COOLA SPF 30 Matte Finish Cucumber for Face

Hey everyone, finally the sun is coming out and brightening our environment with its rich goodies. I was recently introduced, by a lovely friend, to her favorite mineral moisturizer that also protects you from the sun (how awesome is that). It has everything that we all need in a daily SPF.

Naturally enhanced chemical free sunblock with a silky matte finish.
Plus, COOLA uses a proprietary method to maximize the effectiveness of their suncare products. The updated formula features two active ingredients—titanium and zinc dioxide—suspended in a moisturizing base to ensure a smooth, even application. Age-reversing antioxidants like evening primrose extract and borage seed oil deflect free radicals, while naturally water-resistant plankton makes the formula extra-durable.

How to Use:  Smooth on a thin coat all over your face. Follow with makeup, or wear alone. (I find it also evens out my skin tone)

Get it now here.

How to apply sunscreen (and how not to)

By Well+GoodNYC

Sunscreen is kind of like toothpaste. If you don’t use enough—or use it incorrectly—it’s just not going to work. Only instead of gum disease and cavities, you’re leaving yourself open to premature aging (wrinkles, sagging, and melanin deposits caused by sun exposure) or worse, skin cancer.

While no sunscreen is 100 percent effective at blocking ultraviolet (UV) rays, many sunburns are caused by faulty or infrequent application.

About 100 percent of dermatologists say that most people don’t follow the directions right on the bottle to re-apply sunscreen regularly. (And using last season’s sunblock or one reaching its expiration date is not a great idea either.)

By wearing sunscreen correctly—and daily, you’ll not only help prevent scorching your skin, you’ll also help prevent sun damage, lessening your dependence on those skin repairing or anti-aging beauty products.

Here are 8 easy tips for applying sunscreen:

1. Lay it on thick. Use a tablespoon of sunscreen (of at least an SPF 25) on your face, and about two ounces for your body. Unless you slather on a thick layer, you’re probably just getting an SPF 10 out of your SPF 30.

2. Dot sunscreen directly onto your face—instead of squeezing a giant blob onto your hands and applying it. I’ve found this technique helps it absorb more quickly and evenly.

3. Put sunscreen on first, then your moisturizer. Best to get it right on your clean, dry skin. However, this is less important if you use a zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sunscreen. We’ll explain why in a minute.

4. Use sunscreen daily. The majority of sun exposure is casual and incidental, meaning you get it walking to the subway or to get lunch or through your office window, say dermatologists.

Keep reading for 4 more here…

4 sunscreens you’ll love to wear

By Well+GoodNYC

For every great reason that you should wear sunscreen (skin cancer prevention, minimize photo damage that leads to premature aging), there’s an excuse out there not to (“They’re too greasy!” Or, “They make me breakout!”).

The key is finding a sunscreen that’s part UV defense and part problem-solver. Consider us your sunscreen research assistants!

We pored over Dermalogica’s impressively formulated collection of sunscreens (they’re all compliant with the new FDA standards) and found four that provide a problem-solving-treatment plus great sun protection. And none contain artificial fragrances, colors, or parabens.

And a perk: Purchases of $50 or more receive free shipping and a free travel size Daily Microfoliant (a $10 retail value!), Dermalogica’s number one selling skin exfoliant!

Enter WELLANDGOOD at checkout. Expires August 31, 2012.

Excuse: “My skin is sensitive and gets irritated when I wear sunscreen.”
Solution: Super Sensitive Shield SPF30, $48
Mineral titanium dioxide and zinc oxide deflect UV light, so they don’t cause the irritation or rash-like bumps that some chemical sunscreen ingredients can. Plus, antioxidant grape seed and green tea extracts help reduce sensitivity and redness.

Excuse: “My skin looks greasy, oily, and breaks out when I wear sunscreen.”
Solution: Oil Free Matte SPF30, $48
You’re going to love looking in the mirror at the matte finish this sunscreen gives you. It also prevents shine and balances oil production throughout the day.

Keep reading…

Sunscreen vs. Sunblock – What You Should Know

By VIBRANT BEAUTY

So is there really a difference between sunscreenand sunblock? YES! Admittedly, I recently discovered there was actually a big distinction. Here’s what you should know on the sunscreen vs sunblock.

Sunscreens

Here’s the most interesting thing about sunscreen- they usually don’t protect against UVA rays. SPF actually refers to only the UVB rays that it shields, not the UVA rays too. UVA rays are known as the aging rays because they don’t cause a tan but still penetrate into the dermis of the skin and can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. The only sunscreens that actually prevent both UVA and UVB rays are when the label reads “full coverage” otherwise you are only getting UVB protection. This is particularly common among tinted moisturizes as well as regular facial moisturizers that have an SPF component. So read up on the labels and make sure you are wearing something that protects both UVA and UVB.

Also, just because a sunscreen product says it protects against UVA rays, it doesn’t mean it protects against the whole range of them, like the long range UVA rays. There is only one chemical out there that can protect against the full range of UVA rays and that is avobenzone (Parsol 1789). It still gets more complicated from there because avobenzone does not maintain stability when light hits it and it requires a proper formula with another photostablizer to keep working properly. Helioplex is such an ingredient, that when paired with avobenzone can help you- really- protect yourself from UVA rays.

 

Sunblocks

Sunblocks are the best of the bunch because their name infers that both UVA and UVB rays are actually physically blocked from penetrating the skin. The suns ray’s will hit the sunblock and bounce off thus making a sunblock more valuable for sun protection than that a regular sunscreen. Sunblocks are made up of mineral, not chemical materials, which is why it makes a barrier against the sun. The types of minerals you should look for are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

You could also consider protective clothing like gloves, long sleeved t-shirts or a hat to be sunblocks, since they are physically blocking the sun.

 

Vibrant Beauty Takeaway: Sunscreens and sunblocks are different. When in doubt of which product to get, go for a sunscreen that reads “full coverage” that has both the ingredients avobenzone and Helioplex in it, or a sunblock with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These types are going to protect you from UVA and UVB rays.

Sunburn in the city: 5 tips on how to avoid frying your skin during outdoor workouts

By Well+GoodNYC

Burning the heck out of your skin in the name of health and fitness makes no sense. Here are five tips on how to avoid it when you’re working out outside:

1. Apply sunscreen before class. But not too early. Sun protection is only good for two hours—or less if you’re super fair or super sweaty.

2. Keep a hat and sweat-proof sunscreen in your yoga tote or gym bag all summer.

3. Remember to slather sunscreen on the back of your neck, arms, knees, and calves, which are the hardest to see but are going to get the brunt of sun exposure.

Keep reading for 2 more here…

3 sunscreens we love—and score a $72 bronzer

By Well+GoodNYC

If you owned one skin-care product what should it be?

You get an A+ if you answered “sunscreen.”

Sunscreen prevents skin cancer—plus all the cosmetic issues that everyone wants to fix. Brown splotches, lack of radiance, early wrinkling.

Too bad that so many sunscreens come with a side dish of potential toxic sludge. Your sun protection doesn’t need to smell like a chemistry lab or sting when you apply it. Let us help.

We’ve rounded up our favorite non-toxic sunscreens that we’re stocking up on now, so that summer’s sunniest days are not written on our skin.

And if you spend $140 on Saffron Rouge, you’ll receive an Inika Bronzer + Brush worth $72! (Enter code: sunkissed.)

1. Raw Elements SPF 30 ($15.99)
We heart this sunscreen stick: It’s easy to apply (one-handed!), which makes it ideal for outdoor workouts. No sunscreen coated hands that cause sliding on your yoga mat. It’s also super water and sweat resistant.
Bonus: You can toss it in your handbag with no risk of leaking. Buy it!

Keep reading for 2 more here…

How to choose a non-toxic sunscreen

By Well+GoodNYC

Sunscreen is your most important beauty (preserving) product this summer, especially while taking advantage of all the outdoor activities in our Summer Wellness Guide.

To help separate the terrific from the toxic, the Environmental Working Group’s researchers surveyed 1,700 products with SPF to produce the 5th edition of their Skin Deep Sunscreen Guide, a resource released at the end of May that does a lot of the hard work for you.

“What we found is that manufacturers still produce sunscreens that don’t provide adequate protection from UVA and UVB rays and also contain hazardous ingredients,” says Paul Pestano, a research analyst who worked on the survey.

One of the biggest problems is that SPF numbers only indicate protection from UVB rays. Many products don’t shield you from the more powerful UVA rays, which can beam through glass as well as layers of skin, and lead to melanoma without ever causing a burn.

And super-high SPFs can offer a false sense of security, encouraging people to stay out in the sun for longer periods of time without reapplying.

Keep reading…

6 natural sunscreens we love

By Well+GoodNYC

We turned up the heat on these all-natural sunscreens—testing them for breakouts and a ghostly hue, as well as a clean ingredient list and performance. And we didn’t get burned.

In fact, natural sunscreens seem to be hitting their stride, with many products flaunting new light-weight textures and great skin-care ingredients. These are the six that won us over and we predict will give their chemically laden cousins a serious run for the money this summer.

Vive Sana Solar to Polar Ultra SPF 40
This fantastically popular synthetics-free sunscreen is laced with plant extracts and skin-nourishing jojoba, apricot kernel, and olive oil. It quickly absorbs leaving no white cast. I’ve put it to use on my sensitive, summer-shiny skin, where it almost does double duty as a moisturizer. Contains zinc and titanium dioxide. $29 for 2.25 oz., SpiritBeautyLounge.com and ViveSana.com

MyChelle Sun Shield SPF 28 Coconut
MyChelle sunscreens should replace Neutrogena’s in every Duane Reade. Its anti-aging Solar Defense SPF 30 is free of titanium dioxide for those concerned about the mineral’s small particle size, and Sun Shield SPF 28 evokes that Coppertone coconutty scent of childhood before there were natural sunscreens. (There’s an unscented version, too). All use ZinClear, refined zinc to avoid that Morticia Adams hue, plus great skin-care ingredients like macadamia nut oil and anti-inflammatory red algae. $29.95 for Solar Defense and $19.19 for Sun Shield, both 2.3 oz. www.mychelle.com

Pratima Neem Rose Face Sunscreen SPF 30
I’ve waxed poetic about the Ayurvedic doctor’s amazing sunscreens before, and for me they remain two of the best overlooked, under-rated products in a New York woman’s medicine cabinet. They have about five ingredients a piece, go on like a light and elegant organic skin-care moisturizer, and never sting, run, or cause a breakout. $18 for 2 oz. (Neem Vetiver Body Sunscreen SPF 30, $26 for 4 oz.) www.pratimaskincare.com

Keep reading for 3 more sunscreens here…

Where Do You Stand On Sunscreen?

By Alexandra Spunt for NoMoreDirtyLooks.com

It’s that time of year y’all! Time for fun and sun, a Bardot pic and the perennial conversation about sunscreen. The EWG has released its 2012 report, and this time they’re focusing on the many myths about sunscreen. Their piece Sunscreen Exposed: Nine Surprising Truth, calls out some assumed facts about these potions, some of which are just plain fiction. It begins:

“Sunscreens prevent sunburns, but beyond that simple fact surprisingly little is known about the safety and efficacy of these ubiquitous creams and sprays.”

It’s true. Read the piece, but here’s a quick recap:

1. There’s no conclusive proof that it prevents skin cancer.

2. In fact, there’s even some evidence that it increases risk of melonoma.

3. While the market loves super-sky-high SPFs, there’s no proof of their efficacy and even the FDA has proposed prohibiting anything over 50 for being “misleading to the consumer.” Plus which, these high numbers actually encourage people to stay out longer.

4. We need vitamin D, and some smart unprotected sun exposure is the easiest way to get it.

5. Retinal palmitate, a type of vitamin A often used in sunscreens, is suspected of increasing the speed of skin cancer development.

6. Because standards around UVA are not stringent, many sunscreens barely protect skin from free radical damage (also known as aging).

7. Chemical sunscreens contain hormone disruptors, among other nasty ingredients, and many mineral versions now contain nanoparticles. Boo.

8. Europe’s ahead of the game on sunscreens. No surprises there.

9. The FDA has delayed the implementation of their new stricter language laws on sunscreen. That means another summer without them.

Oof.

So now to you: Do you use sunscreen? Have you found a great one that’s clean? Where do you stand on the sunscreen spectrum.

I for one almost never use the stuff, preferring to limit my exposure. This past Saturday for example I sat by a pool for a little bit, taking in the rays, and then I put on a hat and moved into the shade. I know, most dermatologists would start crying if I told them that story, and I’m certainly not making recommendations: sun exposure is different for everyone. Siobhan, who has sun-sensitive Irish skin, uses sunscreen regularly and has reviewed many (that series has one of my faves in it too).

In general we encourage a logic approach to the sun: know your skin, respect the sun, and don’t fall for too much dogma on either side of the debate.

Zorah Biocosmétiques

Zorah Biocosmétiques, a Quebec-made line of eco-friendly beauty products, has found its niche (and fulfilled our high demands), by combining pure Argan oil (found only in Morocco and containing six times more antioxidants than olive oil) with organic and fair-trade ingredients. The luxury line contains every product that a green girl desires.

The products I loved:

Ipsa: is a powerful makeup remover and cleansing and hydrating milk, gentle enough to use on the eyes.

Dzhari: Use it before or after your daily moisturizer and even over make-up. Dzhari is also an excellent after-shave lotion; it leaves a magnificently fresh and gentle sensation that you will look forward to time and time again.

Hani: reduces pain caused by sunburns. Its exquisite gentleness instantly soothes and refreshes sun-exposed skin. It’s also great for sensitive skin.

Lea: embraces life without compromise. Lea, for desire and passion…. contains argan oil and deeply moisturizes and protects lips from daily exposure to harmful elements all while leaving them a lovely hint Impulse Red.

Eva: is the joy and the unbearable lightness of being.  Impatience and ardor of the youth for healthy and adorable lips. Eva contains argan oil, deeply moisturizes and protects lips from daily exposure to harmful elements all while leaving them a lovely hint of pink.

Xfoliambre: Facial Exfoliator made with Argan Oil and Amber, this product will gently exfoliate the most sensitive skins and will leave it softer and radiant.