lately- it is the season after all- and to be honest I haven’t actually disliked any of them. They’re all just unique in their own ways, and I genuinely believe using a tanning mitt helps 110%. The Tuscan Tan is a really lightweight mousse that absorbs nice and quickly- but not so quickly that you can’t buff it with your mitt. This is a SERIOUS tan, so if you’re after a light colour, I would steer clear, it’s for a medium to dark finish. However because I don’t do things by halves, and because I feel like I’ve finally mastered the intricacies of self tanning, I love this product. Some self tans smell, well, unpleasant- but this has a really light caramel scent that’s not offensive in the slightest. The absolute best thing about this though is how long it lasts- mine lasted a solid 6 days, and may have lasted longer if I hadn’t had several dips in the ocean (thank you Auckland weather gods!). Now, just remember- because this is a darker tan, and it takes a full 8 hours to develop properly, don’t get all over-excited and decide to add an extra coat. Just wait it out, promise? Because you’ll absolutely love the result!
https://www.facebook.com/TuscanTanTM