JUNE 2012

It’s that time of year!! Time for our annual family vacation! We decided to save money and “stay-cation” in lovely Hawaii. We naturally chose the Marriott KoOlina Beach Club (my husband works there) which offers an incredible, relatively secluded beachfront experience and one of the best pool experiences on the island of Oahu.

We will be in the sun for 2 days straight and we’ll need all the SPF protection we can get. My sun secret weapons are Vertra The Shelter Kona Gold SPF 38 ($22), La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid ($29.95) and Bull Frog Water Armor Sport Quik Gel Sunblock SPF 50 ($9.59). I’ll also have a big bottle of Softymo Deep Cleansing Gel ($11.99) which I intend on using to remove the layers of waterproof (oops, I mean water-resistant) sunscreen from our faces and bodies as well. We’re ready for our S.P.F. (Sun Proof Fun).

Happy Faces!

Jenn Suzuki (center, with ladies from the Hawaii Heart Foundation). My day job.

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• Bobbi Brown Fall 2012 Collection: Twilight Nude | Review & Swatches

Algenist Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 ($38 for 1oz.). Anti-oxidant rich botanicals and Alguronic Acid combined in a oil-free, sheer formula protects skin from UVA/UVB rays with a soft matte finish. ♥ RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-Up ($36, available in 4 shades). My go to concealer with an equally natural finish and ingredient list. Fekkai Cooling Shine Mist ($25 for 4.8oz.). UV protection, luminous shine and Oceanic Cooling Complex refreshes. Creme de la Mer Limited Edition World Oceans Day Moisturizing Cream ($395 for 3.4oz.). Beautiful ocean inspired commemorative jar in celebration of World Oceans Day. ♥ Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser ($45 for 4.2fl.oz.). French Green Clay, Vitamin C, Black Pepper, Jasmine and Sandalwood smooths and clarifies the complexion. Exude Lip Gloss in Dusty Pink ($29). This lovely shade of soft pink gives parched Summer lips a color and moisture boost. The sleek white packaging is a bonus.

♥ – Tried it. Loved it. (Images: Sephora.com, RMSbeauty.com, Fekkai.com, LaMer.com, Birchbox.com)

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shades of Nature Eye Shadow Palette ($55) and Brush Set ($38) feature 7 shades from the Pantone Summer trend book and combines a well edited selection of shades which will fascinate but not overwhelm even the most timid of makeup users. The brighter tones run a bit sheer, which makes for subtle pops of color while the  neutrals remain the foundation for more natural look. TIP: Use the neutrals as shadow then layer a bright tone as a top coat over black or brown liner to make eye color pop. Available at Sephora.com.

(Images: Sephora.com, Pantone.com)

BUXOM Color Choreography Eyeshadow in Lambada ($36) & BUXOM Stick Around Eye Primer ($20). While my signature eye is centered around safe browns and taupe shades, this lovely palette by Buxom tickles my fancy with its floral inspired hues. The incredibly soft texture of these shadows make applying a sheer wash of color over the lid or creating a fully blossomed plum smoked eye a breeze. Add a swipe of this genius primer-in-a-pencil to intensify these gorgeous plum, purple and golden shades. TIP: Apply a sheer application of primer under your eye liner to make any product Summer-proof.

(Images: Sephora.com)