Eau Thermale Avène Mineral Fluid SPF50 Sunscreen Review

Hello!  Summer is in full swing and sunscreen is more important than ever! Sunscreen is necessary for helping prevent skin cancer and for anti-aging. For my body I stick to Sun bum but I always struggle with what sunscreen to use for my face. I've tried countless sunscreens and I always run into the same issues. They tend to break me out OR they don't work well under makeup. I was using Neutrogena clear face sunscreen for a while, I started using it during the pandemic and its made specifically for people who break out when using sunscreen. And It didn't make me break out ! which is amazing !  However since I started using it during the pandemic I was using less foundation and the mask messed up my makeup anyway... so I didn't realize that that sunscreen didn't wear well under makeup. So my search for the perfect face sunscreen continued! 

I used to love a Shiseido one... if you look back far enough on my blog I did a review on it years ago!  However they changed the formula a couple of years ago and it no longer worked for me (why does this always happen!!). I started my search for the perfect sunscreen within that brand but I didn't find anything that worked. They bottles were also smaller and prices were higher than they used to be. Which is frustrating... I don't want to have to limit the amount of sunscreen I can put on my face. I'm not wasteful when it comes to products but I want to make sure my face is protected. so I wanted to find something in the mid price range. 

REQUIREMENTS

1. Mid price range $20-$30 

2. Doesn't break me out 

3. Wears well under makeup (Not greasy) 

I went to shoppers drug mart because they have a "higher end" skin care section with some of my favourite brands including Nuxe, Vichy,  La Roche Possay, Embryolisse etc! I LOVE the brand Nuxe I use their products daily, but they don't sell their sunscreen in store here (hopefully one day they do!) . So I turned to Avène! This is the Mineral Fluid sunscreen in SPF 50. It has very high protection and its a chemical filter free sunscreen made for sensitive skin. You can read a bit more about the ingredients here. 

PACKAGING 

Ok I'm going to start the review with the packaging. I'll admit I'm a bit of a packaging snob... I will totally buy a new product if I love the packaging... and I will also refuse to buy a product if I don't like the packaging.  I think its because I love vintage so much and in the past they used to make beauty products very feminine and beautiful and now things look more "commercial" if you will.  Now, this sunscreen.... I wouldn't say the bottle is something I would display on the counter but I like that the bottle is white. I'm not a huge fan of the cap I feel like its a bit too small compared to the rest of the bottle it almost looks like the lid cover is missing? the plastic on the lid is also a bit thin and comes off a bit flimsy. But overall it doesn't bother me too much so I'm fine with the packaging. 

FORMULA

I've been using the sunscreen for a few weeks now and I have some conflicting thoughts on the formula. Since its a fluid sunscreen I thought it would be thinner but it's actually quite thick and dense? I use a dot of sunscreen for my entire face (less than the size of a penny) and its almost too much! It also leaves a white cast... its a cool toned white cast and comes off almost blue? very strange because its bright white. My skin tone is very pale so once I layer my foundation on top you can't see it... however if your skin tone is a bit darker than mine this might be an issue if you want to wear it under makeup. I wouldn't wear this sunscreen on its own at the beach because it looks like I put white paint on my face. However! I will say that it wears surprisingly well under makeup, given how thick the formula is it doesn't really interfere with my foundation as much as I thought it would. However I would still prefer something more matte, this one is still a bit dewy and I like my makeup to be matte. Another note is that it doesn't run!  if its hot outside some sunscreens will start to melt and get in your eyes, this one stays put! so thats great!

DID IT BREAK ME OUT??

NO! it didn't break me out at all ! I had not problems wearing every days for a few weeks which is a huge plus!  

PRICE

This is a mid price sunscreen at $29CAD for a 40ml bottle. It seems small, but like I mentioned a little goes a long way!  I always wonder if I am using such a tiny dot of sunscreen is that enough protection?? I can see that my while face is covered (white cast) but I still wonder.  I always see that you should be using 2 finger lengths of sunscreen for good coverage, but if I did that with this sunscreen my face would be completely white with a thick layer of sunscreen (Think Mrs Doubtfire with the cake lol) 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I don't dislike the sunscreen but I think I can find something that woks better for me. I will be finishing this bottle because it hasn't negatively affected my skin. I've bought some sunscreens in that past that broke me out so bad I had to throw out the bottle even if it was still 3/4 full. If you have very pale skin and you are going to wear it under makeup (and also like a more dewy look!) this will be great for you! I prefer a more matte look so my search for the perfect sunscreen will continue! If you have any suggestions let me know! 

Playa PATRÓN Brunch

Yesterday I escaped the hustle and bustle of the city and ended up in a tropical paradise. I was invited to Playa PATRÓN to have brunch in the sand! 

The location is beautiful! They put up a massive tent with a bar in the middle,  just steps away from the shore. There were wooden tables and the the table decor was all wicker and flowers, so it really felt like you were on an island somewhere.   

When we first walked in we were greeted with these beautiful drinks! How fun is that wooden topper ?! This was the most refreshing out of all of the drinks and I loved that it had a flower on the inside. This was a Daisy 75 made with PATRÓN Tequila. 

Here you can get a better look at how big the tent is! You can also see the outfit I wore! I wanted to be on theme so I wore this floral dress that I thrifted (Originally from H&M), I wore red sandals with a tiny wooden heel and I added a massive red flower in my hair. This is one of the hair clips I made last summer. Tbh I felt like I walked out of an Elvis movie set or a beach boys music video lol. 

Starting with some guacamole and tortillas for the table!  You can't really go wrong with Guacamole, its a classic and everybody loves it! It was the perfect accompaniment to the Daisy 75 drink. I caught up with  friends while we sipped on our drinks, enjoying the appetizer. 

Brunch started off with a bang!  The first course was a Shrimp and Passion Fruit Aquachile! Wild caught Jumbo Shrimp, Guajillo chili salsa, red onion and passionfruit pulp! it was DELICIOUS!  ok... I wont lie you guys know I don't eat food from the ocean.... so I may have given my shrimp to my friend Nicki who was sitting beside me....BUT she said the shrimp was really good!  I can however say that the rest of the plate was amazing, I loved the combination of flavours and I enjoyed every last bite!

If you wanted to sit in the sun they also had some lounge chairs and couches you could sit on on the outside of the tent. It was perfect for sipping on cocktails while we waited for the next course. it was also a great photo op! lol

This is the second drinks we got! look at how beautiful this pink colour is, You cant really tell from the photos but it was actually sparkly!! Who doesn't love a sparkly pink drink? This drinks was a Classic Patrón Paloma made with PATRÓN Tequila 

The main course was Xcatic Chili tacos!  Made with handmade tortillas and they came in 3 different flavours. The first one was Potatoes al Ajillo, The second was White onion and lemon chicken breast, and then lastly the third one was Black pepper and cardamom beef. That was the order that the chef told us to eat it in when he brought it to our table! I Loved the combination of flavours and they were actually quite filling. My favourite one was the chicken one!

This was the final drink to pair with dessert!  It was actually brought to the table in wooden bowls with steam coming out of the side !  It was a really amazing presentation!  This was the sweetest of all of the drinks and probably the most tropical. it was a Los Altos Colada made with PATRÓN Tequila. 

For dessert we had Marquesita !  A crunchy vanilla crepe with fresh creme and edam foam! it also has Mango and agave puree, orange and clove salsa and fresh strawberries and kiwi! it was such a fresh and light dessert so it was perfect to finish off the meal! 

 After an afternoon in the sand I went back to the city. I had an amazing time at Playa PATRÓN it felt like I  took a day trip to a tropical island.  If you are interested in escaping the bustle of the city you can purchase tickets to come for brunch OR in the evening for drinks (+DJ). Playa PATRÓN is on from July 7th-10th. You can get tickets here!.

*This Blog post is not sponsored, However I was invited to the event*

 

Daytime Stroll In Niagara On the Lake

Yesterday I spent the day strolling down beautiful Niagara on the lake. It's located in the Niagara Peninsula, where the Niagara river meets Lake Ontario, across the river from New York. Niagara on the lake was actually the first capital of the province of upper Canada (predecessor to Ontario) and was previously called Newark (from 1792-1797) The name Niagara on the lake didn't come to be until 1880. The downtown area is a street filled with shops and restaurants, Its a great way to spend a day!  In the spring and summer its filled with flowers and at Christmas time it has Christmas decorations. Those are probably my favourites times to visit! 

The Prince of Whales hotel is hard to miss as it marks the end of the street (Or beginning depending on where you are coming from)  It was built in 1864, making it a little but older than Canada itself. Its a beautiful victorian hotel with 110 rooms. It went through different names throughout the years but this name stuck in 1901 after the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (Later the Prince and Princess of whales) stayed here. Queen Elizabeth II actually stayed here during a royal visit in 1973. 

I know most you care more about fashion than historical facts so I'll talk a bit about what I'm wearing! It's this gorgeous vintage knit dress that I got on Etsy. Its from the 1970s but I think it has a 1930s/40s look to it with the right accessories. The shop I got it from was EXPOVINTAGE, a local shop from Toronto.  I paired it with these knit gloves that happen to be the same shade of cream. When wearing a monochrome outfit I am very picky with shades. They either have to the exact shade same or drastically different (Light and dark version of the same colour) if not it doesn't work. I picked these gloves up at a thrift store for under $2. I have gathered a huge collection of gloves, so that I always have options for different shades of cream/white. Most of them were under $5... truly whenever I see a gloves and they are a good price I buy them. My hat is vintage as well, it was a Christmas present from my parents and I've already worn it a few times this season!  My purse is a little different for me, this summer I've tried to explore different purse options. I tend to stick to the same structured bag with a clasp at the top but I was looking at inspiration from the 1940s and they had a variety of different shapes. I saw this one at the thrift store and its made from real shells!  Its a beautiful little bag and I thought it would be perfect for summer!  It paired perfectly with this dress since the dress has those details that look like shells. 

Niagara on the lake is one of the only towns near me that has horse drawn carriages. I've always wanted to take a ride in one of them but I haven't...yet. I took a trip on a horse drawn carriage in Seville Spain and that was beautiful!  Taking one at Christmas time in central park in New York is also a dream. Wearing a vintage fur coat and hat of course! Carriage filled with hat boxes and shopping bags...ok I'm drifting into a dream world *Manifesting*.  

Niagara on the lake is home to the Shaw festival, There are two main theaters and they put on productions year round! I've been to a few in the past and the actors are fantastic. I'm actually going to see White Christmas later this year (Yes! Based on the movie!!)  This is the theater on the main street, The Royal George theater and I love that it still has that vintage charm to it. The lights turn on when they open the doors for a play. 

OMG the old Apothecary was actually open! Every time I visit its closed lol. It's funny I posted on my story that it was actually open and I had a bunch of messages from people saying they were shocked it was open because its always closed.  It was so beautiful on the inside, its a shame that our medicine doesn't come in beautiful packaging anymore, truly a lost art. This Apothecary was restored to its former glory, it was an actual pharmacy that ran from 1820-1964. They restored it to the year 1869.  (side note: if you've watched Everwood you know Dr. Abott would be obsessed with this) 

This is one of my favourite shops to visit! Beau Chapeau has been in business since 1997 But they definitely bring you back in time a little further. They have tons of beautiful hats for both men and women but I think my favourite part is that when you buy a hat, instead of a plastic bag they  put it a white and blue striped hat box! it's a detail that makes the whole experience of buying a hat so much more luxurious and reminiscent of decades past. 

Niagara on the lake also has the Old Tyme Candy Shoppe. Another one of my favourite stores!  From the outside it has that beautiful old candy store look, it reminds me of the Notebook for some reason, You know the scene where Allie is walking and Noah comes up to her on the street. The inside is filled with vintage style candy and also novelty candy bars and metal lunch boxes. Near the front they also have a section of vintage looking toys!  I love looking through them because of the beautiful packaging... again a lost art. They even sell those little metal robots! I saw this little music box? You turn the handle and the song plays and I was so tempted to buy it! 

After a bit of walking it was time for lunch! The most beautiful restaurant in Niagara On the Lake has to be Shaw Cafe and Wine Bar!  its hard to miss since it take up a huge corner and its covered in flowers.... literally. 

It was THE perfect weather outside, not too hot, not to cold, and no wind... just perfect! I ordered a chardonnay to go with my lunch. I got the melted Brie Sandwich and it cam with a salad on the side. It was delicious and the perfect meal from people watching from the patio. 

While leaving Niagara On the Lake I missed the street I was suppose to turn on and ended up stumbling upon an antique store! and I found this fur boa/scarf (tbh I never know what to call these things) its super soft (Obvs, its real fur) and the colour is perfection ! The lady from the shop saw me trying it on and offered to give it to me at a reduced prince from from $40 to $25! I couldn't pass it up! It looks so glamorous and it will be perfect for the colder months... Although it does look great with this dress! ;)