Its about that time! I know I usually post fun makeup tips and products…but its time for me to get Mama on you and bust out my esthetician coat for this. SUNSCREEN. Ladies and Gents! I cannot stress how very important it is that you do not step foot outside of your house without applying the proper amount and coverage. The sun is the number 1 cause of aging…especially in the more sunny parts of the world. Here in Cali we should be stocking up on it like we buy cases of water, heck…we should BE buying stock in sunscreen (but thats a whole other show, lol). Doesn’t matter if you bronze up like a shiny penny or bake up like a lobster at Lobsterfest at Red Lobster, everyone needs to wear it. Age and race unimportant, the sun doesn’t discriminate and its rays will take a serious toll on your skin. Im not saying you should hide out like a hermit just make sure that the sunscreen you applied will suffice. Your face and your decolletage are the first to show signs of aging due to the sun…and for women, that is deadly, lol. There are many good products out there from all different price points, I’ll share two. I also recommend that you get a seperate sunscreen that is specifically for your face, but if your are in a bind and are going to be in the sun by all means put whatever sunscreen you have on deck on your face. The first one I will share that I absolutely LOVE is the Super Sensitive Faceblock spf30 by Dermalogica. Its super light weight and doesnt have that greasy feeling that most sunscreens give (a plus when you’re hot and sweaty). That one is a bit on the pricey side, so another one that I also love that you can get anywhere is by good ole Neutrogena. For just about 11 bucks you can get the Neutrogena Ultra-sheer Dry Touch SPF85 sunscreen. Super high five for the spf 85! This too is super light weight and feels great on your skin. TIP: after daily routine put sunscreen on face right before primer…the primer will help seal the sunscreen in longer. Remember, just because you cant see the sun doesnt mean it wont harm you still…slather it on! Other than that have a fun summer…alot of good products out to celebrate, stay tuned!

happy bronzing - Chastity

Technorati Tags dermalogica, neutrogena, product, review, summer, sunscreen

SIgh…as a sun junkie, this time of year has become a depressing time of year for me since I turned 32. Because at 30, 31 and part of 32 I was still going to tanning salons and lounging in the sun - although for much more smaller increments at a time, I still miss my time in the sun.

Now I go out slathered in sunscreen and white linen with a large brimmed hat - but I can’t honestly say that I don’t miss my sunny loungy afternoons. I heard from a friend of mine that I am probably one of the people who are sensitive to the vitamin D and sun therapy benefits to my mental health, but deep down inside, I know that my vanity will dictate over my mental well being (i.e. I’d rather take and anti depressant than deal with sunspots on my face & hands) but the article over at TanningTruth.com has me thinking… is the sun really that bad for you?

My instant and quick answer is ‘yes’. And it’s pretty simple - I get sunspots from UV rays. I am not a dermatologist, but I do know my own skin, and I know that whenever I have prolonged exposure to the sun, or the tanning bed, I get large freckles. Period. I have no idea what the health risks these are, but I know that it ages you significantly. Why do the things we love have to be so bad for us??

Technorati Tags skincare, spf, sunscreen, Tanning

Ooo a free gift from Macy’s with any $21 purchase from Clinique full of spring colors, plus some new anti-aging products and the launch of the fake-bake no streak tanning product line is in too just in time for Mama’s day. Click here to check out the goods.

Technorati Tags anti-aging, Clinique, Gift, gwp, Macy, macys, Mama, mothers day, spring

Good lord, these women look SO dry and haggard this season - is it because I have a new plasma tv?? But it’s not even broadcast in HD (please don’t) and they just look SO lacking moisture and dusty! OMG drink your water ladies - you look so very skin-thirsty! AND….did you see the new clips from the new series The Real Housewives of NYC -? The dark haired girl was on another reality show - was it an earlier season of the Apprentice? And does Jo really think she can sing? JUST ASKING….Oh - I guess we will all find out soon enough because she’s going to be dishing it on her new reality show (gag me).

Technorati Tags anti-aging, cougars, real housewives of new york city, real housewives of orange county

It’s January, it’s cold and rainy, but just because it isn’t that sunny doesn’t mean you are in the clear, but with the whole sunscreen dramz being good or bad or whatever, I’ve taken the safe route and gone more organic in chemistry and am seeking out products with zinc as the ingredient of choice for a safer sunscreen.

I did ask Dr. Marks about the sunscreen spf scare and he said that he recommends 30 spf and that he doesn’t believe the argument that some are blogging about regarding sunscreen loves cancer topics, but I’d rather be safe than sorry…so zinc it is!

Technorati Tags Dr.-Marks, sunscreen, zinc

omg, so as promised, I set out to do some research on the malibuwellness.com salesperson’s statement that sunscreen is actually toxic for your skin, and check out what I found:

“The idea that sunscreen prevents cancer is a myth. It’s a myth promoted by a profit-seeking tag-team effort between the cancer industry and the sunscreen industry. The sunscreen industry makes money by selling lotion products that actually contain cancer-causing chemicals. It then donates a portion of that money to the cancer industry through non-profit groups like the American Cancer Society which, in turn, run heart-breaking public service ads urging people to use sunscreen to “prevent cancer.”

“The benefits of sunscreen are a myth. Proponents say sunscreen prevents sunburn, but in fact, the real cause of sunburn is not merely UV exposure: It is a lack of antioxidant nutrition. Start eating lots of berries and microalgae (spirulina, astaxanthin, blue-green algae, etc.), and you’ll build up an internal sunscreen that will protect your skin from sunburn from the inside out. ”

Click here to read the rest of this particular article.

It won’t be the first time that dangerous and toxic procedures were mass produced and readily available for the public’s consumption…(i.e. phen phen, cocaine in coca cola, the junk food epidemic, the lobotomy, norplant, vioxx, the list goes on) but like Oprah says, “people who know better, do better”.

Wow, I am SO glad that I was at the same place at the same time with the saleschick. I am going to go toss all my sunscreen away.

Additional linkage of sunscreen’s toxic disaster:
toss your sunscreen!
sunscreen chemicals cause colon cancer
sunscreen health disaster
sunscreen causes cancer
sunscreen is dangerous
sunscreen is more harmful than good
BBC - Sunscreen may be Toxic

Technorati Tags anti-aging, beauty-myths, Product-Reviews, SpaBlog, sunburn, sunscreen, sunscreen-is-toxic, superfoods, Tanning

WootWoot…I just got a hold of an ad that Casa del Sol put out and the deals sound fabulous!! Let me run down the dealios:

$25 Full Body SprayTan ….WHhhhat?? this is WAY the hook up!

$30 Rejuvenating Deep Cleansing Facial

$45 Brazilian wax

6 for $200 Glycolic Peels

I’ve never been but at these prices I may have to call down there tomorrow and see if I can squeeze an appt for a $25 spraytan which usually costs around $80 in the Valley. I shall keep you all posted, I know you are just sitting on pins and needles for the result. LOL!

Technorati Tags airbrush, camarillo, Coupon Codes, Everything-Else, fake-bake, Spa Treatments, Spa-reView, SpaLinks, tan-in-a-can, Tanning

O.M.G. this is just the best self tanning product I have used at home - with minimal streaking (because yes, you will encounter streaking if you dont pay attention or attempt to spray in a hurry which did in fact happen to me a few times) but when it is applied with care and determiniation, will give you that sunkissed bronze shiny dreamangle look on your skin. And from a drugstore too! I just love the drugstore gems…and this is one of them! Here are some of my tips on actually making the fine mist spray tan work in your favor: Continue reading ‘L’oreal Sublime Bronze’

Technorati Tags drugstore-gems, fake-bake, faux-tan, Home Spa, Product-Reviews, Spa-reView, Tanning

Summer Breeze Tan - Camarillo

Since it’s super cold, and winter, I still have needs to get a tan at times - lol. Enter SummerBreeze in Camarillo. I checked out thier website and called for more information on the airbrush tan. The staff was super friendly, informative, AND thier full body airbrush tan is only $35 bucks! Compared to LA’s $75 price average, it’s a steal.

I went in prior to my appointment to find out what I should do to prepare for my session and was told to be sure to exfoliate, shave, and wear loose clothing (read:no bra) afterwards - the girls told me to make a late appointment and wear my pajamas. The solution smells pretty good, is moisturizing and the next day looks like clay before you shower it off. The tan lasts for about 2 days, and then starts to get splotchy (especially on me around the sides of my neck and my upper thighs).

Aside from the splotchyness, I think that I may consider going on a more regular basis during the summer months since the girls who apply the solution are really good at making sure they get all your spots like under your arms and in between your shoulderblades - two particularly difficult places to get an even tone in the generic Mystic Tan booth.

some other pricing options at summer breeze:

half body (from your waist up) is $20.00

full body is $35.00

membership (up to 6 maximum applications per month) is $75.00

website: www.summerbreezetan.com

Technorati Tags camarillo, mystic-tan, Spa-reView, Tanning

Yes, I am a tanning buff. I grew up in a beach community and used baby oil for tanning purposes back in the 80’s…the sin, oh the sin!! These days, I am way too concerned with not having that cowhide skin with freckles so I visit the the tanning beds wayyyy less frequently but like, totally miss being tan! Not to worry girls (and boys) Mystic Tan is here to save the disasters of the 80’s! I go to Northridges’ Pacific Sun and I absolutely LOVE it! The staff is super friendly, the facilities bright and clean and most importantly, the product is TOP NOTCH!

If you’ve never used the stuff before, be sure to ask the staff what the best recommended usage is, for example, you have to exfoliate before ( I go to Valley Day Spa for a Korean Rough Towel exfoliation treatment) and not use any lotion and follow the simple step by step instructions from the corny video tape featuring Ross from “Friends” and in less than 5 minutes, you are walking out the door looking fabulous, and no guilt at all!

Continue reading ‘Mystic Tan - Pacific Sun Northridge’

Technorati Tags Product-Reviews, Spa-reView, Tanning

I tried neutrogena and was pretty happy with the results, the only thing I would warn on is that you make sure you spray it in an area that you cannot ruin - like outside lol.

the first time I sprayed it on, I got it on the walls and now there is brown goop on the walls that refuses to come off. the second time I sprayed it in my hallway which is hard wood flooring and it made it super slippery that on my way out i totally slipped and fell on my butt!

I decided to not use spray tans in a can anymore because of the drama they caused that had nothing to do with my tan. But I totally dig Neutrogena products - they are competatively priced and pretty good products to boot!

Remember to Exfoliate before sunless tanning application, and moisturize after! Happy bronzing!

Technorati Tags drugstore-gems, faux-tan, Product-Reviews, Tanning