yay or nay: after sun beach spray

B E A C H M I S T
botanical after sun spray by The Lyfestyle Co.

what it is: an after sun body mist
what it claims: adds moisture to skin
who it’s for: anyone needing a refresh after the sun

Beach Mist combines aloe with herbals like mint and lavender to help hydrate the skin. At $42 for 4oz., I had very high hopes for this product. I love using after sun products, especially when beach days turn into seaside nights. They’re also really refreshing to use whenever you come inside in the warmer months (i.e., help, it’s already 90 degrees in NYC and it’s only June).

I first tested the product on my warm, flushed skin after a quick afternoon trip out to run some errands. While I admit, it was kind of refreshing, it absorbed instantly and didn’t have the cooling effect of aloe at all. I decided to pop it in the fridge and try it again the next day. After reading in the park for an hour, my shoulders were hot and I was so ready to get inside. As soon as I got in, I spritzed the chilled off Beach Mist on my shoulders and décolletage. This time it was more refreshing but again, instantly absorbed with no lingering effects of moisture, cooling, or fragrance. I checked out their website and it suggests applying to clean skin (my skin is always salty when I’m leaving the beach, but hey!). After getting some sun, I took a shower then tried the spray again and found it had very little cooling effects (aside from being cold in the fridge) and did not moisturize my skin at all.

It’s always disappointing when a product doesn’t perform to expectations, so I checked out the ingredient list, after all- no one would create a product for $42 that did nothing, right? What I found is that this product is mainly water with the next ingredient listed being glycerin. Glycerin sounds yucky, but it’s actually a moisturizer that’s found in a lot of skincare. Glycerin is usually paired with something called an occlusive-basically like the top coat in a manicure, occlusives seal in the important stuff (moisture)! This product did not have an occlusive listed in its ingredients. After glycerin, this product is packed with more dead sea salt than it is with aloe or any natural oils.

After the beach, I like for my skin to feel quenched and this didn’t pack as much of a punch as I’d like. But I do love how refreshing it feels throughout the day. The formula is so light and non-irritating, that I use it to spray on my face and neck as a refresher. It is an indulgent pick me up during a hot day!