DUDE…there’s a lot of sunscreen action happening on my body right now. I’ve got Clinique on my left arm, Supergoop on my right, a little Neutrogena on my neck, some Babyganics on my left cheek (the cheek on my face, in case you’re wondering, haha!).

No, I’m not going to the pool. Still too cold for that. but may is moving at light speed, and summer is quickly approaching, so I’m testing some “new to me” things.

ADVERTISEMENT

This makes me cringe to admit, but I haven’t been very good about wearing sunscreen lately…

I know, I know. just been too lazy. even though I religiously applied it from the age of 19 onward, I sort of fell off the wagon about a year ago, and I’ve been off and on ever since.

Long story short, though, I’m back into it. In fact, I jumped into the sunscreen swimming pool at the deep end, but I’ve been much more careful about what I put on my face since I broke out in January. now when I’m testing something new on my skin, I apply it to small test patches, instead of slathering it all over with reckless abandon.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cats & makeup Sweatshirt ??

$42

Shop Now

Which leads me to Saturday Surfing. I read a lot this week, and it felt really good. I found some great pieces about sunscreen, perfume and mascara.

So let’s get to it!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to understand how sunscreen works. This article can help.

According to dermatologists, these are the best sunscreens for your face, and these are the best sunscreens that won’t break the bank.

I’m very curious about this one for women of color: Black girl Sunscreen, which claims to not leave behind a gray or white cast on darker skin.

IMO, Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen is one of the best sunscreens to wear under makeup.

Hawaii recently banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate.

Let’s talk lashes, because the gap in my upper right lash line is taking forever to grow back (WHY THO?).

This $125 diy Lash extension kit looks cool because you apply them underneath — not on top of — your lashes, so they’re supposed to look really natural.

If that’s out of your budget, these two drugstore mascaras are less than $10, and both are supposed to be bomb.

Speaking of drugstore gems, Serena Williams uses this L’Oréal mascara to shape her brows.

For some women over 40, wearing mascara is a battle.

Oh, and even though I appreciate products that target very specific issues, do women actually *need* lash shampoo, a.k.a. makeup remover made specifically for lashes? I mean, what’s wrong with regular eye makeup remover?

In perfume news, vintage powdery notes — found in scents like Chanel Misia, Prada Infusion d’Iris (one of my faves) and Kenzo flower — are making a comeback.

I enjoyed learning about French line eight & Bob Perfume, which traces its history back to the Fouquets, a Parisian aristocratic family.

The line presents their bottles in books, because as “WWII was beginning, Philippe (the family butler and close confidante) wanted to protect the fragrances’ secrets from the Nazis. He made hidden compartments inside books to hide the bottles and perfume formulas. decades later, he was able to recover the perfumes that he had helped create in the attic of Fouquet’s family home all those years ago and make them available again.”

Also: Target’s launching a Disney-themed beauty line.

Indy green/clean beauty lines like Kosas (which I’m a huge fan of, BTW) are getting big $$$ from investors.

And this is what it’s like to groom the Queer Eye guys.

In non-beauty reading news, I just started a mystery called Faithful place by author Tana French about a teenage girl who disappears without a trace. It takes place in Dublin, Ireland.

Tana has a gift for dialects, which I’ve always had a hard time conveying in print. When I read her stuff, I feel like I can hear the characters in my head.

I’m about a quarter of the way through and loving it so far.

ADVERTISEMENT

What are you reading ? this weekend? Whatever it is, I hope it’s rad. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen