Oxymoron Beauty: Neutrogena Color Boosting Sunblock SPF 30

Ah yes. Nothing says summer more than a glorious, glowing tan. Nothing says melanoma and skin aging more than UVA/UVB rays. I live in this dichotomy, and so I am always searching for products that create that beachy color without sacrificing the health of my skin. Well the other day I was browsing my local drugstore and, lo and behold, I found this Neutrogena Color Boosting Sunblock SPF 30. It shields your skin with the power of Helioplex while also giving you a subtle boost of color. I have been loving this for its light application, pleasant smell, and the warm glow it gives to my skin, making me look forward to my daily SPF application before an afternoon run.

A sunscreen that shields the skin from tanning yet gives your complexion a glow...oh the glorious, glorious irony!

Summer Skin Savers

Summer is all about having beautiful, clear skin. It can be especially hard when the weather aggravates your skin, making it that much more important to follow a rigorous skin care system. Here are some of my favorite inexpensive skin care finds. Now I am not a dermatologist, but if you feel so inclined to try some of these products that work for me, then I hope they work for you as well!

Boots No7 4 in 1 Quick Thinking Wipes

The best makeup remover wipes. Ever. Period. These make it super easy to take off even the toughest makeup at night, leaving your face clean and ready to soak up every bit of your skincare to its full potential. I actually look forward to using these because of how refreshed your skin feels, almost as if every pore is saying "aaahhhh".

Neutrogena® Oil-Free Acne Wash

This is an everyday, all year long must have for me. It is a gentle yet powerful cleanser that makes my skin look and feel really clean (yes, I know I sound like one of those sickeningly sweet Neutrogena spokeswomen but bear with me here). It really gets rid of that grime and residue that sits on your skin by the end of the day. If you have tried many cleansers and they are either too harsh for your skin or are too expensive, this might work for you as well. Bonus: there is also something strangely pleasing about the smell of this, don't ask me why!

CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion

Oh, I am ever so grateful to my dermatologist for turning me on to this lovely product. I have tried and been unsatisfied with many moisturizers and for many different reasons. "My skin feels so greasy!" or "This burns the minute I put it on!" are common shouts heard from the bathroom. This moisturizer passes by with flying colors because it not only moisturizes my Sahara desert skin but also makes it feel just like...skin. I know, it's amazing! It just works, no fluff.

Hawaiian Tropic Oil Free Faces Sunblock, SPF 30

What would summer be without sunscreen? When your skin already feels oily from the humidity and the sun who wants to slather on a filmy stick? This goes on so smooth it almost feels like a primer, giving your skin a fantastic matte finish. The best part is that this has a long-lasting silky finish, with light-reflecting particles to make your skin glow that much more in the sun.

Spring Break Bargain Beauty Binge 2007

Its Spring Break! For all of you who celebrated Easter this past weekend, I hope it was wonderful!

Scenario: You arrive at your fabulous spring break destination. You flop on the fluffy bed in your hotel room, happy to be out of the energy-zapping airport or an over-stuffed car filled with noisy people. You brought all of the necessities, sunglasses, bathing suit, beach towel, flip-flops, yet you still feel like you're missing something. Then you realize you forget your toiletries! This situation has happened to me too often, which is why I have come to love the ubiquitous convenience of The Drugstore. Down the aisles lie buried treasures, pieces of mass-marketed gold. The trick is knowing how to find them. In the case of emergency, I have outlined a brief guide on some of the niftiest new products that work in a pinch, whether you are stranded on a desert island or not...

Skin: This Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Daily Rejuvenating Serum smooths, softens, and brightens the skin, making it a great addition to any skincare regime. This saves and rejuvenates skin that feels parched and weather-weary.

Shave: Smooth legs are a vacation must, and I have found the perfect shaving combination with Venus disposable razors and Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave gel. The disposable razors provide a close shave, and the gel softens skin and prevents nasty irritation.

Glow: Even if you love the sun, no one likes the damage. That is why getting a tan from a tube is the best way to go. The classic Jergens Natural Glow standby is now even better in a firming moisturizer for your body and a spf-infused moisturizer for your face. Could it get any better than that?

Protect: Now that you've got your glow, protection is key. This Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock sprays like a hairspray thanks to the aerosol spray can, yet feels light and effervescent, like a refreshing spring mist. I can honestly say I loved the feel of this on my skin. A weird, yet great, added bonus is that the smooth feel seemed to slow down hair growth, making your shave last longer!

Extras: Those pesky pimples seem to pop up whenever you don't want them, even during that blissful spring break weekend. That is why a powerful spot-treatment is a must. The medicine in this Neutrogena Skin Clearing OIl-Free Concealer dries up those suckers while the green hue cancels out the unsightly red. In a few days you can say "Adios" to those unwelcomed little friends.

For a beautiful, freshly-pinched glow without the pinching, this Revlon Pinch Gel adds a long-lasting flush to give your look a sweet, innocent vibe. Blush is a great way to add color when makeup can get a little too bronze-y and predictable, plus you will want to smile more to highlight those fresh and girly cheekbones.

A bronze eye is the icing on the cake with a tawny tan. This finely-milled Revlon Diamond Lust Eyeshadow in Bedroom Bronze rivals department-store brands in its brilliance and shimmer. Dusted on the lid, into and a bit above the crease, and smudged a bit in the base of the lower lash line creates the perfect smudgy, smoldering, yet glowing eye.

Raccoon eyes are not hot, and they don't have to be inevitable with a waterproof mascara. This classic Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in its waterproof form offers pushed-into-the-pool protection. And if you accidentally smudge mascara onto your eye while applying, this handy new Revlon Makeup Eraser Pen offers an easy clean up with out screwing up the rest of your makeup. Its like a magic marker for your face!


On a vacation, lips need to look gorgeous, yet the application needs to be effortless. Neutrogena MoistureSheers is a lipstick, lip gloss, and lip balm hybrid. This is a great product for all of those who can't stand it when they can't multitask (which I tend to fall victim to as well.)

Finally, unless your lucky and find the time (and the extra money) to indulge in a luxurious spa manicure, your nails can feel a little neglected. This Revlon Instant Nail Gloss is shiny, quick, and dries faster than you can find something to scratch it. I even have been known to whip this addictive brush out during boring classes and discreetly apply it. The perfect low-maintenance product for a high maintenance look.

spiffy SPF

It seems one can't go three minutes without hearing the phrase "Can you wait for spring break?" pop out of someone's excited mouth. Yes, we all are excited about that one week a year when we can have fun, party, relax, or just catch up on some zzz's.

Those who are lucky enough to jet off to some warm-weather locale need to be serious about one thing: sun protection. Not only does the sun's rays cause skin cancer, but it also adds wrinkles and prematurely ages skin (yikes!)

For those days when you have slathered on your sunscreen and slipped into a cute new bathing suit, grabbing a powder like this Colorescience Foundation w/Brush - All Even (SPF 20)helps to not only shield you from those aging UVA and UVB rays with SPF, but also give a fresh look to the skin thanks to light-reflecting minerals.

The texture of the powder is unbelievable, silky and smooth and not at all chalky. After the powder sets, it is virtually unnoticeable and long-lasting, and the light-reflecting particles give the skin a beautiful, natural glow. On top of that, the handy brush is extremely portable and small, making it a great addition for any smart space saver.

So whether or not you hit the beach or are happy with re-runs of Grey's Anatomy, you can keep your face clean, fresh, and protected.