Hampton season has started which is great except… I can’t drive. While the studio where I like to workout has a location out East I can’t always get to a class because of my car situation (gah!!!), so on occasion I’ve taken to running outdoors instead. I’m very pale and prone to burning so it’s imperative that I have a sunscreen that can stand up to not only the sun, but sweat. Sun Bum’s Pro line (30 or 50 SPF), is awesome because it doesn’t melt into my eyes while I’m running. In fact it doesn’t melt anywhere even when I’m sweating. The true test will be later on in the season because it hasn’t gotten that hot yet, but I did wear this on a recent 5mile run and it was totally fine (ie I didn’t get sunburned so it obviously stayed on my skin!).
It’s also fragrance-free and moisturizing so it shouldn’t be a problem even for those with sensitive or dry skin and it’s formulated to protect against both UVA and UVB rays so you can use it year-round for protection (if you’re not protecting your skin from UVA rays year-round don’t bother spending money on anti-aging creams because you are creating damage faster than any cream will be able to repair it…just saying….UVA protection is crucial!!). The packaging is also compact so you can easily toss this in your purse and touch-up as needed throughout the day.
When it comes to anti-aging, our main priority always seems to be the face. That’s smart – it’s the first thing that people notice about us. But evidence of that little number on your driver’s license can pop up basically everywhere. In fact, hands age faster than our faces. One day they look young and beautiful, and the next, you can pass for the Grim Reaper. Dr. Paul Carniol, a professor at New Jersey Medical School, has some tips to help. As a plastic surgeon he sees more women resorting to plumping treatments, fat transfers, hyaluronic acid gels, and chemical peels than ever before. Sound a little intense? Let’s get back to basics. Sunscreen is obviously a no-brainer (year-round!). Try adding skin care products to your regimen that includes peptides to prevent your skin from thinning and antioxidants to keep away those pesky dark spots. Dr. Carniol says it best – “Prevention is the best medicine.”
Image Credit: New York Times
We can thank essie for neons being popular more or less steadily for the last four or five years. They were the first and they’re still the best when it comes to neons. However because their first neon collection included such true orange, yellow, pink and purple neons it has been hard to follow-up with “true neons” since, which is why while I love the shades in their new collection ($8 each), it must be said that they aren’t exactly neon. The photo above, which I got from their website, actually doesn’t reflect what the shades look like all that accurately (see below for a picture I snapped). The shades are more muted than what you might expect, which I happen to think is great for day-to-day wear (not to mention that neon green could be a little much…).
My favorite shade – and the most neon of the bunch – is the blue, which is called “Bouncer It’s Me.” It’s perfect for toes! It must also be said that essie does always have the best names…
Between the Cannes Film Festival and the Billboard Awards, there’s been no shortage of red carpets lately. Celebs need to be at their best and brightest to steal the spotlight at star-studded events like these, and the easiest way? A look-at-me bold lip. Nothing crazy or fluorescent – a ruby red shade lip Miley Cyrus‘ will do. She knows to leave the nude gloss at home. That only works when you’re going for the bronzed goddess look or a seriously smoky eye. See what other colors starlets have been playing with…
Rents in New York City are pretty insane and they’re particularly insane in Soho so I was shocked when I was invited to the opening of Bite Beauty‘s first store. Located on Prince Street right near the likes of Miu Miu and Intermix their adorable white-walled space stocks their full line of products as well as a lip lab where you can consult with an expert and then get a customized lipstick made (it costs $4 more than their regular lipsticks and takes less than 10 minutes). I was dying to know how many lipsticks they have to sell to make a profit with the store, but no one could tell me…Any case they must sell a ton because I was told that they quickly sell out of their most popular shades and they anticipate the custom lipsticks to be very popular for bridal showers and the likes (the labels can be customized as well).
The all-natural brand (nearly everything in their products is food grade, which is major given how high in chemicals (and bug parts!), many lip products are), has been an exclusive to Sephora since their launch in March 2011, so this marks the first time anyone can get their products outside of a Sephora. I’m also pretty sure this is NYC’s first lip lab…The process starts by speaking with one of their experts (no appointment necessary), to pick a custom pigment, then select a matte or sheer finish, and finally pick a scent/flavor (cherry, mint, lavender, or berry). The mix gets poured into a “lipstick machine,” various molds and voila!
The store is located at 174 Prince Street and open Tuesday through Sunday, 11am to 7pm.
Not in NYC? Check out Bite’s new limited edition kit, Beauty Cuvee ($72 – $96 value)…the lipsticks are made from Champagne grapes!
I’m always chewing on my lips because of how chapped they get. It’s a bad habit and it’s stopping now. The easiest way would be to reapply lip balm throughout the day, but that’s never been my thing – once in the morning and maybe a touch-up in the afternoon (only if it’s bad). With Avène cold cream I can stick to my minimal reapplying and still have a perfectly hydrated pout! The thick consistency falls somewhere between a heavy cream and petroleum jelly. It goes on smoothly with just a hint of gloss, so your lips will look naturally supple and dewy. I like to layer it under lipstick to keep it from bleeding, especially when I’m sporting a darker color. The emollient treatment hydrates with the help of Avène’s famous thermal spring water (taken from a French aquifer) and protects from free radical damage with antioxidants. It will be a lifesaver in the harsh winter months! Available on Amazon for $8.95.
