Six Drugstore Products That Everybody Should Have
It’s a constant refrain of mine – nobody has to go broke to have good skin. Yes, some specialized treatments, such as botox and lasers, can be pricey. So can department store brands, many of which are effective but really over-priced. The truth is the essential products for good skin are usually available at most drugstores, and they certainly won’t break the bank.
Sunscreens We Love
We all know that it’s extremely important to protect our delicate skin from the sun’s harsh rays, especially during the summer! Whether you’re lounging at the beach or biking in the park, we’ve gathered a list of our favorite sunscreens. Get the proper protection your skin needs by slathering on the SPF and have some fun in the sun (in moderation of course)!
Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 45, $9.99
Neutrogena spray sunscreen refreshes skin with it’s cooling mist while shielding you from the sun’s rays…perfect for those steamy hot days. This sunscreen is a beach bag essential for your next trip to the beach or pool. We love that it is waterproof and sweat proof too!
LA ROCHE-POSAY Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid , $18
The top-rated facial sunscreen is perfect for anyone because it quickly absorbs into the skin and leaves no residue or white film while offering maximum UV protection. This lightweight formula is easy to wear under make-up and is also waterproof, fragrance-free, PABA-free & non-comedogenic. We wear this one year round!
Avene High Protection Mineral Cream SPF 50, $21
For all of our sensitive skin gals out there this is the sunscreen for you. Avene has created this 100% mineral sunscreen specifically for those who need non-irritating protection from the sun. It has all the benefits of mineral makeup but in a sunscreen! And, it’s formula is hypo-allergenic and packed with Vitamin E.
Kiehl’s Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen for Body SPF 50, $23
Kiehls has done it again! This new oil-free sunscreen for the body protects against both UVB rays (the ones that cause sunburns) and UVA rays (these cause signs of aging). We love using this lightweight formula on our skin and feel confident spending time in the sun with its high SPF 50 protection. Bonus: It’s also nourished with antioxidants and Vitamin E to keep skin looking young and fresh.
Cetaphil® Daily Facial Moisturizer UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50, $20.98
As women we are always conscious and mindful of smoothing sunscreen on our faces, and this is one of the best SPF/Moisturizer combinations out there. It has all the moisturizing proprieties we expect from Cetaphil products while also dishing out a SPF 50 count for protection. It’s non-greasy formula keeps you hydrated for up to eight hours while shielding you from the sun. You can wear it under your makeup or mix it with your favorite foundation to create a DIY tinted moisturizer.
Coppertone Foaming Oil Free Sunscreen Lotion SPF 75, $8.99
The foaming oil-free formula (so cool) is a revolution in sun care. It goes on super smooth and lightweight without a greasy feeling. It’s fragrance free and non-comedogenic so it’s perfect to use on your body and face without clogging any pores. It’s a great drugstore sunscreen and the price is right!
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick SPF 50, $20
If you are a fan of the Eight Hour Cream line then this is a great product to add to your makeup bag. This sunscreen stick is perfect for getting those spots that we sometimes skip over like our earlobes and nose. It’s small enough to fit in the tiniest of day clutches so you can easily tote it around.
Tips in case you do get a little too much sun…it happens to the best of us:
1. Take an aspirin. It helps diminish the redness and swelling of a sunburn and most of all eases the pain.
2. Use a cold milk compress on your skin. Soak a washcloth is a mixture of half ice water and half milk and apply to the skin.
3. Apply the Greek yogurt you usually eat for breakfast, and smooth it over your burn. After letting set for 15 min apply some aloe vera.
4. It is important to stay hydrated! Your sunburn has caused your skin to lose a lot of moisture so drink plenty of H20 or some fresh squeezed lemonade.
We sometimes burn because we’re not sure when to reapply our sunscreen, so here is a good rule to follow. Take the amount of SPF you are wearing and multiply it by 10…that is how many minutes your sunscreen will last until you need to reapply. (15 SPF x 10= 150 minutes).
Winter-Proof Your Skin with Tips from a Celeb Esthetician
Christine Chin, Owner of Christine Chin Spa in New York City, who’s star studded list of clients include Penelope Cruz, Kate Moss, Hilary Swank, Rachel Weisz and Kimora Lee Simmons, shares her tips for keeping that summer glow all year-long.
PD: What are some of the biggest issues you see with skin in the winter?
CC: Dry rough rkin, rash and irritation, Rosacea, and wind burn or sun burn.
PD: What is the best thing someone can do during the winter to keep their skin hydrated?
CC:
- Clean, Exfoliate, Tone, Moisturize, and SPF.
- Invest in a humidifier
- Try a Mask
- Drink plenty of water
PD: It’s winter-time, so I don’t have to worry about wearing SPF, correct?
CC: Most people have the misconception that if the sun is not out, they don’t need to apply SPF. The main purpose of a sunscreen is UV protection and whether the sun is out or not, UV rays still exist.
PD: Can you recommend a facial or peel that would be beneficial to get in the winter?
CC: The best facial to get during the winter is one that hydrates and cleans your pores. For the peel, I would recommend something gentle and not too harsh, for example the Cell Gold Gommage Peeling.
PD: What are some of your favorite skin care products?
CC: Of course my own line. Other than my own line, I also love La Prairie and Sisley. For a drugstore brand, I usually recommend Aveeno or Neutrogena.
Fab, Fab Brad
Brad Goreski, star of Bravo’s new reality show It’s a Brad Brad World, dishes on his favorite brands, products, and guilty pleasures. The celebrity stylist got his start working as Rachel Zoe’s assistant and has since dressed some of Hollywood’s biggest celebs such as Jessica Alba, Keri Hilson and Shay Mitchell.
PD: Congratulations on your new show! What can viewers expect to see?
BG: They will see an insight to the fashion world and see me start my business from the ground up. I just hope the viewers have a good time.
PD: You’re a busy man- tell us about your upcoming projects for 2012.
BG: My book comes out in March [Born to Be Brad: My Life and Style, So Far], my clients are growing rapidly….stay tuned!
PD: What are some of your favorite brands?
BG: I love Band of Outsiders and Gant by Michael Bastian and Tom Browne– I wear them almost everyday.
PD: What are some of your favorite accessories?
BG: My dog Penelope and my Swarovski Crystal Lace-Up Shoes!
PD: What are some of your favorite skin-care products?
BG: Creme de la Mer moisturizer, Clarisonic cleaning system, Neutrogena body oil.
PD: What are your favorite haircare products?
BG: Baxter of California and Elnett.
PD: Tell us your guilty pleasures?
BG: McDonald’s Diet Coke, Starbucks, and Abc Kitchen‘s Salted Carmel Sundae.
It’s a Brad Brad World airs Monday at 10/9c on Bravo.
9 Travel Must-Haves
Want to know how to safely pack an entire beauty regimen into a suitcase you can carry? What toiletries and gadgets should you not leave home without? How do you stay chic despite long flights and layovers? Worry not jetsetters, in honor of travel season here are some of my favorite go-to items for seamless and stylish globe trotting. Happy travels!
White + Warren Travel Wrap, BUY NOW, $295
To cozy up and stay chic when traveling, I love the look and quality of the White + Warren cashmere travel wrap. It’s a celebrity favorite of Angelina Jolie, and who better to trust than this jet setting mom of six? Also, this super soft wrap is available in over twenty different colors!
Trish McEvoy Beauty Emergency Card, BUY NOW, $75
The Beauty Emergency Card for eyes is a travel essential because of its slim packaging. With six eyeshadows, two eye definers, nude eye base, High Volume mascara, and Eye Lining and Precision Smudge Deluxe brushes, it’s an entire make-up kit that fits in the palm of your hand. Bring this with you for touch-ups on the go too!
Henri Bendel Dopp Kit Toiletry Bag, BUY NOW, $60
The Henri Bendel Centennial Stripe Dopp Kit is a chic and safe way to tote around your toiletries; special hinged flaps keep your belongings intact. The signature striped style was designed by Mr. Bendel over 100 years ago for clients’ ocean-liner voyages. The bags have a waterproof casing so not only do they look great, but they are practical and easy to clean too. I use this one and a variety of the other cosmetic cases when traveling.
PurseN Vacationer Tiara Jewelry Case, BUY NOW, $54
A great way to travel smart is to bring versatile pieces that you dress up with different accessories including your jewelry. The PurseN Tiara jewelry case is perfect—it has an origami inspired design with multiple pockets and four removable pouches for a tangle free travel. Designed to carry medium to large sized jewelry (great for packing statement pieces), you won’t have to decide between chunky necklaces, cocktail rings or bangles. Just bring them all!
Buy Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock SPF30, $8.99
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Buy Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock SPF30, $8.99
Shop the Full Story: Sun Protection Tips from Dr. Kenneth Mark |
Fab Fixes for the Worst Beauty Crimes
Unfortunately, beauty has a bad side. Between late nights, stress and, sometimes, just plain laziness (consider me guilty as charged!), our appearances can go horribly awry. In honor of today’s Partner-in-Crime Girlfriend (have you told us why SHE is your Partner-in-Crime Girlfriend in the National Girlfriend Awards yet?), we’re letting the crime fit the punishment with fab fixes for your biggest beauty law-breakers.
CRIME: Late-Night Laziness
PUNISHMENT: Late nights and a little too much wine can often lead to laziness, especially in the skincare department. After all, isn’t that 10-15 minutes it takes to remove your makeup better spent in bed? Alas, waking up with mascara on your cheeks and foundation on your pillow is never fun. Cut your nightly beauty routine in half with Olay’s Daily Facial Express Wet Cleansing Cloths for Sensitive Skin (SALE: $4.49 at CVS). These pre-moistened wipes are alcohol- and fragrance-free and contain skin-nourishing ingredients like vitamin E and aloe—they even take off water-proof mascara! Perfect for ladies with sensitive skin and those who would like to get some shut-eye, ASAP (uh, everyone?!).
CRIME: Dark Under-Eye Circles
PUNISHMENT: So that double shot of espresso might be a totally necessary start to your day (and night), but too much caffeine and lack of sleep will start to show eventually. Fight tired eyes and dark circles with Aveeno’s Active Naturals Smart Essentials Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment ($9.59 on Drugstore.com). This easy-to-apply product comes in a roller ball that massages eyes to reduce puffiness while distributing anti-aging antioxidants like Southernwood and vitamins E and C. Bright eyes are just a swipe away!
CRIME: Bald Brows
PUNISHMENT: If eyes are the windows to the soul, then make sure they look awesome by not over-plucking your eyebrows. Thicker, more natural-looking brows have been the trend for a few years now and there is nothing sadder than seeing a pair of unflattering, pencil-thin brows. The key to a great at-home pluck session is backing aaaaway from that fluorescent-lighted, magnified mirror (use natural light and stand back a bit, believe it or not!) and dropping the hard-to-hold tweezers for an easy-to-wield option like the Tweezerman Slant Tweezer ($20). The shape and fullness of brows should complement your face, which means being able to see your entire face before and during plucking.
CRIME: Popping Pimples
PUNISHMENT: Pimples have the worst timing (job interviews, weddings, first dates), but drop the rubbing alcohol and tweezers already (popping a zit will probably just result in blood and having to cover an unsightly spot with concealer, anyway!). Try Neutrogena’s Rapid Clear 2 in 1 Fight and Fade Gel ($8.99 at Target) to effectively zap zits. Good guys like salicylic acid help erase pesky spots and fight any fade marks after the fact.
CRIME: Hair Help
PUNISHMENT: Every now and then I go a little crazy with the styling tools—I have a pretty intense relationship with my blow-dryer (…and my flat iron, curling iron, etc. ). Add over-styling to all that summertime humidity and fun (like swimming), and anyone’s tresses can get into some serious trouble. So, sentence your strands to Oribe’s Shine Supershine Moisturizing Cream ($49 at Neiman Marcus), a lightweight, creamy leave-in conditioner that moisturizes hair while fighting frizz, humidity and even defining curls—all while creating shiny and touchable hair.
What beauty crimes are you guilty of committing? How do you help punish your bad habits? What do you think of our fixes?
-Elana Lott
 Sheckys.com lets you share your man’s mystifying moments, get easy tips for the healthiest, happiest and most fashionable you, discover our Girls Night Out events and more, all while earning OMG Points toward free goodies! |
Beach Bag Essentials
Every girl likes to be prepared and have everything she could possibly need in her bag at all times. This holds especially true in the summer when sun and sand are involved. A day at the beach requires a different but equally stocked bag. Here are this summer’s best products to stash in your beach bag:
The first thing you can’t forget to put in your beach bag is of course, sunscreen. Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch is an affordable and reliable choice as it’s lightweight but still offers significant protection. Plus, it isn’t greasy so you can use it on your body and face. But those aren’t the only places that need a little SPF. The delicate skin on your lips should always be protected. Kiehl’s Lip Balm SPF 15 is a favorite of ours because it is available in various glossy colors. The sun can also damage hair if it isn’t properly protected. Rene Furterer’s Okara Protect Color Radiance Enhancing Spray helps protect color-treated hair from fading while nourishing with Vitamin E.
A great hat, like this Hat Attack Raffia Medium Brim Floppy, is another way to protect your skin and hair from the sun. But just because you aren’t getting those sun-kissed cheeks the natural way doesn’t mean you can’t fake the rosy look with tarte’s natural cheek stain, which stays put better than a powder blush.
Cover-up in style with Calypso St. Barth’s Samantha Embroidered Tunic. It’s available in array of lovely colors, but it does run a tad small so order one size up.
It’s just as important to keep your skin and body hydrated as it is to protect it. Drinking a lot of water is great for your health but can be harmful to the environment if you use disposable plastic bottles. Take care of yourself and the planet with recycled and refillable EarthLust Stainless Steel Water Bottles in stylish designs. And when your face needs a cooling refresher, give yourself a spritz 2 Note Perfumery’s light face mist.
You can throw all these great products in this tote from Jonathan Adler. We love how you can choose your favorite print or your favorite destination!
Buy Now, Johnathan Adler Well-Traveled Beach Tote, $198
Buy Now, Rene Furterer Okara Protect Color Radiance Enhancing Spray, $26
Buy Now, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF55, $9.49
Buy Now, EarthLust Stainless Steel Water Bottle, $13.99
Buy Now, Kiehls Lip Balm SPF15, $8.50
Buy Now, Tarte Cheek Stain, $30
Sun Protection Tips from Dr. Kenneth Mark
With the recent FDA regulations, we wanted to offer some sunscreen tips for your consideration from board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs skin cancer surgeon, Dr. Kenneth Mark. Dr. Mark is a credible expert with four prestigious practices, including two in the Hamptons (he is celebrating his 10th-year anniversary practicing in East Hampton and Southampton this summer), one in Aspen, and one in NYC. He is also a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York University.
TIP 1: New FDA regulations on sunscreen
o The main benefit of the new FDA regulations is that there will be increased knowledge and transparency to the consumer for the UVA protection in products and education of SPF designations, which only addressed UVB protection
o Since SPF designation relates to UVB protection from getting a sunburn, these new regulations help consumers understand that it is actually the UVA rays which penetrate the skin deeper and cause harmful effects on the skin, from aging to cancer.
TIP 2: How often should you apply sunscreen
o When in direct sunlight (at the beach, outside), apply sunscreen at least every two hours. If you are sweating or swimming, reapply every 30 minutes after significant water exposure.
o When you are in and out of the sun, apply your sunscreen two or three times throughout the day.
TIP 3: What are the most important ingredients to look for in a sunscreen
o You should always use a sunscreen with a physical blocker, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (both work to block out full UVA and UVB spectrum).
o Most sunscreens have excellent UVB protection, so with products that don’t have those physical blockers, look for UVA-blocking chemicals, including:
– Parsol 1789 (a.k.a. Avobenzone)
– Ecamsule
– Mexoryl
– Antihelios
– Helioplexhttp
TIP 4: What sunscreens are recommended
o Z-Silc has a wonderful sunscreen that has a full range of UV protection and rubs in smoothly.
o I would also recommend Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist, which contains Helioplex.
Buy Now, Z-Silc Sunblock SPF30, $35.50
Buy Now, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock SPF30, $8.99
Buy Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes
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Buy Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes, $7.19, at drugstore.com
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