ÁMEZING NEWS #6: SUN PROTECTION BEYOND SUNSCREEN

PLUS BEAUTIFUL MAKEUP & LIFE RECCS FROM PAIGE

ÁMEZING ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

• Hi all! You can still enjoy our Buy-One-Get-One skin sale through the END OF MAY! Spend $50 and get one free product of equal or lesser value! Ámezing!

• Please keep in mind my studio will be closed in July. Renovations… sprinkled in with some much-needed rest and relaxation. May and June are fully booked, but I can still add you to my June cancellation list. This is LA, so there are always cancellations! Just email bookings@amezskin.com to get on the list!

ÁMEZING TIP: 

SUN PROTECTION BEYOND SUNSCREEN

Whatever your plans are for this holiday weekend, chances are they involve a fair amount of sun. And I want you to stay healthy while having fun!

Have you seen these endlessly viral social media posts advocating for people not to use sunscreen? This may seem bananas, but I have to admit, I kinda used to be one of them! And I still understand where they’re coming from. Vitamin D is important. I’ve always been a sun worshipper. Plus I enjoy being tan. Spending time in the sun feels like a total body reset for me, and doing so changes my mood for the better. Serotonin baby! 

Today, I believe sun worshipping in intentional doses with optimum protection is key. You might think of sunscreen as the number one sun protectant, and it is, but using it is actually the bare minimum! Keep reading to browse other sun health musts. Of course, you don’t need to apply all of these habits at once every time you sun…but it wouldn’t hurt to do so either!

HATS / VISORS 

I couldn’t stress this more! If you live in a place as sunny as L.A., it’s important to wear a hat or visor every afternoon, the same way you might always wear sunglasses when the sun is out.

One of my favorite hats of all time is my Communitie Marfa visor that I purchased a few years ago. It was all a full circle when I met Kate Calder, the founder of the brand, last year at a yoga retreat in Tuscany. I immediately expressed my love for the hats! Check them out below! They are made of 100% palm straw with Ultraviolet Protection Factor! And come in a variety of styles.

SUNGLASSES

Many of us consider sunglasses our favorite accessory, but remember there’s a function beyond fashion! I always post about my District Vision sunglasses. I’m such a fan of this brand! 

I’m an absolute sunglasses freak and have tried every brand. These are some of the most ergonomic, weightless glasses I have ever used – an absolute plus when looking for performance-driven, peak sunwear. All of the lenses have specific functions so check them out here! Personally, I’ve had the black rose lens and the junya racer black pair as well. Your eyes will thank you! (So will the skin around them!)

RASH GUARDS / SWIMSUITS AND GARMENTS WITH SPF PROTECTION

If you plan on hitting the beach or going on a boat this summer, consider incorporating SPF geared clothing like surf hats or rash guards. There are lots of cool options here for those who like watersports or simply tend to burn easily! Even with all the sunscreen in the world, some of you would still burn, so this is a great layer of protection.

There are tons on the market, including the classic ones like Rip Curl, RVCA, and of course, Quicksilver. Mainstream brands are also offering a variety of more protective styles of swimwear, in terms of both style (long-sleeve and high-neck swim tops and one-pieces) and material (fabrics with UPF!) My partner is a big surfer and travels quite a bit with this particular hat. Sunscreen + this hat = strong armor against the sun. Enjoy that water and those waves!

MIND THE TIME

Kind of important here! Peak hours are typically from 11 am to 2 pm when the UV index is at its highest. Depending on where you are in the world, it might be recommended to avoid long sun exposure time altogether. 

If you are on a mission to be outside during these times, it’s all about reapplication of SPF (typically every 80 mins to 2 hours, depending on the sun protection factor). Pull out all the stops to avoid a burn!

When I was in Costa Rica about a month ago, it was 90 degrees in 90% humidity every single day. The sun was always blasting from 11-3 pm, so during that time I was wearing SPF and my hat and sitting under an umbrella I brought to the sand. It’s just a game of smart protection while enjoying the climate and your surroundings. 

This may be a total DUH for most of you, but even if you’re rolling your eyes right now, it’s easy for any of us to forget once we’re having fun! You don’t want to have the best day only to realize your skin is TOASTED TO THE TOUCH, TENDER, PINK or RED once you get out of the shower. Oy! Avoid that! Sunburns and sun poisoning can ruin a trip! Or any other fun experience! This is not what we want! Be safe and enjoy  

I’ve included some post-sun care under the SPF tab on ShopMyShelf. You’ll see some great options for post-sun recovery, but remember, a simple aloe vera gel is always the easiest option! 

ÁMEZING FRIEND: PAIGE MARTON

Makeup artist and beauty tastemaker Paige Marton and I have been friends for years! We’re both from LA, and we both love beauty and poodles (our dogs are both poodle mixes!) Ámezing News asked Paige to share her easy-to-execute, extra-expressive beauty ideas for summer soirées, as well as her fave products, places, and people in LA. Keep reading for lots of beautiful recommendations!  

What kind of products/techniques do you recommend for people looking to express themselves with fun makeup this summer? 

For easy, yet expressive event looks, I always go for a wash of color on the lids. It’s friendly for all experience levels. I truly believe the messier it is, the hotter it is. I’ll blend that color out and taper it up towards my brow bone and temples to lift the eye. I’ll usually also line my bottom water line to add some drama and create a more feline eye shape. Pair that with fresh skin, some lip liner ‘n gloss.

I also like playing with a very shimmery or glittery shadow and the negative space on my lid. Either place it directly in the middle of the lid with the rest of the eye bare, or right under the base of the brow/inner eye for a pop of color. 

Also, intentionally leaving parts of your lid bare can create subtly graphic looks. 

What are your favorite special occasion makeup products?

I think special occasion makeup really comes down to how well it wears. But I love everything to look fresh and natural, so I’ll still use products with a dewy/satin finish instead of matte. However, I always spot apply powder on oily areas like the t-zone, nose, chin, under eyes, and smile lines. I love MAKE Beauty’s Diffusion Dew skin tint. It provides more coverage than other skin tints I’ve tried. The formulation is smart, it has a skin-like finish but there are mica flecks in it that give the effect of a more dewy finish. 

Dewy without the risk of being oily, j’adore. 

The Make Skin Mimic concealer is also an amazingly natural-looking and moisturizing product that doesn’t settle into lines. 

What’s your favorite place to physically go and browse makeup or skincare? 

I will always be a Sephora gyal. I can’t lie, I absolutely love a mall day where I make waiting for my table at Din Tai Fung less painful by browsing Sephora. I’ll usually pair that with a stroll thru Nordstrom, which has really upped its beauty game over the last couple of years. Find me abusing some La Mer samples or spraying Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle all over my clothes… Seriously, I'm deranged. Larchmont Beauty Supply is an LA classic, especially for products like Elta MD sunscreen that I’m too impatient to order on DermStore. And for a glam moment of not-so-quiet luxury, Violet Grey. They carry brands I love like Victoria Beckham and Make Beauty, which are normally direct-to-consumer. 

What’s the most recent new makeup product you’ve tried that you love? 

I’m really gassing up Make Beauty these days. I’ve been obsessed with their Heat Stroke blush sticks. The formula is so gorg ‘n dewy but the color payoff and staying power are not compromised! I use Swelter on my cheeks and nose as a perfect stayed-out-in-the-sun-a-little-too-long, oops! look. The brown/plum color Bake is so beautiful high on cheekbones. I also use it to contour my eye and pull it out to the brow bone for a lil natural snatchy snatch. 

Is there anyone who influenced your particular makeup style the most? 

I think Isamaya French is the most incredible beauty chameleon and I’m always referencing her body of work. I love someone who can pull an ultra-glam look while equally mastering technically difficult, freaky FX makeup. It's all about *duality.* Her new beauty line is incredible. Her palettes would make Mother (Pat McGrath) proud. 

What was your favorite makeup product or brand growing up? 

Body glitter from Limited Too or Bath and Body Works. I think an attraction to glitter is in my DNA. I was just rewatching season 1 of The Simple Life…. Paris looked incredible. Super tan, super blonde, almost no eyebrows, and just loads of lipgloss. It reminded me how much I loved Mac lip glass and Lancome juicy tubes. DSL if you know you know ;) 

(My grown and sexy version of these are the Merit lip oils and NYX fat oil gloss) 

What is the best beauty indulgence you spent a lot on and will never regret? 

True life: it's NOT Augstinus Bader cream. I have to say my bi-annual Botox. I love her and will never stop. At home, it’s probably my NuFace. You have to be consistent but the results are noticeable. Take pics, it’s rewarding to see it working. A general tip I only started practicing recently, take pix to track any new product's efficacy.

What is your favorite flower? 

The Bearded Iris!

What is your favorite place to find inspiration in nature? 

Are museums nature? Haha. Obviously, the Huntington Gardens.

Flowers are God’s answer to makeup inspo. 

What is your favorite perfume?

As a Taurus, I really believe in gatekeeping fragrance so this is difficult for me… but Aesop Marrakech will always be in my rotation. It is affordable (compared to many of similar quality), elegant, and yummy. Maison Louis Marie’s Cassis is a beautiful fruity floral. Frederic Malle makes the best earthy rose if you’re into that (Rose Tonnerre). 

What is your favorite candle to light or incense to burn? 

I’ll always repurchase the Le Labo Santal 26 candle, sue me. But most of the time I prefer to light pure beeswax pillars which give off a lovely, subtle honey scent. My favorite incense is the Japanese sandalwood ones made in Shiga. 

Where is your favorite place for a beautiful lunch in Los Angeles? 

I think my definition of beautiful has more to do with the company I keep and the quality of the food versus the location and ambiance. My most beautiful L.A. lunch is the standing date I have with my best friends to eat congee and drink Hong Kong style iced coffee at Delicious Food Corner :) Sometimes we’ll take a walk through residential San Marino which is just delightful :) 

What do you think is the most beautiful wine? 

My boyfriend poured us this incredible still Champagne. Chavost Ratafia Solera Champagne. It was a jarring experience to drink it, expecting the traditional bubbles. It tasted ancient like viscous honey, apples, and sweet liqueur. It was beautiful. 

Who are your favorite beauty, health, and wellness practitioners in L.A.? 

Andrea (duh) for equally relaxing and regenerative facials, and Rachel Day for acupuncture. 

Doing Well is a community/platform I enjoy for integrative health education. Jen Hollander is my go-to nurse practitioner and cosmetic injector, along with Bell Yoo (nurse practitioner) of Mimo Aesthetics. My Botox angels!! 

You went to the Renaissance Faire last weekend. What was your beauty highlight there?

The Ren Faire is a humbling skincare experience, as you’re pretty much caked in sweat and dirt the whole time. Seems historically accurate tho... But that doesn’t stop anyone from having fun with makeup. I find so much joy in watching people indulge in fantasy and play. It’s a really fun place to try out looks you wouldn’t normally wear. It is also where I feel empowered to use my favorite makeup item, Mehron tooth paint :) Ye olde wench looks hot with a missing tooth. 

What is your holy grail skincare product?

Skin Better AlphaRet. For my sensitive skin babies that can’t do Tret like me. It’s an amazing cream backed by great clinical trials, made up of a retinoid combined with an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). 

Follow Paige here. Book her when your own makeup artistry skills just won’t cut it!

ÁMEZING GIVEAWAY:

It’s raffle time! Two ÁMEZING NEWS readers will win a free Aliangé product from the Ámez Skin shop. Leave a comment or question on this post, along with your name and contact (IG handle or email) to enter.

We will draw submissions at random and notify winners before June 30!

The editor of Ámezing News is Tierney Finster.