FitSugar

Must Have This Summer: Sun Protection Wipes

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 02:30:00 PDT

Unless it is a child, it is always funny to me when someone refuses to wear sunscreen because of the way it feels on their skin, since I am sure skin cancer and wrinkles feel much worse.

The clever folks over at Shady Day have realized this problem and have created Daily Sun Protection Wipes that offer broad spectrum UV protection (avobenzone) with no artificial ingredients or synthetic fragrances. These convenient little pre-moistened sunscreen wipes are designed for the entire body with an absorbent formula leaving the skin feeling dry and smooth (i.e. great for kids and everyone else who hates the greasy feel of sunscreen on their skin). Along with the sun protection they have added antioxidant protection, with vitamins E and A, mango fruit extract, cactus flower extract and organic Aloe Vera. This means they smell really nice as well, and while I love the smell of coconut just as much as the next guy, the scent doesn't always work for daily use. What's more? The line also has just been updated with a new formulation that is water resistant and paraben free, making it great for families with kids, for outdoor exercisers or for anyone looking for protection from the sun.

I desperately wish I had these on my last trip to Hawaii, the one where my sunscreen exploded in my suitcase leaving me to pay $20 a shirt to get all my belongings laundered at the hotel. What's even better is that if you're like my husband, and despise checking-in a bag on the airplane, these wipes are one of the only sunscreen products that you can carry-on on an airplane, given fun liquid limitations and all. How cool is that?

Buy some directly from ShadyDayInc.com (a pack of 5 individual wipes cost $10.00 and a pack of 15 wipes cost $14.00).

Alba: Sunscreen That Actually Smells Good

FitSugar — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:30:00 PDT

Since my sunscreen from last year expired, I had to pick up another bottle. I happened to be at the health food store and saw the Alba Sunscreen on sale, so it peaked my interest. I'm not a huge fan of how sunscreen usually smells, but when I took a whiff, it actually smelled wonderful. It had a light, refreshing, floral scent, which must have been from the lavender, chamomile, and calendula I saw in the list of ingredients.

I bought some of the Green Tea SPF 30, which is part of their Hawaiian line, made from tropical botanicals, green tea antioxidants, and aloe vera. It's perfect for wearing everyday - not greasy at all, and soaked instantly into my skin, leaving it soft and smelling sweet. You can even go in the water with it on, and it'll keep protecting you for up to 40 minutes.

It worked perfectly while in the sun for 3 hours, and my skin felt soft all day. I'd definitely pick some of this up if you're looking for a new sunscreen that smells great and is also paraben and cruelty-free. Look for it in the beauty section of your health food store or you can order it online from Alternative Outfitters for $8.95.

Fit's Tips: Remember to apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before heading outside, and reapply it every 2 hours.

Don't Let Your SPF 30 Turn into SPF 20

FitSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 14:30:00 PDT

Did you know that if applied incorrectly, an SPF 30 sunscreen is actually SPF 20?

SPF 30 sunscreen may provide significantly less protection when not enough is used. To get the most out of your sunscreen, use one ounce, enough to fill a shot glass (or your palm). This is the amount needed to cover the exposed areas of the body (arms, legs, neck and face of the average adult) properly. So stock up, use it liberally and reapply often (especially after you towel off).

A Week of the Happy Healthy You: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 12 May 2007 04:00:00 PDT

Want to get active? Then check out Get Active America to see if a gym near you is participating in open houses next weekend.

Now that it is the weekend, why not try the Sun Salutation. The video will take you through the moves, and your body will feel great after a few repetitions.

I want to know which celebrity diet you identify with the most.

Do you know the importance of interval training and why you should be doing it once a week.

Is it true or false SPF 30 has twice as much sun protection as SPF 15? Take the quiz.

Consumer Reports rated 8 popular diet plans and 7 diet books. The findings are interesting, if not predictable.

Looking for an at home workout you can do in 10 minutes?

I am curious if you go to a chiropractor?

For all you mothers out there - get or give the gift of sleep this Mother's Day.

Looking for a Farmers' Market near you? Here's a great site that lists markets by city and state.

I want to hear what you have to say: Are celebs "fit" to sell clothes?

Source

T/F: SPF 30 has two times more sun protection than SPF 15?

FitSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:30:00 PDT

Today is National Skin Cancer Awareness Day and so I thought it would be fun to see how aware you are with a short pop quiz on sun protection.

Simply Fab: Blue Lizard Australian Suncream

BellaSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 07:11:22 PDT

Ok, not to freak you out or anything but if you want to see just how many bad UVA sun rays get to you even after you have slathered your body in sunscreen, then you should check out Blue Lizard Australian Suncream, $13. This lotion goes on your body in a white color and transforms into a blue color when you are exposed to UVA sun.

Just check out the image of the bottle changing color below! Its intentions are to warn you and smarten you up to just how many damaging rays you are exposed to throughout the day. I’m not just talking at the beach either; think about when you are in the car, working at your desk by a window or even when you're running out to walk the dog.

Wear it for one day, and I’m willing to bet you’ll be buggin’! It's available in SPF 30: regular, for the face, sport style and sensitive skin variations.

And I know what you’re thinking: what’s with all the bella blue stuff lately? I don’t know what to tell ya other than sometimes the good stuff is also the weirdest!

Sensitive SPF 30 For Your Face, Part II

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:03:33 PDT

Welcome to Part II of Sensitive SPF 30 For Your Face. Since there were just too many yummy and safe SPF 30s for sensitive skin out there, I couldn't help but write about a few more. Here are three additional sunscreens to help prevent premature aging and skin damage for all of you sun worshippers.

Estee Lauder Multi-Protection Sun Lotion for Face SPF 30, $22, is new and not only water resistant, but also combats the appearance of dark spots on your skin with its new ASP (anti-spot protection) formula.

ASP ensures that you tan evenly without getting any of those blotchy, patchy sun spots. This formula also helps protect your skin from environmental damage that can occur while you're in the sun.

In addition, special hydrators to guard your skin against unwanted and dangerous peeling and anti-oxidants have also been incorporated to ward off free radicals. This sunscreen is great for delicate, sensitive skin. It won't clog your pores and it smells fresh and beachy.

A couple more, so

read more Skinceuticals Physical UV Defense SPF 30, $34, is great for those of you with hypersensitive skin. It's so gentle, it's even ok for children. I love the sleek silver tube, as well as the fact that it doesn't whiten on your face when you apply it. This special sunscreen contains moisturizing and healing properties and is also PABA, oil and fragrance free. You can apply it under your makeup or for a day at the beach!
Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream with SPF 30 , $27.50, is a lightweight, oil-free sun cream with the most incredible texture. It is heat resistant so it won't drip into your eyes, contains UVA, UVB and infra red sun protection all the while hydrating and nourishing your skin.

3 Rules For Great Skin

Allure — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:00:48 PST

We're excited to present this story from our friends at Allure:

To start the new year off right, vow to stick to these three simple rules.

Wear SPF daily (and not just in the summer). People tend to apply sunscreen on days when they're in the sun most, but that strategy won't cut it, says Ranella Hirsch, a dermatologist in Boston. "You're not getting the bulk of your sun from that one day; you're actually getting about 85 percent of your sun just driving your car, walking to the subway, and sitting at your desk [if you're near a window]," she says. "Find a way to make applying sunscreen easy on yourself." Instead of adding a new step to their routine, Hirsch advises her patients to trade in basic moisturizer for one with SPF, such as Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50, and to apply once in the morning and then again if they've been sweating. Look for moisturizers with SPF 30 or higher.

Don't neglect your hands. Nothing gives away your age quite like they can—but you don't need to work too hard to help prevent the signs of aging. Simply rub the same moisturizer and anti-aging formulas that you use on your face on your hands. "Patients are used to being you told you need 14 products for morning, and 14 for night," says Hirsch. "But make it simple. If you're doing it on your face, just do it on your hands."

Take off your makeup before bed. After a long day, that's easier said then done—and it's okay to give yourself a little bit of leeway, says Heidi Waldorf, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "If you went to the gym or a party and have been sweating while wearing makeup, that's when it's most important [to remove it at night]," she says. If you're feeling lazy, use a makeup remover wipe—it's almost as good as washing your face with water, and a vast improvement over hitting the hay with a dirty face. Try Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes with Chamomile & White Tea.

What We're Sweet On: Salma Hayek's Affordable Skin Creams

Jaime Richards — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:05:00 PST

The problem with some skin creams, whether they're out on drugstore shelves or found locked behind the counter in the exclusive beauty section at the department store, is that they can actually be greasy or heavy. But such is not the case with Salma Hayek's brand-new Nuance Renewed Radiance Moisturizing Day Cream ($17).

Score for the SPF 30, but add a quadruple score for making a cream that feels light on the skin, adds a bit of a glow, still hydrates, and costs under 20 bucks. Includes natural licorice extract to brighten, and blue agave and prickly pear extracts to treat dryness and improve firmness.

For a multitasking option, try Salma's AM/PM Anti-Aging Super Cream ($20). Not only does it smell fresh and bright, but thanks to a key ingredient (bark from the tepezcohuite tree), it's antioxidant rich and works to tone the skin - and at a very reasonable price. I think we can all get behind that.

What We're Sweet On: An Unscented Sunscreen/Hydrating Serum

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 05:01:00 PDT

Supergoop Save Face Serum SPF 30+ ($32) is one of those quiet surprises of a product. The packaging is unprepossessing, and it doesn't have a big ad campaign or make a bunch of over-the-top claims to get you to buy it. Really, though, it doesn't have to, because this is the rare product that surpasses your expectations and then some. It smells like nothing -no perfume, no essential oils, nothing- and it soaks in extremely quickly.

It's a godsend for people with dry, easily clogged skin. It hydrates, but is far too light to goop up pores. It's made with chemical sunscreens, so physical block fans may want to give it a pass. But if you want something that's great under makeup or a moisturizer, has full-spectrum protection, and isn't likely to cause reactivity, it's an excellent bet.