Recently in Skincare Category

Let's face it: the recommended eight hours of sleep we should all get every night is sometimes hard to come by. This lack of Zzzzs usually shows up all over our faces, particularly in puffy eyes with dark circles. 

Philosophy is known the world over for their skincare with whimsical names, such as their Hope in a Jar moisturizer, When Hope is Not Enough serum, and The Great Mystery Daily Facial. You may have salivated over their so-good-you-could-eat-it food inspired 3-in-1 bath gels (Red Velvet Cake, anyone?), or doused yourself in the heavenly Amazing Grace fragrance. But did you know that Philosophy has amazing makeup too?


Philosophy's the supernatural line is just that: super healthy, mineral-based, your-skin-but-better makeup. Standouts include:

• Airbrushed Canvas- a high-pigment, talc-free foundation that conceals, camouflages and provides spf protection all in one easy step. best of all, it's safe for all skin types. Airbrushed Canvas looks natural and almost melts into skin, leaving you flawless with no tell tale makeup look or "shiny" appearance that other mineral powders can take on.
  

• Superbeautiful Hybrid Liquid- a healthy, good-for-skin makeup infused with natural, plant-based moisturizers, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and spf 20 to deliver sheer color, moisture and protection. Perfect for those who like the look and application of liquid makeup with the benefits of minerals. This one truly does double duty to keep skin flawless with or without makeup.
  

• Lit From Within Cream Blush - a superblendable, creamy, natural mineral blush that moisturizes, refreshes and adds sheer, healthy color to cheeks. This cream is easily applied with fingers or brush (we prefer our fingers!), and makes skin glow.
  

Summer may be quickly winding down, but that doesn't mean you need to put away your sunscreen along with your bikinis and flip flops. Relatively new to the beauty scene, the Ultra-light Weightless Finish SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray by Paula's Choice is definitely a must-have product to keep in the front row of your beauty drawer year-round. Just as the name suggests, it's super light, and not the least bit heavy. We loved how easy the clear liquid spritzed on, though we did have to rub it in a little to evenly distribute the sunscreen. Though it left our hands a little greasy from the application initially, it was absorbed almost instantaneously, and didn't leave behind any residue, film, oil, or any other sign that makes most of us dread our daily SPF application. 

We've got the tips and products to get you smooth, sun-kissed, and sexy....just in time to pull out those teeny bikinis! Here's how to effortlessly transition out of winter hiding:


Smooth Skin

The number-one way to make pasty winter skin beach ready? EXFOLIATE. Bliss Slim & Bare It ($45) is a a scrub-and-rub, cellulite-sabotaging duo, and does the triple duty of exfoliating, moisturizing, and fighting stubborn cellulite. The set includes full-size jars of FatGirlSlim, the 'caffeinated' visible dimple-demolishing cream, and FatGirlScrub, the circulation-stimulating skin-smoothing slough, and is all you need for smooth, bare-worthy skin. Yay for three in one, err, two products!Tip: To boost its effectiveness, rub using a circular motion, spending extra time on rough knees, heels, and elbows.

Banish Blemishes

Not so perfect skin on your back, shoulders, chest making you dread putting on a tank top? No worries. A simple acne fighting routine can make all of the difference and get rid of shoulder-shyness in no time. First, cleanse the areas daily with a salicylic acid based cleanser, like Murad Acne Body Wash ($40). The cleanser contains Salicylic Acid and Date Seed Powder to deeply penetrate skin to control and prevent breakouts, while humectants lock in moisture, keeping skin hydrated and healthy. To reap all of the acne-fighting benefits, let the cleanser sit on your skin for a few minutes before rinsing it.Tip: If you have stubborn blemishes, you can spot treat them with the same product you use on your face.

Pretty Peds

It's pedicure season! With all of the fun new summer nail colors out, there's no way you should forget your feet.  Philosophy Soul Owner ($14) is a foot treatment featuring an extra-rich emollient cream super-charged with salicylic and glycolic acids to help reduce rough soles. Tip: it works wonders on rough elbows and knees too. Here's an easy, at-home pedicure program designed to get your feet in perfect pedicure shape: Soak feet in a  bowl of equal parts warm milk and water (the lactic acid naturally sloughs dead skin and softens.) After soaking for a few minutes, smooth rough spots with a pumice stone, then massage Soul Owner all over. Tip: For added softness, do this at night and put on a pair of socks before bed, to seal in moisture.

Fight Fuzz

The first thing most people think about when getting bikini-ready is hair removal. No one wants to be the fuzzy gal in the sand. Waxing, lasers, depilatories...there are so many options out there, but we are still partial to a good old shave, especially with the way shave creams have evolved! Evolution of Smooth's (EOS) Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream is paraben-free and made with natural aloe, oat, shea butter and antioxidant vitamins E and C to leave skin radiantly healthy. The non-foaming cream boosts skin's moisture level and keeps it smooth long after shaving. Bonus? It's so moisturizing, you can shave wet or dry. The cream comes in the most amazing scents: vanilla bliss, pomegranate raspberry, lavendar jasmine, island blue... and a fragrance free version for senstive skin. Seriously yummy. Available at evolutionofsmooth.com, Target and Wal-Mart stores.

Tip: Cut down on irritation by relathering an area if you are going over it a second time.

Get Glowing

If you've followed all of our steps, you're almost ready for the sun... but wait. You've been smoothed, sloughed, and silkened, but what do you do with the ghostly skin?  Self-tanners can sometimes be too harsh, especially on skin that's been hidden all winter long. For a natural, sun-kissed glow, warm up your skin tone with a gradual tan lotion. St. Tropez Gradual Tan ($30) combines serious skincare benefits with a healthy touch of bronze. Infused with soothing aloe vera, this lotion will help give you smoother skin while building a gradual golden tan, every day.Tip: Make sure to prep skin with the aforementioned steps for a smooth canvas, and you're good to glow!

Finding the right sunscreen can be incredibly overwhelming. There are so many options to choose from, and with something so important as your skin, you want to make sure you're making the best purchase. Sadly, many commercial sunscreens lack the adequate criteria for optimum protection. So, according to the EWG (Environmental Working Group), when shopping for sunscreen, keep in mind that the best sunscreens block both UVA and UVB rays with safe, active ingredients that do not break down in the sun. And:

1. Look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
2. Avoid oxybenzone and sunscreens with fragrance
3. Avoid sunscreen sprays (we know...bummer!)

Here are five effective sunscreens to invest in this season, broken down by category:

All this talk of sunscreen and summer is making us yearn for an island vacation! While it isn't exactly the same as sitting on the beach in, enter your island paradise here ________, sipping some high calorie drink, La Licious' Body Butter in Island Guava will make you feel like you're somewhere tropical. The strong fruity (hence the whole 'island' reference) scent is highly intoxicating, and the intense hydration from the Shea Butter make it so that a little goes a long way.  They've also included a little aloe to help heal dry, damaged skin. $25, LaLicious.com.

Protection from the sun is vital, especially as temperatures start to soar. A few of the most feared words in a gal's life? SUN DAMAGE. So fair and frightened is one of our editors, she triples up with SPF in her primer, moisturizer, AND foundation! (We should note that layering SPFs does not increase the number or effectiveness, but try telling her that...)

You may not be as paranoid as she is, but it's important to protect yourself. No matter what your skin concern may be - aging, sensitive, acne-prone-- we've got you covered...literally.

Best anti-aging:
Kinerase Daily Defense Lotion SPF 30, $135

An antiaging lotion with SPF 30 protection. Kinerase Daily Defense Lotion SPF 30 defends the skin against the harsh rays of the sun with the added benefit of active ingredient kinetin, a powerful antioxidant scientifically proven to visibly diminish the appearance of fine lines wrinkles by enhancing skin's ability to maintain 25% more moisture.

Best organic:
Josie Maran Protect Daily Sun Protection Argan Oil Infused SPF 40+, $32

 A chemical-free, SPF40+ daily sun block for the face, neck, and décolleté. This natural formula physically blocks UVA rays that can cause up to 80% of premature aging.
Infused with Josie's signature ingredient, Argan Oil, which repairs and reverses damage caused by the sun, fights sign of aging, and improves skintone for a radiant, renewed complexion.

Best complexion boosting:
Boscia Illuminating UVA/UVB SPF 30, $30

A botanically based, oil-free sunscreen. Boscia Illuminating UVA/UVB SPF 30 provides natural sun protection using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The rich, botanically based formula enhances and fortifies all skin types, leaving a healthy, beautiful glow.
 
Best for oily skin:
DDF Matte Finish Photo-Age Protection™ SPF 30 , $32

A lightweight, easily absorbed, non-oily formula to help protect against premature aging effects caused by everyday exposure to the sun and environmental pollutants. It protects from both the UVA rays that cause long-term damage and the UVB rays that cause burning.

Best for sensitive skin:
Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion - SPF 30 , $42

This user-friendly daytime essential provides extra-sheer protection against UVA/UVB rays as it soothes and hydrates skin. Rich in antioxidants to protect skin from free radical damage, this oil-free formula keeps your complexion safe and healthy.

Best for dry skin:
Clarins HydraQuench Cream SPF 15, $48

A moisturizing cream that combines a unique range of moisturizing agents that work in synergy to guarantee perfectly hydrated, comfortable skin. No matter the climate or conditions, you can count on this expert solution to keep your skin healthy and radiant.

Best overall:
Clinique Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40, $17.50

Invisible protection for all skin tones and types from everyday encounters with the sun's UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays. Comfortable, ultra-sheer formula uses physical sunscreens, so even sensitive skins can wear it daily. Helps makeup wear longer.

Best value:
Sephora Sun Safety Kit ($95 Value) $25

Try before you buy! Protect your complexion with this array of products and find your perfect match. Do something good for your skin and feel good knowing that 100 percent of the net profits from the sales of this set will be donated to The Skin Cancer Foundation.

This set contains:
- 0.14 oz Murad Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15
- 0.23 oz DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew UV Moisturizer SPF 15
- 0.10 oz Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Lemon and Chamomile
- 0.25 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Lotion SPF 30
- 0.16 oz Kate Somerville Protect SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen
- 0.27 oz Clarins Delectable Self Tanning Mousse SPF 15
- 0.16 oz Cover FX BritePrep FX Brightening Foundation Primer & Photo-Aging Defense SPF 50
- 0.34 oz Bliss Best of Skintentions Daily Moisturizer SPF 15
- 0.23 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 60 PA+++
- 0.25 oz Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Cream SPF 15
- 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish UVA/UVB SPF 15
- 0.02 oz Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Multi-tasking Face SPF 20 in Summer Bisque
- Pink Sephora makeup bag
- 2 x single-use UVSunSense UV monitoring bracelets