summer must-haves: don't leave home without elemental herbs

If this past holiday weekend is any indication, it's going to be a hot summer. Before you jet-set to your beach house or a rooftop party in the city, be sure to pack the Elemental Herbs line of all natural herbal-based products.

Shelter your skin from the sun’s harmful rays with Elemental Herbs all natural Sunscreen Sport, a chemical-free, zinc oxide sunscreen offering broad UCA/UVB protection. It comes in a mini tube so you can throw it into your purse for sun protection anytime. Just smooth it on your skin and it sinks right in to create the protective barrier you need. Sunscreen Sport™ is available in Sport SPF 20 and Tinted SPF 22, and also comes in a children’s formula - Kids SPF 20 ($8.99 for one-ounce and $19.39 for three-ounce bottles).

Protect and nourish your lips with Elemental Herbs’ All Good Lips ($3.50). This all natural lip balm will keep your lips healthy and moisturized with organic healing herbs and 100% essential oils. It feels super smooth going on and, with an SPF of 12, offers more than 90% coverage from the sun’s harmful rays. Available in original, sweet tangerine and cool spearmint flavors, and in a non-SPF moisturizing-only formula.

Pamper yourself with All Good Goop, a skin-healing balm made from botanicals and herbs. It's the cure all for every skin condition. I keep it in my bag because you never know what skin issues may arise--a paper cut, chapped lips, a sunburn, etc. ($8.50 for one-ounce and $13.50 for two-ounce jars).

To purchase product or get more info, go to www.elementalherbs.com.

expert advice: tips for choosing a sunscreen, from Rhea Grous, La Suite Skin Care

When it comes to the sun, protection is key. Rhea Grous, beauty guru and owner of La Suite Skin Care, offers this advice for choosing the right sunscreen and using it correctly.

1. USE A BROAD SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN WITH A MINIMUM SPF of 15. It covers all the spectrum of sun rays. Look for a product that has ingredients such as transparent zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which are best for sensitive skin. (This is a physical sunscreen that reflects the sun). Some key chemical ingredients found in broad spectrum sunscreens are oxybenzone, avobenzone, and mexoryl (ecamsule). People with sensitive skin should avoid too many chemicals as they may cause irritation.

2. APPLY SUNSCREEN 30 MINUTES BEFORE AND REAPPLY EVERY TWO HOURS TO GET THE PROPER COVERAGE. In order to maintain the proper strength and coverage, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours. Also, heat will deteriorate the efficacy of sunscreen, therefore reapplying is a MUST. To avoid compromising the potency of protection, don’t leave your sunscreen in hot places!

3. LOOK FOR ANTI-OXIDANTS (Vitamin C and E) - they increase protection! Many sunscreens today contain anti-oxidants to strengthen their effectiveness and to offer added protection against free radicals preserving the anti-aging process. When it comes to the face and neck areas, I recommend applying vitamin C serum separately (Skinceuticals is our favorite at La Suite), then apply sunscreen. It strengthens the immune system of the skin while making it twinkle. This layering process maximizes protection against aging, burning, and skin cancer.

4. LOOK OUT FOR ADDED INGREDIENTS THAT MAY IRRITATE SKIN - Some sunscreens may include too many chemicals (to achieve broad spectrum), fragrances, preservatives and other ingredients that may cause skin reactions, particularly for sensitive skin types.

5. WATCH FOR LABELS – Read carefully and be aware, all labels are NOT always factual! Look for water resistant products; if it says waterproof, it's not accurate as it can it can be washed off. Look for sunscreen, not sunblock – no product blocks uv sun rays, it screens harmful rays. (There is no bullet proof vest!) Watch out for all day protection. No sunscreen lasts all day – see #2 and reapply every 2 hours! (*Note - Physical sunscreen works by reflecting the sun and has less chemicals that may irritate sensitive skin; chemical sunscreen works by absorbing the sun and transferring it into heat.)

No matter which sunscreen you choose, follow these tips to sun safely for a healthy, happy summer. For more info on Rhea Grous or La Suite, go to www.lasuiteskincare.com.

national sun protection day: protect your skin from the sun with Anthelios

Today, Thursday, May 27th is National Sunscreen Protection Day. Why all the hype about lotioning up? Here are the facts:

~1 in 5 Americans will get skin cancer.

~Skin cancer is the #1 cancer, topping breast, prostate and lung. 90% of early Melanoma can be cured, if caught early.

~Over 2 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year, worldwide. This figure is set to double between 2000-2015.

Feel like you're just sitting idly by doing nothing for the cause? To show your support, purchase the Limited Edition SOS SaveOurSkin Orange Ribbon Pin ($5) from La Roche-Posay and proceeds from each sale will help support the Women’s Dermatologic Society and SOS mission. Check out http://www.sossaveourskin.com/ and Share Your Story. You’ll help spread awareness and La Roche-Posay will help you protect your skin with an SOS gift certificate redeemable toward the purchase of any Anthelios product. My favorite: Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream, complete with Parsol 1789, Mexoryl SX and both UVA and UVB protection. The best part: It doesn't contain Vitamin A, often used as an antioxidant in sunscreens, which has recently been reported to increase the spread of melanoma. Other great Anthelios products to try: Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer ($29.95), Anthelios 45 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid for Body ($34.00) and Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid for Face ($27.90). Go to http://www.laroche-posay.us/ to purchase your orange ribbon now.

pur thing

Trends come and go, and your product needs change as you age. Wouldn't it be great to have a collection of products that work for all situations and all stages of your life? Pür Minerals delivers with high-quality, mineral-based color cosmetics and treatment products. The products contain super-fine micronized minerals for excellent, natural-looking coverage and they don't have irritating fragrances, drying talc or oil that can clog pores.

Some of my favorites:

4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup: Great for all ages and skin types, it's a foundation, powder, concealer and sunscreen in one. The soft powder glides onto skin and blends in flawlessly so you can secretly go undercover. It has SPF 15 so it's ideal for summer and comes in a practical compact with one side for the makeup and mirror and a separate compartment for the sponge applicator.

Lip Tint SPF 15: It glides on smoothly and feels luxurious on your lips. Plus it delivers color that lasts. I tried Ruby Sunset which was a bit too deep for me at first but turned into a pretty pink after a quick blotting.

Lemon Maximum Moisture Cream: It's super rich and hydrating so it works great on dry, rough areas. Try it now before you reveal your birthday suit for summer. It also has a very subtle lemon scent that won't drive you crazy if you're wearing it all day. I smooth some on in the AM and PM and love the results.

Go to www.purminerals.com for more info and to check out the entire Pur Minerals collection.

the right to bare all

Word on the street: completely bare spa is stirring up quite a scene at its Bowery location (25 Bond Street, NYC) with a new interactive Christmas display! Fans are heading downtown to take their picture with the completely bare bond girl! And when you take your picture and tag completely bare in it, you get a percentage off of a treatment! Who wouldn't want that? The spa is known for its expertise in hair removal and has been a landmark beauty spot in New York City for years. (Since its debut in NYC in 1998, completely bare spas have opened in Scarsdale, NY and Palm Beach, Florida, in addition to other neighborhoods in Manhattan). From the ouchless wax treatment to laser hair removal to razor bump solutions and at-home waxing kits, owner Cindy Barshop knows how to smooth out any hair removal concerns. While I've heard about all of the shop's amazing hair removal treatments, I never knew completely bare had its own skincare line including completely clean antioxidant facial cleanser ($24), completely buff exfoliating crystals ($32) and completely blocked SPF 30 antioxidant sunscreen ($26--there's an SPF 45 too). I love the feel of the cleanser on my skin almost as much as I love the way it makes my skin feel afterward--smooth and clean. I mixed it with some exfoliating crystals to remove dry, dead skin and the result was an even softer, smoother effect. The crystals fine enough to avoid irritating my skin yet strong enough to make me feel the granules working. Though I love the smell of the antioxidant sunscreen, I haven't tried it yet. I'll get back to you after winter break! Try them for yourself at www.completelybare.com.

sunscreen you can count on

Just because summer is almost over, doesn't mean you should bag the sunscreen. But who can remember the SPF when you're slipping into sweaters and boots? Cosmedix comes to the rescue with three great products designed to give you all the protection you need whenever you step out into the great outdoors. One of my favorites is Hydrate + Daily Moisturizer SPF 17 ($46). I love the rich, creamy formula that smells a bit like a nourishing clay mask. If you can't get to your local day spa for a treatment, smooth this on and you'll feel hydrated throughout the day. For straight-on sun protection, try Reflect SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen ($44). It's extremely lightweight (you'll barely notice you're wearing it!) and comes in a spray-on bottle that helps you distribute it evenly (the other products come with pump applicators). Plus, it leaves your skin feeling smooth and dewy. For even more protection, try Serious Protection SPF 28 Sunscreen ($42), a thicker formulation that smells slightly citrusy and smooths into skin easily. Try one or rotate them all! If you like the brand, check out the rest of the Cosmedix collection--designed to treat oily skin, hyperpigmentation and photo damage--on www.cosmedix.com.

sunscreen: rock on

I'm all about touch. To be honest, I fell in love with Rock & Republic's extraordinary makeup collection because of its sleek, extravagant packaging. But I have to say, the products are just as unbelievable. From rich, vibrant colors to luxurious textures, they make you feel like you deserve to indulge. I recently tried the Classic Tinted Primer SPF 20 ($46) and wished all sunscreens could feel so decadent. The mousse-like formula spreads on evenly and absorbs quickly, providing sheer coverage with a matte finish. If it's true that the silicone base fills in fine lines and minimizes pores, I plan to use it every day. The best part: I can skip my morning coffee. The primer has caffeine in it to stimulate circulation and energize the skin. Also, try the Accentuate Bronzer/Highlighter for Face and Cheeks ($45) featuring a matte shade of bronzer designed for all skin tones and a shimmer finish highlighter in coral, rose or gold. Swarovski compact and kabuki brush ($225) sold separately. Available at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom and www.rockandrepublic.com.

here comes the sun

We've all heard the warnings about protecting your skin from the sun. And women who protect their skin daily with SPF reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. According to Dr. Zein Obagi, it's never too late to incorporate SPF in your daily routine. To protect your hands from wrinkles, dry skin and sun spots: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 20 or higher. Keep one in your bag and one in your car since UVA rays are transmitted through glass. Try ZO Skin Health Oraser Daily Hand Repair SPF 20 ($65) to protect from UV damage, lock in moisture, even skin tone. To protect your face without clogging your pores or leaving a greasy residue: Choose ZO Skin Health’s Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 ($65). It's also a great makeup primer. ZO Skin Health products are available at select Nordstrom retailers and STUDIO at Fred Segal as well as online. To help encourage women to protect their skin this summer, Dr. Obagi is offering a special online deal until May 31st. Go to www.zoskinhealth.com, buy a full size of either product and get a travel size gift with purchase.