summer Archives - Style&Minimalism

Safe Sun Protection, Every Day

Sun protection is something we should all use daily, rain or shine. I used to think it was only needed on bright, sunny days but UVA and some UVB rays travel through clouds and cause ageing (UVA) and sunburn (UVB) no matter what the weather. UVA rays can also travel through glass.

I’ve been looking into options that fit seamlessly into my routine. In the past I’ve found that some sunscreens have left me feeling as though my make-up is sliding off my face, before I’ve even left the house. What I want from a sun care product is to not notice it’s there but know it’s keeping my skin protected.

I’m cautious about what I put on my skin as it gets absorbed into the body. I’ve spent time looking into what ingredients are best avoided. I mentioned a couple (oxybenzone and octinoxate) in a previous post, Clean Suncreens. Also, oxybenzone, octinoxate, butylparaben and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor are all known to cause damage and bleaching to coral reefs. In my opinion, it’s best to look for natural, mineral-based, physical sun protection; products that use either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide in a non-nano molecule form. This is because they’re considered safer for humans and safer for the environment. Physical sun protection sits on the skin rather than being absorbed by it, it forms a physical barrier; though it is still possible that other ingredients within the product may be absorbed.

I’ve been trying out a few products that are new to me, to get a feel for what works well within my current skincare routine, with my fairly sensitive skin. I layer quite a few products these days and don’t find it problematic. I know some people may struggle with layering but it’s all about the products you use and the order in which you apply them (I’ll save that for another post). I should add that, currently, I wear very little make-up and prefer a fresh dewy look.

Sun protection should be an important layer in your routine, it’s not one to skip.

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30

I’ve been using Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30 since they discontinued another great product I used for a year or two, previously (Sheer Vivid Tinted Moisturizer). The new serum is a bit of a wonder product; combining skincare, make-up and sun protection in one. It’s perfect for lazy days or people who prefer to use as few products as possible. It has a sheer finish, evening out skin tone but doesn’t completely cover up dark spots. It has a fluid texture, more akin to a serum or face oil, and leaves the skin well moisturised and incredibly dewy. It isn’t a product I would use just before a photo shoot, simply because it leaves the skin quite shiny. It’s a very easy everyday product that saves time.

Ilia are careful about the ingredients they use, they believe “that not every natural ingredient is good for the skin, nor is every synthetic bad. Clean beauty is where those two collide—with conscious, carefully-selected ingredients, and no compromises”.

The key ingredients in Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30 are niacinamide (vitamin B3), plant-based squalane and hyaluronic acid. The natural sun protection comes from zinc oxide and gives protection from UVA, UVB and UVC rays, blue light and infrared light.

Seed to Skin The Eclipse SPF 30

For something a little simpler but no less effective, I think Seed to Skin The Eclipse SPF 30* is a fantastic sun protection product, which also guards against environmental pollution. You apply a few drops to your face and neck, after your regular moisturiser. It feels like a thin face oil and leaves the skin very dewy. It has a slightly pale caste when you apply it, which quickly disappears.

“Seed to Skin goes beyond the trend of purely natural, combining the power of nature’s curative properties with the results-driven efficiency of advanced science.”

The ingredients in Seed to Skin The Eclipse are 100% natural. Sun protection comes from titanium dioxide (another physical sunscreen agent) which protects against UVA and UVB rays, as well as environmental pollution.

Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF 25

Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF 25 is a moisturiser with the added benefit of an SPF. I like a multi-functional product due to its ease of use and because it saves time; with this product it’s also much harder for you to forget or skip using an SPF. It’s a fairly thick cream that goes on easily. It leaves a slight white cast that disappears within a few minutes of application. If you’re applying make-up, I would give it 10 minutes to settle fully.

Balance Me “genuinely fail to see why people would choose synthetic over natural when clinically proven bio-active ingredients exist and work”.

Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF 25 is a vegan-friendly product. The key ingredients are hyaluronic acid and rose hip. Hyaluronic acid is deeply moisturising and replenishes the hyaluronic acid that’s found naturally in the skin. It works by drawing in moisture and therefore keeps the skin hydrated and plump. Rose hip is rich in naturally occurring vitamin A, an excellent anti-ageing ingredient. Sun protection comes from titanium dioxide, protecting against UVA and UVB rays.

Pai British Summer Time: Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30

Pai British Summer Time: Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30* (previously Hello Sunshine) is the one I would recommend for those with particularly sensitive skin. Pai’s founder, Sarah, struggled so much with other skincare products and created the brand because she couldn’t find any that didn’t irritate her skin. It smells incredibly fresh and a little goes a long way. The pale yellow cream quickly vanishes to leave an invisible, non-shiny finish.

Pai believe “the highest quality organic ingredients create the best performing products – it’s a simple equation”.

Pai British Summer Time: Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30 is 99% natural and vegan-friendly. Key ingredients include cotton extract and vitamin E. Cotton extract (AKA gossypium herbaceum) is an active botanical that helps protect skin from oxidative damage caused by UVA, UVB, infrared and visible radiation. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that offers significant protection against UVB rays. Sun protection comes from zinc oxide and protects against UVA and UVB rays, blue light and infrared light.

NUORI Mineral Defence Sunscreen SPF 30

If you’re looking for something incredibly fresh, there’s NUORI Mineral Defence Sunscreen SPF 30*. All skincare products lose their efficacy over time, NUORI’s approach is to offer the freshest skincare, made in small batches, to be used as soon as you receive them.

I particularly love the texture of this product, it’s quite thick but smoothes over the skin so easily and doesn’t leave any white residue. It has a slightly pink colour which may be why it’s less visible than some of the others. Along with PAI’s, this leaves the most natural finish.

“All NUORI formulas are developed to deliver visible results using only the best natural ingredients and the latest generation of bioengineered actives.”

NUORI Mineral Defence Sunscreen SPF 30 is an all-natural formula. Its key ingredients are French maritime pine extract and sunflower seed oil. French maritime pine extract is one of those miracle ingredients that has multiple health benefits that include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties. Sunflower seed oil is a great source of omega-6 fatty acids, great for promoting a healthy skin barrier, reducing inflammation and increasing cell renewal. Sun protection comes from zinc oxide and gives protection from UVA and UVB rays.

NUORI Sun Repair Serum* isn’t a sun protection product but as it works so well alongside their Mineral Defence Sunscreen to reduce skin damage, I’ve included it.

This serum is so refreshing, you can feel it working hard to replenish lost moisture, as soon as you apply it. Natural hyaluronic acid and carbohydrate complex have water-binding properties which help draw moisture into the skin and keep it moisturised. The skin’s natural response when damaged by the sun is inflammation; this serum contains plant-based, bio-fermented sorbitol complex and chamomile flower to help reduce inflammation and irritation, quickly helping to calm the skin. There’s also liquorice root extract and vitamins C and E to help neutralise damaging free radicals, with their potent doses of antioxidants.

REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30

If shine is something you try to avoid then REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30*, with its mattifying properties would be a good one for you. It does leave skin a touch paler but if you’re applying make-up afterwards then you won’t notice.

REN say, “‘Clean’ is at the heart of all we do… But what does it mean? For us it’s giving you visible results from skincare that isn’t full of shady ingredients. Ingredients that work with your skin, without causing irritation. Ingredients your skin would choose, from sustainable sources and sustainably packaged – cause great skincare shouldn’t cost the earth, right?”

REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 has a naturally-derived formula, that’s vegan-friendly. Key ingredients are yellow passion fruit seed extract (a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the skin from pollution and free radical damage) and rice starch (which absorbs excess oil whilst soothing any irritation). Sun protection comes from zinc oxide and gives protection from UVA and UVB rays, and blue light.

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are currently considered to be elite sunscreens. They both give good broad spectrum coverage (meaning they protect against UVA, UVB and UVC rays) and are highly stable (unlike avobenzone AKA butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, an incredible UVA sunscreen agent that’s, sadly, not photostable and degrades in the sunlight). The downside is that they are hard to spread on the skin but when combined with the right ingredients that’s not usually a problem with the end product.

Please bear in mind that, no matter which product you choose to use, you will need to reapply it throughout the day to a maintain a good level of protection from the sun’s rays.

Locanda Rossa, Capalbio

Living in London, we’re lucky that the rest of Europe is within easy reach. One of the main reasons we chose Locanda Rossa for our second holiday with Isabelle (now a toddler) is that the flight to Rome is just two and a half hours, and the hotel is only an hour’s drive north from there.

At the time of our holiday, Isabelle was still having two naps a day and had started walking. I don’t like to mess with her sleep if I can help it, since it’s so important to her mental and physical development. One day of disruption isn’t going to cause long-term problems but for our own sanity we haven’t taken her on any long-distance flights, just yet. The excitement and change to her routine and surroundings meant she managed just 10 minutes, just before we arrived.

We arrived at Locanda Rossa in the early afternoon and were checked-in within 20 minutes. The staff at the hotel bent over backwards to make sure we had everything we needed for Isabelle; including stair gates, a bottle warmer, bath mat and high-chair. They were professional, efficient and friendly; everything I needed to be able to quickly relax and get into holiday-mode. After we unpacked, there wasn’t time to get to the shops for food (plus it was a Sunday). We brought food for Isabelle with us and ordered room service to the villa for us; fresh pasta with a classic wild boar ragu and a delicious glass of Tuscan red for me.

The next day we woke to find the sun beaming through our bedroom curtains (there are shutters for those that prefer to/able to sleep in), casting the room in a warm glow; quite the contrast to the wet and overcast London we left the day before. We headed to the restaurant for breakfast, a 2 minute walk from our villa. Breakfast at Locanda Rossa is a continental buffet that includes fresh croissants, fresh fruit, a selection of dried nuts and fruit to add to yoghurt and granola, jams, fresh cakes, local hams and cheeses, as well as cooked eggs. Needless-to-say, we all ate well. It was a great opportunity to offer some different foods to Isabelle.

The hotel centres around a converted farm house, close to the west coast of Tuscany and the medieval hilltop town of Capalbio. It’s set in 21 hectares of rolling countryside, including ancient olive groves. The villas are well-suited to families, with large bedrooms over three floors, as well as a large open kitchen with dining table. My only concern was that Isabelle’s room was in the basement and (although firmly locked) could be accessed from the garden. I found it hard to sleep two floors above her, even with a monitor.

The grounds around the hotel and villas are fantastic for young children. Lots of open spaces with grass and trees for them to run around, with a playground, separate children’s pool (too cold to use in October) and a trampoline for slightly older children. There’s a donkey and goat to take younger ones to see. Tennis and padel courts are free to use and it’s also possible to hire bikes (with seats for little ones).

Midweek, I escaped to the spa for a couple of hours whilst Isabelle napped. I spent the first in the spa pool, steam room and sauna. I was given a mitten and black olive soap to finish with a good scrub. I then had a lovely facial to give my skin a little extra moisture.

We tried to get out as much as possible, taking Isabelle to the beach at Spiaggia Di Feniglia, wandering around the bright and surreal sculptures at Giardino die Tarocchi, and taking in the views from the hilltop town of Capalbio.

Before we flew out to Tuscany I was told by several people that Italy is a great place to visit if you have young children and that the Italians welcome them wherever you go. This was very much the case and there was always a high-chair and something suitable for her to eat wherever we went. Staff were always friendly and helpful.

We had a brilliant holiday and I would recommend Locanda Rossa to anyone with a young family in need of some rest and relaxation.

Little Black (Summer) Dress

Grey Fedora from Portobello Road | **Prism** Cat-Eye Sunglasses in Bronze | **Hush** Evangeline Dress in Black* | **Common Projects** Original Achilles Low | Straw Basket Bag (from Italy) | **Missoma** Engravable Initial Necklace in Gold* | **Renné** Halo Bangle in Silver* | **Sophie Wallgren** Marta Bracelet in Gold*

I’ve recently started to focus on the little black dress section of my wardrobe. Every magazine, style icon and blog has told me over and over again how important the little black dress is to your wardrobe. I’ve had many but as my style has evolved I’ve let them go and only now started to think about what a great essential it is. I have a couple of new ones, this one by Hush and another by Second Female (which I’ll feature soon).

My style is always about balance, I don’t like to look too girly as it doesn’t feel comfortable to me but that doesn’t mean I want to dress like a boy either. I look for ways to create a neutral look that balances feminine and masculine details. Wearing trainers with a dress is something I do quite often. I live in trainers since I’m always running across town for various events and meetings, and heels aren’t practical. I also try to only carry a small shoulder bag most of the time so carrying a pair of heels around is an extra effort I try to avoid.