Last weekend my boyfriend and I took a little mini-vacation, and stayed at the new Palazzo hotel here in Las Vegas. One of my absolute favorite activities is to hang out by the pool, which is an unfortunate past-time to enjoy, considering my obsession with staying out of the sun as much as possible. Since we were on “vacation” I figured it was an excuse to be at the pool all day, plus I could try out some sunscreens extensively. I feel like a hypocrite, because I was just promoting the Road To Healthy Skin Tour and skin cancer prevention, but I’m also human, and like to have fun.

It was about 84 degrees that day, and we were at the pool from 12:30pm-5pm (the time you are supposed to completely avoid the sun). The UV index was probably 8 or 9 that day. I managed to not get any freckles whatsoever on my face, get no sunburn at all, and almost no tan.

The Hard Rock Hotel
The last time I spent this long at the pool was when I stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel a few years ago, and I spent about the same amount of time at the pool, and it was also about the same temperature/UV rating. That time I got back to the room, and had a face full of freckles, and my face and body was tanned and slightly burned. At the Hard Rock Hotel I used sunscreen that had Avobenzene as its main ingredient, and I am convinced that ingredient just doesn’t work well to combat the sun. I reapplied once an hour, wore a hat and big sunglasses.

The other thing I did that time was go in the pool for about a half hour, and even though I was using a waterproof sunscreen, some of it could have washed away in the water. Water also magnifies the sun’s rays, making the sun even stronger.

The Palazzo Hotel
I was amazed when I got back to my room and didn’t have any extra freckles on my face after a day at the pool. This never ever used to happen in the past! I freckle extremely easily. On my face, every two hours I applied the UV Natural zinc oxide-based sunscreen I recently reviewed. Amazingly, even though it has Grape Seed Oil as one of its main ingredients (a pore clogger), I have not had any breakouts from this sunscreen, and I am very prone to acne. I still wouldn’t necessarily recommend this sunscreen to people that have acne or oily skin, but I’ve personally had no problems with it. When I wear this on a day-to-day basis, I apply powder foundation over it, which takes away the shine, and leaves my skin looking hydrated, but not shiny. The only problem with this sunscreen at the pool is that it leaves your skin extremely shiny, which attracts the sun. I took some pictures of myself, and my face looked like an oil slick without powder on. It’s so shiny that I think it can magnify the sun’s rays (maybe I’m just being paranoid), but I think a matte version of this sunscreen would be even more effective.

I also wore big sunglasses (I now want huge wraparound sunglasses), and a baseball hat at the pool. I also sat in the shade most of the time, and covered my face part of the time by putting a towel on my head. My boyfriend thinks I’m a freak.

On my body I used La Roche-Posay Anthelios W Gel SPF 40, which I bought last year for my face, but it made my face breakout horribly (I only get breakouts on my face). I couldn’t find the expiration date on the sunscreen, so I chanced it (again a bad idea). I just found the expiration date now, and it says 12/07. Ugh. Definitely check the expiration date on your sunscreen, and don’t use it past the expiration date. I applied this sunscreen every two hours also, and I got a slight tan, and very slightly red after the day at the pool. I still have a hunch that Zinc Oxide is a better sunscreen ingredient that Mexoryl, but given the fact this sunscreen was expired, it wasn’t a fair competition for the Mexoryl.

I didn’t go in the water at all because it was freezing, and I spent half the day covered in sweatpants and towels, and sitting in the shade, so that was my way of being at the pool, but not really getting the full effect of the sun. My next test will be to actually go swimming to see if any sunscreens can survive the pool! I also want to test more Zinc Oxide-based sunscreens against each other.

In the end, no sunscreen is 100% protection from the sun, which is why I generally stay out of the sun completely. But after this non-scientific pool experiment, I am even more convinced than ever that Zinc Oxide-based sunscreens are definitely the way to go.

Thanks to Nancy from Beauty411 for writing this guest post about how to combat dark circles.

Are you plagued by dark circles?  Dark circles are one of the most common—and frustrating—beauty problems.  With diligence, patience and some effort, you can learn to manage, or in some cases, eliminate your dark circles.  First, let’s take a look at some of the causes of dark circles and what you can do to treat or minimize the problem.

Dark undereye circles can be caused by many factors, including:

• Lack of sleep or fatigue
• Heredity/genetics/aging
• Hormones or allergies
• Sun exposure
• Smoking

The skin under our eyes is very thin and as we age, gets more transparent. The bluish cast arises from being able to see the accumulation of blood in the capillaries and veins beneath the surface of the skin. Some of the causes of dark circles are things that we can control, like trying to get more sleep, staying hydrated, limiting sun exposure or smoking cessation. Others, like allergies, aging and/or genetics are not controllable.

So what can you do to minimize dark circles?

Eye creams are one way to treat dark circles.  An eye cream that retexturizes the skin under your eyes and contains lightening agents is a good start.  An eye cream that contains a combination of ingredients such as Vitamins A (retinol), C, K, kojic acid, arnica extract and peptides should help.  Some good eye creams include Peter Thomas Roth Power K Eye Rescue, Advanced Eye Therapy by Dr. N.V. Perricone,  Remergent Microcirculation Therapy and Revision SkinCare Teamine Eye Complex.

Another strategy is to mask the appearance of the dark circles while treating.  I like the “correct and conceal” approach using Bobbi Brown products.  You start by applying the Corrector to the undereye area.  This cancels the bluish cast to the undereye skin. Then apply the yellow-based Concealer, blending well and then apply your foundation.  Set with finishing powder.  Using a concealer brush will help to avoid a cakey look when applying the corrector and concealer products.

Lastly, there are options such as laser skin resurfacing treatments or fat grafting. You’ll need a consultation with a plastic surgeon for more information on if you’re a candidate for one of these procedures.

Patience, education and a little research can definitely help in the fight to banish dark circles.  A combination of taking care of your own well-being, along with a good eye cream and concealer are good places to start!

This article was submitted by Nancy from Beauty411. Beauty411 is a beauty blog for women that features articles and product reviews on cosmetics, fragrance and cutting-edge skincare.

Thank you to Jamie from The Beauty of Life for providing the first guest post for Savvy Skin. Since hot, sticky weather is coming soon, Jamie gives you beauty tips to survive humidity and heat.

Ugh, summer. To this beauty chick, that means one thing – humidity. Living in

New York is great until the temperature reaches 80 degrees … then it’s pretty darn-near impossible to look amazing. But there are some fail-safe, tried-and-true beauty tips I’ve definitely come to appreciate and incorporate into my routine over the years!
 
First off, get that hair off your neck! There is absolutely no reason to wear your hair down when it’s 95 degrees – you’ll be totally miserable. Simply run some glossing cream or shine serum over your hair – I like Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream, the olive oil in it really helps to combat frizz – and pull your hair into a ponytail. To combat those annoying wisps that stick out at the sides, pull a Blair Waldorf and slide a headband over it. Goody makes tons of really chic, affordable options that are available at any drugstore.
 
As for your face, beware of makeup that’s too heavy – it will just slide down your face and make you look like the Bride of Frankenstein! Be sure to carry a cleansing mist in your purse (Evian makes a great one), and if you’re like me you’ll always need some blotting linens on hand (I like the peppermint-scented ones by Boscia). Keep makeup light and simple – a powder shadow in light pink or lavender (try Clinique’s Colour Surge Eye Shadow, which comes in tons of really pretty pastel shades) will brighten up your whole look. Finish by slicking on a layer of peach lipgloss (my absolute fave is Stila Lip Glaze in Starfruit), and you’re good to go!

Summer makeup is really all about keeping it light, fun and fresh. Do that and you’ll look pretty and polished no matter how hot it gets!

Visit Jamie’s site The Beauty of Life to read about all things beauty!

I’ve written in the past about how vital it is to get a screening for skin cancer, and now here’s your opportunity to do it for free! No more excuses!!! May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection Month, and The Skin Cancer Foundation is kicking off their “Road To Healhty Skin Tour” tomorrow in New York City’s Union Square (from 12-3pm if you live in NYC). I caught a quick segment about it this morning on The Today Show.

After New York City, they take the show on the road, and a customized RV is going to be driving around the country, and visiting 50 cities between May and October. When the RV comes to your town, you can get a free full body skin cancer screening in a private room, performed by a local Dermatologist.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US, and it’s also the most curable and preventable, when it’s caught early. I just had my skin cancer screening a few weeks ago, so now it’s your turn! It’s important to get yearly skin cancer screenings, and they are super simple and only take a few minutes.

Find out if the Road To Healthy Skin Tour is coming to your city! There is a text link near the top of the page that says “tour schedule.” If they aren’t coming to your town, there may be another free skin cancer screening you can attend, so check with your local hospitals, magazines, newspapers, etc.

I’m going to periodically feature exclusive guest posts on Savvy Skin, written by other beauty bloggers. Additionally, anyone that wants to be featured on the site is more than welcome to contact me. My goal is to cover beauty and skin care topics that I haven’t written about yet. I personally like to write about topics that I have researched extensively, and have first-hand knowledge with - sunscreens, Botox, laser hair removal, thinning eyebrows, hormonal acne, cosmetic acne, dry skin, hair loss, etc.

The guest posts will ideally cover new topics, such as: skin care for oily skin, skin care for darker skin types, makeup tips for oily skin, skin care issues when pregnant, experiences with injectables like Restylane, various Medical Spa and cosmetic surgery procedures, eczema tips, Rosacea tips, insider secrets if you work in the beauty industry, etc. If there’s a topic you’d like to hear about, just leave a comment about what you’d like to see!

Additionally, the other obstacle I face is that I can’t afford to buy and test a lot of new products, so I struggle with the desire to review interesting new products, but can’t justify buying them when I currently have a regimen of products that I’m currently happy using. So I would welcome honest reviews of new anti-aging, acne, and beauty products.

Get featured on Savvy Skin
If you would like to write an exclusive post for Savvy Skin, please contact me. As a beauty blogger, you will have a link to your site at the top of the post, and you can include a one or two line biography (with another link) at the bottom of the post. If you don’t have a blog or website, you can still submit a post if are a writer and are looking for exposure. Otherwise, if you just want to share your story of how you’ve dealt with a particular skin care issue successfully, let me know.

Skin care expert Paula Begoun has released a new free report on her website about Anti-Aging Superstar skin care ingredients. Like Paula, I’m only interested in skin care products that actually offer real results, and her report explains in detail about what does, and doesn’t work, when it comes to turning back the clock. Check it out - there’s lots of great info to read.

The report includes info about glycolic acid, salicylic acid, retinol, vitamin c, sunscreen, antioxidants, and even Botox - all of my favorite anti-aging and skin care ingredients!

The only thing Paula Begoun advocates, which I personally don’t like, is the use of avobenzene in sunscreen. I much prefer zinc oxide-based sunscreens, so I don’t agree with all of her sunscreen recommendations. I also like sunscreens that are as effective as possible, so I look for ones with a high percentage of zinc oxide, that are SPF 30+. Also, Paula’s product reviews don’t state whether or not a product contains pore-clogging ingredients, which is a big issue for acne sufferers. Finally, I agree with her that retinol-based products are key in your anti-aging skin care routine, but she doesn’t list how much retinol is in the products she recommends.

Paula Begoun also has a new site called Beautypedia, which is an extension of her book Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me (a book I highly recommend). The site has over 35,000 product reviews, and it gets updated as new products come out on the market. The site costs $24.95 a year to join, and I’m cheap right now, so I haven’t joined yet. I think you can get a free trial membership though, so I should look into that. Has anyone joined Beautypedia? What do you think?

Thank you so much to everyone that entered the ThermaClear contest, and thanks for sharing your acne stories! I feel terrible that there can only be one winner, but hopefully I’ll be having some more contests soon.

The winner was chosen randomly, and Jennifer from New York is the lucky winner. Congratulations!

Not that this is much consolation, but I hope my guide to cure acne can help people that are still suffering from acne.

Sephora is offering a great little kit that is available now until June 2008, or until supplies last. If you are obsessed with sunscreens (like me), and want to try everything, this is for you! You get travel-sized versions of eleven different sunscreens in the Sephora Sun Safety Kit!

This is a great way to try a whole bunch of new products, to figure out your new favorite. My current favorite - Shiseido Ultimate Face Protection Cream For Face SPF 55 isn’t in the bunch, but you get its close cousin Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 instead. Also included are travel sizes of:

• Korres Natural Products Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30

• Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion SPF 30

• DDF Daily Protective Moisturizer SPF 15

• Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion SPF 20

• Juice Beauty Green Apple Moisturizer SPF 15

• Murad Firming Bronzer SPF 15

• MD Skincare Powerful Sun Protection Pads SPF 30

• Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream Ultra Protection SPF 30

• Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15

• Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheer SPF 15

You also get a limited edition Sephora pouch, plus something really cool that I totally want - a UV indicator card. I assume you can take this out in the sun, and it will give you a UV Index reading. This will give you an idea of when it’s just too hot to be outside. I used to have a little gadget that did this, but I’m pretty sure it only measures UVB rays (the ones that burn you) and not UVA rays (the ones that give you wrinkles).

Finally, the best news is that this kit costs $25 (but it’s valued at $87), and all of the net profits (up to $430,000) will benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation. Yay!

Get your Sephora Sun Safety Kit!

As you know, one of my favorite skin care products is Philosophy Microdelivery Peel. I’ve only bought the product once, and it’s lasted me over two years, even though I use it about once a week. It’s worked wonders to keep my skin smooth, and it helps to keep it exfoliated, which helps to prevent acne. I’ve used lots of skin exfoliants, but this is my favorite by far.

Olay Microdermabrasion Treatment
Shortly after I bought the Philosophy kit for $65, Olay released a very similar product - Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System. Its ingredients are nearly identical to the Philosophy kit, but it retails for about $28 at your local drugstore. Well this week my Philosophy kit finally ran out, and I decided to try the Olay Microdermabrasion instead. It was on sale at Target for $23, and I figured if it didn’t work out, I could just return it, and go back to the Philosophy.

I’ve used it twice now, and the results it produces are nearly identical to the Philosophy. It really helps keep my skin smooth and radiant, and I would have a hard time telling the two products apart if I didn’t know which was which. The ph level of the Philosophy is a 2, while the Olay is a 3.6. In theory, I would gather that the Philosophy would work better to exfoliate the skin, due to its higher acidity level, but I think the results from the products are more due to the sodium bicarbonate (the scrub/crystals).

Since sodium bicarbonate is basically baking soda, I wonder what would happen if you used baking soda (mixed with some sort of gel alpha hydroxy acid product) to exfoliate your skin. I haven’t tried this do-it-yourself concoction, but for now I’m okay with paying $23 for the Olay product. I was also okay with paying $65 for the Philosophy version, since the results were so good.
(UPDATE: PLEASE DISREGARD THIS PARAGRAPH AND DO NOT TRY TO MIX YOUR OWN SKIN CARE PRODUCTS! A viewer told me that she tried mixing baking soda with an alpha hydroxy product, and the results produced a concoction that smelled like amonia. I am generally against do-it-yourself skin care, and mistakenly thought baking soda was harmless, but it turns out I’m wrong! It’s just too dangerous to try to make your own products.)

You can’t go wrong with either of these two products, in my opinion. It’s hard to say which is better, but given the price point, I’d probably start with the Olay, unless you have money to burn. And I’m sorry for not mentioning the Olay earlier, but since I hadn’t tried it til now, I was hesitant to recommend it.

Buy Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System

Buy Philosophy The Microdelivery Peel

In case you haven’t seen the contest - I’m giving away a ThermaClear this Friday, April 18th. ThermaClear is a zit zapping tool that retails for $150!!

Enter to win your very own ThermaClear. I will announce the winner a few days after the contest ends.

:) Jeni