Protect Your Skin

The best thing you can give your skin is sunscreen. Sunscreen is an essential beauty product. It protects your skin against wrinkles and skin cancer.

Keep these tips in mind when looking for a sunscreen:

The SPF Number & Ingredients
For the best protection, look for an SPF of at least 30 and have at least one of the following active ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone or Mexoryl.

Broad-Spectrum or UVA/UVB Protection on the Label 

Your skin needs protection against UVA and UVB rays. UVA are longer wave rays that break down collagen and age skin. UVB are shorter wave rays that are responsible for burning skin.

Just Can’t Get Enough
Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you go outside. In order to protect skin fully, remember to reapply within the first hour of sun exposure then continue to reapply every one to two hours. Don't forget to reapply after swimming or sweating.

Beyond the Face & Body

Avoid super-shiny lip gloss or lipstick because they attract more harmful UV rays. Always choose a lip product with SPF. The scalp can get sunburned easily; protect it with plenty of sunscreen spray. 

Here's several sunscreen products you should try:

 

Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunblock SPF 50, $10, Neutrogena.com/drugstores

 Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion, $10, drugstores

 Coppertone Oil Free Foaming Sunscreen Lotion SPF 75+, $10, drugstores

Clinique Sun SPF 45 Targeted Protection Stick, $18, Sephora stores

Shady Day Daily SPF 30 Wipes, $14, shadydayinc.com

Lavanila The Healthy Lip Screen SPF 30, $16, Sephora stores

How do you protect your skin?

♥ Khou

Polished Nails

Nail polish. They come in so many colours and unique names. Have you ever wonder who names the nail polishes? Essie Weingarten, the founder of Essie, shares her inspiration behind the nail polish names:

Who names the polishes?
I’ve named every polish up until now. We’ll see what the future holds…. It’s me, it’s what inspires me, what resonates. I have creative people help suggest names, and some of them are really good! But in the end, I decide. A name has to be witty and fun. It has to have personality, and it has to resonate with what I know women want.

What do you take into consideration when naming a color?
I think about a moment, or something that inspires me, like a summer vacation. Sometimes it’s an irreverent play on words, a funny story or theme. Ultimately, the names have to be memorable.

Do you see a trend in nail polish names at all?
No, nail polish names are all over the board now, and there are just so many copy cats. When we started in the nail business 30 years ago, the shades were named by number. It was very impersonal and boring. Essie was first to add the clever shade names to polish, and we made it fun! Women everywhere loved it and remembered us. It set Essie apart.

Can you name another nail polish company whose names you like or think are clever?
To be perfectly honest? No, I can’t! Nobody does it like Essie.

Favorite nail polish name?
My answer is always the same: I could never pick just one. I love all my babies!

- Essie Weingarten

Check out Essie's spring 2011 collection and share your favorite Essie nail polish.

Photo: New York Times;Unknown | Info: Fashionista.com

♥ Khou

MAC’s New Surf-Inspired Summer Collection

Welcome aboard MAC’s Surf Baby Collection! This summer color collection is exuberant, colourful, and radiant. It is a limited edition that will be available from May 26 through July 7.

 

Surf, Baby! Bags

• Surf, Baby! 1, $28
• Surf, Baby! 2, $32

 Crushed Metallic Pigment Stacks 

• Surf the Ocean (Frosty platinum, light yellow green, gold bronze, & dirty graphite with silver pearl), $32.50
• Summer Stash (Light pink champagne, light white pearl, light violet with silver pearl, & brown bronze with gold pea), $32.50

 Surf, Baby! Cheek Powder 

My Paradise (Peach pressed powder with gold hibiscus flower overspray), $28

Studio Careblend Pressed Powder

• Gold-Go-Lightly (Mid-tone golden tan brown), $28
• Lush-Light Bronze (Mid-tone rosy pink brown), $28 

Eyeshadow

• Surf U.S.A. Frosted teal (Frost), $15.50
•  Saffron Deep Coral Caramel (Satin), $15.50
• Short Shorts Frosty White Champagne (Frost), $15.50
• Sun Blonde Dirty Yellow Gold (Frost), $15.50
• Swell Baby Mid-Tone Grey (Satin), $15.50

 Bronzing Powder

• Solar Riche (Mid-tone deep orange brown), $24 
• Refined Golden (Finely spun gold with soft pearl finish), $24

MAC Skinsheen Bronzer Stick

• Tan-Tint (Soft suntan bronze), $29.50
• Billinoaire Bronze (Warm golden tan), $29.50
• Gilty Bronze (Coppery bronze with gold shimmer), $29.50

Nail Lacquer 

• Hangin’ Loose (Dirty pink nude), $13.50
• Ocean Dip (Mid-tone creamy aqua), $13.50

Lipglass

• Girl on Board (Pale white gold), $15.50
• Good Lovin’ (Soft peachy pink), $15.50
• Krazy Kahuna (Warm mid-tone brown), $15.50
• Strange Potion (Soft coral pink), $15.50

Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm

• Full of Grace (Soft sheer rose), $15.50
• Pink Tinge (Clean bright yellow pink with gold pearl), $15.50
• Lilt of Lily (Soft creamy pale pink), $15.50

 

 

Powerpoint Eye Pencil 

• Blue Noon (Teal with gold pearl) , $15.50
• Gilded White (Yellow white frost), $15.50 

 

♥ Khou

Got a Streaky Tan?

Getting the perfect sun kissed look is what you desire this spring and summer. Yet, after applying a self-tanner, you realized there’s an uneven tan? Oh no!

You can fix the self-tanning mistake by:

• Soaking a cotton ball in lemon juice and placing it over stripy areas. The citric acid from the lemon is a natural skin lightener and exfoliator.
• Massaging plain baking soda onto damp skin with small, gentle circular motions. Like lemon juice, baking soda will take off freshly dyed cells and reveal untanned skin underneath.
• Soaking yourself in a hot tub or Jacuzzi with chlorine. The effect from the self-tanning solution will be diluted as skin cells absorb water.

♥ Khou 

Get the Most Natural Looking Glow with Self-Tanners

• Choose the right shade based on your natural skin tone
• Exfoliate skin before first use
• Always apply to dry and clean skin
• Be careful to use it on dry areas like knuckles, knees, ankles, and in-between fingers/toes – this could lead to dark areas
• Rub in circular motion to avoid streaks
• Wash hands immediately after use
• Allow several minutes for product to dry before you dress
• Avoid getting wet or sweaty for 3 hours to allow formula to fully absorb into the skin
• Allow 1 week of daily use to see results 

Try Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer (Available at drugstores)

 

How do you get your natural looking glow?

♥ Khou

Fresh Face

You're already a natural beauty - these good-for-you products just add the finishing touch.

Perfect Skin

Protect your skin from sun and environmental damage with this tinted moisturizer. Try Korres Watermelon Lightweight Tinted Moisturiser SPF 30 (Available at Sephora stores). It contains antioxidants and a breathable, water-resistant formula that remains fresh through activity, heat, and humidity.

Look Rosy

100% Pure Fruit Pigment Lip & Cheek Tint in Sugar Plum (Available at

100percentpure.com) will give your lip and cheek a perfectly ripe color. Your skin will look yummy with highly concentrated anti-aging vitamins and antioxidants. 

Glow Daily

Get a bronze shimmer with Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer (Available at
Sephora stores). This is perfect for highlighting and adding instant luminosity to the face, collarbone, and body. It contains argan oil which soothes skin and leaves a dewy finish.

Go Glossy

Your lips will sparkle and tingle with this Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster in Glisten– it contains peppermint oil, so it always feels fresh and cool (Available at Sephora stores).

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Get a Tint

When you want just a hint of color, smooth on one of Burt's Bee Tinted Lip Balm in Pink Blossom (Available at drugstores). They contain sweet-smelling jasmine to moisturize lip. Available in six shades- Hibiscus, Honeysuckle, Tiger Lily, Pink Blossom, Red Dahlia, and Rose.

Brighten Up

Even out your skin tone with this yummy toner - 100% Pure Brightening Tonique (Available at
100percentpure.com). It’s packed with natural, gentle ingredients like licorice, vitamin C, and strawberries which lighten dark spots.

Get Clear

This Neutrogena Naturals Face & Body Bar soap (Available at drugstores) is free of fragrances and harsh chemicals that could irritate the skin.

Zap Zits

This soothing roller ball aka the Yes to Tomatoes Clear Skin Spot Stick (Available at yestocarrots.com) reuces swollen pimples and redness with a blend of salicylic acid, ginger root, and tea tree oil.

Hydrate Skin

Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer with SPF 30 (Available at drugstores) is a vitamin-packed moisturizer on your face. This will help protect skin, enrich, and moisturize your skin. 

Share your secrets to being naturally pretty.

♥ Khou