SPF in the Winter

The warm, balmy days of summer are long behind us and the cold bite of winter is in full effect and finding its way beneath all the layers you pile on before leaving for class or co-op in the morning. By the time your scarf, coat, hat and gloves have gone on, you’d think you’d be ready to make your way out into the arctic-like Boston cold, but before stepping outside into the bitter chill remember one piece of summer — SPF!

Your regular summer dose of sunscreen isn’t necessary for the long winter months, but applying a light daily facial moisturizer with SPF 15-30 should be an integral part of your morning routine.

While you’re not spending your free time lying out in the sun, UVA & UVB rays are still there in your daily life and dangerous for the health of your skin. UVA rays from the sun can penetrate the glass of your car or even the T you take during your commute; even the reflection from the bright, shiny snow can cause winter-burn.

Rays from the sun aren’t the only reason to stock up on the SPF; the wind picks up quite a bit during the winter and the harsh cold on your face can chap and burn your sensitive skin. Just like lip balm protects your lips from becoming chapped, moisturizer with an SPF will help build a layer of protection for your skin.

So now that you know the facts – let’s move on to the products!

Rule number one to any beauty ritual is: find something you like so you’ll stick to it.

Here are a few options I’ve tested and reviewed:

1. Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar SPF 25

This is by far the most light and airy moisturizer/sunscreen I’ve ever used. This little jar does exactly what it says – gives your skin hope. I love, love, love this light, airy moisturizer and scramble to Sephora when I start running low. There is a slight perfumery smell, but not so much that you notice it after you put it on. Philosophy says “it nourishes skin with antioxidants that fight wrinkles and neutralize the effects of pollution…This daily moisturizer provides remarkable sun protection, defending skin from a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB radiation.”

Tip: I purchased this for daytime use and then purchased the regular Hope in a Jar without sunscreen to nighttime use.

2. Clinique’s Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer Dry Combination

For those of you with super sensitive skin, this is definitely the moisturizer for you. I really like this product for winter because it targets dry and combination skin and for the majority of us, winter equals extra dry skin. Just a little of this stuff goes a long way, so use it sparingly and make sure to cover all your basis (face, neck, décolletage and ears.)

3. LORAC’s ProtecTINT SPF 30 – Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer

Are you always rushing out then door? Struggling to get ready in time to catch the T? Well, cut out a step in your morning routine and combine your moisturizer and foundation! I love that LORAC has added an SPF to their tinted moisturizer, making this product into an amazing all-in-one for the girl on the go. LORAC’s created an incredibly light formula that feels like your only wearing moisturizer while providing a hint of coverage and helping to smooth out imperfections.

So there it is ladies. With such a simple, hassle-free way to protect your skin, there’s no excuse why you shouldn’t be wearing an SPF infused moisturizer.

Lemon-Aid

Summer has sadly come to an end, and with the changing leaves, crisper air and thicker cardigans, there’s also a whole new list of skin problems to deal with. Though the hot, sticky summer air that brought along shiny foreheads, sweat-induced blemishes and clogged pores is no more, it’s time to deal with the residuals.

Once the air starts to lose it’s moisture, my skin does too; I start doubling up on moisturizing treatments, exfoliating scrubs and any brightening serums I can get my hands on. When your skin loses its natural moisture, it not only looks and feels funky, but it also reveals many of those skin imperfections you may have missed in the sheen of your dewy summer skin. At the forefront of those missed imperfections: blackheads.

Open comedones, or blackheads as most of us call them, are larger than normal pores filled with sebum and dead skin cells. This disgusting mixture undergoes oxidization and therefore develops a dark grey/black color. Unfortunately, no matter your age, health and skin type, blackheads can show up on anyone’s face.

Though these little monsters don’t have any real negative effect on the health of your skin, they are dark, disgusting and a burden on anyone’s complexion.

So how do we go about getting rid of blackheads? No! We don’t squeeze them!

I’ve bought over five different kinds of blackhead-removing nose strips, and though some of them did at least half of what I expected, they are moderately expensive and run out very quickly. So, when I found an at home, kitchen-made treatment that claimed to not only diminish the appearance of blackheads but also brighten my complexion, I knew I had to try!

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Small Bowl of Hot Water

2. Cotton Balls or Pads

3. Exfoliating Facial Scrub

4. One Lemon, Sliced

Start by getting rid of excess dead skin with a gentle exfoliator (try St. Ives Naturally Clean Apricot Scrub Blemish & Blackhead Control), scrub lightly in small circles and rinse; then run some hot water over a cotton ball. Because blackheads usually appear on your nose, space between your bottom lip and chin, and forehead (basically your entire T-zone), a cotton ball will cover enough skin to get the job done, one area at a time. Hold the hot cotton ball over the blackhead afflicted area for about 25 seconds and then apply your lemon slice. Now, if you have hyper-sensitive skin, you may want to create a liquid solvent of 3 parts lemon juice and one part water, to dilute the “tingly” sensation and apply the liquid with another cotton ball.

Lemon-Aid

The acid in the lemon will naturally break up the blackhead and help release it from your pore. There is really no specific time for the application of the lemon, simply check the area out in the mirror every couple minutes to monitor your progress.

Work out these steps anywhere you’ve spotted the pore-plugs and say hello to a newly brightened and blackhead free face!

Tip: Mix lemon and water and create a tonic to apply with a cotton ball to your entire face to act as a brightening toner! Be careful not to leave it on too long and keep it away from your eyes!

bareMinerals. To go, please!

“I don’t like powder! It gets in my nose and I can’t breathe. Stop! No more. I don’t want it. Karleeeeee”

This is the usual bit I get from my mother every time I try to apply her makeup. The woman goes into it with her nose upturned, an annoyed roll of the eyes and a begging plea to leave her be. It’s not that she doesn’t like the way she looks after it’s all said and done, it’s the process she can’t stand.

Taking a sneak peek into my mother’s purse, the only cosmetics you’ll find is a mini Aveeno moisturizer, perhaps a chapstick and a comb; needless to say, she’s a low-maintenance gal. So, when I found an easy to use, portable, refillable and most importantly, effective product, I knew I had to toss one her way. And she hasn’t stopped talking about how much she loves it since.

BareEscentuals has come out with the bareMinerals Mini Refillable Buffing Brush, an all-in-one mineral foundation and brush.

Let me give you a little background on the company and their products:

BareEscentuals is a cosmetic company started by Leslie Blodgett that dates back to the 1970s and is responsible for the birth of bareMinerals, rareMinerals, Buxom and md formulations. If you’ve ever tuned into a late night QVC infomercial, I’m sure you’ve stumbled upon Leslie and her products at one time or another, they’re everywhere.

Working at Ulta, it was our number one priority to sell bareMinerals. We had the displays, the t-shirts and the oh so nifty “swirl, tap and buff” tagline. Though I sold bareEscentuals everyday, I never really thought about using it for myself; I was more of a liquid foundation girl. The main line of products, bareMinerals, is a series of mineral-based powder products ranging from foundation, concealer, bronzer, blush, eyeshadows and liners and something they call “mineral veil,” a light finishing powder. Their products are created from “all natural” ingredients and claim to actually improve the appearance and feel of your skin with prolonged use.

The majority of their products require a pot of powder, a buffing brush and a lot of patience and neatness. There’s the opening of the pot, the pouring of the powder into the cap, swirling the brush in the cap and tapping off any excess product. Just typing that is exhausting — so when I found a one-stepper, I had to have it!

Only $14 for at least a month’s worth of powder foundation and a buki brush to buff it in, a steal in any book. Pop off the cap and turn the bottom dial and start buffing it into your skin in a circular motion–super easy! Toss this baby into your purse and never be without a healthy, even-toned glow.

I decided to do a little extra trial research before writing this post, so here are all the things you can do with your bareMinerals powder on:

1. Lay out in the sun–its got SPF 15 built in!
2. Go for a run in the park– it’s matte so you won’t even shine!
3. Layer on any bronzer or blush
4. Drink a chocatini
5. Have a screaming match with your boyfriend
6. and of course… look fabulous!

So… go out and buy this little nugget. It’s great for the low maintenance girl on the go AND gals like me where this is my first of many makeup steps. Enjoy it and let me know what you think!

Tip: Take a few extra minutes and get someone working at Ulta or Sephora to do a free color test for you. They’ll try a few different shades on you and find your perfect match. I ended up buying the light (for the winter and my not so tan days) and the medium beige for the summer.

It’s All About the Glow

The sun is hot and the air is thick and you’re expected to look like you just came off the set of a perfume commercial– in your gold-tinted monokini and chunky diamond necklace stepping out of your infinity pool in slow motion, just in sight of your Masserratti—but that doesn’t really happen. In reality you’re probably stuck inside eight hours a day in stagnant air under the listful illumination of the florescent lights hovering over your sad little desktop. Then, when you eventually escape the life-sucking dryness of the office, you’re met at the door with the deep blow of dense sweltering humidity that can only come after a long day of hot summer sun. Depressing.

But don’t give up hope! Though you don’t live the life of Uma and her big ugly teeth, you can grab hold of some of her and other celebs’ skin secrets.

Summer is all about the glow. Maintaining a soft dewy complexion that screams hydration is completely doable, using some easy steps and strategically selected products.

Starting off with a clean, smooth canvas is your first task. If you don’t already have one, invest in a body brush, like the Round Body Brush from The Body Shop, to slough away dead, dull skin. While you in the shower, pour a bit of your favorite moisturizing body wash or exfoliating scrub (check out Bliss’ Blood Orange + White Pepper Sugar Scrub!) onto the brush and start scrubbing. Using a circular motion, lightly move the brush across your body, from your shoulders, down to your feet. Keep in mind, if your skin is sensitive, you should stick with a washcloth, as the brush’s bristles may be too rough.

Tip! Using a body brush alone or for an extra boost, with a caffeine scrub, can reduce the appearance of cellulite anywhere you use it. Though the effects aren’t permanent, the give your booty, thighs and stomach a little lift when you need to be in a bikini!

After you’re done exfoliating, use a mild soap cleanser to get rid of an excess oils from your scrub and step out of the shower.

I never use anything solely meant for my body on my face, and neither should you! Your face experiences the most exposure to sun and pollutants than any other part of your body, therefore it is more prone to sensitivity and irritation. Make sure to use a scrub intended for the only the face and neck to provide a gentle exfoliation. You don’t want to go for the big-grain salt or sugar scrubs, you’ll regret it when you come out looking like a lobster.

Next, choose a body lotion with a hint of oil. I know this sounds counterproductive to ridding yourself of oils from the scrubs, but a tiny bit of pre-mixed in oil will help seal in the lotion’s moisture rather than leaving you a slippery mess. I’ve bought plenty of expensive lotions and have come to the same conclusion with all: Johnson & Johnson’s makes the best. I’m telling you, run to CVS and pick up a big pink bottle of Johnson’s Body Care 24 Hour Body Lotion and slather some on. I love this stuff! I’ve got my mom, friends and even the boyfriend using it! The light whipped lotion has a slight floral scent and goes on oh so smooth. I put on the dewy lotion right after I step out of the shower, while I’m still slightly damp, rather than after I towel completely off, which I find really helps in keeping your skin moisturized throughout the day.

Now that your body is ready, your face needs some lovin’ too, but first,  a quick story about $70 face cream. One day, a gorgeous blonde blogger stepped through the doors of a magical land of Smashbox, Bare Minerals and Urban Decay called Sephora. The blogger set out to find a facial serum to boost her not-as-youthful-as-before skin and give it a little radiance. The hunt was on. She searched high and low, through shelves upon shelves of lotions and potions, dodging advances of the helpful, yet overbearing gay salesmen. Just when she thought her hands had no more room for testers and she thought about giving up, she came upon Bliss’s Youth as We Know It Concentrate. This stuff had everything the blogger was looking for: plumping and anti-again properties, silicon for a dewy finish and look! a $32 price tag. The blogger was sold. She took her purchases to the magical counter of credit and handed the MAC counter reject her card. “That’ll be $144,” the woman said. “Oh my!” gasped the blogger. She knew she’d gone a little happy with the bronzers, the mascara and the tweezers but wow. “I’ve worked hard this week,” she said to herself, “I deserve a treat.” So the blogger paid and was on her way with her new shiny black bag and red tissue and skipped home in delight. When given a minute at an unusually long light, she thought to herself, “My that was expensive….what did I buy?” Looking over the list of products typed neatly on her receipt, something popped out at her: “$70?!” she exclaimed. “I bought $70 face cream?!” Turns out the oh-so-perfect product had been moved to the wrong shelf and therefore mislabeled. Angry and frustrated the blogger decided it was best to try the product and if not anything else, return it and blog about it. And hazah! It was awesome! Her face looked fresh and young and had a subtle glow to it. The light citrus scent filled her nose as she swiped on the serum, checking out her new skin in the mirror. After some careful sleuthing on the magical giving tree called Ebay, the blogger found the serum for much less cash and decided she would never be without a bottle and to spread the word! And so, the two (she and the bottle…) lived happily ever after. The End.

^ That extremely long and far too detailed story pretty much sums up how what I think about the concentrate–perfection! After I wash my face and swipe on two pumps of this stuff, I put on my moisturizer (try Hope in a Jar with SPF20) and go through my normal makeup routine. Fast, easy, and with an Ebay account, affordable.

So that’s it! A few simple steps can leave you skin looking and feeling soft, supple and beyond all, glowing.