We all know that we have to wear sunscreen year round. Why? Because UVA rays – the ones that give us wrinkles – are as strong in the dead of winter as they are in the dead of summer. What’s the point of spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars correcting damage with anti-aging creams when you’re walking around without UVA protection and creating new damage quicker than your fixing the old one? It’s not however just about applying SPF, it’s also about how you apply it. Here are some key things to remember.

• When SPF is tested it is always tested on clean skin. So for maximum efficacy you should do the same. Apply your sunscreen on cleansed and toned skin BEFORE applying any other lotions or potions (it’s a myth that sunscreen has to be “closer” to the sun; it has to be closer to the skin to chemically bind).
• Never go for an SPF that is less than 15 and ideally pick one that is 30-50 because odds are you’re not getting the total SPF level of coverage unless you’re being very meticulous about applying it perfectly.
• Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside.
• As a rule of thumb you need about a tablespoon of sunscreen for your face and about two ounces for your body.
• If you don’t have time to re-apply sunscreen throughout the day (remember I’m talking about ALL YEAR ROUND), invest in makeup with built-in sun protection so that you’re protecting your skin when you touch-up.

For the debut of Chanel’s 2014 Cruise collection in Singapore, Peter Philips created a New Wave-inspired beauty look (a remnant of the MET Ball’s punk love, perhaps?) to accent Karl Lagerfeld’s neutral-colored summer wardrobe. While there were no mesh lashes this time around, eyes were still given a strong Siouxsie-like emphasis. Lids were darkened with kohl that extended into a cat eye, along with a heavy volt of electric blue on the lower lids that seemed to imitate waves in the crisp ocean tide. Philips used Chanel’s Stylo Yeux eyeliner (at Nordstrom for $30) in Noir Intense and True Blue to achieve the look. He even swept hair to the side à la ‘80s British band A Flock of Seagulls to ensure that the heavy liner remained the main event (Karl has been quoted saying that “everything is done with the eyes”). What do you think of the rocker chic look?

Image Credit: Style.com

Brewed chocolate!? That’s right, Choffy is made of roasted and ground cocoa beans and you brew it just like coffee. Unlike coffee however it’s full of antioxidants (more than in a serving of blueberries), and doesn’t give you the caffeine crash that you sometimes get with coffee (it does naturally contain a gentle stimulant called Theobromine). It’s also low calorie, has no sugar, gluten, dairy, or chemicals. So how does it taste? It’s pretty incredible. The grounds – and the finished product (I used a French press) – smell amazing and it falls somewhere in between actual hot chocolate and chocolate-flavored tea when it comes to intensity of flavor. It will not however sooth a chocolate craving unless you’re the kind of person who has a chocolate craving for 85% dark chocolate… The taste is actually more bitter than sweet, but it’s a great option if you’re trying to wean yourself off caffeine/looking for a clean source of energy.

While I don’t consider it to be a weight loss drink, there are recent studies indicating that the polyphenols in cacao can have a positive effect on the activity of enzymes associated with the digestion of fat and carbohydrates so nothing to lose with trading in some coffee for cacao beans when they’re this low in calories (but remember Choffy is sugar-free so don’t expect it to alleviate any cravings for sweets).

Have you RSVPed yet for our evening of beauty, cocktails, and girl talk at Bergdorf Goodman?? Tina and I decided to host the Restorsea event because of our obsession with the line. We’ve seen incredible results, especially with the Restoring night cream (on Restorsea for $175) – my skin has never looked more radiant! The daytime moisturizer is even more of an essential for me. I have hyperpigmentation, making SPF a must each time I leave the house. The night cream is wonderful, but if you’re not protecting your skin from further damage, then you’re only fighting half the battle. Like all Restorsea products, the day lotion’s key ingredient is the miracle salmon hatching enzyme, plus SPF 30 – this way you get anti-aging, moisturizing, and UV protection all in one! With just two small pumps you’ll be able to cover your entire face. Just give it a minute to absorb. Once that’s done, it won’t feel at all greasy or turn white like so many other sunscreens. I reapply SPF like a madwoman throughout the summer, so at the end of each day I feel like a seven-layer dip. Not with this! It leaves you feeling fresh and hydrated. I’m visiting a lot of hot climates this summer (Maine, Boston, Florence, Taiwan, and Hong Kong) – you can be sure this lotion will be my constant companion. RSVP to the event at Bergdorf’s at Bergdorf’s to try it out for yourself! Available on Restorsea for $150.

Vichy is one of my favorite skincare brands. They’re super reliable and everything they launch is backed by studies so it makes sense that they’re being 100% honest with their toning products and saying they’re not going to be miracle workers. They will however help smooth you out in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise plan. To that end they’ve launched a platform called Cellulite Confessions and partnered with fitness pro Violet Zaki. Check-out the video content here.

Better yet the boxes of their toning products – Vichy CelluDestock ($39.50), which targets fat stored in the hips, thighs, and butt and Destock Stomach ($37.50), which targets the abdominal region – come in boxes with drawings of exercise moves to do to enhance the efficacy of the products. So…time to tackle those pesky pockets of fat by building up muscle underneath the fat tissue and smoothing on Vichy! Also worth mentioning is the brand’s new foam SPF – I’ve never seen such a thing! It goes on super light (it’s literally like a shaving cream consistency), making it perfect for hot summer days.

Being sick for a week really chipped away at my senses and spirit, but one shower with this stimulating Herbacin gel and I feel like I’ve come back to life. The invigorating scent helped clear up my sinus congestion, while the aromatherapy alleviated tension. Creator Herbacin has been around since 1905 growing their own ingredients, which in this case include lemongrass and ginger. The lemongrass treats breakouts on your skin, eliminating excess oil that can harbor unwanted bacteria. That cleansing treatment also means you can try this out on your hair. I’m more interested in the ginger, though – the Chinese have been using it for centuries to cure colds, which is why I think this shower gel has been such a gift to me (it smells just like my cold remedy!). The herb balances out your chi and is even taken by women after giving birth to strengthen and revive them. Even if you’re not on the mend, the spicy kick of ginger is great for waking you up in the mornings. It’s definitely something more exciting than the usual boring scents! Available on drugstore.com for $7.50.