June 23, 2017

"Vintage" lip balm formulas that are still relevant today and soothing scalp care from Klorane.

Who wants FREE sunscreen?

I wouldn’t even think about stepping outside without sunscreen on my face, and I have a variety to choose from, depending on what the day has in store. But once I started playing golf and tennis again, I realized one very important option was missing: SPF for when I’m getting my outdoor activity on (i.e. sweating). I knew I needed to step up my sun-protection game when I wiped my face with a towel and I saw my daily tinted go-to wipe right off—and I’m all about protecting the anti-aging results I’ve achieved with my skincare regimen (and dermatologist intervention).

Upon receiving PCA Skin’s Active Broad Spectrum SPF 45, my sunscreen selection was complete. Designed to provide a high level of UVA and UVB protection that can stand up to swimming a sweating for up to 80 minutes, I was worried it would feel thick and heavy (especially when combined with South Florida’s summer humidity—but I was wrong. The lightweight lotion requires virtually no rubbing in before it disappears, and there’s absolutely no greasiness left behind. I can also break a sweat without it running down my arms or legs, and it passed the face test, too. I can layer my AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact over it and it’s like it’s not even there.

So if this sounds like a sunscreen you can get on-board with, PCA Skin’s annual #SunworthySelfie contest is back just in time for summer! All you have to do is follow the steps below to be entered to win more than $1,300 in prizes, including a series of professional PCA Skin treatments, over $400 in PCA Skin products, a round beach towel from Vagabond Beach, sunglasses from Solo Eyewear and more! (Get all the contest details here.)

1. Post an outdoor selfie on Instagram.
2. Share how you stay selfie-ready without sacrificing protection.
3. Tag #SunworthySelfie and @PCASKIN.
4. Follow @PCASKIN on Instagram.
5. Make sure your account is public.
6. Visit this link to submit your address for your FREE sunscreen sample!

This contest runs through June 30 at 11:59pm, so get snapping—and good luck!

These vintage lip balms are still going strong

Skincare science has come a long way over the past few decades, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a formula that remains true to its original recipe. (Even cult favorites such as Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream and Erno Laszlow’s pHormula 3-9 Repair Cream have been updated over the years.) So when I come across a product that has withstood the test of time—without any formula finessing—I definitely take notice, and Emile Cordon’s Cashmere-On Lip Pot is my new desktop resident.

The various offerings’ names feature different numbers and ladies’ names, and each is infused with a different blend of luxurious ingredients. The pink-tinted No. 1 Lisa (which is available for pre-order), for example, contains Rosé champagne, tea rose and strawberry leaves, while the sold-out pistachio-green No. 21 Olivia is made with mint julep, peppermint and superfine sugar. I received the buttery yellow No. 29 Dorine, which features neroli (on of my favorites), lemon leaves and brown sugar. It also has a hint of shimmer, and I’m basically obsessed with it.

The pots themselves are on the heft side, so you get a lot of product for the price. And did I mention they’re super luxe-looking as well? Even more, you can use these hydrating balms beyond the lips, as they’re perfect for smoothing cuticles as well as soothing itchy or irritated skin. In a nutshell, these balms are the bomb, and you should really treat yourself to at least one.

How healthy is your scalp?

When it comes to haircare, our strands get all the attention. But doesn’t it make sense to care for the actual source of our hair, which would be the follicles that reside in the skin of the scalp? Yes, it does. Without a healthy scalp, you’re compromising the health of your hair. There are a variety of products that strive to cleanse, soothe and stimulate the scalp, and amongst the latest is Klorane’s new Gel Conditioner with Peony, which can be used like a traditional post-shampoo conditioner, or a pre-shampoo scalp treatment.

First off, I wish this stuff was around when I was platinum, because it would have been perfect for soothing the itching and irritation I experienced every time I got my roots done—but it’s proven to be a valuable addition to my brunette haircare regimen as well. Packed with a high concentration of peony, which is known for its soothing properties, it also contains hydrating glycerin and a primrose fragrance that provides relaxing aromatherapy benefits.

I figured my scalp could use a little extra TLC after spending two out of the last three days at the beach (without a hat) and the precision applicator made it easy to get the gel right at the roots. After a few minutes I shampooed and conditioned as usual and my hair was soft and shiny. I suppose my scalp felt pretty good, too, and it was definitely free of product buildup.

Like I mentioned, this gel can be used as a regular conditioner as well, and I really like it because of its lightweight consistency that manages to hydrate without weighing hair down. I’ve been using it with the new Shampoo with Peony and it’s been smooth sailing hair-wise ever since. As an added bonus, I’m loving the pop of pink in my shower as well…