Anthelios La Roche- Posay Sunscreens

It's July 4th weekend and it's going to be hot, hot , hot. That  means sunscreen, sunscreen , sunscreen.

Awhile back I did my sunscreen expose ( The FDA has since finally updated the rules) talking about how much I love Mexoryl based sunscreens. I have always had people truck back some from overseas, but had not yet used one of the  few brands to use Mexoryl that can be bought  here- Anthelios by LaRoche -Posay.

Anthelios has 2  sunscreens with Mexoryl SX : Anthelios SX and Anthelios 40 .  A new addition to the Anthelios line is Anthelios 50, a 100 % mineral based SPF that also is great.

Anthelios SX  is a daily moisturizing cream with SPF 15.  This is much like a body lotion, only a bit heavier. There's no white cast and it sinks in fast. It has a nice light scent and is great for  everyday wear.

Anthelios 40 is a regular sunscreen cream with high protection . This one goes on thick  and has some white residue, but that easily blends in. I've been using this a lot , for daily use, and have not noticed any suntan getting through on my arms . Once you apply it , it doesn;t feel like anything is on .

Anthelios 50 Ultra Light Fluid  ( new) has 11% Titanium Dioxide  with a patent pending CELL-OX SHIELD™ formula that offers  antioxidants as well as SPF.  It's is a thin liquid that goes on very sheer. It dries fast and leaves behind a matte finish with little moisture making this a great choice for faces. It feels barely  there.

Each of these  makes a great SPF choice and I feel good having them all at hand. I try and use the Mexoryl ones everyday as they work and work well. Nothing does the job like Mexoryl.

La Roche Posay is dedicated to sun safety and continues this year with their  Save Our Skin initiative  http://www.sossaveourskin.com/ , which is a national awareness campaign encouraging daily sun safety. To that end they have a very cool iPhone app My UV Check.

Anthelios 50 Mineral Sunscreen is $ 31.95 and you can get all of these at Walgreens, CVS  and http://www.laroche-posay.us/

My Summer Staples

Summer brings it's own special makeup , skincare and accessories. With my oily , perspiring skin, nothing heavy will do  and I like to get a bronzed glow on.   I  also love big bracelets as opposed to necklaces that sit on a warm neck this time of year.

Here are some of my every day staples of summer. Links lead back to my original review if there was one.

Havaianas- I used to think what's all the fuss about these flip flops? Then I got a pair. Now I have 4 and feel like I need many more. Far more sturdier than most and  very comfortable .

Guerlain Terracotta LipGloss- They release these in summer for a reason, they're totally right for the season. Usually they have SPF , unfortunately this time they don't. But the new bright coral shade is sheer and juicy,  and really not overly bright.  Perfect for a  pop of color. Still using last  year's more neutral bronze shade as well.  Doesn't hurt either that the packaging is so hot.

Dusting Powder- I live for dusting powder when it's hot. They refresh, cool and add light scent. Right now I am loving Caswell Massey's Lilac and Honeysuckle scents and Penhaligon's Violetta ( when do you ever see violet powder ? I've hoarded my tin for years now).

Citrus Fragrances- As much as I love fragrance, when it's really hot I can't do the heavier scents. I adore citrus always  but especially in summer. There are too many to show all of here, but Dior Escale a Pondicherry and Acqua Di Parma Arancia di Capri are two tops favs. Lancome's new O d'Azur  and Annick Goutal's Eau de Hadrien and Ninfeo Mio are  others that get a lot of use.

MAC Paint Pots- Cream shadow rarely  if ever lasts on me  but Paint Pots really work well. Better than powders often.  They are easy  and look great. Favorite  shade is  Indianwood.

Chanel Bronzer- I have two season's past version but they've released  one this year too. What makes this bronzer special is the bands of color. Just a hint of shimmer  and not too dark. You can skip the darkest ones if needed ( I  usually do) and just swipe across the shades that look best on you. I use the bottom ones for a nice light tan look.

Ray Ban Wayfarers- I wore these when they were cool the first time, I wore them when they weren't in style  and I wear them now that they are back again. I've never stopped loving  my Wayfarers and that's that. (  But somehow they got left out of the picture).

Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation- Kept my skin in top shape last summer, helping to hold back the oilies  and acne . It'll be back in the regimen this summer too. No messing with perfection.

Sunscreen (of course)- Hawaiian Tropic  Sheer Touch SPF 50 , this really holds up in water, best I've used for that. Anything with Mexoryl in it. It's the best SPF. Currently finishing my Ambre Solaire from France and have an Ombrelle waiting to be opened. For face- Clarins UV Plus HP  -no moisture, just SPF 40 , mineral and plant based. You never even know it's on. Skinceuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50 is my second fav  for face.

Bangle bracelets- Easy to wear when hot. Less sticking to your skin.  This one is  made of Mango Tree wood .  These are super fun, tribal looking, comfy and inexpensive. I also have a faux Ivory $3 one from H&M years ago that I wear all the time.

Blue Topaz ring- Thankfully I bought good jewelry  back when it was really well priced . This ring came from QVC at least 10 years ago and is Blue Topaz set in sterling. I have another similar one but set in a simple band. These are great for summer as the blue pops with a tan, is a summer color and  they are bold enough  to stand without other jewelry or look great with bangles  .

Phyto Sun Haircare-  For the past 2 summers the Phyto Plage Protective Sun Veil spray followed me to the pool. I use after swimming and run it through  my wet hair. It keeps it feeling soft and compensates for the drying and acidic effect of the water. If you have colored hair, it helps hold color in as well.

 What are some of your summer staples?  I'd love to hear .

Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect SPF 40

Last year's Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch SPF 50 was one of my staples .  It really lasted in the water and of course smelled great.

This season the company has added Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect in SPFs 20 and 40. I haven't tested these in water yet ( and it's not listed as being water resistant) but I have used the SPF 40 for daytime a lot. I love the hint of both shimmer and the tropical scent. The scent is just enough and I can still wear fragrance if I want ( and this is me of course I wear fragrance). The shimmer is subtle. You can see it but only if you look hard. You won't be glittering in it.

Shimmer Effect is a somewhat less creamy than the Sheer Touch. It's lightly moisturizing and sinks in fast  and once it's on, you can't tell. And while I have been trying to use more physical vs. chemical sunblocks, I had such good success with HT last year I  plan on using this one all summer, despite it not being physical.    Sheer Effect does have Hawaiian Tropic's ® patented SunSure™ Formula that  they say provides safe and effective broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection that won’t break down in the sun.

Retail is $ 8.99 but there have been lots of deals lately at all the drugstores.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Sun Defense Stick SPF 50

Memorial Day weekend is behind us, and a heatwave is here. I saw a lot of red faces around this week so far. Did you use your sunscreen?

I love to always have a stick SPF handy and the new  Eight Hour Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick SPF 50 PA +++ from Elizabeth Arden fits the bill perfectly. ( No red faces in other words).

The stick uses the company's vaunted Eight Hour Cream  as the name says , and  I was worried this might too heavy for me and loaded with moisture. Not a bad thing, but not good for me with my oily, perspiring skin poolside.  Too much moisture in face SPFs  has led to breakouts but  I want heavy sun protection.

 I'm happy to say that the stick is not that  heavy or greasy at all. In fact it's less so than some I've used in the past.  It's less creamy  than I expected  but still conditions skin while providing high SPF.  It's just right, really and great for lips, eye area , nose ,  ears etc.

 It goes on clear and really doesn't need blending in. There's very little scent so it's perfect for everyone in the family and has the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation.

Arden says you get 8 hours of hydration  along with no PABA or oils, and it is
water-resistant and perspiration-resistant .

Available now for $ 20.00

Cover FX - Say Yes To Skin Tint! Say No To Skin Cancer!

Cover FX wants to promote Skin Cancer Awreness and help you help your skin.  So throughout the month of June, Cover FX will be making donations to The Skin Cancer Foundation in United States along with fellow skin cancer charities in Canada and the UK.

How are donations made?

“Like” Cover FX on Facebook  = $0.25 donation
-Buy    Cover FX SkinTint FX SPF 30= $0.25 donation
-Buy Cover FX  BritePrep FX SPF 50 = $0.25 donation


If you haven't tried Cover FX before, everything that make is top drawer. Matte FX powder and Clear Prep primer are staples. Matte FX goes along almost every time I leave the house.  They also make great products for sensitive skin and for skin that needs heavy coverage of marks and discoloration.    Hit them up at http://www.coverfx.com/ or click on the image or links  above.

Clarins UV Plus HP SPF 40 Day Screen

 Summer is approaching and stockpiling on sunscreen is happening.  Last week I did  a whole post on sunscreen ingredients and how  I would be looking for the best in physical sunblocks.

New is Clarins  UV Plus HP SPF 40 ( Note * this  is a revamp of a previous product of almost the same name). Last summer Clarins brought out the  Bright Plus HP line  and I used Bright Plus HP Intensive Serum and Bright Plus HP SPF 20 Day Lotion most days. They did a great job and were perfect for my oily skin. Serum at night, SPF for day.

UV Plus is  even  better for oily skin.  This goes on light, sinks in pretty fast and leaves skin matte  with no white cast .  This is one of the  very few things I dare to use on my T- Zone. Obviously I need sunscreen there but I am loathe to use much beyond my matte foundation because it's so oily.  I want SPF but  not acne. The Clarins hasn't been an issue so far  and has made a good makeup base.  There is little moisture here and for me it's all I need. You may need to apply moisturizer over it .

UV Plus is a physical block with 8.1 % titanuim dioxide, no oils and 100% mineral filters as well as Cantaloupe Melon Extract for antioxidant benefits.

The bottle is a nice  enough size ( 1.7 oz at $ 38.00) to last awhile. One might not make the whole summer but should go for a couple months. You don't need a lot of it as it blends out well.

The Sunscreen Expose - Many Questions and Some Answers

It's that time of year when we start to up our sunscreen use  and for me to once again wonder why I can't get sunscreeen with  both Mexoryls here in the US.  Yes you can get a couple with  Mexoryl  SX, at a premium price, but none with both Mexoryl SX and XL.  

I've used  Garnier Ambre Solaire  for years thanks  to a trip to France, and a  friend in Australia. Mexoryl is regarded as one of the best sunscreens, far better than what we use here , it's inexpensive overseas and if  thousands  of europeans have used it safely for years, then whats the FDA's probem? They preach safe sun but keep us from the protectants that work best. ( Tinosorb is said to be another top notch , only europe ingredient).

What I am only now reading is that not only is our sunscreens less effective, but many of the ingredients have the potential to be harmful to us. Hormone disrupting ( oxybenzone)  or might actually make skin cancer more likely ( Vitamin A) . So what are we to do ? The  obvious answer at this point is mineral -physical sunscreens. Zinc and Titanium Dioxide have no harmful efffect  unless inhaled ( so I read at ewg.org) which brings me to powder SPF. I LOVE powder SPF since I am so oily and can up my SPF whenever I want. Now I read that inhaling zinc oxide is dangerous? Not on skin , only if inhaled. Ok.  I am hoping using a sponge  applicator will jump that hurdle because powder is my best option during the day after my initial application.

To find out more I've been doing some research . I've got part of what http://www.ewg.org/  has to say on ingredients and also went to Ron Robinson, founder of Beautystat.com and also a cosmetic chemist who worked for years at companies like Avon and Estee Lauder.

First up my interview with Ron:

Q1. Why can we not get both Mexoryls here in the US? If they’ve been good enough for Europe etc. for so long and are among the best , why do we not have them ?

A. You can get it here in the US.( Note he means SX) It's been available here since 2006. It is considered to be the most effective FDA approved organic filter designed to protect against short UVA rays.

On XL he said  "the XL has not been approved by the FDA yet, so it's not available in the US. It is available in Canada and the EU countries.It is supposed to provide effective protection against both short and long UVA rays.

Q2. I’ve read that some sunscreen ingredients like Octisalate, oxybenzone and even Vitamin A can actually be harmful to us and our skin ? Is this true and do we need to worry about our sunscreen ingredients? Are there any chemicals we should avoid?

A. There was some controversy surrounding the use of Vitamin A in sunscreens. We addressed this last year with the help of our resident dermatologist, Dr. Ellen Marmur... see link... http://www.beautystat.com/site/skincare/the-truth-about-sunscreens-do-they-really-cause-cancer/

Q3- You told me  another time that sunscreens expire one year after opening. So basically even though they now have expiration dates, if opened that isn’t the case.  It’s just one year ?

A. I recommend you follow the expiration dates listed on the individual product.

From ewg.org:

"Sunscreen makers and users in Europe have more options than in the United States. In Europe, sunscreen makers can select from among 27 chemicals for their formulations, compared to 17 in the U.S. Companies selling in Europe can add any of seven UVA filters to their products, but have a choice of only three when they market in the U.S.

European sunscreens could earn FDA’s proposed four-star top rating for UVA protection, while the best U.S. products would earn only three stars. Sunscreen chemicals approved in Europe but not by the FDA provide up to five times more UVA protection; U.S. companies have been waiting five years for FDA approval to use the same compounds. Last but not least, Europeans will find many sunscreens with strong (mandatory) UVA protection if proposed regulations in Europe are finalized. Under FDA’s current proposal, Americans will not. "  Read full story here


So where does that leave us ? I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please weigh in.

I am also looking at as many  sunscreens as I can, both new that fit the bill or ones already out there .  For face, you can read about the newest from Skinceuticals here , a good light  day moisturizer  from Omorovicza  and I have Clarins new UV Plus HP coming soon.  For body there is also a SkinCeuticals with Mexoryl SX as well as Anthelios at drugstores. These will both cost you $ 25- 30.00. I have my eye one some new mineral/physical ones and will post as soon as I get info.


Image: Seaside Park, NJ via Seaside Park.

SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50

I'm on the hunt  for great sunscreens right now. Ones that work with my oily skin but give me good protection, preferably a physical block.

New is SkinCeuticals  Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50. I've used the  Body Active UV Defense  Sunscreen with Mexoryl  before and know they make a good product.  Physical Fusion this hits all the bells. Ingredients include  5 % zinc oxide (Z-COTE®) and  6 % titanium dioxide, as well as artemia salina, a plankton extract, to increase the skin’s defenses and resistance to UV and heat stress.

 It's not heavy, adds the tiniest bit of moisture, sinks in fast ( very fast, you need to blend fairly quickly) and has SPF 50 with no white residue. There is  a  barely there tint. Think of it as tinted moisturizer for oily skin, but minus most of the moisture. The finish ends up fairly matte and it makes a great makeup base .

For me, this is all I need this time of year. And then use foundation on top of it .  If you need more moisture, you can easily layer over it and if you are low maintenance, it's fine on it's own.

50ml is $ 30.00 at http://www.skinceuticals.com/

 Also, May is  National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and SkinCeuticals   is teaming up with the MRA (Melanoma Research Alliance) to fight Melanoma.
SkinCeuticals is spreading the word on Facebook by asking users to post videos or written testimonials (i.e. how Melanoma has either affected them or someone they know) on the SkinCeuticals Facebook page.

Starting May 2nd, SkinCeuticals will donate $20 to the MRA for every video uploaded and $2 for every post. Additionally, each user who uploads a video will receive a free full-size Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50.

 SkinCeuticals on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/SkinCeuticals

Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion AM

One of this years's fab finds  was Peter Thomas Roth's Retinol Fusion PM.  A strong retinol product but gentle  with added buffers and moisturizers so as not to irritate skin. It worked and well. Now there's Retinol Fusion AM to have that retinol action but with SPF 30 to protect sensitized skin. You can  have anti-wrinkle and sunscreen in one.

This is  medium moisturizing , not heavy but not overly drying.  I do think that every other day use is best. It helps to brighten , smooth and even skin  and like it's PM  predecessor -works. The 1.5 % retinol is time released  over an 8 hour period, to gradually work throughout the day. It also has vitamins A & C.   You do get a whiteish cast from the lotion due to the zinc oxide, nothing major, but it needs blending.

I've been using this quite often  for about 2 weeks , along with several other rotating non -retinol products and my skin is looking brighter and smoother .   As the weather gets colder, I look forward to using this on the T- zone to battle the pores . It's also been great for after summer  sun skincare and ... hands. I love using this on the backs of my hands to keep them in shape too.

Available now for $ 78.00 at Sephora.com

SkinMedica Environmental Defense Sunscreen SPF 50+

It's Labor Day weekend and what many ( not me) consider the end of summer. There is plenty of summer left although with no more heatwaves hopefully.  Cool summer days sound good.

So with the sun still out , and it's there all year, we still need sunscreen right ? I tried a new one to me , SkinMedica Environmental Defense Sunscreen SPF 50+ with UV ProPlex™ recently.  What I liked with this is it has chemical and physical blocks , so you are covered both ways. Plus the antioxidant protection.

The cream is not too heavy and holds up pretty well in water. Because it has zinc oxide it does have a bit of a white cast at first, you just need to blend well. I've used this for outside days and liked it but haven't tried it under makeup. It's lightly moisturizing, but you may still need your regular moisturizer if you tend to be less oily.

More info per the company:


 SkinMedica Environmental Defense Sunscreen SPF 50+  includes advanced, patented three-layer UV ProPlex™ technology to improve product performance by effecting a more uniform distribution of UV filters on the skin. UV ProPlex helps improve the distribution of sunscreen actives more effectively so 25-30% less actives are used. Protects the skin with significantly fewer chemicals.


SkinMedica provides:
1. physical protection preventing UVA/UVB rays from entering the skin

2. chemical protection preventing UVA/UVB rays entering the skin

3. biological protection using potent antioxidants, including green tea, caffeine and vitamin E combined with novel antioxidant picea excelsa to strengthen skins natural defense and fight off free radicals


It's listed as  a  highly water resistant full-spectrum UVA/UVB defense sunscreen  that is oil free, fragrance-free and PABA-free.

$ 45.00 for 3 oz

http://www.skinmedica.com/

Hawaiian Tropic New Sheer Touch Crème Lotion

This past weekend was the kind that gets you reaching for the heavy duty SPF. Many people were already flocking to the NJ beaches.

To help with the SPF are 2 new sunscreens from Hawaiian Tropic called Sheer Touch Crème Lotions. Hawaiian Tropic is a favorite here because of the amazing scent their products always have and the moisture most of their line is packed with .

Crème Lotion comes in SPF 50 and SPF 10. These have that delicious tropical beachy scent but it's not as strong as some past lotions. It doesn't linger as long, which might be good for every day use. ( Personally in the past I have let their sunscreen be my scent of the day). The Crème itself is thick and yes, highly moisturizing , but it's not heavy or greasy. You can feel it on but only lightly.

It is very water resistant, and has the company's new SunSure formula, with broad spectrum UVA/ UVB and antioxidants.

Available now at all mass market outlets.

Peter Thomas Roth Oily Skin Instant Mineral SPF 30

Last year Peter Thomas Roth's UnWrinkle Instant Mineral was one of my summer finds. Now I have added the one for Oily/Problem skin which is even better.

With my oily and perspiring skin, in summer keeping SPF on my face is very difficult. I can't use SPF creams all over my face, not at all in the T -Zone and what I do use is not going to last the day or even afternoon possibly. I rely a lot on my makeup SPF but that degrades some too. So in addition to light SPF mattifying moisturizers for my face , I need powder SPF. That's where the Peter Thoma Roth comes in. The oily skin version is mattifying and even has .4 % salicyclic acid and willow bark extract , both great for oily skin.

I love that no matter when , I can grab this and dust on SPF 30 . It's easy and portable. You just remove the cap and brush on. You may have to shake a little powder into the brush, but not usually. Now the retractable brush here isn't top grade makeup quality,but to swipe on a quick powdering, it matters not to me. It goes easily over makeup and is invisible.

There is also regular Instant Mineral SPF in the line. ( The UnWrinkle version seems to have been discontinued).

Retail for both is $ 30.00 each for .15 oz