Summer Ready: SPF Makeup Review + Giveaway with Colorescience

Summer is coming, and that means sunscreen. I’ll be honest – I’m not great about applying it. With oily, acne-prone skin it’s just a step I try to avoid for the sake of a matte complexion. I know better, and this is not the solution to my skin concerns. SPF makeup is the solution. Specifically Colorescience.

You’ve seen Colorescience on the pages of your favorite magazines or on the shelves at Sephora and Ulta. Since 2012, Colorescience has been making “skin-first” makeup, most of which is focused on sun protection. Wearing skin-first makeup is the cosmetic version of Zumba or hiding extra veggies into a delicious fruit juice – for us too lazy/stubborn/forgetful to do the healthy thing on our own (ahem, wear sunscreen) someone has hidden it into an activity we won’t forget (applying makeup).

The Colorescience team was nice enough to send me a box of products to try out, and I am frankly addicted. Keep reading for reviews of each item, my finished look, and this month’s giveaway!

Sunforgettable Brush-on Sunscreen in Fair | This is Colorescience’s ‘it’ item, and it pops up on best-of lists everywhere. With a few swipes of this brush across your face you are protected with SPF 50. PLEASE SEE THE GIF BELOW; I’M NOT KIDDING IT IS THAT SIMPLE. The sheer powder inside the purse-size product helps cut shine for a mid-day touch-up and gives you about two more hours of SPF protection. And while it is a small container, for most people this is a 90-day supply. Also it doesn’t smell like sunscreen. Also the brush is really soft. Can you tell I am excited?

Beauty On The Go Mineral Palette | Who doesn’t love an all-over palette? I’ve been using this on my eyes, but it works on the entire face. The coverage is fairly sheer and there’s a little fallout, but it blends wonderfully and stays put once it sets so I don’t have any complaints. If you’re going for a natural look, this gives you some great options.

Mattifying Perfector SPF 20 | Of all the products, I was most concerned about this. How could a primer with SPF help control my shine? I don’t adore the scent of this product (which fades fast and smells lightly of licorice, in my opinion) but the results are so worth it. This primer does both help with my oily skin and (mildly) even out skin’s uneven texture; with this, plus my other oil-control routine, I’m shine free for about six hours depending on the weather. Other perk: my foundation seems to budge less with this semi-tacky primer. I’m a big fan.

Lip Serum in Red | This lip gloss looks so magical, doesn’t it? I’m not super into the unicorn trend, but… look at this and tell me it doesn’t look like what a unicorn would sell you. I tend to go for lipsticks or lip stains, but every once in a while a gloss is the right pick for me. However, my favorite purpose for this product isn’t the rad way it looks in the bottle or the pretty, light shade on; I love how soft and smooth it makes my lips. I’m going to take a shot in the dark and guess that is the serum part, huh…

Pressed Mineral Brow KitI am blown away by this brow palette, and I love how easy it is so customize a shade. Spoiler alert: my hair isn’t really red, so my brows don’t match. I KNOW, YOU’RE SHOCKED. But by adding a bit more of the auburn brown hue I was able to create a reddish tint to my eyebrows without going overboard.

Pressed Mineral Cheek Colore in Pink Lotus | Oh, how I love a bright blush. I’ve been using nothing but blush samples for the last few years and they have all been… meh. This one blends out so wonderfully without getting cakey or neon.

Natural Finish Pressed Foundation SPF 20 in Light Ivory | This powdered foundation offers light- to medium-coverage, so since I’m a full-coverage kind of gal I put it on over one layer of my normal liquid foundation. The lightest available shade is a little darker than expected, but it gives me just a hint more summer color without actually getting a tan. It applies evenly with a matte finish.

Yes, I literally just applied SPF that quickly. It can go right over your makeup. I keep yelling “SCIENCE!” when I use it because I am running out of ways to show my joy and awe over its ease. These products create a variety of fantastic looks, but here’s my current favorite combo: simple eyes, bold brows, and a nice summer glow.

Uh hi, that blush looks fantastic.

For the May 2017 Oh, Julia Ann giveaway, Colorescience has decided to give one lucky reader two Sunforgettable Brush-on Sunscreen SPF 50 bottles, valued at $128! Enter for your chance to win now.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Located in the greater STL area? You can see more Colorescience at the Sweat in Style – In Honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month event at Ooh La La Spa, Anti-Aging & Wellness in Glen Carbon, Illinois. I’ll see you there!


Thank you for sponsoring this post, Colorescience. As always, all opinions are my own.

2 Comments

  1. Kobi Hensley
    May 16, 2017 / 1:52 pm

    Maybe I’m just missing it but how do you sign up for your emails? I have searched your site and I just don’t see it.

    • May 18, 2017 / 2:02 pm

      Hi Kobi! Sorry about that — the button is gone for now (rebuilding it) so you can subscribe via the Rafflecopter widget. I’m adding you in now so you are on the list and qualify for that entry! 🙂

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