Makeup

Hair can take a beating during the warmer-weather months, whether it be from the sun, the chlorine in your pool, or your blow dryer when you try to wrangle your frizz. Luckily, there are steps you can take to keep your strands in tip-top shape. Kim Vo shares his tips and secrets for keeping your hair healthy this season.

• Mist facial SPF onto your hair: To give hair "just a kiss of that sunshield," Vo says you should spray a facial SPF "and walk into it like a fine perfume." Be sure to try a product that's lighter and formulated for your face, though; this way, you won't be saddled with greasy hair. We like Philosophy's Here Comes the Sun Age Defense facial sunscreen ($30).
• Invest in UVA/UVB sprays: For another option, try hair spray with built-in protection. Just look for UVA/UVB filters on the label, and spritz on for instant defense.
• Seal the hair cuticle: Cuticles are the hard, rounded scales that create the outer layer of your hair, and they often take the brunt of the elements. Damaged cuticles stick up and make the hair look bristly, not to mention give your color a shorter shelf life. That's why Vo stresses the importance of keeping them flat with the proper cuticle-sealing products and tools.
• Accessorize your armor: Just because you're nurturing your hair doesn't mean you can't get a little stylish. Vo suggests tying a scarf around your head for a fashionable twist on sun protection. Or, embrace the wet hair look by using a leave-in product, slicking back your strands to keep them in good condition.

— Additional reporting by Jaime Richards

True or false? An SPF of 100 protects you twice as long as SPF 50. The answer is a resounding false, with the difference between the two being so little it can be considered negligible.

This is the issue that watchdog organizations such as the Environmental Working Group are hoping to make public on the coattails of the US Food and Drug Administration's recent update of federal requirements for sunscreen. The push, which was put into place last year, bans terms such as "waterproof" from sunscreen bottles, as well as enforces that formulas block both UVA and UVB rays. Consumer groups are now arguing that high SPF numbers are just as misleading and dangerous as terms like waterproof.

"The high SPF numbers are just a gimmick," Marianne Berwick, professor of epidemiology at the University of New Mexico, told the Associated Press. "Most people don't really need more than an SPF 30, and they should reapply it every couple of hours." High SPF numbers, on the other hand, lead consumers to believe that they can spend more time in the sun without reapplying. Find out the truth about SPF numbers when you keep reading.

Some nights you can't get your full eight hours of sleep in — heck, some nights, six is but a dream. And while there are countless brightening concealers on the market to assist in feigning well-restedness, I keep turning to Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector SPF 25 ($13). That's because it's light enough to not look obvious, but hefty enough to get the job done. Instead of masking the skin with a visible, glistening layer of product, this brightener lifts and subtly conceals. It's not full-on coverage, however. Reach for a corrector or heavy-duty concealer for times when you need to disguise the darkest of circles. Antioxidants such as chamomile, soy, and vitamin E protect, while a flow-through brush makes application smooth. Now if only your nightly appointment with Mr. Sandman could be just as effortless . . .