Beat The Heat: SPF

We just shot a really important segment for the Daily Dish on SheKnowsTV that was all about facial SPFs.
Here are some of the key points we covered, and the product details.

*Facial SPF is a crucial component in your skin care regimen, possibly the most important component. 
*Up to 90% of skin aging comes from sun damage. This damage won't necessarily show up immediately. In the years ahead you will start seeing dark patches, or hyper-pigmentation, which are very difficult and expensive to remove.
*The sun breaks down collagen, which in turn leads to a loss of elasticity, leaving you with saggy, lifeless looking skin. 
*Lack of sun protection also opens you up to the dangers of skin cancer.




*Regular sunscreen that you use on your body will frequently break your skin out and leave it with a coarser, thicker texture, so it is important to have a separate facial SPF product.

*Sunscreen needs to be applied liberally. You should coat your face, throat and decollete every single day with an SPF of at least 30.

* Although there is debate as to whether or not an SPF higher than 30 is actually more powerful or not, it is generally accepted that the higher the SPF, the longer the protection.

For example: if the UV index today is 10, the average person has about 10 minutes before their skin will start to burn. If you wear SPF 30 you will have 30X 10 minutes, or 300 minutes before you will burn.

The clock starts when you apply the product, so if you apply SPF 30 at 7am when you're getting ready for work, it has probably run out by noon, or at least lost significant potency. So go for the highest SPF you can find.

* We get most of our sun damage just doing our regular daily things, such as walking to and from our cars, which is why dermatologists want everyone to wear sunscreen every single day.

Here are the products I discussed on the show:

For Everyday use

Rhonda Allison Zinc Protection Cream

This is a fabulous daily SPF that can be 

used alone or over moisturizer.

Great for all skin types

www.rhondaallison.com

Kiehls Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50
This very lightweight, translucent, oil free and 
water resistant sun protection leaves the skin 
with an ultra matte finish. It has powerful,
long lasting broad spectrum UVA and UVB
protection, which is photostable. (maintains
the level of protection) 
www.kiehls.com

For A Day In The Sun  

Heading to the beach? A picnic or a BBQ? Or maybe you're doing an outdoor activity? Anything that's taking you outdoors for the day requires an even stronger formulation. Here's what I recommended:

I love this SPF 58!

Cotz is free of chemical sunscreen filters. Its water and sweat resistant, dries clear and is fragrance free.

www.beautyatskindeep.com

I love this one too!

Individual sachets, each containing one SPF 30 towelette. What I especially love about this is that it is fragranced. Tocca's beautiful Stella fragrance. So when you've been out in the heat and need to reapply your sunscreen, the convenience of a single serve sachet combined with something that doesn't smell like coconuts and pineapples is so refreshing!

Probably more for the body than the face, but I had to include it - its so lovely!

www.tocca.com

 How fabulous is this??

SPF 30 in crushed mineral form. (Also available in SPF 50)

Great on its own as a facial SPF, Colorescience Sunforgettable also makes the absolute perfect touch up SPF product, for everyday use or for the big day out.

Super convenient to slip into your handbag, lightweight and easy to apply and reapply over makeup, you can top off your sun protection before heading out to lunch, before going out for after work drinks - anytime you need to add more facial sunscreen.

Perfect in both humid and dry climates, the sheer convenience of it will keep you reapplying.

Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

                                                                          www.colorescience.com

20 Ways To Look Younger

1. Three little words: wear less makeup!

2. Change up your lips instead of a full dark lipstick try a soft pink or rose gloss. Paler, shiny colors make lips look fuller

3. Use and enzyme mask fruit acids eat away that lifeless, dull layer on the surface of the skin, leaving you with a glowing, healthy, youthful complexion

4. Add highlights around your face highlights lift and brighten your skin and make you look younger

5. While you're at it, get bangs. Soft, side swept bangs soften the face and hide fine lines and wrinkles  

6. Get rid of age spots. These days there are tons of options, from IPL/Laser treatments to chemical peels to good old color correcting with makeup. (spot treat with a pinkish toned corrector, then powder well to set it). Whichever method you choose - they have to go! 

7. Brighten and whiten that smile! Over the counter whitening strips are the fast track to lovely white teeth and an unbeatable smile!

8. Get rid of the black eyeliner. Hideously harsh and unforgiving, black eyeliner draws attention to everything you want hidden. Opt instead for a gentle deep brown or a soft navy. Navy will brighten the whites of your eyes, which tend to yellow with age.

9. Warm up your makeup colors. Soft bronzes, warm deep burgundies (instead of blue 1berries) golden hued earth tones are more flattering to skin tone, and will give you a softer, lovelier visage.

10. Add a little highlighter to the inner corner of your eye. It will lighten and brighten, making you look more awake, more vivacious.

11. Curl your lashes. The more you can open your eye, the more youthful and vibrant you will look.

12. Get plenty of sleep. You may function on five hours, but studies show that those who regularly get eight hours sleep age drastically less rapidly than those getting fewer. Dark circles and bags under your eyes do you no favors either.

 13. Invest in a really good, nourishing and hydrating eye cream.The first signs of aging show up around our eyes. Keeping them nourished and hydrated helps keep the fine lines and wrinkles at bay.




 14. Smile! Smile a lot! Optimists look better as they age. A smiling face looks younger than an apathetic or frowning one.

15. Go silicone! Avoid "oil free" foundations like the plague. Nothing is more aging than a lifeless oil free foundation. Instead choose one of the fabulous new silicone based bases. Silicone particles are spherical, and bounce light off themselves, making skin look radiant, fresh and glowing.

16. Get a regular foot massage. For most of us that's the luxurious end to the twice monthly pedicure, but however you get it, embrace it! Soothe the sole and you'll soothe your soul.

17. Wear a handcream with SPF every single day. Aged hands don't match a youthful glowing face.

18. Wear a facial SPF every single day. Without fail.

19. Work your posture Shoulders back, chin up. A well carried body with a strong core looks so much younger!

20. Get your groove on. No kidding - studies show that women who are doing the wild thing at least three times per week look up to 10 years younger!!!   
 

High Time We Had Ourselves A Mint Julep!

When you are reading this one I'll be in Nashville watching my good friend Jennifer Jo Cobb racing in the Nascar Camping World Truck Series.
It will be hot and humid in Nashvegas and I will no doubt be thinking about a cold, refreshing sip of the deep south.

Doesn't a Mint Julep sound like the perfect drink?

 image by Rob Palmer

Here's how you make them: 

2 cups of water
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, torn up
32 ounces Kentucky whiskey
8 sprigs of fresh mint leaves to garnish

Combine water, sugar and mint leaves in a saucepan and slowly bring to a boil, simmering until sugar is dissolved. Allow syrup to cool (about an hour in the refrigerator), then strain to remove mint leaves.
Fill 8 frozen silver goblets (or chilled glasses) with ice. Pour 4 ounces of whiskey and 1/4 cup of syrup over each (according to taste) and garnish with a mint sprig and a straw.

Enjoy your Friday, and make sure you cheer for Jennifer in tomorrow's race!
If you're on twitter follow her @jenjocobb
and follow me @Corinnamakeup

Join my facebook page Corinna B

Beach Time Anyone?

Already August is upon us,

and for some of us the last beach excursions

are looming like a lover about to leave.

So whats a girl to pack?

Don't worry, I came up with some ideas for you...

Jantzen has been the purveyor of all kinds of fun this season.

I love this maillot and cover up

perfect to BBQ in, non?

Next you need to accessorize:

Tres chic hat from Helen Kaminski

and a Helen Kaminski beach tote

I love this whole raffia thing. And the bag is big enough to hold a chilled bottle of wine and a good book.

Tory Burch brings the perfect sandal

 Now some earrings to brighten your look

Big, bold and turquoise

Speaking of bold, lets do a bright pink glossy lip

Feeling bloated? I found these in a magazine.

Haven't tried them, but they look intriguing

They're called Tummy Tuck Sticks.

And a little SPF that will leave you smelling lovely

Perfect n'est ce pas?

Beat The Heat - Makeup That Stays On

Today's segment on SheKnowsTV Daily Dish is all about makeup that works in the heat.

Basically there are two different dynamics at play.

1. When the air gets dry the skin gets red, dries out and gets a very lackluster, uneven suface with rough patches. It gets difficult to have your makeup look even and flawless.


2. When the humidity kicks in it turns up the oil production in skin. Your complexion gets greasy and shiny and it becomes difficult to get makeup to stay on.

So a girl needs a few good tricks up her sleeve. I pulled some really cool products out of my makeup kit that help you beat the heat. These are items that I use both on shoots, and on myself.

No Foundation Foundation from Perricone MD is a fabulous option when you don't want to wear foundation. It evens out your complexion, and gives the skin a lovely dewy finish. You can use it under a foundation or by itself.


When you do have to wear a foundation on a hot day, the prepping that you do underneath is crucial.
If your skin is dry, or you're in a very dry place HD Elixir from Makeup Forever gives your skin an instant hydration boost, and will stop your foundation from crackling up like an alligator. Which is never a good look.

If you'resomewhere humid, or if you tend to get more oil and shiny, you need a mattifying product to help cut down the sheen. I use All Mat by Makeup Forever

I also use the Makeup Forever HD Primer, which really helps foundation to hold.


When it comes to foundation and beating the heat, my main advice is to avoid powder foundations and crushed mineral foundations if you are somewhere very dry, or if your skin is dry. They will make you look like a lizard!
If you are somewhere humid, they can be your saving grace.


I love cream blush on hot summer days - it helps to keep you looking fresh and luminous.

For your eye makeup, look to something waterproof. I use the Makeup Forever Aqua Cream colors all the time. They are sheer, buildable color that canbe as pale and translucent as you want, or can go to full Lady Gaga style instensity. They come in 22 colors, so you have lots of options. After about 90 seconds they go waterproof, so you can swim, sweat, or play in a rain shower and still look fabulous! The Aqua Liners work in the same way.


Another great option to help your makeup stay is to use a finishing product.
Spritz Face Atelier's Face Finish over your makeup and it will last all day long.

Cold Plasma

One of my absolute favorite,

just can't do without

products at the moment

is Perricone MD's

Cold Plasma.

I originally got Cold Plasma as a rescue product,

to help me resurrect my skin

after the combination of the

drying effects of the desert heat,

endless air travel 

(including long hauls to Australia and back)

and long days in TV makeup

left my complexion screaming for help.

Cold Plasma is one of those fabulous products

that gives you instant, discernible results.

So in the first week of use, I was in love.

Then I came to find out that it is actually

preventative maintenance as well.

It combats the 10 most visible signs of aging,

has an innovative delivery system,

and actually communicates with your skin.

According to Dr Perricone:

"Each individual is unique; some may require 10 times higher levels of a particular nutrient than another person. Cold Plasma’s ionic suspension can provide an available form of all the nutrients needed by the individual cell. The cell will select and utilize only those nutrients needed."

To you and me that means our skin gets

exactly what it needs, when it needs it.

You use Cold Plasma morning and night

under your moisturizer.

Read more about it here: Vanity Fair Blog

You Tube on Cold Plasma here

Coupons are available here

Loving Giles!

When I was in Australia this summer there was significant buzz about 

cool Brit designer Giles Deacon, who is taking over the helm at

Paris based line Ungaro.

Deacon has a suitably interesting background - from designing at Bottega Veneta, to being snapped up for Gucci by Tom Ford, and stints at 

Jean Charles De Castelbajac, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren.

In 2007 he won the Brit Designer Of The Year award for his Giles Deacon line.

"Hopefully, if you saw someone wearing one of our frocks you'd think she looks quite interesting to have a chat with and say hello to. They're a bit 'We're on, we're out, we mean business'," he says.

What a refreshing perspective!

Personally, I'm just loving Giles.

With August upon us already I decided it might be fun to have a look at my favorite pieces

from his Fall 2010 Ready To Wear collection. 

I love everything about this look, down to and including the accessories and the nail color

This dress is perfection.

I deal for business, for lunch, for drinks.

Simple, put together and super chic.

And the makeup is sensational!

This model's lips are quite scary, but look at the cut on those pants!

Everything about them is perfect. And the shoe could not be better either!

I love the movement in this dress. Again, the accessories, shoes, hair and makeup

all tell such a fabulous story.

Completely love this one.

I love the colors and the neckline???

Sensational.

Fun, flirty, great little cocktail number.

I died over this coat.

The cut is so exciting, and the color is so alive!

Fabulous.

And just how fun is this???

I guarantee you we will be seeing and hearing a lot more

from Giles Deacon!