One of the reasons I didn’t wear sunscreen on my face in my teens and twenties (aside from being oblivious of the dangers of not wearing it), is that I didn’t like the idea of layering another product on my skin.  It just seemed like too much.  And you know I had to leave room for plenty of pressed powder!  Sunscreen just isn’t an option for me anymore, but I do like it to serve more than one purpose.  Check out the top picks for multi-tasking facial sunscreens:

• Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 30 — This one scores high because of how quickly it absorbs and how soft it makes my skin feel.  Beneficial antioxidant green tea helps protect while aloe vera hydrates and soothes.  To have an SPF 30 in such a lightweight moisturizer rocks.  Oily and combination skin will appreciate it!

• RoC Multi-Correction 4-Zone Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 — Multi-Correction is a true multi-tasker, providing multiple anti-aging benefits to the skin with high sun protection.  If you’re concerned with forehead wrinkles, slackened skin around the jaw line, and dull skin–this is a great choice!  Vitamin C and retinol help with both chronological and photo-aging, and shea butter softens.  Dry and/or mature skin will soak this one up.

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid SPF 55 –  Okay, so this one is technically just a sunscreen–but it truly does rank as a multi-tasker due to it’s texture.  A few drops of this liquid sunscreen blends weightlessly into the skin, making it PERFECT for laying under makeup.  The fact that it offers such a high level of protection makes it ideal, and it’s also available in an SPF 70.  I will not be without this!  It rivals Clarins UV Plus Day Screen SPF 40, at less than half the price.  Normal to dry skin does best here.

• Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging UV Defense Regenerating Lotion SPF 50 — For being a little bit on the richer side of moisturizers, I find that this one absorbs pretty nicely into the skin and layers well under foundation as well.  Olay has really stepped up their research and if this were in a prestige brand’s jar, I would never know it came from the drugstore!  Anti-aging peptides, moisture, and an SPF 50 make this great for normal to dry skin.

• Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion SPF 30 — You’re not left out if you have sensitive skin!  Check the Everyday Protection Face Lotion out because it provides a broad physical sunscreen that’s less irritating than chemical sunscreens.  It’s fragrance free too, so it’s ideal for sensitive skin needing hydration and a high level of protection.

This is an exciting time  in the beauty industry!  With all of these new-fangled technologies being discovered, over-the-counter skincare products just keep getting more powerful with every launch.  The latest advances in the anti-aging arena were discovered after years of research by Johnson & Johnson’s scientists, and it’s electric!  Well, okay–more like bioelectric, but the concept is pretty cool if I do say so myself.

Our skin is capable of producing bioelectricity that allows the cells to communicate with each other to signal it’s own natural rejuvenation process.  So of course as we age, those signals aren’t so strong anymore.  The lights aren’t on because nobody is home!  (Or it could be that you’re hiding out from your nosey neighbor, who wants to borrow yet another cup of sugar.  No thanks Mrs. Kravitz!)  Patented until 2023, CYTOMIMIC™ Technology is what Johnson & Johnson claims is the answer to kick-starting cell-to-cell communication at the surface to address fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness.  Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it?  You’ll find this proprietary development in the newest products from Aveeno®, Neutrogena Clinical™, and RoC®. Energized micro-particles of zinc and copper work in tandem with a unique topical 2-step delivery system to act like tiny batteries to mimic the skin’s own electric company.

While this is all so new that I haven’t had a chance to complete a full treatment and can’t speak of any miraculous results, I have to say that I’ve been impressed so far–specifically with the Neutrogena Clinical™ Eye Lift Contouring Treatment.  Within a few minutes after my first application, I stood in the mirror marveling at how much softer my squint lines appeared to be.  (Yes Mom, I know you want it.)  These are all cumulative result products, but I do appreciate a little instant gratification in the meantime!

All three brands offer specifically-targeted treatments for the face (both daytime and nighttime formulas) and the eyes.  Check them out to decide if they fit your needs:

RoC Brilliance

Neutrogena Clinical

Aveeno Ageless Vitality Elasticity Recharging System

An editorial sample was provided by the company and evaluated to determine my opinion of the product in this post.  Please see the Disclosures page for further information regarding my policies for using editorial samples.

Hey Girlies, I’ve missed you the last few days, I’ve been MIA!  I was hunkered down enjoying a long “happy birthday to me weekend” with some really good reads (and my new iPod Touch).  I’m reading the new Kelly Cutrone book, and I devoured the March issue of Real Simple!  You might want to pick this one up, it’s loaded with easy and affordable real-world beauty recommendations.

With articles like “Beauty Break-throughs” and “Road Test Mascara”, I was having a hard time putting it down!  I’m definitely going to try a few of the products featured–like Le Métier de Beauté’s Magic Lusture Cream, and Macadamia Hair’s Macadamia Natural Oil Infused Comb.  You’ll likely discover a few products you haven’t yet heard of yourself, I’m always open to being enlightened about anything that revolves around products…like the rest of us product junkies!  We want it all!  Well, some of “us” aren’t as extreme!  But  both sides of the fence know their roles, and they do it very well!  Then, we meet in the middle and share our joys all the same, learning a thing or two from eachother along the way!

So if you’re lacking the inspiration to find a new hair look, wonder why the masses find a specific mascara so worthy, or just want some simple and easy tips to make your beauty routine easier–the March issue of Real Simple is worthy of checking out!

It starts out with a little tingle, and shortly after develops into a blistery-mound of pure yuck.  And wah-lah!  We have one of the ugliest things ever on our lips (besides a totally wrong shade of lipstick), it’s a cold sore from hell.  It’s not like we can just schedule our appointments for our dates with cold sores, because no time is ever convenient.  They’re embarrassing and one makes me want to crawl into a dark crevice somewhere until it’s gone.  The thought of trying to pull it together with one on my lip and go somewhere in public almost gives me PTSD from my past bouts with the buggers.

What causes cold sores, and why do we get them?  For me personally–I get them whenever I’m stressed, feeling run down, or at the on-set of a very nasty cold.  I hate to say the H-word, but if you’ve ever been infected with the herpes simplex virus (Type 1), it lies dormant in your body waiting for the perfect opportunity to make a personal appearance.  According to the Mayo Clinic–fever, menstruation, stress and exposure to the sun may trigger a recurrence.

Lovely.  We all have some of those stressors about 99.99% of the time.  About six weeks ago, I got completely fed up with cold sores ruining my days.  I did a little poking around to see if there was something I could do about it, and a common suggestion on most of the sites I read was to apply a lysine cream and take oral supplements of lysine, zinc, and Vitamin C.  I’ve been doing just that and so far, so good.  But they sure make my tummy hurt!  While all this cold sore chit-chat isn’t a substitute for medical advice, I will say that lysine has helped me in my battle against them.

Lip Clear Lysine+ Cold Sore Treatment has been clinically shown to speed healing time (compared to untreated cold sores) and is less expensive than some of the other products I’ve tried in the past.  If you’re battling a cold sore, give it a shot.  It contains hydrating and soothing ingredients to help lessen the discomfort.  If you’re someone who battles them pretty frequently, I would also try the Super Lysine+ ColdStick SPF 21 in-between occurrences to help lessen the chances.  Your best bets:

• Avoid sharing personal items
• Avoid triggers
• Use sunscreen

An editorial sample was provided by the company and evaluated to determine my opinion of the product in this post.  Please see the Disclosures page for further information regarding my policies for using editorial samples.

Be honest with yourself.  When was the last time you paid attention to your neck when you were applying your moisturizer and sunscreen?  If the answer was “just this morning”, you’re one step ahead of the aging game.  If the answer was “not very often” or “I never really have”, we have some chit-chatting to do.  The odds are–neglecting your neck now is going to end up showing your age, and probably look a little older than you really are.  The skin is much thinner there and very prone to “turkey neck”.  You don’t want it sister.  Unless you want a lifetime of turtlenecks…

Avoid the “gobble gobble”!  Regardless of whether your neck and decolletage still look youthful, or maybe they’ve seen better days–here are some simple ways to remain the timeless goddess that you are:

1. Use adequate sun protection on your face, neck, and chest every day.  An SPF 30 or higher is ideal–DDF Matte Finish Photo-Age Protection SPF 30 is a great start!
2. Keep the vulnerable skin on your neck and decolletage hydrated.  Try using an intensive moisture mask treatment like Orlane Bio-Mimic Hydrating Mask* to deliver a surge of phenomenal moisture.
3. Use a firming cream as soon as the first signs are visible.  One formulated for skin firmness and elasticity is your best bet!  Check out Relastin Ultra Emollient*, Miss Oops Goblet Goop*, and Bliss Thinny Thin Chin Neck Firming Cream.

*Denotes an editorial sample was provided by the company and evaluated to determine my opinion of the product in this post.  Please see the Disclosures page for further information regarding my policies for using editorial samples.

Some guys want just the basics, no more– no less.  And that’s okay, right?  I mean… as long as you’re using SOMETHING fellas.  That way we don’t feel as bad about all of the space we take up in the bathroom cabinet and under the sink with our stuff!  When I first started tricking Mr. Beauty Junkie into using something more than shower gel in his morning grooming routine, I started off with Jack Black because I thought the products were practical and budget-friendly for the quality.  The packaging isn’t frilly, it’s pretty basic and he’ll know it’s unmistakably his.  So no more excuses!

The Bodycare Essentials Kit can get any guy started on the right track to basic skin health.  With full sizes of Cool Moisture Body Lotion, Industrial Strength Hand Healer, Sun Guard Very Water/Sweat Resistant Sunscreen SPF 30+, and cult-fave Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25, it will keep everyone happy.

He’s got his stash, and you’ve got yours.  Hands off, buddy!

It takes a lot more than just a high sun protection factor to make me happy when it comes to sunscreen!  Performance is key, but there are a lot of other factors that go in to making these sunscreens the best summer has to offer.  Based on texture, quality of ingredients, fragrance and duration of wear, these make the grade!

• La Roche Posay Anthelios SPF 40 — This Mexoryl sunscreen protects against short range UVA rays (those ugly aging ones!) and protects against UVB rays as well.  It’s completely non-greasy, and while it looks thick it applies perfectly sheer and matte.  Anthelios is both fragrance and PABA free and suitable for sensitive skin types.  I give it a HUGE thumbs up and was even able to con my hubby into using it, he’s extremely loyal to another brand.

• Dr. Brandt UV SPF 30 High Protection Face — This quick absorbing facial sunscreen felt dry to the touch and didn’t make my face greasy at all and looked great under makeup.  On two consecutive days I was in direct sunlight for several hours and this protected my skin incredibly well, I thought for sure I was going to get burned!  Hypoallergenic and fragrance free, I recommend this to anyone who wants to defend their skin against sun damage, environmental aggressors, and free radicals!

• Jason Natural Products Sunbrellas Facial Sunblock SPF 20 & Active Sunblock SPF 40 — If you need chemical-free and paraben-free sun protection, these are the way to go!  Jason Facial Sunblock is great for even the most sensitive of skin and extremely lightweight.  This is sunscreen that thinks it’s skincare with Evening Primrose Oil and Sea Kelp Extract to pamper your skin while protecting it from harmful UV rays daily.  Jason Active Sunblock SPF 40 is more of a sports formula and has a thicker consistency yet a higher SPF.  Ideal for outdoor activities, use this to safeguard your body from the burn and protect against free radicals with vitamin C!  If you’ve ever found yourself breaking out from traditional chemical sunscreens, give physical sunscreens a try like these from Jason Natural Products.  The price is pretty nice too!

• Lancome Soleil Ultra Expert Sun Care SPF 50 — Need more?  Try Lancome’s Soleil Ultra Expert SPF 50 that pulls a triple whammy… hydration, protection and anti-aging benefits.  Ideal for face and body and even the most sensitive of skin types.  Sunscreen with higher protection factors usually break me out on my body badly, especially my shoulders.  With my faux glow and SPF 50 on, they’ll never know!