Skin, Sun & Summer Fun

The summer solstice may not occur until June 21, but the Texas heat wave has been full force for several weeks. Many of you are vacationing at the beach or trying to keep cool at the pool. Some of you may be working in the garden, harvest beautiful tomatoes and vegetables or you may be picnicking at the lake. It’s important to be sun savvy when you are out and about.

A week ago, I asked my Facebook friends what their favorite sunless tanner and sunscreen/sun blocks were. Now I’d like to share my favorites with you as well as some other tips for protecting your skin against skin cancer and WRINKLES!

The most obvious tip is to avoid the sun as much as possible. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm. Get yard work done early and stay inside from 10-4. If you must be outside, find a shady area or wear a big hat like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. They are chic and always in style! Once the sun starts to go down, take a dip in the pool. I often joke that I prefer to “moon tan.” It beats looking like a lobster!

Being a fair skinned redhead, sunscreen is my best friend year round. I wear it every single day (and you should too,) even if the only exposure I get is in the car and walking to and from work. SPF 15-30 is sufficient for those days. Look for a broad spectrum sunscreen. It will protect against UVA and UVB rays.

For the body, my favorite is Skinceutical’s Daily Sun Defense. It’s a bit pricey but totally worth it to me. A more inexpensive option is Neutrogena Dry Touch sunscreen. Sunscreen needs to be applied 20-30 minutes before going into the sun and you must use about 1 ounce to properly protect the entire body. That’s a heaping palm full. Don’t forget about the neck and ears! Remember to reapply hourly.

Finding a sunscreen for the face can be a little more challenging. My criteria for a good facial sunscreen are it must be:

-Non greasy and won’t clog pores

-Doesn’t make me itchy when I sweat

-Looks good under makeup

-Easy to apply

The holy grail of facial sunscreens for me is from Colorescience which is typically sold in by dermatologists or estheticians. It’s a powder sunscreen that you buff on much like mineral makeup. It comes in a little orb or as a brush (with product inside) and can be easily carried in your purse for touch ups. There are a few different colors to choose from as well as a bronzer. Did I mention it is WATERPROOF!?

I’ve also heard wonderful things about Peter Thomas Roth’s Instant Mineral SPF 30. It’s a powder sunscreen that is packaged similar to the Colorescience sunscreen. I will be trying it next. Peter Thomas Roth is sold at Sephora and if you know me, you know I heart Sephora. 

All this talk about protecting the skin may leave you feeling a little pasty. But don’t worry- the world of sunless tanning has come a long way and there are many wonderful products on the market. St. Tropez is definitely the leader in their industry. With lotions, gels, sprays and more, there is a wide array of tanners to choose from. My favorite is the St. Tropez mousse. It goes on evenly and leaves a beautiful brown color, believable even on this fair-skinned gal.

Clarins and L’Oreal Sublime Bronze are close runners ups in the sunless tanner division.

Sometimes sunless tans turn out a little blotchy or sometimes I just forget to put sunless tanner on before a big event. When I need color FAST, I always use Sally Hansen’s Airbrush Legs. The stuff rocks! It’s like a spray on makeup for your legs. You’ll never need to wear panty hose again. It covers unsightly spider veins like a dream and leaves you with smooth, sexy legs. Who doesn’t want smooth, sexy legs?!

Now that you have the inside scoop on sun protection and sunless tanner it will be easy to take care of your skin. You’ll enjoy the benefits of gorgeous skin free of wrinkles and sun spots. It is possible to have glowing bronze body through use of sunless tanner. I encourage you to try the products I’ve recommended and continue searching until you find your own favorites.

I had a blast doing Happi's wedding makeup, even if did have to be there at 7:00 AM! Who the heck wakes up that early anyway? With a little help from my java superhero friend, I made the hour long trek to the site and I did it with a smile on my face.

We had lots of fun getting her dolled up for her big day. I think my abs were sore from laughing so much. This bride was definitely not afraid of makeup. One pound of eye makeup, fabulous faux lashes, lots of sunkissed bronzer and she was set to go!

I ♥ brides who love makeup as much as I do!

Oh Audrey!

Last but not least, "Happy girls are the prettiest girls." ~Audrey Hepburn

Have a Li'l Fun!

Since I work with a lot of brides, I thought I'd offer my best advice for a happy marriage.

I have to admit, I didn't come up with the following advice on my own. I'm a big believer in learning from others' experiences. It saves a lot time and disappointment on my end.

The best counsel I ever received was from a childhood neighbor. Mr. Lunsford is the kindest white-haired man I know. Before I was married nearly 5 years ago, he sat me down and had a sweet heart-to-heart. He taught me that while love is important in a relationship, it evolves with time. Sometimes love is full of passion and excitement. Other times it feels like mundane work. What carries you through the changes of love is utmost respect and tolerance for one another.

After 5 years, I understand what he meant by that. Love creates the marriage but respect and tolerance are what’s needed to create longevity in a marriage. Respect for individuality and tolerance for each others’ flaws are what help you overcome the ups and downs as a team. Think about it.

I am very grateful to have received that advice early and soaked it in. Another thing I have learned on my own is to always have fun! It follows #3 on my list of importance: Respect, tolerance, and then FUN! Brian and I have a lot of fun in our marriage. We love to do things like dance crazy in the living room, leave love notes and take picnics together.

In the spirit of having fun, I’ve started adding “Marriage Fun Kits” to wedding gifts for friends and family. It seems a little silly but it’s okay to be silly! If you are getting married you can put one of these kits together and if not, pass the idea along to other couples who will find it useful.

You can choose just one of the items below or create a complete kit with 3 or more of the items:

Crayola Window Crayons

Use these to write sweet or sexy notes in the shower or on the bathroom mirror.

These are hard to find so I recommend buying in bulk when you find them.  I think I found my last batch at Tar-jay.  I ♥ Target.

Fridge magnets

Another way to leave love notes.

I see them at Walmart and Target all the time.

Waterguns

Because sometimes you will feel like shooting each other.

Do it safely with waterguns.

Hopefully it will lighten the mood and remind you to have just have fun.

Servant's Heart

This little pillow represents serving each other. 

You can create a fun game with the heart or any special object.

One person does something sweet like packing lunch for the other or washing and folding all the laundry that has been put off due to busy schedules.  Once you receive the heart, it is now your turn to return the favor.  Pass the heart back and forth often.  It will remind you of the importance of serving each other.

I hope you'll enjoy these fun things!  I'd love to know other ideas so leave your comments below.

A Wedding to Remember

Attending Chelsea and Ronnie's wedding at the historic Stoneleigh Hotel was like being at an intimate party in someone's stately home, enjoying cocktails surrounded by the comforting smell of leatherbound books and dancing fireside in the living room.  It was definitely a celebration to remember. 

Getting ready for the wedding party.Roof top terrace overlooking Dallas.

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Chelsea and bridemaids looking lovely

That's my hansome husband and myself sandwiching Chelsea.

This is my favorite of all the photos.  It's Chelsea and her father, Joe, sharing a special father-daughter dance. 

What you can't see is Joe is in a wheelchair.  He suffers from ALS, a disorder that destroys the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement.  It is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. 

It's a cause I choose to support and I'm looking forward to helping with this year's "Party in my Backyard," hosted by Dale Hansen to raise awareness and money for ALS research.  Watch for more posts about how you can help and/or attend the fundraiser at Dale Hansen's home on Lake Waxahachie, July 10th.

All photos in this post are by Marie Q.  http://www.marieqphotography.com/

Vote for April's Facial of the Month

Do You Know When Your Cosmetics Expire?

Vault Gals: Amber, Myndee, Charlotte & Lorri

The snow in Texas is gone. Birds are chirping. Spring is in the air. Now is the perfect time to purchase fresh replacements for old, expired cosmetics. Do you know how to tell what needs to be tossed and what products are safe to keep?

In order to avoid infections and receive maximum benefits from makeup and skincare products, they need to be replaced periodically. Cosmetics aren't required by law to list an expiration date so we want to give you a few tips so that you'll know how tell when it's time to toss products.

Mascara
Experts consistently agree that mascara should be used for no longer than three months. Bacteria are pushed into the tube with each use and the dark, moist tube provides the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Prevent eye infections such as "pink eye" by replacing mascara frequently.

**Tip: Our favorite, inexpensive picks are L’Oreal Voluminous and Almay One Coat.

Lipstick and lip gloss
After a year, lip products can become rancid. If the texture, taste or smell changes discontinue use immediately. We recommend treating yourself with new lipstick yearly, if not sooner. You deserve it!

**Tip: Sanitize lipstick with alcohol occasionally to extend its life.

Powder products

The dry nature of powder foundations, eye shadow and like items allows for a considerably longer shelve life than liquid cosmetics. They generally last about 3 years.

Skincare

The best skincare products contain minimal to no preservatives to not alter the high concentrations of active ingredients. Therefore, serums and moisturizers should be used immediately upon purchase for optimal results. Most ingredients remain active for 6-12 months. After one year, products should definitely be replaced.

You can extend the life of your cosmetics with a little common sense. Always wash your hands before touching makeup or moisturizer creams. Never blow on them and remember to close lids tightly. Most importantly, use your discretion to tell when a product needs to be tossed. If the color changes or separation is visible, it is time to get rid of it.