Summer, for me, always means LOW MAINTENANCE. I typically roll will little to no makeup (mascara is always a must), wet ponytails, and big dreams of eventually living in a place filled with palm trees where I can pull this regimen off year-round.
In the meantime, I’ll continue to embrace my Jersey summers … and these products that I’ve just discovered within the past few months, all of which I’ll definitely be using year-round.
I purchased this oil-free primer from NARS at the Garden State Plaza. It prolongs and enhances the look of make-up, but also looks beautiful when used alone; it warms your complexion and boosts radiance with refined pearlescence.
All of the products by Gilly’s Organics, started by a Bergen County Mom (Gillian Garrett), are made with natural and organic ingredients. This Rose Renewal Toner restores the skin’s natural glow. Formulated for use after cleansing or as a refresher anytime, toners prep the skin for absorption of moisturizer. Rose leaves the skin bright, dewy and radiant, and the size is just right for fitting into your beach bag, exercise bag or purse. It smells pretty and feels really nice when you spray it on.
After failing to talk me into some “Baby Botox”, my dermatologist recommended that I try Obagi Professional-C Serum 20%, which infuses your skin with L-ascorbic acid, the only form of vitamin C suitable for topical application. This serum serum provides effective antioxidant protection from UV damage as it brightens away hyperpigmentation and encourages the growth of collagen and elastin fibers. Hyaluronic acid binds moisture to your skin to prevent dryness. I’ve noticed a big difference in the appearance of my skin since I started rubbing a few drops of this serum onto my face, neck and décolletage daily.
A friend of my mother-in-law was kind enough to let me test out this Neora gel sunscreen, and I can honestly say I like it a lot. I’m not one to apply sunscreen unless I’m on the beach or at the pool (I know, I know …) mainly because sunscreen almost always makes my face breakout and I don’t like the way it feels. This sunscreen is very lightweight, cooling and even protects your face and neck from premature aging due to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, blue light from digital devices, and environmental stressors such as pollution and smoke.
*If you need a Neora rep or have any questions about this product, feel free to send me a DM on Instagram (@stylishmama) and I’ll happily put you in touch with my contacts.
My best friend, Ali, introduced me to this one. A little bigger than a lipstick, it fits easily into pockets and purses, and instantly cools, hydrates and brightens the look of under eye circles. It feels lovely going onto the skin and leaves a dewy, energizing glow. It also contains probiotics and super foods and is super-easy to re-apply. Use under and around the eyes and on top of cheekbones.
Holy volume! This was an “emergency” purchase during a photo shoot and I’ll never purchase pricy mascara again. End of story. It’s smudge and wear-proof, hypoallergenic and suitable for contact lens wearers. Also, the tube color makes me happy and fits comfortably in my hand.
Liza Fonti, Owner of the lifestyle blog, Stylish Mama, offers women's fashion and beauty finds while sprinkling in some inspirational advice. Her personal motto is: "If you’re fortunate enough to know or acquire something good, spread the love”, Liza also manages social media and content creation for blogs, articles, websites, social media accounts and more through her other venture, Highlight Content.