Two months into our Birchbox subscription, by far the best of the monthly-surprise lot has been a teeny tube of Coola Face SPF 30 Cucumber Matte Finish, the first that’s succeeded in getting us searching for the full-size version ($36 for 1.7 oz).
More grown-up than the family’s communal, Costco-size bottle of Water Babies, the best-selling cucumber variety is a refreshing alternative to clinical lotions, especially for sensitive or oily types, eliminating the seasonal dilemma between serious skin damage and immediate irritation.
The weightless, mineral-based formula defends against both harmful UVA and UVB rays with zinc oxide, the same burn blocker your local lifeguard slathers on for take-no-chances protection. The luxe part? Coola’s concocted an instantly absorbing, grease-free cocktail of 70 to 98 percent organic ingredients, including a horde of plant-based skin conditioners.
We particularly approve of the hint-of-cucumber scent for when you don’t want to reek of synthetic coconut; and that the so-cool SoCal company solar powers its domestic, sustainable manufacturing. Try the whole line, from the sport spray to the unscented SPF 50 for baby, at The Cosmetic Boutique in Chappaqua and Oasis Day Spa in Dobbs Ferry.
