the 31st journal
sunscreen controversy, shopping the sales and a fave follow
Hello, hi there and a very warm welcome to the 31st edition of the journal! Thank you for being here, we have some super fun beauty talk ahead of us.
We are back after an unintentional hiatus that was actually the break I really needed to look after my headspace, so thank you for letting me just disappear for a while and I appreciate you coming back!
Today we do a quick breakdown of the Choice sunscreen controversy and what you can take away from it all (wear your sunscreen). We also cover the sales, including a bumper product edit with some top recommendations, as well as a creator that is an absolute joy to follow.
I tried 3 new things this week and of course we talk about that too!
Enough chit chat; let’s talk beauty.
That Choice Sunscreen Article
A few days ago Choice Australia posted an article about the results of SPF testing they had conducted on 20 popular sunscreens in Australia, with 16 of them apparently reporting an SPF value lower than reported on the label.
The accompanying infographic posted to their socials has gone super viral and caused a whole lot of fuss - which is understandable. Australia has very high rates and risk of skin cancer caused by UV damage and many of us grow up knowing that sunscreen is a part of everyday life. Part of that is putting trust in the sunscreen you’re using and the protection it claims to give you.
I don’t want to dive into it too much deeper because I have a lot of thoughts and there is a lot of noise around it at the moment, so I’m actually going to give you 3 main things you need to know and then link some other videos you can watch below.
Please continue to wear sunscreen. Unfortunately this article has meant that the anti sunscreen rhetoric has gotten very loud again and there has been a lot of “well if it’s only SPF20, I may as well wear nothing” or similar statements. This is not true. SPF20 applied in the appropriate amount can still provide considerable protection. Sunscreen is and always has been only one aspect of sun protection, you should always be considering seeking shade, wearing protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.
Don’t throw your products away. If you have recently purchased one of the products that ‘failed’ please don’t throw it in the bin. Every brand mentioned in this list should have the right to reply and do their own testing, along with any investigation that the TGA or ACCC deem necessary.
Take a second before jumping on the outrage train. I find it very interesting that everyone is ready to blindly trust the results of the testing conducted by Choice - if you didn't know already, the process of testing and earning an SPF rating in Australia to be able to sell a sunscreen is quite rigorous and expensive. It is not something a brand takes lightly and many sunscreen brands aren’t trying to deceive you, and would in fact be horrified if their product was less effective than they thought or had previously tested as.
The really sad thing about all of this is I think this article has done more harm than good - as someone who tries to share about sun safety and sunscreens regularly and connects with similar creators, it’s already a fight to get people on board with sunscreen in the first place and this is yet another setback.
Smart wonderful people that have made easy-to-digest content
Cancer Council about sunscreen page
3 Things I Tried This Week
If you know me or follow me, no doubt you’ve seen me getting super excited about getting my hand on this formula since it was leaked a few months ago. Now that I do have it, I am quite impressed with just how lovely this powder is. Compared to some other matte finish blushes that have launched recently this is a true powder formula and is actually designed as their setting powder formula but with blush pigment.
It’s a soft, blurring blush that works well by itself and is easy to work with. They are quite pigmented, so start with a light hand. As someone with quite dry and sensitive skin, I tend to lean away from powder formulas and a matte finish, but I definitely see this being an exception, or even a beautiful layering product that can help set and extend the life of a cream blush.
Am I the only one that was a little surprised Glossier didn’t already have a tinted lip oil formula? This does however perfectly fit between the Lip Gloss and Ultralip in their product offering. It’s designed to be nourishing and hydrating but also deliver on colour and give you that shiny finish.
I went with the shade Chilly, which is a cool toned pink and quite similar to my natural lip shade. It is one of those lip oils that I would basically describe as plush rather than slick. A really comfortable formula but it did leave me wanting a little bit more pigment
Maybelline Super Fluff Brow Mousse
I was quite excited about this one, as someone who loves a fluffy, full looking brow. It is essentially a tinted brow gel or mascara, designed to give both tint and volume to the brows.
Unfortunately I really struggled to get this to apply without small clumps of product clinging to my brows. The end result was a messy looking brow that was darker then I intended because I was trying to brush the clumps out. Will have to try this again and see if I can balance out the appliation without it looking so intense and messy.
how it looked with all 3 products on the face
Sale Season
This time of year it feels like there are sales coming at you left, right and centre and my goodness are they good! My self control feels like it’s hanging on by a singular thread at the moment so I thought I’d handball that straight onto you by sharing a few of the savings on offer and my top picks.
General notes: if you saw my bumper budget beauty edition of the journal, I spoke about how something that can make beauty products more affordable is to wait for sales like this to shop essentials. So take this as your recommendation to check the price on your favourite SPF, boujee moisturiser or the foundation you can’t live without!
Sephora Mid Year Sale
The offer: up to 50% off on select items with prices marked
Top recommendations: OPI In Bloom Infinite Shine Trio, Dyson Airstrait, Alpha-H Liquid Gold + Vitamin C Exfoliating Treatment, Ultra Violette Future Fluid Skinscreen
A fun treat: Kylie Cosmic fragrance set - this is a great time of year to pick up a discounted fragrance set.
My full recommendations edit.
Adore Beauty Clearance Sale
The offer: up to 50% off clearance items with prices marked, 20% off big brands until 17.06.25
Top recommendations: Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm Skin Tint, Huda Beauty Blush Filter, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Mask 5 Pack, tbh skincare Rebound Skin Milk Activated Cica Toner.
A fun treat: Yves Saint Laurent Loveshine Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick - I feel like 12 months ago you could not get your hands on this formula and now it’s 20% off! Many fun shades, super high shine.
My full recommendations edit.
The Iconic
The offer: discounts across a wide range of brands, extra 20% off some products
Top recommendations: Real Techniques Solar Power Base Set, Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil, ghd styling tools, Benefit Bigtime Brow Minis.
A fun treat: Coco & Eve Oh My Hair kit - this feels like the OG viral hair mask and tbh it’s genuinely so gorgeous to use.
My full recommendations edit.
Maybe It’s Maybelline…
You all know the tagline but honestly, maybe it is really is Maybelline at the moment because my goodness have I been seeing them everywhere. As a brand, we know they’re one of the big players in beauty that have stood the test of time and that’s really due to their formulas that deliver every time.
If you sent me into my local chemist for a mascara, you can bet I’m going straight to the Maybelline stand because I just know that I could point at one and it’s going to be good. Lately though, they have shown yet again that they continue to sense the mood and bring out products that hit the trends. Here are some of the formulas that really stand out to me (and have made it into my makeup bag) but no doubt you’ve seen them on your FYP already.
Teddy Tint Superstay Lip Tint
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserLash Sensational Sky High Mascara
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserSuperstay Lumi Matte Foundation
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I’m also very keen for some of the newer releases our overseas friends are already enjoying like the Lifter Stix & Lip Glaze. Hope we see these in store soon!
Fave Follow
I follow some seriously fantastic creators on socials and thought hey, I need to share the love because my FYP is a good time at the moment.
Today I wanted to spotlight Elizabeth because I’m obsessed with her style of content, her absolute love for makeup and her consistently incredible product recommendations. You’ve probably seen her on your feed recently with a MAC eyeshadow but I’ve been loving her content for years now.
You can find her on TikTok or Insta giving you the best tutorials and product swatches around. She is also a genuine beauty lover who just really loves to have fun with product and makeup and that really comes through.
Makeup style: glowy skin, lots of blush, easy but fun eyeshadow looks with shimmery toppers, a real mix of luxe and drugstore products.
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The Big Three
Ok, you know how you have your big three in astrology? This is just the beauty product version of that, and yes I think I’m pretty clever thank you very much. The Sun will be something that’s going on my face on the daily, Moon is for the nighttime routine heroes and Rising is for the newcomer or rising favourite of the week.
SUN: CERAVE MOISTURISING LOTION
You know which body moisturiser works best in winter? The one you actually apply. And for me that absolutely is this ceramide packed gem that comes in an easy to use pump bottle. The ingredients list is great, as always, with the 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It sinks in quickly and well so I don’t feel stick and gross, also meaning that I can apply it straight after a shower and then get dressed without having to stand around.
As someone with skin on the more sensitive side, it does also tick all my boxes in being basic but in the best way. Skin barrier supporting ingredients? Yes. Fragrance free? Yes. Well priced so I can slather it on without feeling guilty? Also yes.
Shop it here.
MOON: TBH REBOUND ONE NIGHT STAND SOOTHING GEL MASK
Here we are talking about this mask again, about 6 months after I initially tried it because oh my goodness, it really is the best. If you’re looking for something to have on hand to help with skin sensitivity or reactivity, or maybe just need something with a little oomph to help get you through winter, this is it.
I finished up the first tube I had and immediately purchased another because I truly don’t want to be without it. I find it’s also really lovely in that it can help can skin that’s red and reactive and maybe even quite warm, but works equally as well on dry, flaky or rough skin too. The ingredients lineup is insane and the value is just so good - sometimes on more sensitive weeks I just use this as my last step before bed every single night, to help get my skin back to feeling good again.
Shop it here.
RISING: MORPHE M203 TAPERED POWDER BLUSH BRUSH
This may be the first time ever that a brush has featured in my favourites but with my new found obsession with trying every powder blush I can get my hands on, it just made sense to invest in a new brush to help with that. It’s one from the newer Morphe brush release, with the brushes reimagined to be better shapes and just an overall more luxe and controlled brush experience.
What I really like about this is the softness of the bristles and the tapered shape. For a powder formula it allows you to have good control over the placement of the blush and apply more pressure to softly blend outwards. I’m still learning the best ways to blend a powder blush formula, but this is absolutely making it easier for me.
Shop it here.
And with that, we’ve reached the end of the 31st edition of Morgan’s Skin Journal! if you’re made it this far, I hope that means you’ve enjoyed it and would consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy it. There’s so much beauty goodness to come in 2025 and I hope you join me for it. I’ll play myself out with a little song recommendation for your week 💚