09.07.2010
Labor Day, LA style…

So this Labor Day weekend was my first (well, my first with actual plans) in sunny Los Angeles.  In fact, it’s now officially been ONE YEAR since I moved to the gold coast and believe me, I’m still in shock. It’s funny to think back to a year ago and remember that terrified feeling I had about being in a completely new environment knowing only a few people with no real certainty of what would happen.  And now, well…I guess crazy and fate are two words that come to mind.

After a crazy Friday at Raging Waters, Sydne had friends over for a Saturday pool party where the hit of the party was undoubtedly Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion SPF 38 PA++ for Face and Body.  I had been sent this sunblock awhile back and decided to give it a try…and omg, I’m obsessed.  We all sat around the pool sipping sangria and I couldn’t shut up about how good the sunblock smelled and how soft and silky it was when I applied it.  It got to the point where everyone was like “ok, well we have to try this stuff too if it’s so amazing.”  The verdict?  Even the BOYS were impressed.  One particularly impressed guy at the party, Andy, said how he liked that it was smooth like a lotion but almost had the consistency of an oil.  Not kidding.  He actually said that and I think he’s been secretly moonlighting as a beauty editor.

Friends aside, the product is, as its name says, “extra smooth” and is formulated with rose apple leaf extract, which delivers an excellent boost of antioxidants…plus it’s sand-proof, sweat-proof and water-resistant.

 

me (with my Shiseido on)

05.17.2010
Skin Cancer Awareness Month

So if you don’t already know, May is national Skin Cancer Awareness Month.  This is something especially near and dear to my heart, as my closest Aunt passed away of skin cancer when she was only 43 years old back in 1996.  Luckily, more and more people are becoming aware of how harmful the sun is to our skin and health but it’s still not enough.  One in five Americans will STILL get skin cancer every year and even though it’s the most preventable cancer, it’s also one of the most deadly.  Can you even believe that 50% of Americans don’t even use sunscreen?!

Skincare giant La Roche-Posay created this great new public awareness campaign called “Save Our Skin” in hopes to increase awareness. For every person who signs up for the campaign, La Roche Posay will donate money to The Skin Cancer Foundation and The Women’s Dermatological Society.  In the meantime, here are my current SPF favorites.

Too Faced Love Lisa Luxury Lip Balm SPF 15 – People often forget that, yes, even your lips can sunburn.  This product is inspired by the brand founder’s sister, Lisa, who is battling stage 4 melanoma (and kicking it’s butt).  A huge portion from sales goes towards the Love Lisa Melanoma Research Foundation Grant to help find a cure.

La Roche-Posay Anthelious 45 for Face -My complexion is tricky at best.  I’ve tried a lot of “for the face” sunblocks and this one is by FAR my favorite.  It’s super light but you still get excellent protection from the sun, with out the breakouts.

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 70 – I already listed this cooling mist as one of my Coachella essentials but I use this on my body pretty much any time I go to the beach.  As a freckled white girl, the sun gets me hot faster than most and this is the perfect cooling agent.

03.18.2010
Redken Color Extend Sun Solar Screen SPF 12

So since I moved to LA in September, I’ve definitely been spending much more time in the sun than ever.  Relax, I always wear SPF but I’m still concerned about two things- my hair and my scalp.  I’ve pretty much always had thin hair and I remember getting some pretty bad scalp burns in high school…which end up looking like dandruff when it heals- very attractive.  Anyway, I recently received Redken’s Color Extend Sun Solar Screen SPF 12 ($16 at salons) and I’m obsessed.  It’s the perfect spray product to protect my scalp from getting burned in the sun AND it also guards my blonde highlights from fading to that god awful brassy orange color.  Yuck.  It’s really a great multi-tasker…Redken’s exclusive Interbond Conditioning System and the advanced Hydra-Shield Complex deliver strengthening Ceramide and moisture-rich Mango Oil to dry strands to resurface the cuticle, repair damaged areas and replenish lost moisture in your hair.  I’ll be carrying this around me all summer, especially since I’ve decided to really learn how to surf this year. 😉  Stay tuned for updates.  I sense this product will get “life changing” status.

01.06.2010
Three questions with Tory Burch

 

So I’m practically giddy right now.  I had the pleasure of meeting Tory Burch a few months back when she held a breakfast at her Meatpacking District store in NYC.  She’s even more lovely than I could’ve imagined and quite inspiring as well.  I loved hearing all about how she gets inspired by her travels (especially Venice- my favorite city ever) and how she got started and plans to grow her business.  Enter 2010.  I’ve decided that 2010 will be my year to finally accomplish some of my long-term goals that I’ve been kind of putting around for the last few years and being a major procrastinator.  I’m living in LA now (on my own!) and I find that I meet some many interesting, passionate people that I made the decision to dedicate the occasional blog post to people worthy of all our time.  Tory is one of those people that you need to get to know.  As a woman, mother and entrepreneur I’m very excited to get Tory’s take on advice, career and her biggest guilty pleasure.

 

 

If you could give your 24-year-old self any advice, what would it be?

Beauty-related, I would tell my younger self to never leave the house without moisturizer with SPF.  I wear Pat Wexler’s Tinted Moisturizer now.

What do you love most about your career?

I’m lucky enough to have a day job I feel passionately about.  Every day I’m surrounded by the most creative people, both design-wise and business-wise.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

I have a soft spot for fresh beignets.  Heavy on the powdered sugar.

 

Thanks, Tory!  For even more, follow Tory on Twitter!

05.31.2009
Will Ferrell…the latest SPF product?

Nicole Richie and jewelry? Makes sense. Kim Kardashian and a butt-blasting workout video? Makes sense too. Will Ferrell and a sunscreen line? Um…I have to say that this is so out there, that it’s actually genius. In Will’s continued support for the charity, Cancer for College, 100% of the proceeds ($12 a bottle) will go towards the charity. Cancer for College is a charity that provides college scholarships for cancer survivors and amputees. “I’ve always dreamed of owning a lotion company,” Will said of his choice to create sunscreen, “And I’ve always hated cancer.” Not only are the bottles completely hilarious, but they actually WILL protect you from the sun this summer…grab them up fast.

05.03.2009
May is national Skin Cancer Awareness Month

So we all know I’m a big advocate of SPF. I’m the friend who brings 14 bottles of sunblock on vacation and yells at you if you even mention the phrase “tanning salon.” This month, thanks to companies like Olay, you can get a FREE skin cancer screening from a top dermatologist near you. It’s super simple. Simply check out Olay’s Web site and find a participating derm. As someone who lost my favorite Aunt to Melanoma (at age 43), this cause has an important spot in my heart. PLEASE get this free screening and check out SkinCancer.org for more information and ways to stay safe in the sun! My personal favorite SPF product of the moment is the Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist SPF 70. When I was in Vegas, it was so effing hot and I happened to be with my best friend who thinks she “never” has to wear SPF thanks to her Greek/Italian heritage. WRONG. It was so hot that even she decided to use this SPF spray since it has cooling properties…totally a good trick to get those friends and kids to use SPF!

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