Tag Archives: Hawaiian Tropic

Skincare Saturday: Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen ft. Duo Defense Spray Review

Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreens

Sunscreen. Not the most interesting of beauty topics to read about, but undeniably the most vital product in anyone’s arsenal to keep your skin looking young. Everyone knows they should use it, but not everyone is that diligent about it. Thankfully, there’s enough options out there on the market that there should be something for everyone.

Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens: Island Sport Spray, Silk Hydration Weightless and Duo Defence Refresh Sunscreen Mist
Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens: Island Sport Spray, Silk Hydration Weightless and Duo Defence Refresh Sunscreen Mist

Hawaiian Tropic is a brand I’ve grown to love intensely in the last 6 years or so. You want a continuous spray? You got it! You want your traditional cream lotion application? You got it. You want a sunscreen spray that you can put on top of your makeup?  Guess what… they just launched one!

Hawaiian Tropic Duo Defence Refresh Sunscreen Mist
Hawaiian Tropic Duo Defence Refresh Sunscreen Mist

Say hello to the Hawaiian Tropic Duo Defence Refresh Sunscreen Mist SPF 30! Intended for use on the face (but can really be used anywhere), this handy little mister is a saviour for those who have been wanting something they can use to re-up their sunscreen after they’ve already applied their sunscreen. As far as I’m aware, there’s only one other brand on the market that has something like this, and it’s a far, far more expensive product (and I think only available in the US!).

Hawaiian Tropic Duo Defence Refresh Sunscreen Mist
Hawaiian Tropic Duo Defence Refresh Sunscreen Mist

Although I was exceptionally eager to try it out, I was initially a bit skeptical about the Duo Defence Spray. The directions actually says that you should spray the product on your hand and then apply to your face WITH your hands. I laughed when I read that, because no one is going to do it that way, and I wanted to test it out how consumers would actually use it: which is to say I was going to spray it directly on my face (with my eyes tightly shut) both with and without makeup on.

I’m most comfortable using a cream on my face because I feel like it delivers the most amount of coverage from the sun’s rays because I can SEE where I’ve applied it to my face. So I was *really* nervous that by switching to a spray mechanism for my face I was going to end up with a fried face. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case! I tried this two different ways: without makeup, as well as overtop of the makeup I was wearing on a given day. In both situations I was out for long hours in the middle of the day in roughly 30 Celsius heat, and I never once ended up with any burnt skin. I was amazed because I really thought a cream would have better overall coverage, but the spray is so good on this that it covers your face evenly  without needing to rub it in. And I assure you… if this had missed a spot, I would’ve turned a horrid shade of tomato red.

Not unexpectedly, this does add a layer of shine to your face. If you are expecting to wear this on top of foundation, I would recommend wearing a matte foundation that day. No matter how much you like dewy skin, this will add the dew factor in, so you don’t need to double up with a luminous/dewy foundation AND the sunscreen spray (unless you actually want to look like an oil slick!). I applied this over top of bronzer, blush, highlighter as well as eye and brow makeup and had no ill effects to the makeup!

Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens: Island Sport Spray and Silk Hydration Weightless
Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens: Island Sport Spray and Silk Hydration Weightless

While I loved the Duo Defence Spray, I still need to mention other options because I’ve been loving these other two products for quite some time.

The Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport range comes in both a liquid and spray formula. They both perform equally, so it’ll really depend on which format you like the most. I do enjoy this formula immensely for running or playing soccer during the hot days as it doesn’t slide into my eyes when I get a sweaty forehead. For me, I prefer the liquid version over the spray because I grew up using sunscreen creams, and it makes me feel like I’ve got more control over where I’m putting it. BUT, the Island Sport spray is great for quick and easy touch ups when you need that extra layer applied.

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless

If you’re looking for a more traditional formula, Hawaiian Tropic has their Silk Hydration Weightless Sunscreen. While I do love this sunscreen, and have gone through many, many bottles of this stuff since it was introduced into their range in 2016, I do have to point out that I don’t feel that it’s totally weightless on the skin. I have a tendency to glob my sunscreen on, and no sunscreen brand out there has ever managed to achieve that “weightless” feeling on my skin. It’s sunscreen, after all! I love this one though, and it’s handy that the pump pushes the bottom up so you can see exactly how much you have left in the bottle.

All of the Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens mentioned in this post offer up to 80 minutes of water-resistance (I won’t buy sunscreen without water resistance built into it), and I find they do hold up in the water. That being said, I do always re-apply once I get out of the water (as should you) because I’m extremely vigilant about always having a layer of protection between my skin and the sun. All of their sunscreens are winners, but I’m really excited by the Duo Defence Spray – it’s a wonderful product and one I’ll continue to stock in my skincare cabinet.

Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens can be purchased at shoppersdrugmart.com (and there’s a whole whack of them on sale right now including the Duo Defence Spray!) or on walmart.comwalmart.com.

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration. Post contains affiliate links.

Skincare Saturday: Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless + Ultra Radiance After Sun

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I’ve been an absolute sucker for Hawaiian Tropic suncare ever since my friend introduced me to the brand a few years back. Why did I become so entranced by it? Well, frankly, it’s entirely because the fact that if you buy the “Ultra Radiance” version of their sunscreens, you get glorious freaking SHIMMER particles in it! Sunscreen isn’t the most fun thing to wear, but we gotta do it so we can:

  • avoid the painful lobster look,
  • avoid getting skin cancer, and;
  • keep our skin looking youthful!

So if we’re going to wear sunscreen, we might as well have a little fun with it!

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless (SPF 30)
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless (SPF 30)

New for 2016 is Hawaiian Tropic’s Silk Hydration Weightless which comes in SPF 15, 30 and 50. It’s intended to be a “barely there” sunscreen lotion which has a dual-ribbon formula that combines strong protection from the sun alongside 12 hours of moisturization.

Right off the bat, I can tell you that I love this product. I love that it has a pump top  because I’m so DONE with squeezy sunscreen tubes that get soooo gooped up. The pump even does that “push the product up from the bottom thing” so you’re not left trying to bang the open container against your hand when you’re trying to get the remaining drops out. I am more than happy to report that the Silk Hydration Weightless formula smells identical to Hawaiian Tropic‘s regular lineup of sunscreens – yay!

This sunscreen does have a lightweight feel, but since I definitely glob my sunscreen on, it still FEELS like sunscreen to me. This one is water resistant, not waterproof like the original Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens. Not a problem in general, but something to be aware of if you plan to use this on beach or pool days where you may be getting wet. I wore this all over my face and body last weekend for soccer in roughly 30 degree heat and it didn’t sweat off which was a HUGE relief since I’ve used a few sunscreens that have seeped into my eyes while playing and it’s hell on earth when that happens. I also didn’t burn or excessively tan either! Winner!

Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizer
Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizer

The other new product I’ve got my hands on is the Ultra Radiance After Sun which is an ultra-conditioning moisturizer that soothes, softens and leaves your skin radiant. The Ultra Radiance formula is the one with the shimmer particles in it which are light reflecting mica minerals – they’re very, VERY subtle in this bottle though. I didn’t feel they were nearly as strong as the ones in the sunscreens I’ve had in the past (which is probably a pro for most people!).

The scent on this one is “Island Mango” which smells just as beachy and summery as you would expect with a name like that! Although it’s labeled as an After Sun, what I learned by looking at the ingredients on the back is that this doesn’t actually contain aloe vera. I checked the other After Suns had in my closet and it honestly seemed to be 50/50 on whether or not the products had aloe in them (was a surprise to me, I always thought After Sun meant that it contained aloe vera!). While this the After Sun is soothing and hydrating, if you’re looking for something that contains aloe, this isn’t the one for you.

I’ve seen Hawaiian Tropic at just about every drugstore in Canada, and you can buy it online at ulta.com if you’re in the USA.

The products featured in this review were sent to me review.

My Water-Adjacent Essentials

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I am very lucky to be surrounded by friends and family who happen to have far better amenities in their apartment complexes than I do! As such, I take advantage of their pools when I don’t have the opportunity to get my butt down to Toronto’s waterfront.

Cherry Beach – Toronto
Cherry Beach – Toronto

I’ve recently embraced wearing a bikini for the first time this summer! After having spent a lot of my 20s not overly impressed with my body, I used to either shy away from situations that involved swimming or delve into the land of tankinis. But no longer! As such, I’m loving laying out by some sort of body of water (pool, lake, whatever, I’m not picky!) and soaking up some sun.

All of this to say, I’ve got a few items I’ve been carting around with me for beach or pool days and I thought I’d let you know what they are.

Hawaiian Tropic – Sheer Touch Sunscreen in SPF 15
Hawaiian Tropic – Sheer Touch Sunscreen in SPF 15

While I’m not someone who drenches themselves in oil in order to ensure maximum tanage, I’m still not wanting to remain the ghostly white pale thing that my skin resets to every winter. I usually start off the summer with an SPF of 30 and then scale it back as my tan develops. A friend recently introduced me to Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen – a brand I had completely avoided because it didn’t indicate on the front of the bottle that it’s waterproof. However, if you look at the fine print on the back, it is waterproof and therefore much, MUCH more suited to swimming. The biggest seller on this one? Aside from the scent (coconut-y, pina colada-esque), it has SHIMMER in it. Flecks of gold freaking glitter! If I have to swear sunscreen, you’re darn right I want to be looking like a disco ball while wearing doing so! I believe I grabbed this tube at Walmart for around 8 bucks.

Nestea Zero
Nestea Zero

Drinking Nestea (Zero, now) while hanging out on a friend’s dock (all the while listening to Matchbox 20, Moist and Serial Joe) is a memory that I cannot shake from my teen years. I used to spend a lot of summers hanging out on my best friend’s dock at their cottage by the lake, and I drank these by the cartonful. I’m not a huge fan of drinking alcoholic beverages by the water when it’s too hot – it dehydrates me and makes me feel fuzzy, and not in a good way. When the sun is beating down on me mid-day, and I’m covered in greasy sunscreen and feeling sweaty – I want something refreshing. And that’s either going to be a Nestea (the Canadian version, not the American one – that stuff is too much like real tea for me) or an espresso frappuccino from Starbucks.

Lounging by a friend’s pool
Lounging by a friend’s pool

And I have to say, aside from a towel, a drink and some sunscreen, there’s not a whole lot I do while laying out to get some sun. After I get out of the sun though, that’s when I need a few more products.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer
Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer

After I’ve washed all the sunscreen off, I whack on Aveeno’s facial moisturizer. It has an SPF in it, but I mostly just like the moisture it provides. This is my daily moisturizer, it pretty much follows me wherever I go.

Life After Sun
Life After Sun

Inevitably there are times when I get too much sun and have to whack on some aloe. I like the gel version because frankly… it feels neat. It’s green, see-through and goes on smoothly. As you can tell from the massive amount of product I’ve already used, this helped me out quite recently when I was little overzealous in the sun. And it’s cheap too! Life brand for ~$2 at Shoppers!

The bare necessities of makeup
The bare necessities of makeup

And lastly, if I’m going anywhere after having been in the pool, the last thing I want to do is whack on a pile of makeup, but I do want to look at least somewhat alive. I’m currently going through a trial-size tube of Make Up For Ever‘s Smoky Lash Extravagant, so I’ll pop several coats of that on my lashes. Since I don’t bother with an eyelash curler, I make sure to push my lashes upwards with my finger while the mascara is drying to give my lashes a little bit of a lift.

And to bring out some colour in my cheeks, I’ve been using Revlon‘s Coral Reef cream blush. Nothing fancy here: I stick my fingers in the pot and blend it onto my cheeks and hope for the best.

Rooftop pool this time!
Rooftop pool this time!

It’s not much, but this is what I like to have around me when I’m visiting someone else’s watery area. Occasionally I’ll have a book with me, or my iPod for some music, but really… I just like laying there and dozing. (And then promptly jump in the pool when I overheat!)