BellaSugar

SPF For Your Skin Type: Combination Skin

BellaSugar — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 09:44:00 PDT

Welcome to the final installment of SPF For Your Skin Type. For the culmination of this series, I've isolated a few sunscreens that work best for combination skin. This is skin that most commonly has an oily T-Zone, yet has patches of dry skin on the areas of the face as well. Ideally, two types of sunscreens would work best on this skin type, but not only is that unrealistic, but you can't risk missing a spot by complicating the application! For the rest of you who don't have combination skin, you can find the best sunscreen for your skin type here.

MD Skincare Auto-Balancing Moisture Sunscreen SPF 10 ($42) is a moisturizer that also includes SPF. What's special about this sunscreen is its ability to adjust the level of hydration on certain areas of your skin, making it great for normal to oily or combination skin. The non-greasy formula also firms and tightens skin.

For two more sunscreens for combination skin,

Jan Marini Skin Research Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 30 ($49.50) is a powerful sunscreen that provides all-day protection for your skin. It is also waterproof, sweaproof and it will never leave your face feeling oily. Since it has invisible microscopic sponges, it hydrates the skin as it absorbs grease, and it leaves your skin with a beautuful matte finish now that's pretty fantastic!

Kiehl's Ultra Protection Water-Based Sunscreen SPF 25 ($27) is a great sunscreen for combination, since it is water-based. Not only is it super light, it's also a great primer for under makeup since it absorbs quickly and easily.

Fantastic Facial Creams, Part IV: Combination Skin

BellaSugar — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 10:25:10 PDT

Welcome back to my five-part series on Fantastic Facial Creams for your skin type. (What skin type do you have? Tell me here.) After conquering oily skin, dry skin, and sensitive skin, today we'll be looking at that kitchen-sink variety known as combination skin. The most common type of combo skin combines an oily T-Zone with dry patches on the cheeks and sides of the eyes. The key is finding a cream that can comfort whatever combination you have, and these products should do the trick.

Sodium PCA Oil-Free Moisturizer by Kiehl's ($17.50) is designed for normal-to-oily, oily, and very oily skin. I used this for about a two-year period and loved it. It's so light that it doesn't clog your pores, and it contains a humectant for those water dry areas. But since it's made for oily skin, it's the perfect balance.

For two more fantastic facial creams for combination skin,

Organic Face Cream for Combination Skin by Patyka ($49) is a lightweight lotion with a high concentration of tree tea oil and spearmint for toning. It has a really nice feel to it, since the spearmint has kind of a cooling effect. It is also formulated with witch hazel to help keep pores tight.

Creme 93 by YonKa ($43) can be used in the morning and night to help fight excess shine in your T-Zone area and refresh your skin. It is a regulating cream made with ylang ylang and lime, which helps to even out the skin tone and revitalize the texture. I love this lotion because it makes my skin feel matte yet hydrated at the same time.

Definition: The T-Zone

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 11:35:38 PDT

People have different skin types that can be divided into five categories: oily skin, dry skin, normal skin, sensitive skin and combination skin, which is the most common. Having combination skin means that your face most likely has an oily zone that includes your forehead, nose, and chin, while the rest of your skin has normal to dry patches.

If you were to draw a line through these areas, it would look like the letter "T" - hence, the commonly used beauty term, the T-Zone. The T-Zone is oilier than the rest of your face because it has a higher percentage of oil glands. These areas tend to break out more often and have a higher tendency toward blackheads, whiteheads, irritation, sunburn, and redness.

Caring for your T-Zone is easy: Just remember to keep your hands away from your face, and use a toner or astringent in addition to your cleanser to help keep the area clean.

Source

Boating Safety: Things to Know Before You Go Afloat

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 26 May 2012 19:27:32 PDT

It seems like boating season unofficially begins on Memorial Day weekend with everyone headed to their lake houses, weekend river residences, or the beach. In different parts of the nation, boating accidents, injuries, and unfortunately fatalities are on the rise. Now that I've captured your attention, let's review a few tips on boating safety.

Boater's fatigue is real, and it can wear you down. The US Coast Guard warns people about this condition, created by the combination of wind, noise, heat, and vibration of the boat. All these elements can mentally and physically fatigue boaters and subsequently impair their judgment.
Personal flotation devices, otherwise known as life jackets, are vitally important for everyone on board the boat, be it a canoe or a speed boat. Some states even require children under a certain age to wear life jackets, so if the little ones complain about wearing the big orange life vest, tell them it's the law.
Boating and alcohol don't mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body's ability to stay warm. Coupled with boater's fatigue, folks on a boat will feel the effects of alcohol faster than they would on land. Plus, driving a boat while intoxicated is illegal.
The wind can keep you cool and make you forget you're in the sun, but don't forget to reapply sunscreen every two hours and always after swimming. Lube up even if it's overcast since UV rays can still damage your skin through clouds.
Watch the weather to keep an eye on local weather conditions, and be prepared for electrical storms. Water conducts electricity, so you don't want to find yourself on the open water during a lightning storm.

What We're Sweet On: A Customizable Crème

Jessica Cruel — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:05:00 PDT

Caudalie was thinking of every woman when releasing its Vinosource range, which includes four different types of moisturizers: very dry, dry, combination, and sensitive. We tried the gel-crème Moisturizing Sorbet ($38) for sensitive skin, which is a lot like putting cucumber-scented whipped cream on your face (and that's a good thing). The lightweight formulation makes it perfect if you have a product-heavy beauty routine, and a pea-sized drop can cover the face and neck.

Rife with nourishing ingredients from grapes, including organic grape water, grape oil, and antioxidant-rich grape seed polyphenols, the the sorbet also contains vinolevure, a tiny molecule that can hold up to 100 times its weight in water. Now, that's moisture! One try and you'll covet this product like a fine vintage wine.

5 Cinco de Mayo Ingredients Remixed For DIY Hangover Beauty

Jessica Cruel — Thu, 03 May 2012 05:00:00 PDT

This weekend is sure to include tequila-induced debauchery as Cinco de Mayo descends once again. But don't let all your extra cocktail party ingredients go to waste. After you're done gorging on guacamole and guzzling margaritas, use your leftovers to make these DIY beauty recipes. So become a morning-after mixologist and pull a Houdini on that hangover. Find out some of the skin care perks to your common cocktail sips and snacks when you read more.

3 Ways to Make the Most of Your Leftover Wine

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:40:22 PDT

We've all been in this predicament: you opened a fresh bottle of wine, poured yourself a glass, then realized weeks later that you wasted tons of vino. This may have been a bummer in the past, but it's time to rethink this age-old problem. Leftover wine does not need to go to waste down the drain; it can be repurposed for sheer culinary delight. Here are three easy ways to make the most of your old wine.

Make homemade vinegar. Pour your leftover wine into a covered container (make sure it's not airtight!) and set it in a cool, dark location to allow it to ferment. The solution will start off murky, but you'll see it clarify with time. Once you see a white skin at the bottom, a bacterial culture known as the "mother," the homemade vinegar is ready to incorporate into your favorite recipes.
The first time you make wine into vinegar, you'll have to wait several months. But after the initial cultivation, you can whip up new batches of vinegar every few weeks using the original mother.
Deglaze your pan. Deglazing may seem like an intimidating term, but chances are you're deglazing your pan all the time without even knowing it - that is, adding a bit more liquid and cooking off the goodness at the bottom of the pan. If you're typically adding stock in this process, add some wine instead to bring a whole new richness and complexity of flavors to your dish.

Keep reading for the last way to make the most out of leftover wine.

Exclusive! Proactiv Names Jurnee Smollett Its Newest Spokesperson

Jaime Richards — Tue, 01 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

You might remember her as Michelle Tanner's feisty friend Denise on Full House or as hard-working high school student Jess Merriweather in Friday Night Lights, and now actress, singer, and activist Jurnee Smollett has landed a new role: Proactiv's newest spokesperson. Jurnee, who has battled acne since she was 10 years old, admits she tried just about everything, from facial treatments to doctors appointments to peels, before she had the consistent success she has found with Proactiv.

"It goes back to a few months before I was getting married," she explains. "I was shooting Friday Night Lights in Austin, [and with] the humidity, the great Texas food, the hormones, and the stress of me planning the wedding, my skin was freaking out." Although frustrated, Jurnee felt her complexion issues added a realistic element to her character. "I kept telling myself, "'I'm playing a 16-year-old high student. It's OK; high school students break out,'" she reveals. "But no one wants to break out, whether you're a teenager or not!" See the rest of Jurnee's story now.

A Sweet Spring Color Combo to Try Now: Caramel + White

Brittney Stephens — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:47:02 PDT

We've got a sweet tooth this Spring - but it's not what you think. One of our new favorite color combinations to wear this season is crisp, clean white paired with rich caramel hues. This color combination is incredibly easy to wear and happens to look great on all skin tones. Whether it's a buttery leather skirt or a luxe pair of sandals, we've put together some key caramel pieces and styled up some chic examples for you to follow. Click through to see five ways to wear this fresh color combo for Spring.

Try Emily Blunt's Hot-Pink Lipstick Trick

Jaime Richards — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:47:00 PDT

Hot-pink lipstick has often gotten a bum rap thanks to its more garish 1980s roots. But for Emily Blunt at the premiere of The Five-Year Engagement, her hot pink - CoverGirl's Lip Perfection Lipstick in Spellbound ($7), a bright, creamy fuchsia - was hotter than hot.

Part of the reason the palette worked so well is that makeup artist Jenn Streicher kept Emily's eyes and cheeks simply elegant, opting for a clean-skin palette to begin with, starting with Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum as a base, followed by Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Foundation. But another reason the palette worked so well is all thanks to the science of color. Pink (as seen on Emily's lips) when paired with green (as seen on her earrings and in her frock) is a winning combination. The reason is because pinkish tones are directly opposite of greenish tones on the color wheel, so Emily's overall ensemble made for one truly spellbinding style.