Kiss My Face Kids **GIVEAWAY**

I've got a great giveway up and running over at Chic Critique today. It features the new Kiss My Face Kids line of bath and body care products -- all of which totally rock. Be sure to head on over and check it out! :)

How to Choose a Sunscreen

I have a confession to make.

I only began applying sunscreen daily within the last couple of years.

I have olive skin, which means I tan without even trying. Burning has never been an issue for me. And, for years, I never gave sun damage a second thought.

Until I turned 30 and looked in the mirror.

Ah. There it was. All my hours of sun worship taking up residence on my face in the form of hyper-pigmentation and even a few wrinkles.

All that to say, I’ve been on a bit of a mission to preserve what’s left of my skin. Which brings me to the point of this post: not all sunscreens are created equal. (read more at Chic Critique)

Lacura Skincare: Fountain of Youth at a Bargain Price

I always figured I’d be the kind of woman who would happily embrace the aging process.

You know, the type who insists “age is just a number” and who celebrates every single laugh line as the sign of a life well lived.

But then, I hit my 30s.

That was when Father Time began marching across my face in the form of age spots, fine lines and laugh lines that stick around long after I stop smiling.

And I’ve got to admit, it kind of freaked me out. (read more at Chic Critique)

TLC for Dry Winter Hands

I don’t know about you, but at this point in the winter season, my hands have pretty much had it.

Cooler temperatures, windy conditions, indoor heating and a lot of contact with dishwater is the perfect recipe for dry, cracked and inflamed hands. So today, I’m sharing two of my all-time favorite products for giving those weary winter hands a little TLC. (read more at Chic Critique)

Why Jane Iredale is my new BFF

I’ve been a little slow to jump on the mineral makeup bandwagon. The reason is two-fold:

1. I’m super self-conscious of the hyperpigmentation/sun damage on my face. I prefer a liquid foundation with significant coverage — allowing me to pretty much paint myself a perfect complexion each morning. Despite the claims, loose powder mineral foundations don’t seem to provide the kind of coverage I need.

2. On the few occasions when I have given mineral powder foundation a whirl, it never seems to last very long and — even worse — I see the makeup “settling” into fine lines.

But, I do love the concept of mineral makeup. After all, I apply foundation all over my face and it sits on my skin all day long. I’d much prefer to use a formulation that is free of preservatives and synthetic ingredients.

So, I did a little research and discovered that Jane Iredale made a liquid mineral foundation. Hooray! The best of both worlds! I went to the Jane Iredale website, searched for a local retailer and headed in to get color matched. (read more at Chic Critique)

The Green Beauty Guide

Be sure to check out the super-fantastic giveaway at the end!

When I was first offered an opportunity to review The Green Beauty Guide, I’ve got to admit, I was initially skeptical.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for healthful eating (I don’t do high fructose corn syrup or trans fats, and I buy organic when I can), but when it comes to “green” beauty products my knee-jerk reaction was something along the lines of, “C’mon. That is such a ploy to get you to spend more money. Does it really matter if my moisturizer is ‘certified organic’?”

Well turns out, it actually may. (Read more at Chic Critique)

Putting the "Oh!" Back in H2O

Before I had kids, I was one of those annoying people who claimed caffeine had no effect on them. I would drink a cup of coffee and never notice the "burst of energy" everyone always claimed to get from that morning hit of caffeine.

Apparently, in my early years, I was the picture of well-rested, youthful exuberance.

But then, I had my first child -- the one who would wake up at 5:30 in the morning and refuse to go back to sleep.

It was during this dark period, I managed to rescue my coffeemaker from the depths of the pantry. I plugged it in and brewed myself a cup of warm, steaming goodness. And this time? You better believe I felt the difference. It was like an instant shot of energy. From that point on, I was hooked.

But lately, my coffee/caffeine consumption has gotten a wee-bit out of hand. When I took a moment to think about it, I realized caffeine was pretty much the ONLY liquid I was consuming, happily alternating between coffee and sweet tea from morning till night. (Read more at Chic Critique)

Makeup Application 101: Brushing up on the basics

When I first got married, I could not cook to save my life.

My culinary repertoire consisted of cold cereal, boiling water and, on a good day, maybe a scrambled egg.

Despite my gastronomic deficiencies, my mother and grandmother insisted on outfitting my newlywed kitchen with every utensil, gadget and pan known to mankind. At the time, it seemed like overkill. I mean, it was highly unlikely I'd be reaching for a meat thermometer to check a turkey when I was still trying to master toast.

But, as my cooking skills slowly improved, I discovered a need for various kitchen tools. Time and again I would be thrilled to discover the perfect tool hiding out in my kitchen drawer (lovingly purchased by mom or grandmom) for use at just the right time.

What on earth does this have to do with beauty?

When you're trying to do a job well, it pays to have the right tools in your arsenal. Cooking is easier when you have the right utensils. When it comes to makeup, what you use to apply it makes all the difference in the world. (read more)

Where I Finally Get a Little Hairapy

I'm back over at Chic Critique today talking about my stick-straight hair. I've finally found a product that gives it a little "oomph." Curious? Click on over and check it out!

If you're a new visitor from Chic Critique, welcome! I hope you'll stay and have a look around. I just wrote my 100 things post and you can see some of my favorite posts here. If you like what you read, I hope you'll come back or you may even want to consider subscribing. Thanks so much for stopping by!

I've Got a New Gig...

If you've ever wondered about the best brand of mascara, how to keep your eyeliner from smearing or whether a particular beauty product lives up to all the hype, then you need to check out Chic Critique. It's a blog where "regular women review beauty products for regular women."

Pretty cool, huh?

Know what else is cool?

I'm now a regular contributor.

I've over there today dishing about the Ped Egg.

C'mon you know you're oddly fascinated by the commercials featuring all of the parmesean cheese-like foot filings being dumped in the trash. Want to know if it really works? Head on over and find out!

Oh, and don't forget to leave a comment over there to let me know y'all stopped by! :)

How to Choose a Sunscreen

I have a confession to make: I only began applying sunscreen daily within the last couple of years. I have olive skin, which means that I tan without trying. Burning has never been an issue for me. And, for years, I never gave sun damage a second thought.

Until I turned 30 and looked in the mirror.

Ah. There it was. All my hours of sun worship taking up residence on my face in the form of hyper-pigmentation and even a few wrinkles. All that to say, I've been on a bit of a mission to preserve what's left of my skin. Which brings me to the point of this post: not all sunscreens are created equal.

There was a time, not too long ago, when buying a "good" sunscreen meant choosing one with a high SPF number. Well, in recent years there's been a bit of research done. They've determined that while UVB (burning) rays are responsible for sunburn and most non-melanoma skin cancers, it's the UVA (aging) rays that penetrate the skin more deeply, causing the majority of wrinkles and photoaging, as well as the more aggressive skin cancers. (As a side note, tanning beds primarily use UVA rays, another reason to avoid them.) SPF only measures UVB protection. So, if you're buying sunscreen only based on the SPF number, you may not be as protected as you think you are.

What's needed is a broad-spectrum sunscreen. One that blocks out both UVA and UVB rays. Even if the bottle says "broad spectrum" you've got to check the ingredients. (Federal regulations allow sunscreens and daily moisturizers with sun protection to be labeled "broad spectrum" even if they provide only partial UVA protection. They are working on a UVA-rating system that will eventually be implemented). Here's what to look for:

1) an SPF of 15 or higher for UVB protection

2) contains at least one of the following: Mexoryl, Helioplex, avobenzone (aka Parsol 1789), titanium dioxide or zinc oxide

While all the above ingredients block out some degree of UVA rays, the only one that blocks UVB, plus all (meaning long and short wave) UVA rays is zinc oxide. It's the closest thing to a total sunblock available. The good news is that zinc oxide has come a long way in the last few years. The latest formulations use a microfine form, which means you won't look like Casper at the pool. What's more, zinc oxide is non-irritating (there are no known adverse reactions) and it's safe for sensitive skin. (I use it on my kids.) Another added benefit is because it's a physical block (like titanium dioxide), you don't have to wait 20 minutes before going out in the sun. Once it's on, you're protected.

I am still on the lookout for a daily-wear zinc oxide sunscreen. So, what I've been using is a broad spectrum with avobenzone for daily wear. When I hit the pool or know that I'm going to have significant sun exposure that day, I use the zinc oxide lotion that I put on my kids.

Invest in a good sunscreen this summer. Apply it liberally and often. (And be sure to protect your neck and chest, as well as the back of your hands as part of your daily routine, whether you're at the pool or not.) When it comes to sunscreen, the old adage holds true: an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure.

For more frump fighting tips, head on over to see Karla, who is generously hosting Fight the Frump Fridays while Fussy snuggles her brand new baby!

My Favorite New Gloss

I'm back over at Chic Critique -- this time spreading the word about my new favorite lip gloss. It glosses lips and whitens teeth. How does it do that, you ask? Well, head on over and check it out!

Perfect Summer Skin

Science is not my strong suit.

Chemistry class gave me nightmares. For nearly a year.

Ditto for Physics, only those dreams didn't last quite as long because I dropped the class after a semester.

Really, I'm convinced my poor performance went back to practical application. If classroom experiments had been more applicable -- like, say, which self tanner gives the most natural looking tan -- I would have been all over it. Because, apparently, vanity motivates me like nothing else.

Last weekend, while catching up on all the world and political news celebrity gossip, I ran across this article: The Secret to Perfect Summer Legs.

Curious, I clicked on over. The article interviewed Dermatologist Amy Wechsler who was preaching the benefits of safflower oil. According to Dr. Amy, the solution to dry, ashy skin is as close as Aisle 3 of your local supermarket. You can take the same safflower oil you use for cooking and apply it directly to your skin as a moisturizer.

Now, let me just be clear for a second -- I would consider buying a bridge from just about anyone if they promised me it would a) reduce fine lines and wrinkles or b) improve the way I look at the pool. So, naturally, I hopped over to Publix and picked up a bottle of safflower oil just as soon as I could get there. My dry, ashy legs were depending on it.

And so began the first science experiement I've conducted in about 15 years.

For the past five days or so, I've been making an effort to use the oil both morning and night. I apply it to my legs and arms. The oil is actually a lot thicker than one might imagine, so the application is pretty easy and not too messy. (You do want to be sure you apply the oil when you're not in a rush, as it does take a little while for it to be absorbed fully into the skin.) The hardest part of the whole process is getting over the fact that what I'm smearing all over my body comes out of a bottle with a recipe for Vegetable Pasta Primavera on the side. If you can get beyond that, you've crossed the biggest hurdle.

Honestly, the results so far have been very favorable. My skin is soft and feels very moisturized. I purchased 32 ounces for around $6 -- and I've barely made a dent in the bottle. If you look at the comments on the article (there were nearly 800 comments, last time I checked), a lot of people already use safflower oil or olive oil on their skin. Safflower oil has the benefit of being odorless, and some were even suggesting adding essential oil to it for a kind of "make your own" perfume effect.

I'm going to stick with the whole oil thing because it really seems to work and because my glowing white, dry legs need all the help they can get, if only for the sake of the other poor people at the pool. (I may even try it on my daughter, who has stubborn eczema -- has anyone tried that before?)

And by the way, if you're looking for a dinner idea, I just happen to have a great recipe for Vegetable Pasta Primavera.

For more frump-fighting ideas, head on over to Fussy's place.

Favorite Drug Store Beauty Finds

It's Friday and time to once again Fight the Frump! After you read this post, don't forget to check out Fussy's place for more great tips!

I don't think I've mentioned it before, but I live in the country.

I'm defining "country" here as being over an hour away from the nearest Target, Starbucks, Panera and shopping mall. When a "country girl," like myself, is looking to steal away for a few quiet moments without kids in tow alone, there aren't too many places to hide out go.

All that to say, I spend a good chunk of my free time aimlessly wandering the aisles of CVS, searching for my sanity fun products to try out. Did you know there are a wealth of fantabulous frump fighters stocking the shelves of your local drug store? Here are a few of my favorite finds as of late:

Covergirl lashBlast Mascara:

I've written about this mascara in detail over here. For this post, I'll give you the cliff notes version: I used to buy expensive department store mascara (a.k.a. Lancome), but finally found a drug store brand that's a third of the price, doesn't clump, isn't sticky and looks incredibly natural. I love it more and more each day. You need to buy some. Today.

Sunsilk Shampoo, Conditioner and Styling Product:

I've been using Sunsilk's Daring Volume for a few weeks now, and I've been pretty impressed with the way it manages to volumize my fine, stick straight strands (no small feat, I assure you). I will say, however, there is a significant difference if I use just the shampoo and conditioner and forget the styling product. The styling product is key -- it adds a ton more volume than if I go without it. So, if you're looking to try the Sunsilk line, I would recommend using the shampoo, conditioner AND styling product. There are five varieties available to suit a wide range of hair types (including curly, wavy, straight, fine and chemical treated). You can actually request a free sample here.

Clean and Clear In-Shower Facial:

I first read about Clean and Clear In-Shower Facial at A Mom in Red High Heels, a great beauty and fashion blog (thanks, Jo-Lynne!). The In-Shower Facial is a mask you apply in the shower. The steam from the hot water activates the ingredients to help deeply cleanse your pores. The best part: it only stays on for one minute. Yep. Just one minute. Before rinsing it off, you gently massage it into the skin. Exfoliating beads help to slough away dull skin and extract impurities. I love the way the mask feels on my skin -- it's tingly and refreshing and leaves my face feeling really soft. When I'm out of the shower, I just finish off with some moisturizer. I feel like I really pampered my skin and it took no time at all. The bottle says to only use it three times a week, max. I love it so much, I wish I could use it every day.

Those are my favorite drug store beauty finds. What are yours?

In a continuing effort to cover the important things...

I'm over at Chic Critique today talking about THE BEST drugstore mascara. C'mon, you know you're curious. Head on over and check it out!

Baring My Sole...

After I hit a certain age, I began noticing that my feet were not staying as soft and supple as they had been in the halcyon days of my youth. I remember looking down toward my toes one morning and thinking, "When did that happen?" The skin was dry. My heels were cracked. My feet looked old.

So, I did what I'm assuming most people do -- I went on with my life. I mean, I have kids. I don't have time for weekly pedicures and -- if I'm going to spend the money for a pedicure it will be at the height of summer when everyone else can enjoy it too, thankyouverymuch.

A few weeks ago, however, my husband said, "Wow. Your feet are really dry." This is when I knew the foot situation was serious. My husband never notices things like that, so clearly, I had a problem. I started digging under my bathroom sink and pulled out an unopened jar of Bath and Body Works Heel of Approval lotion that had been given to me a year ago as a hint gift. I began slathering it on my feet every night before bed and then putting on a pair of cotton socks while I slept. After doing that for a couple weeks, I began to see results. The cracked, dry heels were gone. My feet felt softer. They looked great.

Now, if you're planning on giving this "Fight the Frump" tip a try, you don't need to use the particular brand I did. But, you do need to use a lotion that has an alpha hydroxy acid in it, such as lactic acid or glycolic acid, which will really help get rid of the dry skin.

Once your feet are back to looking fabulous, go ahead and paint your toenails a crazy new color. I always go for a pale pink, but while cruising the aisles of CVS the other night, I stumbled upon this:

That's Wet n' Wild "Deep Wine" -- and a flying leap out of my comfort zone. But I bought it, went home and painted my toenails. And I must say, the results have me feeling decidedly un-frumpy -- even a little sassy -- these days.

For more Fight the Frump Tips, head on over to Fussy's place!