Spring Break lives again!

So do any of you folks out there have some old shot glasses gathering dust?
Perhaps they say something like "Cancun Spring Break 1999"?
It's going to be okay, I promise. You are not alone in your shame.

Now there is a legitimate use for that sad little relic of your college binge drinking past....(Not that shots are off limits now - they are just served the right way now- hidden as martinis- ha!)....

Drum roll please.....
Sunscreen serving utensil!! That's right ladies and gents. As I am sure you have read, you should use at least a full shot glass full of sunscreen to cover your body when heading out into those UVBs and UVAs. And recently I read a fabulous tip about actually using a shot glass to portion out your sunscreen...not just guesstimating a "shot glass amount" as most of us have been told to do. But literally keeping a shot glass in your bathroom next to your tube of sunscreen. And when it's time to protect that lovely skin - fill up that shot glass and go to town.

So now, not only are you guaranteed to be protecting yourself in the right way with SPF, you FINALLY have an excuse not to throw out your old mementos - no matter what your boyfriend or wife might say....

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

A friendly reminder for your Friday...

I know that I am like a broken record with the sunscreen talk here at BGND. But what can I say? Not only did I have one too many burns on my fair, freckled skin as a child...I want to get as few wrinkles as possible!!

But of course the number one reason to use sunscreen is not for vanity but for health. While many dismiss skin cancer as an easy cancer, it still is the big C and should not be taken lightly. However, if caught early skin cancer is 99% curable.

So this is my gentle reminder to go get a body check by your dermatologist if you haven't been in a while. (Ideally you should be doing this at a minimum of once a year while checking your own skin on a monthly basis.) Now, perhaps you do not have insurance (46 million Americans do not) but just because you don't have insurance doesn't mean you have to skip your yearly dermatologist visit.

Neutrogena and The American Academy of Dermatology are providing free skin cancer screenings during the months of May, June and July. Simply visit aad.org or neutrogenaskinhealth.com to find a screening in your area.

Now you have no excuses.

Have a fab weekend!
BGND

Safety First!

Today I present you with the perfect kit for anyone who either needs sunscreen, loves sunscreen, hates sunscreen or is afraid of sunscreen...so yup- this baby is perfect for everyone.Introducing the Sephora Sun Safety Kit - ONLY $22.50!!

This product smorgasbord is amazing. It comes chock full of 13 different kinds of sun protection for you to try, love, hate or pass along to friends. This is perfect if....

1 - You are someone who knows you need sunscreen but you don't have a go-to favorite.

2 - You love to try new things out and have expensive taste for brands like Murad, Peter Thomas Roth and Clarins - but you don't have the deep pockets to match.

3 - You want to be prepared with a ton of mini sized bottles to throw in your purse, your car, in your airline carry-on...basically wherever the wind takes you.

I could go on and on with all the reasons that this kit is a winner but I will stop at three. Seriously though, you get an array of choices from full body sun care, to eye care to facial care and these are from some amazing brands. And it all comes in a very Eco-friendly brightly colored back-pack for the summer season. This baby is available online and in stores so it is an easy buy for those who love the brick and mortar shopping experience and those who prefer the web.

Sunscreen at your local drugstore can be $8 and up and here you get 13 small bottles for less than $23! Perhaps you will find your new summer love here instead of on the beach...

Happy Monday and keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Product of the week - May 7th, 2009

Man is it HOT in LA right now. I am all for nice weather but 99 degrees?! Seriously?!!

Anyhoo, all this heat and sunshine has got me thinking of one of my most trusted beauty weapons- SUNSCREEN of course! Now I know you are all sick to death of hearing it from me and every other beauty type out there but sunscreen really is the #1 thing you can do for your skin. It prevents fine lines and wrinkles and of yeah- skin cancer. It should be your best friend. So today I bring you a sunscreen related POTW.



Lubriderm Daily Moisture with SPF 15 Lotion - $8.29 (Drugstores nationwide and online at Drugstore.com)I gotta tell you BGND-ers...This lotion should be your "it" product of the summer (or if you live in a sunny state- all year long.) This lotion is not only hydrating and moisturizing, it comes with an SPF 15 and miraculously it is NON-GREASY. That's right, with this miracle worker you can get your daily skin smoothness and the protection you need without feeling like you are covered in butter. Plus, when the weather gets really warm no one wants to slather on hot and greasy sunscreen on top of their lotion (ironically of course this happens when we need SPF the most).

So here is the time-saver that does it all- gets you what you need for moisture, protects you and does so in an affordable way. It really is the best of the the lotion/SPF combos out there.

I LOVE this stuff!!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

P.S. If you do live somewhere with lots of sunny days- you may want to consider this a winter weapon and just suck it up in the summer with a higher SPF...just a word to the wise.

The Replacement?

As you know I am now officially over the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock...I just don't think it works. Well today, while strolling the aisles of perhaps my favorite store (I love you Target!!) I saw something new that caught my eye and has the potential to be my next skincare savior.

Coppertone Nutrashield SPF 70+ with Dual Defense - $9.99 (Online at drugstore.com and drugstore nationwide)This baby may just be mine (and your!) skin care savior. It has it all - high SPF, sheer consistency, fragrance free, UVA/UVB protection with broad spectrum, designed for women, suitable for everyday use AND the newest trendy factor that I talked about yesterday - antioxidants! Seriously this might be my new favorite item EVER. I am so excited to try it out and give that lame sunscreen I was formally using proof that there are better versions out there. And all of this from Coppertone- THE go-to name in sunscreen and the makers of the sunscreen I most highly recommend (I'm talking about you Coppertone Sport Lotion SPF 50!)

One tricky marketing work to the wise...There are a two versions of this sunscreen on the shelf. The full size container which I have shown here and a smaller "facial" version. I have spent a serious amount of time looking at the two bottles and I can't tell any differences. I think it is the same exact product in both bottles which is silly because they are charging $9.99 for the 3 oz of "facial" formula and $9.99 for 6 oz of the regular formula! SHAME! So save your money and buy the bigger "regular" formula - I think the facial label is on there just to convince you it is a fancier product and therefore worth twice as much!

But anyhoo, despite this little cost discrepancy- I am PSYCHED for this sunscreen!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

DONE

The name of today's post says it all folks. I am DONE with this product. I keep trying...I keep thinking I am going to like it and that it will live up to it's hype.

But NOPE. I am taking it off the BGND hit list. I am no longer recommending it because frankly I am no longer convinced that it works. I use it and I get too much color and sometimes I even burn! ARGH!

And believe you me, I am following the directions perfectly. I reapply and I don't rub it in too much. But none of it makes any difference.



Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock
Sad but true everyone. This used to be one of my favorites. I was SO excited by the new technology and the easy feel of it on my skin. But after a few month's of use? I don't think it works and I am over it. When my daily moisturizer with less spf is doing a better job covering my skin than this supposed sunscreen super star - I am done.

So that is it Neutrogena Ultra Sheer. It is over. Don't call, text or email.

Go find some girl with low standards. This one loves her face and wants to treat it well and protect it. I am just not that into you.

(Sorry - I couldn't help myself!)

BGND

P.S. Let me know if you disagree...I love a good discussion!

Error-sol

So it is the dog days of summer (how is it August already?!) and with being outside so much, a girl's thoughts turn to sunscreen. I don't know about all of you but I have a love/hate relationship with the stuff. I love that it holds off wrinkles, keeps me nice and alabaster and most importantly helps prevent skin cancer. I hate that it is a pain in the butt to apply, often makes me feel dirty/greasy and is just another step in getting ready in the morning.

Well, today I went for a lovely beach day in Malibu with some of my nearest and dearest. It was sunny with not a cloud in the sky and of course there was a nice coastal breeze about. The air even had a lovely coconut smell making me think of frosty umbrella-holding beverages. The reason the air was so delicious? The girl on the towel about 20 feet away from me was using aerosol sunscreen. And so we arrive at my sunscreen thoughts for the day.

Beware aerosol sunscreen. I know it is convenient, I know it keeps your hands clean and I know it is much easier to apply on kids than the old school goop. The problem? Unless you are using it in an area with NO WIND, I do not believe you are not getting the same coverage as you would with a more traditional cream.

Now don't get me wrong, when aerosol sunscreen first debuted a few summers ago I was very intrigued. However, my one experience with it was on a barely windy day when most of what I was spraying flew away into the air and as a result I used an entire can for one day the beach and still got burned. Not exactly healthy or economical. Although I had a bad experience, if aerosol sunscreen works for you and your fam, go with it. Just make sure you are using enough and that what you are spraying into the air makes it onto you and your children's skin. It is no fun thinking you are doing all you can to protect yourself only to find out that you are not as safe as you thought.

Some other quick thoughts on sunscreen:

• Apply sunscreen, at home, in the mirror, before you put on your suit. It is so easy to miss the spots that are right along your suit's edge when you apply with your suit on.
  



• Apply before you get to the beach. It is cleaner and easier and sunscreen needs time to sink in and work properly.
  



• Reapply. If you are out for a bit, reapply a few times.
  



• Don't rub it in too much - just enough so that the white color is gone.
  



• Make sure whatever you use offers UVA and UVB protection.
  



• Love your sunscreen! It is keeping you young. Most skin damage is caused my the sun not by aging or diet or anything else.

My two favorites? (Both available at drugstores nationwide)

Neutrogena Sunblock, Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55, 70 - $10-$12

Coppertone Sport Lotion, SPF 50 - $9.99


Have a great summer and keep looking fabulous!
BGND