The Friday Forum Plus an Event with Dr. Gregory Bays Brown from RéVive Skin Care

Today, Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria had an event with one of my favorite people: Dr. Greg Brown from RéVive Skin Care. It was hopping in there. Customers had appointments to spend 15 minutes with Dr. Brown, who helped them with any concerns they expressed about their skin. Everyone wanted a consultation - so much so that women who didn't realize it was a "by appointment" event would just jump in and take the chair next to him the moment another customer got up. His sparkling reputation preceded him.

The young lady with him was a customer who was willing to have her photo taken with Dr. Brown. I was glad to see a young women who was so interested in skin care.

To recap prior posts here at Best Things in Beauty, after years as a successful plastic surgeon, Dr. Brown started a research laboratory dedicated to increasing the healing rates of burn victims' wounds. Though his clinical research, he discovered a unique bioengineered protein molecule (Epidermal Growth Factor or EGF) that accelerated burn healing. When the molecule was added to the patient's wound-care treatment, healing was accelerated.

What does this have to do with skin care? As we age, cell division slows. As it slows, we develop signs of aging, including wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, sagging skin, and a loss of radiance. The development of wrinkles is actually similar to an injury to the skin. Dr. Brown found that if he could kick-start cells to turn over more rapidly than they would normally, he could postpone the inevitable signs of aging and give the skin a much-needed boost. He started to experiment with the molecule that had helped burn patients so markedly, dissolving it into Elizabeth Arden's Visible Difference. The results were amazingly effective. He found that his "cream" allowed him to regenerate the skin in a way he couldn't with a scalpel. A face lift can lift the skin, but it won't make it glow. RéVive will make you glow.

RéVive Skin Care has had a remarkable history, and now there are many products - all fabulous - to address every skin-care issue. Today, he and I talked briefly about his new sunscreen. He said, "It's not sexy, but I think it's exciting." Soleil Superiéur Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA ++++ ($115) is powered by RES Technology and an advanced UV Defense System. This luxuriously lightweight sunscreen is ultra-transparent and gives you superb in-sun protection while helping repair visible signs of aging. That's why it's so cool - it's not only a sunscreen, but it will also repair your skin. You can see the ingredients at the link above.

The advanced UV Defense System helps:

• Fight signs of early skin aging with broad spectrum SPF 50 protection;
• Visibly smooth out lines and wrinkles caused by environmental aggressors; and
• Improve the skin’s firmness and elasticity. 

Dr. Brown says, “The most important anti-aging product that anyone can use is a sunscreen." From concept to inception, Soleil Superiéur took five years to perfect. This product is endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation. It has been granted a Seal of Approval for daily use, a sign of the product - and the brand’s - commitment to developing effective sun protection.

I want this sunscreen! It's on my list for my first paycheck at my new job. I love the idea that I can repair my skin while protecting it. I also learned today that RéVive has a new volumizing mask coming out in April. I can't wait.

It's time for The Friday Forum. The Friday Forum has always been an opportunity to share information. Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Tell us about it! Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Tell us why! Do you have questions others might be able to answer? We can help! Want to talk about skin care? I'm game. Just use the comments. We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. I hope you are ready to share, especially since it's still Beauty Event at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Photo at top by Best Things in Beauty; Soleil Superiéur photo courtesy of RéVive

AVEENO Protect + Hydrate Sun Flash Giveaway Contest (U.S. ONLY)

This contest has ended with two winners!

Great timing! AVEENO is kicking off the unofficial start of summer with the debut of a new Jennifer Aniston “I Love Summer” Ad in Times Square next week. To celebrate, AVEENO will be offering free samples of the new AVEENO Protect + Hydrate SPF 30 outside of the Walgreens in Time Square on Thursday, May 23.

Walgreens and AVEENO will be offering consumers samples of AVEENO Protect + Hydrate SPF 30 and launching the new Jennifer Aniston “I Love Summer” advertisement, which will be featured on the Walgreen’s Billboard next week. 10 am to 4:00 pm.

If you are in New York, just head for Walgreens Time Square - NW corner of Broadway and 42nd Street between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. If you aren't in New York, you can enter a giveaway contest here. It's even better than the samples you can acquire in New York.

Two Best Things in Beauty U.S. winners will receive all three full-sized sunscreens shown here, AVEENO PROTECT + HYDRATE with SPF 30, 50, and 70!

• Formulated with skin-soothing ACTIVE NATURALS Colloidal Oatmeal, which hydrates skin to keep it soft, smooth, and feeling healthier than before sun exposure
• Provides 24-hour skin hydration against chlorine, salt water, and perspiration.
• Long-lasting, broad spectrum and photostable protection against sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays with ENVIROGUARD Technology
• Water- and sweat-resistant (for 80 minutes), oil-free, non-comedogenic, and fast-absorbing
• For use on face and body
• Dermatologist recommended
• Suggested retail price: SPF 30 and 50 = $9.99 per three-oz. tube; SPF 70 = $10.99 per three-oz. tube

I have two prize sets to give away. How can you enter to win this giveaway contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of winners I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many readers, such as GFC - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" and "AVEENO" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest early this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Monday, May 20, 2013, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open only to residents of the United States. AVEENO will send out the winner's prize. The winner must be able to provide me with a "mailable address," meaning the U.S. Post Office recognizes it or its street, province, and other "elements" the way the winner provides them.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photos courtesy AVEENO

Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Beauty Booster Invisible Skin-Fusion Multi-Perfecting Makeup with Broad Protection SPF 30, Introduced with the Terra Ora Collection for Summer 2013

Yes, another BB cream has been introduced, but this time, it's made by Guerlain. That made me perk up and pay attention.

I have to admit I've always found the category a bit baffling, so I've skipped it. When the name BB cream was first introduced, it meant Blemish Balm or Blemish Base, and it was obviously targeted toward a younger audience - one concerned about acne. Once cosmetics companies realized the market was even larger than they could have hoped, it morphed to Beauty Balm or Beauty Booster or any number of other explanations. Today, we should understand that BB cream is promoted as an all-in-one facial cosmetic product to replace serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock. It can be worn alone, over serum and moisturizer as a light foundation, and under powder, depending on the desired amount of coverage.

Guerlain's Lingerie de Peau Beauty Booster Invisible Skin-Fusion Multi-Perfecting Makeup SPF 30 PA+++ ($51) piqued my interest the moment I read the training materials. This new BB cream is a multi-action skin perfector that gently enhances the beauty of the complexion for a sheer, barely there result. Since it was made by Guerlain, it had to be something I would love. Guerlain is one of my favorite beauty brands.

Here's what I knew about it before I purchased it. Note that color correction (just introduced by several companies and labeled CC cream) is one of the features of Lingerie de Peau Beauty Booster Invisible Skin-Fusion Multi-Perfecting Makeup with broadscreen SPF 30.

Freshness and Lightweight Texture. It has a soft-fusion texture thanks to the bio-fusion micro-mesh "foundation" created by linen and silk fibers. Designed to boost the natural beauty of the skin.

Hydration. Hydrating properties of hyaluronic acid, nature's sponge. Will result in plumped-up skin.

Color Correction. Color corrective pigments work in harmony with every complexion. This property will "unify" your skin tone.

Sun Protection. SPF 30 and PA+++ offer UVA/UVB protection to protect your skin's natural beauty and youthful appearance - or prevent further damage.

Guerlain says the benefits are unifying, moisturizing, and protective. It will correct your complexion in an instant for naturally beautiful skin that appears to be perfect. Guerlain's satisfaction tests on 30 women yielded the following results.

• The skin is fresh and beautiful all day long = 97%
• The complexion is even and imperfections are corrected = 97%
• The skin is smoothed = 88%
• Softer texture = 88%
• Lightweight texture = 91%
• Non-oily texture = 97%

I purchased the light shade (#01). Right now. only two shades are available: light and medium (#02). I love the tube. It has a pump top, and I can dispense a very small amount to avoid waste.

Foundations and tinted moisturizers are very hard to photograph. I took swatch photos by placing a dot at the top of my arm and barely blending another dot below, using my fingers. This shade is so perfect for my skin tone that it would have disappeared if I had blending it on my arm any further.

 

Unblended, it looks a bit yellow, and in truth it is. I agree with Bobbi Brown that yellow-based foundation shades are best for almost all of us. They certainly erase redness. When I blend this product into my face as I apply it, it disappears! The amazing part is that it can't be seen by the naked eye, but it covers imperfections and redness. I love it!

It becomes one with my skin. It proves all the coverage I need, along with sunscreen and moisture. How good does it get?

The active sunscreen ingredients follow.

• Octinoxate 3.74 %
• Oxybenzone 1.00 %
• Titanium Dioxide 3.55 %

Most of us get carried away with Guerlain's color collections. They deserve the attention. So does this new Beauty Booster. If either shade is a good match for your skin, you're going to love it.

This new BB product (which appears to be part CC) is available now at select locations of Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, and Bergdorf Goodman - and of course at the Guerlain boutiques. Guerlain's boutiques always get products first. If you want to order from Guerlain, give Rhonda a call at (702) 732-7008. 

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Kiehl's Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen for Body SPF 50

Kiehl's has introduced a "Dermatologist Solutions" Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen for Body with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($23). It's an oil-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, lightweight fluid sunscreen with patented, photostabilized, sun-filtering technology to provide broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Formulated to meet the new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, Kiehl's chemists worked to pack the sunscreen with additional benefits - three antioxidants to help ward off free radicals on the skin's surface.

"We have always taken sunscreen seriously at Kiehl's. We take extra care to educate our customers on sunscreens, how to use them, what SPF numbers mean, and how to properly protect your skin, so we were pleased to see the FDA's sunscreen labeling reforms, which are intended to better educate consumers on how sunscreens combat sun damage," said Dr. Angelike Galdi, Kiehl's Head Chemist and AVP of Research & Innovation. "We took the opportunity to not only meet the standards, but exceed them by adding powerful antioxidants to further protect the skin from environmental aggressors."

Kiehl's Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen for the Body with SPF 50 offers broad-spectrum protection with filters that can absorb different wavelengths of ultraviolet rays to ensure protection against UVA and UVB exposure. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen will help minimize skin tone irregularities and prevent premature skin aging.

Dr. Sherry Hsiung, a hyperpigmentation specialist skin cancer surgeon, and consulting dermatologist for Kiehl's said, "My patients often complain that sunscreen is too thick, tacky, and sticky, a misconception that leads to many people not applying sunscreen often enough or even at all. Kiehl's new Activated Sun Protector Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 offers men and women...a formula that is ultra-light and absorbs easily. It's non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores and has even been proven to improve skin barrier function."

Kiehl's chemists used patented photstabilized technology to produce an effective and efficient sunscreen, which protects against harmful UVA rays that are responsible for the majority of UV radiation that reaches the earth. Because UVA rays are known to penetrate the skin deeply, they are responsible for skin cancer and premature aging. Kiehl's paired Avobenzone and Octocrylene at very specific levels to ensure optimal photostability. This factore helps the formula maintain its relative level of protection for a longer period than a non-photostabilized sunscreen can.

About 93% of the UVB rays are absorbed at SPF 15, and close to 95% at SPF 30. Many dermatologists feel that people are not applying sunscreens properly (in inadequate amounts and/or with inadequate frequency). As a result, UV radiation is still being absorbed by our skin, even when we think we are diligent with sunscreen usage. I've heard that the average sunscreen protects for only two hours.

The antioxidants in this new formula complement the sunscreen ingredients.

• Goji berry, a traditional Chinese medicine, is historically known to build the skin's own resistance and reduce free radical damage.
• Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant known for its ability to help protect against skin-damaging free radicals, helps provide increased protection when combined with a sunscreen.
• Einkorn wheat, one of the earliest cultivated forms of wheat (in approximately 7500 BC), is known to stimulate the skin's natural antioxidant defenses (when tested in vitro).

I wanted to tell you about this new sunscreen because Kiehl's sent me a bottle. I love it! It's fragrance-free and lightweight, making it easy and pleasant to use every day. Even if I'm not planning to sit out in the sun, I know my arms and hands are exposed when I'm wearing short sleeves.

In a consumer study, 90% of Kiehl's testers found it easy to apply, 92% found it gentle on the skin, 88% reported smooth skin, and 90% found that it protected their skin. I'm similarly impressed. Someone asked me for a sunscreen recommendation recently. This new product has become one of my top recommendations. Not only is it really nice, the price is right.

Photo courtesy of Kiehl's

Dr.Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++

Dr.Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++ ($39) is a protective tinted moisturizer that perfects the appearance of skin while protecting it from the sun and environmental factors. A moisturizer, sunscreen, tint, and treatment serum, this all-in-one product also offers advanced brightening properties with arbutin, one of its advanced ingredients. Arbutin is extracted from the bearberry plant and inhibits tyrosinase, thus preventing the formation of melanin, which darkens the skin.

Ideal under makeup, its natural-looking tinted coverage minimizes the appearance of imperfections and evens skin tone. Antioxidants, biopeptides, and adenosine (effective skin-care ingredients) protect the skin from the sun and free radicals while restoring firmness and elasticity. It's a one-step marvel.

In May, I had featured Dr.Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 PA++, similar in its mission to protect our skin, but with lower UVA and UVB protection levels. Dr.Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++ is a little more expensive, but, in addition to the sun protection, offers a little more coverage and offers more expensive skin-care ingredients. It comes in a light tint that should blend into most skin tones (probably not chocolate-colored skin). The tint is slightly darker than the Water Fuse Beauty Balm, making it wearable by more women (or men). Both of them blend into my skin perfectly; they seem to adapt to skin tone.

It's a great tinted moisturizer for summer. The oil-free "balm," which is really a light cream, includes sunscreen ingredients that protect the skin from a broad range of UVA and UVB exposure. After a quick application, my skin is left looking smooth, perfect, and natural. The tint is almost imperceptible, but it does even my skin tone and take out the red in the center of my face. It won't cover stubborn marks, like dark sun spots or active acne, but it does "dull" their appearance.

I love makeup-free days on the weekends, but I'll always make an exception for a tinted moisturizer. I purchased several this summer, and I'm slowly testing them. Dr.Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++ is the second I put to the test after it was sent to me by the company, and it passed admirably. It did everything I expected. Feels good too - moisture without any oil slick that would be too heavy on a hot day.

The ingredients offer advanced brightening and anti-aging power and firm and hydrate the skin. The peptides, almost de rigueur in skin care today, will help restore the suppleness your skin may be losing. If you wear this product under your foundation, you'll find you need less foundation to achieve a perfect look. The sun protection comes from relatively high concentrations titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which makes it fairly amazing that it feels so light on the skin.

Please remember that even if you are working inside all day, you need a sunscreen. You will be exposed to the sun's rays even through windows. Dr. Jart offers us a way to treat our skin and wear an effective sun screen in one fell swoop, with none of the nasty qualities some associate with sunscreens. This one is perfect for those who can't wear chemical sunscreens.

Dr. Jart, a dermatologist, offers a line of cosmeceuticals. The doctor's approach to product development is based on use of scientifically certified ingredients. Each formula is tried and tested to ensure safety for all skin types - even hypersensitive skin - so everyone can experience the "art of skincare with Dr. Jart." So far, I'm impressed by both products I've tried.

Next time you browse at Sephora, see what you think. Let us know, please!

Photos courtesy of Sephora and factoidz.com

Chantecaille Ultra Sun Protection SPF 50 PA+++ Anti-Glycation Primer

Today, with sunny, hot weather in most of the country, you should be thinking about sun protection. Chantecaille has a new option for your face and neck, and it's loaded with benefits. Ultra Sun Protection SPF 50 PA+++ Anti-Glycation Primer ($85) combines a truly invisible shield with an effective and well-known anti-glycation ingredient, which ensures that skin is protected from the internal threat of glycation (a process that breaks down collagen). Ultra Sun Protection is a multitasker: it's an effective sunscreen, it offers anti-aging/treatment benefits, and it's a makeup primer - all in one.

Let's start with the sun protection. Ultra Sun delivers SPF 50 UVB protection and PA+++ for UVA rays. It does this with a three highly effective, stabilized, non-penetrating sunscreens: avobenzone, octisalate, and octinoxate. That alone, in this delightfully textured primer would be worth the price with its high level of protection. Chantecaille went further with treatment ingredients. Cherry blossom, lemon balm, and white tea extracts deliver powerful anti-inflammatory properties, protecting DNA from free radicals. Carnosine delivers the anti-glycation properties.

Glycation occurs when you eat sugars - not just refined sugar, but anything that turns into glucose in your body - and the glucose hits your bloodstream. These sugars latch on to proteins, and through a "binding" mechanism between sugar and protein, cause your skin to ultimately become stiff and brittle. Much of this results from large molecules generated from the glycation process, which are called advanced glycation end products, appropriately abbreviated as AGEs.

The more sugar you eat (including processed foods - even orange juice and carbohydrates), the more AGEs you produce. As they multiply, these molecules wreak havoc with proteins, including collagen and elastin, which keep our skin firm and elastic. The result is sagging, wrinkled, aging skin.

The oil-free, light fluid texture of Chantecaille's Ultra Sun Protection beautifully smoothes skin and controls oil-breakthrough and shine throughout the day, which makes it a great primer. Chantecaille makeup artists found that the fluid perfectly preps the skin for and extends the wear of foundation. I agree. Water and humidity-resistant, it is the perfect daily protection for outdoor activities and humid climates. Don't worry about those beads of perspiration when you are outdoors. Ultra Sun Protection will stay with you. If you are swimming, though, make sure to reapply.

Ultra Sun Protection seems like the "unsunscreen" sunscreen to me. It's an extremely light fluid that leaves absolutely no white, chalky, or otherwise undesirable appearance. It has a very subtle, delightful rose fragrance (to my nose). I think it's a genius product. I like it even more than some of my "old favorites." That's high praise.

To use it, make sure to shake the tube well to ensure an even mix of ingredients. Evenly spread the light fluid over your face and neck, and don't forget your ears! You can apply it over your regular moisturizer. The 1.3-ounce tube may seem small, but a little of this wonderful sunscreen/primer goes a very long way. I won't be wasting it - but I'm sure I'll need more before summer ends. This is my new favorite sunscreen.

You can purchase Ultra Sun Protection at Chantecaille's Web site, where a new gift with purchase promotion begins in June. Online only, from June 5-12, in honor of World Ocean Day, Chantecaille will offer a free Amaretto Lip Gloss with the purchase of any La Baleine compact. Use code WHALES at checkout. Right now, there's a free shipping offer online. You can also find Ultra Sun Protection at Chantecaille counters. I know Neiman Marcus has it.

Photo courtesy of Chantecaille

Suntegrity Natural Mineral Suncare

Looking for a moisturizing sunscreen that isn't filled with chemicals? I found one for you!

I know that some of you can't use sunscreens that offer chemical UV protection from ultraviolet rays. You've told me in your comments. Suntegrity offers products with the best known physical block ingredient (non-nano sized zinc oxide) to provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, along with antioxidants and amino acids to enhance that protection and help with skin repair. Suntegrity's products use non-toxic preservatives to maintain their integrity without sacrificing safety or health. I was given an opportunity to try Suntegrity All Natural Moisturizing Face Protection SPF 30 ($45). I'll give you the short summary before I tell you about it. It is extremely nice.

Top rated by the Environmental Working Group, this moisturizing sunscreen offers UVA and UVB broad-spectrum protection from the sun, and it's infused with youth-promoting antioxidants and astaxanthin. It contains 20% zinc oxide. It was carefully formulated for all skin types, and it's free of parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oils, synthetic dyes, sulfates, PABA, titanium dioxide, nanoparticles (which can enter the bloodstream), and chemical UV absorbers. It's vegan and cruelty-free. How about that?

I know beauty bloggers nag our readers about the harmful effects of the sun's rays. Many of us know through experience what the sun can do to our skin. I'll admit that a little (very little) sun exposure for a short period a few times/week can help us maintain optimal vitamin D levels. Unfortunately, many of us are exposed to UVA/UVB rays for much longer periods than we need for our vitamin D levels - even while we are indoors. That's why we all need to wear sunscreens. Remember, you can take vitamin D supplements if your doctor finds you don't have enough - like me.

The history of Suntegrity's line is inspiring - and sad. Tricia Trimble's mother died of skin cancer. After losing her mom to melanoma, she became an advocate of wearing sunscreen. However, most of the sunscreens on the market use chemical UV blockers and contain a lot of toxic ingredients, and it didn’t make sense to her to use these types of sunscreens to prevent skin cancer only to get another kind of cancer. After several years of research and investigation, she decided to develop her own sun care line that works from both the inside-out and the outside-in. With a heartfelt mission and the help of an extremely knowledgeable formulator and chemist, Tricia's company, Suntegrity Skincare, was born. Tricia's wish for us? "I hope you enjoy our products and smile in the memory of someone you love every time you use them."

The All Natural Moisturizing Face Protection with SPF 30 comes out of the convenient pump container a bit thick, and my first thought was that it might be hard to apply, leave me with a grease slick, or impede my makeup application. Was I wrong! The product absorbs very quickly and feels weightless once it absorbs. It's not greasy at all, and my makeup behaved perfectly over it. This is a great sunscreen for you, whether you have chemical sensitivities or not. I am very impressed.

Suntegrity also offers a body moisturizer and a dietary supplement that includes vitamin D - and some other good ingredients for your skin. I plan to try the body moisturizer next.

You can find Suntegrity's products, including this facial moisturizer, at Suntegrity Skincare, Amazon, and other retailers listed at this link. I think you will like Suntegrity. For those of you who have told me that you can't wear most sunscreens because of their chemical ingredients, this one may save you.

Photos courtesy of Suntegrity

Clinique Sun SPF 50 Face Cream - Kind to Kitties

There I was, reading the new Vogue, when a little blurb caught my eye. Charlie was sitting next to me, and he and I were both shocked when I read that Clinique's Sun SPF 50 Face Cream ($17.50) "encourages the skin's own repair process with cat's claw extract and RNA fragments."

I had several immediate thoughts. There had to be some mistake. Clinique couldn't possibly harm cats to make a face cream. They are a supremely reputable company! While Charlie gets the tips of his claws clipped regularly to ensure that my own skin stays puncture-free, the donations (should I provide them) wouldn't be a reliable production source. Nor would the donations from thousands of cat owners nationwide. I just couldn't believe it.

Of course I called Clinique, and I followed up with an e-mail with my questions.

1. Where are the cat's claws coming from? Are any animals harmed in the process?
2. How does one "harvest" cat's claws?
3. What is the benefit of this ingredient?

I got my answer quickly, and much to my embarrassment and relief, I learned that cat's claw (C1-8 Alkyl Tetrahydroxycyclohexanoate) is a tropical vine that grows in rain forest and jungle areas in South America and Asia. Some cultures refer to the plant as the "Sacred Herb of the Rain Forest." The vine gets its name from the small thorns at the base of the leaves, which look like a cat's claw. These enable the vine to attach itself around trees and climb.

The plant is considered a valuable medicinal resource and is protected in Peru. Although scientific research has just recently begun to explore its benefits, many cultures native to the South American rain forests have used cat's claw for hundreds of years. The extract is believed to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. Clinique says that cat's claw encourages the skin's natural repair process to help "clean up" skin damage before it can replicate.

Now that I know Charlie (Savannah too) and millions of other cats are safe, I'll be purchasing Sun SPF 50 Face Cream this weekend. It sounds like a fabulous, protective cream. Here's what Clinique says about it online.

Innovative SolarSmart technology stabilizes high-level protection against the aging and burning effects of UVA and UVB rays. Triggers a repair that helps prevent signs of aging. With solar-activated antioxidants that help prevent visible damage. Gentle enough for sensitive skins. Dermatologist tested. Oil-free.

Clinique's sparkling reputation is safe at my house!

Photo courtesy of Clinique

Kiehl's Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50

Kiehl's has a new sunscreen that takes away any reasons you might have had for not wearing sunscreen on your face and neck. No more arguments that sunscreen is too white, thick, or pasty - or interferes with your makeup!

Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50 ($32) is ultra-lightweight. Apply it, and it literally disappears into your skin. It's oil-free and fragrance-free, so it offers protection without any annoying or irritating "side effects." It's water-resistant too! How's that for perfect?

The superior photostabilized formula offers UVB and UVA protection with its active ingredients Avobenzone (Parsol 1789), Octisalate, and Octocrylene. You apply it after your moisturizer and before your foundation (assuming you wear foundation).

This nice "facial fluid" provides long-lasting, broad-spectrum sun protection to help prevent the dark spots, freckles, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and solar elastosis that result from sun exposure. Just shake well before applying to thoroughly mix the ingredients.

There are only a few high-powered sunscreens on the market that are as light and fabulous as this one, and they are more expensive. Kiehl's has come up with a winner!

You can purchase this wherever you buy Kiehl's - it's widely available. Saks has it in stock.

Photo courtesy of Kiehl's

Sunblocks for Use under Makeup

Is there a perfect sunblock for wearing under makeup? I think we now have two! The timing is right for this posting, since most of us are spending more time outside for summer. Both offer UVA and UVB protection.

La Roche-Posay's Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid is billed as a sunblock for normal to combination skin. I have dry skin and find that, with a moisturizer boost over the top, it works for me too. This sunscreen does what it says: provides up to five hours of sun protection without making you feel greasy or like you have weights on your skin. The sleek packaging is functional - just "shake" the bottle to mix the ultra-light fluid, which instantly melts into your skin and leaves a matte finish. Perfect under foundation for a day at the pool or beach and no clogged pores! The active ingredients are avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone. A must-have for summer. You can buy this new sunscreen at CVS online or in stores for $27.50.

My second pick is Clarins UV Plus with an SPF of 40. The Clarins product also has a wonderfully light texture and leaves skin smooth and matte. Pricier than the Anthelios 60 product, it may suit those who want an 8% titanium dioxide mineral-based block. There is a little "ball" or something inside the bottle to help you mix the product while shaking before use. I have used this sunscreen for years and can attest to its effectiveness. It does not irritate my "reactive" skin. The price is $42.00. You can find the Clarins product at Sephora or at department stores.

The only downside to these sunblocks is that the containers are small. For daily use, you will be purchasing them often!

Photos courtesy of Sephora and CVS.