This time next week, dear readers, you’ll hopefully find us dancing around Indio’s Empire Polo Field as we catch Foals, perhaps, or Tokyo Police Club at this year’s Coachella music festival. Since we are scary fair right now, we thought it might be time to check in one the latest developments in the sun protection world, and we’re not talking about our beloved Oliver Peoples sunglasses. As always, there’s a dizzying array of products and information, so for clarification and guidance we turned to an expert with perfect skin—Eva Chen. Chen, the Beauty Director of Teen Vogue, graciously shared details on some of the best products (new and old) around. For more of Chen’s current obsessions, check out her awesome Beauty Blog.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 70, $9.60, drugstore.com
“For hardcore sizzling-in-the-sun type of exposure, I use Neutrogena’s SPF 70. They have their own, patented ingredient, Helioplex, that also offers full spectrum protection against UVA/UVB. The formulas are feather-light and melt into your skin. You won’t have that zebra-white-striped-skin look!”
Frederic Fekkai Summer Hair line, $20 each, sephora.com
“Fekkai has a simply divine new line of SPF summer hair products. They’re very St. Tropez chic—I love their bright orange packaging!”
Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care SPF 30, $24.50, sephora.com
“The eyes, I’m sad to report, are the first place to go in terms of aging. On holiday, I always make sure to bring Clarins’ SPF eye cream with me. It’s gentle enough even for contact lens wearers and can be applied on the upper and lower lid. Saggy eyelids? No thanks!”
Anthelios SX SPF 15, $29, dermstore.com
“In years past, every trip to Paris involved smuggling an inordinate amount of Anthelios sunscreen back in. It contains magical Mexoryl—the sunscreen of all sunscreens! [Mexoryl is an organic sunscreen that has the highest effectiveness against UVA rays.] Thankfully, the sunscreen is now available stateside, albeit in a weaker form. If I’m just getting incidental sun, I use Anthelios.”
Juice Beauty SPF Tinted Lip Moisturizers, $15 for three, sephora.com
“I adore Juice Beauty’s tinted lip balms because they stain lips with that “just had a cherry popsicle” look. They also contain SPF 15, which is important because dermatologists say that lips are one of the most common places to get skin cancer (eek). These Juice Beauty products are not only pretty but also protect—what could be better?”
