As if my list of cosmetic ingredients to avoid to prevent cosmetic acne wasn’t long enough already, I have a few more ingredients to add to the list - cornstarch (also called Zea Mays or corn starch) and rice starch. According to Cosmetic Cop Paula Begoun, some food-derived cosmetic ingredients should be avoid if you are prone to acne. Currently the only ingredients I know to avoid are corn starch and rice starch, but if I come up with others, I will add them to this post. If you are not prone to acne, then there’s no need to worry about these ingredients.

Paula Begoun says cornstarch is a ”Starch obtained from corn and sometimes used as an absorbent in cosmetics instead of talc. However, when cornstarch becomes moist, it can promote fungal and bacterial growth.” About rice starch, she says it’s an ”Absorbent substance sometimes included in products rather than talc. It can cause allergic reactions and, because it is a food derivative (as opposed to a mineral derivative like talc), it can support bacterial growth in pores.” 

L’Oreal True Match Powder
Originally this post was going to be about this foundation, and how I really like it, and how it hasn’t caused me any breakouts. All of that is true, however its second ingredient after talc is corn starch. To be on the safe side, I wouldn’t recommend using a cosmetic with corn starch as one of its main ingredients if you are acne prone. Personally I will probably still buy this product because it goes on smoothly, has a nice finish to it, it comes in a lot of shades, and I have not had an issue with it. I never would have bought it if I remembered at the time to avoid cornstarch, so it’s only by accident that I’m using it.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder
This is the pressed powder I usually use, and I think it is totally safe if you are prone to acne. It only comes in three light shades, so the color choice is pretty limiting. I started using the L’Oreal True Match, because now that summer is here, I wanted a slightly darker shade to go better with my fake tan. Currently, the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder is the only powder I’ve tested that looks good, and that does not have aggravating acne ingredients!

It seemed like it was winter just last week, but here in Vegas, it’s now already 100 degrees out, which means it’s shorts, tank top, and flip flop weather. As much as I now pride myself on being ghostly white (because I like to think it tells the world I’m smart - well at least about sun protection), I look better with a tan!

Get the perfect self-tan
It’s now possible to get a perfect self-tan that looks natural, and not the least bit orange. Here’s an article about 10 tips for the perfect self-tan. However, I’ve found I just don’t have the patience to do all the steps necessary to get an instant fake tan that looks streak-free and natural, and I definitely don’t have the patience to maintain my high-maintenance fake tan all summer long. Even when I’ve tried my hardest at using self-tanners, I inevitably end up with a few dark splotches. I know practice makes perfect, but I don’t care enough to master using regular self-tanners.

Self-tanner moisturizers
Luckily, self-tanner moisturizers came out a few years ago, and they are easy to apply, and hard to mess up. They give you a subtle tan, and you can gradually darken your skin with daily applications. I’ve tried Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer, Neutrogena Build-A-Tan, and a few other self-tanner moisturizers. They work fine, but the problem is that I hate the smell!

Every self-tanner moisturizer I’ve tried smells sour and horrible to me. Almost every regular drugstore self-tanner also smells horrible. I haven’t caved and tried department store self-tanners, because all self-tanners contain the same main ingredient, and I would rather be a ghost than to pay for expensive tanning products.

L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Gelee
I picked up this product last summer, and found out it actually smells almost good to me! It’s the only drugstore self-tanner that doesn’t smell sour and rancid, and it barely has that tell-tale self-tanner scent. The problem is that it’s a regular self-tanner (not a subtle moisturizer) so it’s hard to apply evenly if you are like me and haven’t mastered the perfect tan application.

However, I’ve found a great trick. I mix equal parts of this product with my favorite body moisturizer in my hands, and then apply it that way. As long as I rub it in really well, I get a subtle tan without any of the hassles. Then I apply it every day, or every other day. Make sure to wash your hands after you apply it! I like being able to use whatever moisturizer I want, especially since I’ve found ones that smell good and work well, and this doesn’t really interfere with their scent. I’ve only seen this product come in Medium-Deep or Deep shades, which both work fine for me. You can experiment with how much of this to mix with your moisturizer, depending on your skin color.

The L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Gelee has alcohol as one of its main ingredients. Normally I hate skin care products that contain alcohol because they unnecessarily dry out your skin. However, when it’s super hot and sticky outside, and you’re sweating up a storm, it really doesn’t matter that your self-tanner is a bit drying. Also, since you’re mixing it with a moisturizer, that pretty much takes care of the problem. I have found the Jergens Daily Moisturizer feels sticky on my skin when I get hot. The L’Oreal Sublime Bronze, mixed with body moisturizer, feels smooth and hydrated, and not sticky at all. The best of both worlds!

Self-Tanners For Face
For my face, I need to use self-tanners that don’t contain pore-cloggers. Currently I rotate between these two face self-tanners.

What’s your favorite body self-tanning product?

In the summer, nothing smells better to me than coconut suntan lotion mixed with the smell of the ocean or pool (yeah I’m weird and like the smell of chlorine). Now that I know more about sunscreen, I’ve learned to read ingredients and pick the products that are most effective in preventing sun damage. Unfortunately those sensible products don’t smell like coconuts!

Philosophy Coconut Body Butter
Luckily Philosophy has read my mind and come out with Coconut Body Butter! I couldn’t believe my luck when I spotted it at Sephora last week. They also have a Coconut Body Scrub, Coconut Lip Shine, and a Coconut Body Gel/Shampoo/Bubble Bath. The Philosophy Coconut Collection is only available at Sephora stores (or the website).

For a cheaper alternative, I’m thinking about being naughty and buying the coconut tanning lotion at the drugstore, and mixing it with my regular moisturizer. Then if I go in the sun, I’ll put my sensible sunscreen over it to have the best of both worlds!

Thanks to Jeanie Kwak for writing this guest post about her obsession with skin care, and how she cares for her skin.

I’m going to debunk a myth for you about Asian skin. We are known to have some kind of ageless secret. We have thick hair, clear skin and we never look over 25. All of this appears to be done with ease. While it is true that I was the last to mature in High school and, at age 25 I looked 16, something happened at 30. I looked, well, 30. It’s like that movie Freaky Friday, when Lindsay Lohan wakes up and suddenly she is her mom. What to do? Go to a PTA meeting and make do? 
 
I think not. I will need to do something about this switch-up.

I am now obsessed with skin-care. What works? What doesn’t? I begin to learn words like: Retinol, Glycolic Acid, Antioxidants, Microdermabrasion. Oh, and sunscreen. It seems like all this slackness is due to the sun. If I had known that, I would not have frolicked carelessly sans the sunscreen. NOW, I read about Mexoryl and Helioplex and physical blocks like they are a god-send. I’m excited about Mexoryl because I have read that Mexoryl is a heat and photo-stable chemical that readily prevents UVA and UVB damage. It has the broadest UVA and UVB range. It first appeared in Europe but is now slowly making its way to the US. Kiehl’s carries products with the ingredient Mexoryl. So does Lancome and La Roche Posay’s Anthelios line. I use Neutrogena now which has Helioplex but I am going to make the change to Kiehl’s.

And for my new skin-regimen (which used to consist of soap and Oil of Olay cream) - I am on a daily regimen of Eucerin Q10 Cream for day and night. I haven’t thought much of the effectiveness of CoEnzyme Q10, which is a powerful antioxidant, until I tried DHC’s powerful Q10 cream, and also saw a glowing review of this antioxidant by dermatologist Leslie Baumann. DHC is a Japanese skin-care line that carries a gentle, skin-friendly line. I’ve always been a bit so-so about their products but the Q10 cream really does wonders. I woke up with soothed baby-soft skin. Even my boyfriend noticed in the morning. It is a bit pricey so I decided to go with Eucerin for now. I allow myself one expensive product a month. That way my skin is not overwhelmed by too many products.

Every night I apply Neutrogena’s Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Night Cream. I know that only a certain percentage of Retinol is effective, but I started off with a lighter version because I am new to Retinol and I wanted to start off gently before I bring out the big guns. And I LOVE what I see. Even tone, softer lines. After 2 nights! I have now been on Retinol for a month. I heard it takes about 12 weeks to see complete results. Retinol changes the skin’s turnover rate. This new skin needs to be protected (sunscreen) and maintained (moisture, antioxidants). I plan to incorporate Skinceuticals products next month. These products have a graduated higher level of Retinol. There are also wonderful reviews for the legendary C-E Ferulic Serum, which I’ve read slowly and incrementally changes the texture and elasticity of skin. I’m sold. I am super excited to buy these 2 products. One word of caution: Since these 2 products are not in stable packaging, it is important to store them in a cool dark place. The fridge, I’ve read, is a good place to keep them. Oh, and I would buy them from somewhere reputable instead of Ebay. I am going to my local Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa where they carry the full Skinceuticals line.

I will let you know where that takes me!

About Jeanie: I will hopefully become affiliated with the Future Librarians of America. I have a degree in English Literature and also have spent 3 war-torn years in a graduate program for Creative Writing. This makes me a veteran of some sort. My interests vary: architecture, astrology, Korean Food, Skin Care, Beauty, Film, Art gazing, NY Stories, Funny accents, etc.

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I learned about the UV Index (a measurement of how hot and intense the sun gets on a given day). At the time, I thought the index went from 1-10, with 10 being the absolute hottest rating possible. Imagine my horror when I realized the UV Index is generally 11+ almost every day of the Las Vegas summer! The heat must have fried my brain because I’m a total sun-phobe, yet I cemented my plans on staying in Las Vegas by recently buying a condo.

While Vegas is a bit extreme since it’s a UV Index of 9 or higher half the year, most cities in the US see extreme UV ratings during the summer. You can check your city’s UV Index by entering in your zip code on the EPA website. The site also gives you a map of the UV Index of the entire US. Here is how I go to extremes to deal with the crazy high UV Index:

• I try to avoid leaving the house before 6pm! Currently I’m self-employed, so unless I have a freelance photography job during the day, I generally don’t leave the house til 5 or 6pm. The sun is still out, so I still get to see daylight, yet avoid the hottest time of the day. I’m not a morning person, or otherwise I might get up super early, and then avoid being outside from 9am-5pm. When I get a job outside of the house, a night job would probably be ideal for me.
• I keep most of the shades in the house drawn, and have curtains up on the windows. The hot sun can still come through the windows and while it can’t burn you, UVA rays can cause premature aging, and possibly skin cancer. When I move to my own condo, I’m going to look into having my windows UV tinted. I have no idea how much this costs!
• I tinted my car windows with a UV coating to deflect the sun. Just because you’re in your car doesn’t mean the sun can’t harm you, so car window tinting adds an extra layer of protection.
• If I have to go outside, I spend as little time outside as possible. I always wear SPF 30+ Zinc Oxide-based sunscreen, even at 6pm! If the sun is out, I have on sunscreen!
• I always wear big sunglasses with UVA/UVB coating, and my next purchase will be big wraparound sunglasses, so that my crow’s feet get extra protection! I really don’t like hats, or else I’d wear a hat whenever I left the house as well.
• I carry around sunscreen with me, so that I can reapply in case I have to be in and out of the sun all day (which of course I try to avoid at all costs).

Suddenly that song “Sunglasses At Night” almost makes sense to me! Basically my answer to the heat is to stay inside like a hermit. The problem is when friends don’t share my extreme views, and they think it’s great fun to go outside when it’s 115 degrees! So I find myself making a lot of excuses, since most people have a hard time accepting that a UV Index of 11 = DO NOT GO OUTSIDE!

I just bought a new makeup remover - Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, and so far I really like it. I haven’t tried a whole lot of different eye makeup removers, but this is my new favorite. I used to use L’Oreal Eye Makeup Remover, which was fine, but it didn’t remove my eye makeup that easily.

Then I started getting free Clinique makeup removers as gifts-with-purchase. One of the Clinique makeup removers was great, but the other one actually clogged the pores of my skin near my eyelashes, and that caused problems with my eyes and contacts. The problem was pretty bad, and I wish I could remember the name of the product, since I would like to warn people about this.

Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover
I’ve been using this for a week, and am happy that it easily removes my eye makeup (including mascara), without causing any issues. It doesn’t sting or burn, and it doesn’t cause any problems with my eyes or contacts. It also doesn’t clog my pores when I get the product on my skin. It does contain one potential pore clogger, which hasn’t been a problem for me, and you are also supposed to rinse your face with water afterwards, thus washing away any product residue. I didn’t read the instructions on the bottle at first, but you are also supposed to shake the bottle before you use it! Since this is a drugstore product, the price is good, which is why I prefer this to the more expensive Clinique makeup remover.

Do you need to use an eye makeup remover?
While some cleansers work well enough to remove all your eye makeup, if you are using a more gentle cleanser, you may still have visible eye makeup left after washing your face. If that’s the case, I would recommend using a separate eye makeup remover. Do you have a favorite eye makeup remover?

I know it still feels like winter for some of you, but here in Vegas it’s over 100 degrees! Here’s what’s happening this week in the world of beauty:

Christine at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic shares her tip for fast and easy pefect manicures and pedicures!

Beauty Anonymous shares her first impressions of Chanel Summer 2008 Makeup Collection!

Makeup Moxie reviews Hourglass Superficial Lash mascara.

Cybelesays finds their next addition to the Hall of Fame! A straightening iron that gets strands stick straight.

StyleBell reviews one of the best flat irons on the market the GHD. Move over CHI!

A Touch of Blusher can’t decide which new eye palette to get…

Beauty and Personal Grooming writes about Aspirin face masks.

Beauty Blogging Junkie scores an exclusive interview with Daisy Fuentes about her new perfume, Dianoche Ocean.

Face Candy dishes on the brand new Vincent Longo Collection- Shimmer, Glimmer & Shine.

The Makeup Divas reviews Sue Devitt’s Eye Intensifier Pencil in Zaire.

The Muse reviews Majorca Majolica’s HOT Summer Collection from Japan and shares a FOTD!

Beauty Banter checks out more Spring Hair Trends… with pics and products!

Hello Dollface features Celebrity fashion and beauty!

Beauty Junkie in SF scopes out hot new makeup from Kat Von D

Want to achieve cream blush perfection? Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you the only brush you need for a flawless, airbrushed look: Sonia Kashuk’s Flat Top Blusher Brush.

Nars takes Joy from Makeup Junkie to South Beach thanks to The Multiple in South Beach!

This week, Spoiled Pretty is giving you a chance to win SPINLASH - the mascara with a rotating brush that simultaneously separates, curls, coats, lengthens and volumizes eyelashes. Intrigued? Of course you are. Enter right now!

Toya does her Mother’s Day FOTD with products from the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty line (inspired by Carmindy)!

It seems like every last thing I enjoy ends up being bad for me in some way (ice cream, shopping for stuff I don’t need, spending all day at the beach, frappuccinos, etc.) I just got an email press release stating that some Dermatologists warn lip gloss can be bad for you!?@!  This goes with my theory that there’s not a single thing I enjoy that is “healthy” (I also just read an email where Paula Begoun states hot tubs are bad for your skin in the long-term. I go in the hot tub almost every night). Great.

Back to lip gloss…Since lip gloss is so shiny, Dermatologists theorize that it magnifies the sun’s rays, thus making your lips a prime target for skin cancer. It’s true - you can get skin cancer on your lips, and as silly as it sounds, it does make a lot of sense that lip gloss really could increase your risk of skin cancer. When you go swimming, the pool or ocean acts a giant sun reflector, and it can make you tan/burn faster than just lying on the sand.

Wear SPF on your lips!
This lip gloss press release got me to put more thought into protecting my lips with sunscreen. Currently I obsessively apply my favorite blue Chapstick, which does have an SPF of 15, and over that I apply lip gloss. Since I believe that Zinc Oxide is the best sunscreen ingredient, I want to find some other chapsticks to try, since my favorite chapstick doesn’t contain Zinc Oxide. Zinka makes an SPF 30 coconut scented lip balm, so I will definitely be trying that out!

Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother SPF 20
The press release I received was to promote Neutrogena’s new lip glosses, which contain SPF 20 sun protection. woohoo! Now you can wear lip gloss worry-free, because these lip glosses actually protect your delicate lips from the sun. While these glosses don’t have Zinc Oxide as the sunscreen ingredient, it’s still great that they at least contain SPF. I haven’t tried them yet, but am sure I will love them, since I love all lip gloss. Neutrogena also makes MoistureShine Lip Sheer lipstick with SPF 20 if you prefer lipstick to lip gloss.

The bottom line is to remember to apply SPF to your lips. Skin cancer, brown spots on your lips, and thinning lips are all exacerbated by the sun. Also make sure to apply sunscreen above your lips as well (that’s a spot I normally forget about when I apply my daily sunscreen).

There are probably 100 different sunscreens available at drugstores, but of those 100, there’s only a few I would bother buying. I firmly believe Zinc Oxide is the best sunscreen ingredient, and there are almost no drugstore sunscreens that contain decent levels of Zinc Oxide.

Blue Lizard is the only drugstore brand I currently buy. They have a few different products, and the Zinc Oxide ranges from 6%-10%, which isn’t spectacular, but it’s the highest concentration of Zinc Oxide I’ve seen in a drugstore brand.

Blue Lizard Sport SPF 30+
This is what I’ve been using for the past year as a sunscreen for my body. It’s Very Water Resistant, so it’s good if you’re going to be outside sweating, or going to the beach or pool. It has 6% Zinc Oxide, and other chemical sunscreen ingredients (Octinoxate, Octocrylene, and Oxybenzone). I personally like water resistant sunscreens, since it gets sooo hot in the summer here, and I end up sweating the second I leave the house. Their Regular sunscreen is the same as the Sport, but it’s not water resistant.

Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 30+
I just picked this sunscreen up today. I hadn’t seen it on the shelves until recently, or I would have grabbed it a long time ago. It’s not water resistant unfortunately, but it has 10% Zinc Oxide, and 5% Titanium Dioxide. This is great for people that have sensitive skin and can’t handle chemical sunscreen ingredients. It’s also good for children 6 months and older. This sunscreen appears to have the exact same ingredients as their Baby version. I’ll probably use this every day, but if it comes off when I sweat, I’ll go back to the Sport version.

While I’ve been obsessed with sunscreens that have the highest percentage of Zinc Oxide possible, as well as super high SPFs, I am satisfied with the Blue Lizard sunscreens because they are affordable (they cost about the same as regular drugstore sunscreens, or maybe a few dollars more) and they offer adequate sun protection. The good thing about cheaper sunscreens is that people tend to use the proper amount of sunscreen because the cost isn’t outrageous. When I use expensive sunscreens, I get stingy with my application and probably don’t use as much as I should.

The bad thing about Blue Lizard
I personally wouldn’t use Blue Lizard on my face. It contains pore clogging ingredients, and even their new Face sunscreen has pore cloggers. If you are not prone to acne at all, using it on your face should be fine. If you are prone to acne on your body, this sunscreen could also pose a problem, so be aware of this issue I haven’t ever tried it on my face, so I don’t know if the product leaves a white cast at all, and I don’t know how it looks under makeup. On my body, I don’t really notice a white cast. For my face, I use these sunscreens.

This sunscreen doesn’t smell like coconuts (which I personally love). The Sensitive version has no fragrance (great for people that are allergic to fragrance), and the Sport has a very faint, yet pleasant scent.

Where to find Blue Lizard
You can buy it online at Drugstore.com. I picked up mine at CVS, and according to the Blue Lizard website, other retailers that carry it include: Rite Aid, Ecker, Stop & Shop, Longs, Ralphs, Duane Reade, Kroger, and a few other stores. On Drugstore.com, you can get a 5 ounce bottle for the same price as the 3 ounce bottle (about $9.50). It’s too bad it’s not sold at Target, Wal-Mart, or Kmart.

I know I go on and on about my favorite Shiseido sunscreen - Shiseido SPF 55 Sun Protection Cream, and now you have a chance to get it free. This week you can get a free deluxe sample of the sunscreen if you order something through Sephora.com and enter SUNCREAM at checkout. I’m not sure how long this promo will last, since it’s while supplies last.

The full-size sunscreen is 2 ounces, and the deluxe sample is .08 ounces, so that’s a pretty generous sample. Now I just have to figure out what to buy!!! Also, Sephora is doing free shipping for orders over $50. They are also giving away tons of samples (like always) when you go to checkout. I have three free samples, plus a deluxe sample of a Philosophy body wash, plus the free Shiseido sample in my shopping cart right now.

Shop Sephora and get the “Best of Sephora” Sunscreen free!