FitSugar

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).

5 Tips From a Pro: How to Create a Beautiful Bronzed Glow

Real Beauty — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:07:27 PST

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

When trying to create a natural, sunless tan on your body, mistakes are expected and accepted. If things go too awry, you can just opt to wear pants until the color wears off.

Bronzer or self tanner: which is right for you?

But a botched fake tan on your face? Completely out of the question. Here, five foolproof tips on how to get gorgeous bronzed skin.

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.

Gear That Every Hiking Backpack Needs

Michele Foley — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:24:00 PDT

With cooler temps on the way, early Fall is one of the best times to go hiking. Whether it's two miles or 20, you'll want to make sure that your backpack is filled with all the essentials. From protecting your skin to protecting yourself against a serious emergency, here's everything you should have in your pack before hitting the trail.

Water - When hiking, do not let yourself get dehydrated! Carry a big water bottle or, better yet, a Camelbak. A Camelbak generally allows for more water and makes it easier to get a drink than having to fish for your bottle. Camelbak reservoir pouches fit right inside a pack, and a tube from the pouch runs out toward your shoulder. To get a drink of water, bite down on the end of the tube and suck. What's great is that Camelbak pouches double as backpacks, meaning you'll have room for all of your other goods, too!
Sunscreen - When spending a full day hiking, one application of sunscreen won't be enough. Make sure to follow the specific guidelines on the sunscreen bottle to know how often to reapply. Keep in mind that if it's hot out, you'll want to apply sunscreen more frequently since you'll likely be sweating it off. For maximum protection, buy a broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen with a water-resistant formula.

See the rest of the items - including one that may save your life - after the break!

What's the Best Part of a Beach Vacation? Hawaiian Tropic® Wants to Know!

Sponsor — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 03:00:00 PDT

Who doesn't love being in the sun? Sure, we have to protect ourselves from harmful rays, but the warming sensation and unmistakable glow you get after sunbathing just can't be beat!

Now, thanks to Hawaiian Tropic®, smelly, thick and oily sunscreen is finally a thing of the past. Its new Shimmer Effect SPF 20 and SPF 40 lotions will not only protect your skin with powerful SunSure® UVA and UVB protection, but it'll leave you looking luminous with the power of mica minerals.

To keep your skin feeling great even after the sun goes down, try the new Hawaiian Tropic® Shimmer Effect Coconut Papaya After-Sun Lotion, which will replenish your skin with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, cocoa, and shea and mango butters. These moisturizers are great for everyday use and will enhance your skin tone while creating a soft, sexy sheen.

If these products don't have you longing for a little time in the sun, I don't know what will! So, tell us, what's your favorite part of a beach vacation? Is it the sun, sand, or simply the escape? We can't wait to find out.

4 Ways to Protect Your Hair From the Summer Sun

Brittney Stephens — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:15:00 PDT

Reader dreamalittledream recently asked for tips on keeping her newly colored hair from fading in the sun in the BellaSugar Q and A group in the Bella Community. It's a great question, because while we're sure you're in the habit of applying sunscreen to your face and body, perhaps the hair doesn't get the SPF protection it might need, too. So, to find out how to help keep your coiffure from fading and frying this season, just keep reading.

Bare Escentuals Shares the Birthday Love With 20 Percent Off

Brittney Stephens — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:00:18 PDT

Mineral makeup obsessives, take note: Bare Escentuals is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and to commemorate the event, they're spreading the love by offering 20 percent off all purchases today through Sunday, June 19. They're also offering up their Original SPF 15 Foundation ($25) in a limited-edition, blinged-out silver pot (which would look pretty sweet on your bathroom counter - just saying). You can use your discount on the Bare Escentuals site by using code LOVE at checkout or by printing it out and bringing it to your nearest BE boutique.

This Drugstore Concealer Is Twice as Nice

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:22:00 PDT

I like my concealers to have a few qualities: good opacity, nondrying formula, and excellent wear. And happily, I can say that Revlon's PhotoReady concealer SPF 20 ($10) matches all those criteria nicely. It's a lot like another drugstore favorite of mine, Maybelline Cover Stick ($6), but it's a little less cakey and the colors blend more smoothly into my skin.

I bought two different shades, Light and Light Medium, to use on different parts of my face. I use Light on my forehead and cheeks and use Light Medium under my eyes and along my jawline. It's something I wouldn't have been able to do if I were purchasing a more expensive product, but I think the look is much more natural, since the skin under your eyes is generally a little darker. I do recommend wearing under-eye primer with it, because, like all concealer, it settles into the folds a bit. Other than that, though, I've been very pleased, and I feel slightly less impoverished by my beauty habit.

Found: A Sunscreen Stick That Won't Break You Out

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:00:00 PDT

If you need a high-protection sunblock that's super portable, look no further than the new Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick SPF 50 ($20). Its name may be as long as the stick is, but the stuff inside really is great. It smells like one of my favorite warm weather scents, citronella, and the consistency is nongreasy, which is rare for a stick sunblock.

Miraculously, I also haven't broken out while using it, which is only true of one other sunscreen, Suntegrity, which is my usual daily-wear sunblock.

The stick is also water- and sweat-resistant, so although you'll still have to reapply after a swim or an arduous hike, it doesn't just melt off of you the way most sunscreens do. My only quibble is with the price. I know good sunscreen isn't cheap, but for such a small size, it would be nice to see the price a tad bit less expensive. However, a little goes a long way; I've been using it all over my face a couple times a day for a week, and I don't think I've even managed to make a dent in it. That's why this stick will be sticking around my beauty bag this season.

Get a Look at MAC's New Surf, Baby! Collection

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:10:31 PDT

I recently asked our Facebook fans about the new MAC Surf, Baby! collection, and they said they'd like to see it and get a review, so here they are! The collection has adorable packaging, and the colors are irresistibly bright and cheery. To see how the collection looks on me, and find out how the products performed, just keep reading.