Higher Education Spring Break SPF 30

While Summer may be officially over, it's still hot out there.  And the sun is still shining so we need to keep that SPF on every day.

 I've had this newish one from a new to me brand called Higher Education Skincare in my stash for some time  and have used it over the last couple months under makeup . Sometimes over a separate moisturizer ,sometimes not. It's a nice pick for combo/oilier skins as it's a lightweight, sheer, almost matte finish that adds light moisture (aloe vera, glycerin, squalene, vitamin e ) . So it acts as a little bit of skincare too. Green tea and grapeseed extracts turn up at the end of the ingredient list for a small antioxidant boost. 

Also even there's 4.00% zinc oxide , there's no white cast. The broad spectrum SPF 30 is rounded out with Octinoxate 6.90 % and Octisalate 3.00% . 

Higher Education , if you're not familiar is a newer brand that has a dermatologist on board in  Dr. Susan Cox of California to vet formulas . They also donate 3% of  net profits to WE School , division of WEcharity.org .

The fragrance is minimal , a little bit of a cocoa butter scent and the brand is cruelty free.

Higher Education Spring Break SPF 30 is $ 25 for a 2.5 oz tube

Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick

I do love a stick foundation and am glad more brands are coming out with them. New is Milk Makeup's  Flex Foundation Stick. 

The Flex Stick has medium , buildable semi- matte coverage.  It's not heavy or cakey but with a more natural finish once it sets and warms up. It covers nicely and blends out well but definitely benefits from prepping skin as I did find it a bit dry and matte on application ( I have combo skin ,oily  T Zone for reference). 
Once on, as skin warmed up the finish became more natural . 

I had light oil breakthrough on the nose within a couple hours and needed a powder touch up in about 6 hours and there was some wear off in the oily areas.  It is a very comfy, light feeling formula that works really well as a portable touch up stick. With its smooth creamy formula it goes over the day's makeup easily. 

For combo skin like  mine and normal it's a nice segue into fall weather makeup. If you're drier you'll need good moisture underneath first but that's most likely what you're doing anyway.

Ingredients include marshmallow root powder to help with comfort on face and keep makeup from caking or creasing, chamomile for soothing and redness reducing.  And it is not oil free having sunflower seed and lavender oils but it's very non greasy. 

There are 36 shades . I have two at the lighter end of the colors and the palest is very light.

Milk Flex Foundation Stick is $ 36 at Sephora.

Gucci Memoire D' Une Odeur

Gucci has gone in a very different direction with their new Memoire D' Une Odeur . I'm not sure what I think of it.

I am not crazy about the name , but I do love the bottle.
The fragrance opens sharp with bitter almond note and then a soft jasmine. The jasmine is not warm or lush, more airy.  Chamomile features prominently as does musk and there is also a mineral feel to the scent.  By the drydown cedarwood comes in with the mineral and herbs lingering . 

 I'm not a fan of chamomile or too much musk  so that colors my impression. To me it's very old fashioned or maybe just old smelling with a camphor and astringent tone.  It wears very soft and light, almost a skinscent and changes a lot from the opening to drydown and that's a good thing. 

I have to give it to them for creating a scent that doesn't smell like everything or anything else out there. I think us mega perfume fans often lament lack of originality , and this is different.   They were willing to do different. It's gotten people talking from what I've read and that's a good thing.   I like that people are conversing about perfumes.  And I've heard over on Insta from fans who like and ones who do not.  Where do you fall ? 

Gucci Memoire D' Une Odeur is $ 95 at Sephora for 2 oz EDP or $ 34 for .25 rollerball.

Chanel Paris- Riviera EDT - Les Eaux

One of my favorite fragrance launches last year were the Les Eaux from Chanel. Paris- Biarritz became a staple in my perfume wardrobe and still is. Especially in Summer.

So I was quite excited to hear there was a new addition coming . Paris - Riviera  joins the previous trio and it, too, is a beauty.

It blooms with lots of orange blossom  and jasmine after a citrusy start of orange peel  and petitgrain. The orange blossom is  warm and effervescent. Chanel has their own source for this flower with Olivier Polge stating " For years, we have worked with a cooperative in Vallauris that distills orange blossoms grown in the region’s private gardens ” . “The owners of bitter orange groves bring the petals picked from their trees to this cooperative to be processed on location. The local climate yields an extremely pure essence. ”  Sounds delicious , right ?

As it dries down there is sun warmed skin musk along a touch of sandalwood  and there's a solar fragrance feeling. 

Like the other Les Eaux this is fairly light but it has plenty of sillage at the beginning. It's an easy scent for reapplying, and I say sprtiz with abandon. It's  a sunny , chic and pretty sundress of a scent. 

Chanel Paris- Riviera  EDT is $ 130 and will be available for one year  at Chanel.com and Nordstrom.