My New Summer Skin Tint Is Actually A Sunscreen??
Plus the MDW sales worth shopping!
Shitters! You know something is especially noteworthy when it jumps the line of other good things that I was already planning to tell you about. The day I first tried the SPF in today’s letter, I knew the old calendar was getting torpedoed—I hope you’re ready for a good one!
Lets zoom out for a minute—is it just me, or is everyone is talking about mineral sunscreen lately??? So many brands have come out with their own versions recently (think UBeauty, Augustinus Bader, etc.), and it sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole on the differences between mineral and chemical formulas.
Without getting too in the weeds, chemical sunscreens, like SIBAL-favorite Beauty of Joseon, rely on chemical filters to absorb and release UV rays, whereas mineral sunscreens rely on ingredients like zinc to physically block the sun’s rays from the skin. In the past, I’ve gone for chemical formulas—not intentionally, but simply because the ones I found were lightweight, easily blendable, and didn’t have any of that dreaded white cast—something that’s often not the case with mineral formulas, and a real non-negotiable for anyone with more than a little melanin in their skin. But mineral sunscreens are known to be better for sensitive skin, and many people I know who are making more conscious choices about the products they use have made the switch towards mineral formulas as well.
As most dermatologists will tell you, the best sunscreen is one that you actually wear—mineral or chemical. Both are effective, and SPF use in general is essential if you care even remotely about your skin/health. But the more I learned, the more I got curious about some of the newer mineral formulas.
Unfortunately though, most of the ones I tried didn’t feel as good on the skin to me, and definitely didn’t blend in as well either—that is, until I got my hands on this new tinted version by Merit (SPF 45). This is the first mineral formula that I’ve really liked in terms of finish and feel on the skin, and if that wasn’t enough, it works on its own as makeup!
IMO, this feels way more like a tinted moisturizer than it does a sunscreen (the packaging makes it seem that way too). It’s not watery like some skin tints, but the formula is still lightweight, and it definitely makes your skin look more even and smooth (in terms of coverage, it’s on the natural side—you may want concealer if you want to hide bigger blemishes/discoloration, but otherwise it did very well on it’s own with basic unevenness). The tint solves for the white cast issue that’s common with other mineral SPFs, and I found the finish to dry down to a very natural-looking soft matte, which is my personal favorite (I would describe it as less makeup-y, but very similar to Dior’s Foundation Stick/liquid foundation, both of which I think look amazing on the skin).
It’s not greasy, non-comedogenic, and it stayed put over the course of some hot/humid afternoons (I think the finish is especially good for days when you don’t need any extra help from makeup to shine!). And arguably best of all, it feels like nothing on the skin.
I personally HATE the feeling of makeup on my skin in the summer, and given how good the actual tint/finish is, I think I’ll be reaching for this instead of actual foundation-style products for the next three months at the very least.
Now for the annoying part. It’s a little tricky to ID the exact right shade for you on their site (why they don’t have an easily accessible shade finder tool for this product, I’ll never know), but I’ll make it easier for you here:
The numbers on those swatches correspond with particular shades in their Minimalist foundation stick. I would use their shade finder tool to find your shade in the stick based on what you wear in other face makeup and then choose your SPF shade accordingly (I wear shade 14 in the Uniform and Burlwood in the Minimalist, for reference). While you’re at Merit, this lip liner is also worth grabbing—the fact that it’s retractable and the sharpener is built in is genius, and it’s under $25! My shade of choice is Mayfair.
Memorial Day Sale Radar:
I cannot believe that Memorial Day Weekend is already here—where has the time gone?!?! There is SO much going on when it comes to sales this weekend—I’ll keep this section updated throughout the next few days with the ones that are actually worth shopping:
Violet Grey: If VG’s $1100 perfume didn’t already catch your attention this week, their “Put It In The Bag” Event should! They offer a tiered discount depending on your spend for SO many of the best products. I start by restocking the usual suspects, i.e. these eye masks (an essential ahead of wedding season), all things Sofie Pavitt (her reasonably priced mandelic serum and cleanser are my favorites, and these are a gym bag essential), my go-to non-toxic polish remover, and the eye cream I always return to, before picking a few fun new things to try. My favorites include all things Victoria Beckham Beauty (including these new nudes and her lip tint), this gorgeous rose body wash, and this luxe body exfoliating set (it is summer, after all!). And in case you were wondering what I want for my birthday… it’s this and a spritz of the hair version of the aforementioned fragrance.
Almina Concept: I’m personally taking advantage of Almina’s 20% off to grab this button up to pair with white jeans and sandals for easy summer outfits (big button ups of any kind are my go-to for looking put together in heat/humidity). Also on my eye is this office-appropriate lightweight knit polo, and these pull on linen pants that are the perfect in between of drawstring and trouser versions.
ROZ: I never stop talking about this haircare brand, and if you’ve been curious about it, now is a great time to try—if you buy two or more products, you’ll get 20% off your purchase. My picks start with their shampoo/conditioner duo—it leaves your hair so soft and the scent is out of this world!—but I also love their treatment oil (underrated!), lightweight conditioning serum, and their root lift spray (aka the star of this newsletter from a few months ago). Don’t skip these travel-ready minis either—your life/vacation pics will get better when you travel with your own shampoo.
Jenni Kayne: This linen set is among my most worn in the summer—they come with matching, not too short shorts and/or pants depending on how you want to wear. I also love this raffia tote and these strappy flat sandals (they really nail a taupe-y nude—I have a similar style from a few years back that I still wear constantly), and a classic cashmere cocoon is always a must for summer nights by the water (yet another summer not spent writing to you from a multimillion dollar “cottage” on the side of a beach somewhere, smh).
Also of note: My sleep supplement of choice is 20% off! I’ve also been eyeing their protein powder… are we all creatine curious these days?? I have it on good authority that this will be the only sale on Soft Services until the holidays, so if you’ve been thinking about their hand cream or buffing bars, now is the time (I fully vouch for both!). It’s also the perfect time to refresh your bedding—both Brooklinen and Parachute are offering steep discounts this weekend (linking to my favorites from each). Highlights also include this life-changing duvet insert and this insanely soft waffle robe. Hanni’s Birthday Sale came just in time for summer—their Fatty Sticks are great for travel/kids going away to camp, and their Shave Pillow is for designed for quick dry shaving (very helpful for when you missed a spot).
Best Sale Finds (as of 5/25):
Took advantage of this discount to restock my go-to melatonin gummies ahead of summer travel.
I’ve written about a lot of fragrances in this newsletter, but none have been quite as popular with you all as this one (20% off!).
Away suitcases are up to 20% off—these are the two I have (1, 2). Their insanely good warranty/customer service has made me a customer for life.
These wrinkle-resistant barrel pants were the MVP of these travel recs (and now 20% off!)
My favorite honey cardamom-scented candle is a whopping 30% off?!?! Run!!!
My tea obsession and favorite salad topper are 15% off via Big Night.
If your skin is in need of something holy shit-level, this retinal by Eighth Day is very splurge-worthy (and it’ll get you into VG tiered discount territory even if it’s the only thing you buy).
Not a MDW sale, but we have an #exclusive discount on Ms. Hailey Bieber’s favorite mascara (SIBAL20)!
These bath and body favorites from Flamingo Estate are now 20% off—this soap duo is my pick (keep one and gift the other!).
Will add more as I come across them!
Wishing you all a happy start to summer!
Priyanka
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Mine should be arriving tomorrow finally! Agree it’s weirdly hard to figure out your shade and why do they all have 2 complexion stick matches except that one shade has 4? They’re sending me 2 shades since I wasn’t sure lol