Tag: spf

Summer Lip MVP’s on FOX’s Great Day Green Country

I’m back on Great Day Green Country this morning to chat about the hottest lip products for the summer. These three gems are the ones I keep reaching for, no matter what look I am going for. Make sure to pick up one of these Summer MVPs!

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick: This buttery formula is ultra-rich and super pigmented. You get great color payoff while still hydrating your pout. Not to mention, this lipstick comes in such vibrant and great shades, perfect for the warmer months.
mark Glossworks: The newest from mark comes in eight shades pigmented and long lasting shades. The formula is hydrating and glossy. And there is an ever so slight sweet scent. Major bonus: contains SPF 15 to protect lips during the day.
supergoop SPF 30+ AcaiFusion Lip Balm: This balm is the ultimate in sun protection for while you are at the lake or the pool. The rich formula has such a great scent and the sheer pink tint keeps you looking polished. It also soothes dehydrated lips while Acai works as an antioxidant.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Dad’s Day Gift Ideas

This weekend, it is time to fete all those great dads out there! I know my dad and I have a lazy day at home planned, with a yummy dinner and some games of catch in the yard. For those last minute shoppers, here are some of my favorite men’s products I’ve come across lately.

Kiehl’s “Heavy Lifting”Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer for Men is a super powered version of one of my father’s favorites. Formulated especially for men’s thicker skin, this works to battle signs of aging.

Molton Brown SPORT Collection is for the sporty father. My tester used it from head to toe and reported stellar performance as a shave gel, shower gel and shampoo. I love the convenience of one product, especially for a gym bag. The fragrance blend – cassia bark, nutmeg and lime – helps soothe tired muscles.

My neighbor friend has been sporting the Gucci Guilty Black Pour Homme – dare I say… swoon worthy? And frankly, I wore it myself for a couple days – ladies, this is worth stealing from the boys. The Patchoili gives it a sensuality while orange and lavender leave it feeling not to heavy.

Supergoop! Continuous Mist Broad Spectrum SPF 50, one of my favorite SPFs this summer, has also been a hit with the guys. For the outdorsman father, you can’t go wrong with this great smelling spray. Natural oils add a unisex citrus scent and leave skin nourished.

One of the products my father praises most is his Clarisonic. Men love gadgets so I don’t know why I am so surprised. The Clarisonic ‘Aria – Black’ Sonic Skin Cleansing System is a sleek masculine color and will leave his skin smooth and exfoliated.

Brand Spotlight: Bioelements

Bioelements is a skin care line focused on fostering younger looking skin with professional grade products you use at home. The skin care regimens are custom blended for ideal results according to your skin type. Their formulas are responsibly crafted, always free of parabens, fragrances and colorants. And never tested on animals. One of the biggest joys of using Bioelements is their glass skin care packaging. Not only does it feel more luxe, but it maintains the integrity of the products and is 100% recyclable.

I’ve been surrounding myself with some Bioelements best and brightest for the past month and have been thrilled with results. Not only are the products wonderful to use – they have honestly made my skin look better. My main issues are hyper-pigmentation and redness. The following four items have helped me moderate both and keep safe in the sun.

Again, an oil based cleanser that really can clean, the Bioelements Sensitive Skin Cleanser is gentle and nourishing. Olive oil is used to lift impurities while calming and soothing. And your skin won’t be striped of precious moisture.

Using one of my most beloved skin care ingredients, Advanced VitaMineral C Complex has a double dose because it uses Acerola cherries, which contain 32 times more vitamin C than oranges. This extract is the most scientifically advanced C ester and can fight aging and brighten skin. I’ve been using this day and night and find my skin to be more radiant without any irritation.

I’ve been spending a lot of time in the sun. I know I needed something with a really high SPF on a daily basis to try to keep this sun damage at bay. The Bioelements SPF 50 FaceScreen has that broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection I need. At the same time, it works to firm and reduce the appearance of fine lines. The formula uses chemical blockers so you get that sunscreen smell, but on the plus side, you don’t get any whitish cast. The rich cream leaves my skin ultra-hydrated. Also to note, it was named ‘Best Anti-Aging Sunscreen’ by Dr. Oz’s YouBeauty.com.

I’ve been running more lately and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the way it leaves me feeling. The downside is my redness really ramps up… even hours after I finish a jog. The Bioelements Calmitude Hydrating Solution is one of the very few products I’ve found that can really calm that flare up. The spray soothes and calms upset skin while hydrating.

Find your closest spa here. Or order Bioelements products on bioelements.com.

NEW: Perricone MD Photo Plasma

This frothy, pink cream has me giddy. So so giddy. As I spend these weekend days outside over and over again, I realize I need to be reaching for something I really trust to keep my skin safe. Beyond that, Perricone MD Photo Plasma is perfectly suited for every day SPF, great under makeup and gentle on my sensitive skin.

Somehow this formula is oil-free, while still at the same time super rich and luxurious. My persnickety skin drinks it up – albeit I do like a moisturizer underneath. It is powered by Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, non-chemical UVA and UVB mineral sunscreens, but I get no whitish cast on my skin.

The anti-aging benefits aren’t just its broad specturm UVA and UVB protection. Astaxanthin acts as a antioxidant known for its photo protective powers. And my beloved Vitamin C Ester (along with Alpha Lipoic Acid) work to even and brighten skin.

Finally, Perricone MD Photo Plasma provides a radiance and makes my skin look great even alone without makeup. I love this “new to me” clinical line has great efficacy while looking fabulous and being gentle.

Neutrogena Suncare Tips & a GIVEAWAY

There are loads of sunscreen tips and tricks floating around this time of year. But with the rise of skin cancers, particularly among younger women, I believe this is such a great message to be echoing. The fun part for me is so many of these sunscreens have become a pleasure to use. And you can’t go wrong with drugstore budget standout, Neutrogena.

Of particular interest for Neutrogena, the FDA now requires stipulation for a new test to be run in order to claim broad-spectrum protection on sunscreen products. Cathy Salerno, Vice President of R&D, Global Skin Care Product Development at Johnson & Johnson highlights that “Neutrogena spent years researching and developing and patenting a technology that provides photo stable protection over time.” Takeaway number one, you can count on Neutrogena for broad-specturm UVA and UVB thanks to their Helioplex technology.

So, what else do we need to know to play safe in the sun? Dr. Doris Day addresses three myths that I am embarrassed to hear repeated all too frequently:

Myth #1: 50 minutes a day of sunlight a day is necessary for vitamin D

“This is one of the biggest myths I have heard. Incidental sun exposure is plenty for most people. If you think you are vitamin D deficient, get a blood test. There are fat-soluble vitamins available, which you do not need to take every day. Thus, vitamin D is not an excuse to get a tan and certainly not an excuse to go to a tanning bed.”

Myth #2: A base tan is necessary before vacation, or spending a lot of time in the sun.

“Does anybody still believe this? There’s no such thing as a base tan, it’s just one more excuse to have a tan. If you don’t want to get sunburn on vacation, use your sun protection and be sun smart.”

Myth #3: Most of your sun damage has occurred by the age of 18.

“No matter your age or how much exposure you’ve had, every exposure you get at any age is cumulative and damaging to the skin. Your skin has the ability to repair no matter how old you are. If you start today just by using sunscreen alone, all of those other expensive products that we are spending so much money on will work so much better. It is never too late to start protecting your skin.”

I’ve been testing out the Neutrogena suncare line for a couple weeks… here are some thoughts:

Neutrogena Beach Defense™ Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 70 has everything that you could ask for in a “at the beach all day” sunscreen. Not to mention it smells like pina coladas – yum!
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Body Mist Sunscreen is a pleasure to use. The spray dries clear and without a hint of greasiness. I particularly love this for getting hard to reach areas. Just remember with sprays to totally coat the area you are protecting.
Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45+ might be designed with kids in mind, but I love this when you are in for a marathon swim session. It gets so hot here in the summer, we often spend the whole day in the lake or pool. Love this for quick reapplication even if you are wet.
Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 55 is perfect for those with acne-prone skin. Dr. Doris Day points out “sun exposure can actually make inflammation worse in people who are prone to acne. Thus, it is important to protect your sensitive skin with sunscreen.”
Neutrogena Age Shield™ Face Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum is for those of us chasing the dream of youthful skin. This formula works beautifully under makeup and provides extreme protection.
Neutrogena MicroMist® Airbrush Sunless Tan dries fast, gives great color and is a breeze to apply. I love the continuous spray for hard to reach areas and even application.

Also, take note: for any Neutrogena product with SPF purchased from May through July, the company will donate one to a family in need. More info here!

Want a chance to enter to win your own gift basket full of Neutrogena suncare products? Talk about stocking up for summer! Enter using the widget below. Good luck! (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kiehl’s Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream

It wasn’t but a couple short weeks ago I was thinking about Kiehl’s and hoping the famed skin care brand would come out with a tinted moisturizer. It was like they are reading my mind! Now available online and in stores on June 1st, Kiehl’s Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream is at the top of my list and a best of breed.

Now, you probably are thinking there are so many BB Creams out there – how can this one be that different? Well, you know how I go on and on about my dreaded hyper-pigmentation? This BB Cream actually works to correct skin tone while concealing imperfections. Using Vitamin C – something we already know Kiehl’s is good at – the BB Cream effectively goes after uneven skin tone and dark spots. Often prone to seperation, the Vitamin C is combined with natural mineral pigments making it stable and gentle.

The formula is silky and lightweight, but still buildable enough to offer moderate coverage with no greasy or cakey finish. On the skin, the cream looks balanced – not too luminous nor matte. The color wears for a full day and color stays true. There is bit of a mineral/chemical smell, but nothing offensive, likely due to the heavy duty SPF 50 and natural mineral pigments.

I’ve been spending lots of time outside lately, so I am actually wearing Medium (above left) but could get away with Light (above right). It is offered in four shades: Fair, Fair/Light, Light, and Medium. This stuff isn’t leaving my regular rotation anytime soon. I love the way it looks on my skin and am so encouraged about what it can do for my dark spots and sun damage.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.