Summer is right around the corner so here’s five things you need to know about sunscreen to ensure you’re getting the best protection for your skin.
1. Sunscreen must be applied generously. In order for SPF to truly protect the skin and prevent the harmful UV rays from damaging the skin, the formula has to be applied generously or it will not provide adequate protection. If you have a sunscreen that feels too heavy on your skin (which so many can), you’ll probably only apply a small amount and you’re not doing your skin any good. The goal is to find a sunscreen that doesn’t use heavy emollients so as not to leave a greasy residue. That way, you can be heavy-handed when using it (as you should be) but you’re not left feeling oily.
2. Don’t get overly confident with a high SPF number. With so many companies launching high SPF number sunscreens, it creates a lot of confusion as to which number is the best in protecting the skin. Did you know that an SPF 30 offers only 4% more protection than an SPF 15 and an SPF 45 offers just 2% more? High SPF number sunscreens like an SPF 50 or 100 can give people a false sense of protection and therefore may not be applied generously enough to do its job. While I do suggest using a minimum of SPF 30, it has far more to do with how generously you apply it than the number. (By the way, the FDA is proposing to limit the maximum SPF on labels to 50.)
Here comes yet another clever marketing play on the popular BB Creams – Juice Generation has just launched DD Shots, which are TSA-friendly 1oz health boosters. So next time you’re getting ready to board a long flight or just need a quick pick-me-up stop by any of their locations and pick-up Sea Buckthorn for a beauty boost (made with 100% raw and unpasteurized pureed sea buckthorn berries, which are known to have anti-aging benefits), Aloe Shot for a digestive boost (made from 100% organic preservative-free Aloe Vera, known to help with digestion and increase nutrient absorption), Prickly Pear for a rescue boost (prickly pear contains more anti-inflammatory agents and essential amino acids than any other plant source), Bee Pollen + Maca for a vitality boost (considered nature’s multivitamin, this combination has essential amino acids, trace minerals, and protein), E3 Live Shot for an energy boost (it’s made with 100% organic and wild-harvested blue green algae that contains 64 vitamins, minerals, and enzymes), or Beetroot Shot for a performance boost (beet provides a natural source of nitrites, which improves blood flow). The only problem? It’s easy to feel like you need them all…
Carey Mulligan rarely lets her hair down. I mean that literally – she loves updos on the red carpet. But when you’re attending the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival (and the premiere your new movie!) the stakes are raised, and Ms. Mulligan met them with serious panache. She was the picture of Hollywood glamour in a satin Dior gown. While stealing the spotlight at the famous French fest may be a tall order, we can definitely steal her beauty look. Carey’s makeup artist, Georgie Eisdell, reveals it was all done with the help of NARS. The secret to that flawless skin? NARS light reflecting powder ($34) and Sex Appeal blush ($29). The look was minimal save for one dramatic element – the bright red lip! Georgie said she “loved the idea of contrast with the pale pink dress,” filling in Carey’s pout with Jungle Red lipliner ($22) and lipstick ($26). Available at NARS.
Dr. Schultz and I had been trying to get together for so many weeks that when we actually met I forgot what we were supposed to meet about (eep…). I walked into our meeting at Sarabeth’s mid a torrential downpour frantically checking my phone trying to find our initial email – I shouldn’t have bothered because when it comes to anything dermatology-related Dr. Schultz is an endless wealth of knowledge. Unlike what you might expect from someone who has been repeatedly featured within the “Best Doctors” lists in New York Magazine, everything about him is approachable. So much so in fact that a few years ago he started a website, dermtv.com, that now has somewhere around 500 videos in which the doctor in about a minute or so gives his take on pretty much every skincare issue you can think of (and a ton you never thought of…). Want to know the average age of someone who gets Botox? Want to know why exfoliation is so important? You can find out along with about 498 other things!
Given his pedigree – he received his M.D. degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia where he was elected to AOA, the national medical honor’s society, and then completed his residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. In his third year, he was appointed chief resident – it’s all the more impressive how easy going and approachable Dr. Schultz is. He sees over 10,000 patients a year and if you happen to live in the NYC area I can’t think of a doctor I’ve met that seems more reliable. On the cosmetic front he also has an extensive line of skincare. He gave me a few products (he believes that chemical exfoliation is the key to great skin so I just started using one of his glycolic products), and will report back!
Molton Brown launched their Men’s Sport Collection this month and I was able to preview one of their products a few weeks ago. I opted to try their Anti-Perspirant Sportstick ($22) – the collection also includes 4-in-1 Sportwash ($24) and Body-warming Sportsbalm ($26) – because I stopped using women’s deodorant more or less completely a few months ago. I wish the whole “made for a woman, but strong enough for a man” thing was true in hot yoga, but from my experience it usually isn’t – grooossss! Because no one wants to smell, even in a 120 degree room, I’ve been using the newbie from Molton Brown instead of my Anthony for Men for the last few weeks. It’s great! It has a manly, clean scent so don’t think that just because I’m using it, it’s feminine – it’s definitely not. As someone who like full-bodied and woody scents however this is just up my alley. There’s a little citrus via lime in the long-lasting scent (it’s strong, but not as overpowering). It also doesn’t irritate my skin like anti-perspirants sometimes can.
My showers clock in at record time. I can shampoo and condition my hair, wash my body, and clean my face in two minutes flat, but I’m always looking for ways to beat my own time. Just as Olympic runners cut down on their records with the help of the best gear, so I will half my record with Kai’s body buffer. Rather than exfoliating and cleansing in the shower, then jumping out and moisturizing, you can just use this three-in-one sponge! It’s much more effective than a flimsy loofah (or worse – a super scratchy one). The buffer is infused with palm, coconut, and olive oil (fun fact: the ancient Egyptians used this as a cleanser and moisturizer – it’s certainly a time-tested ingredient!) that create foaming bubbles when wet and smell wonderfully tropical. Each set comes with two sponges that’ll last you 30 days each, giving you a two-month supply. It’s comparable to Kai’s body wash ($37) in price and has the added convenience of the sponge! Available at Barneys New York for $40.
