Beauty Trends Products to Help You Look Your Best
Are you a lipstick lover or face cream fanatic? Then you’re in the right place. Every issue, we give you the lowdown on fabulous fragrances, luxurious lotions, must-have makeup and everything in-between. Because whether you’re a laid-back surfer babe or a total product junkie, you know it’s a beautiful thing to look as good as you feel.
RUBBED THE WRONG WAY?
Our sunny days make Southwest Florida a great place for biking, running and other outdoor activities almost any time of the year. Don’t let a painful blister or chafed skin ruin your fun. Instead, protect yourself before getting active with Body Glide’s line of balms. Apply the Foot Glide balm ($4.99$7.99) to prevent blisters and sore spots or the original Body Glide balm ($4.99-$14.99) anywhere your clothing or skin might rub together and cause chafing. There’s also a balm with SPF 30 sunscreen added in ($9.99) to address two needs at once. The formulations are sweat resistant and made with allergen-free, plant-derived ingredients for safe and effective all-day protection. TSA-friendly sizes of the balms make them easy to take on the go. Find them at area Target locations.
SKIN SMARTS
You may already include probiotics in your diet. Now add them to your skin-care routine with Merle Norman’s Skintelligent line. Start with the Skintelligent Cleanser ($24), an exfoliating gel cleanser that uses natural seeds to gently buff away dead skin cells, so the skin can better receive beneficial ingredients such as vitamins A, C and E. The lightw eight Skintelligent Moisturizer ($44) and the Skintelligent Toner ($18) both use probiotics to hydrate and protect skin from environmental stressors. Those are combined with ingredients like resveratrol, which fights the effects of aging, and extracts of alpine willow herb and ginseng, which help tighten skin and reduce the appearance of pores. Get the three-step system at the Merle Norman studio in Fort Myers (239-454-9933, merlenorman.com).
STOP THE SUN
It’s summertime here in Southwest Florida; do you have the proper SPF? If you’re lacking in sun protection, try Garnier SkinActive’s Moisture Bomb, the Antioxidant Super Moisturizer ($16.99). It’s free of parabens and petrolatum and provides long-lasting hydration with the help of ingredients such as goji berry, vitamins C and E and pomegranate. The lotion locks moisture in to keep skin hydrated throughout the day, which creates a stronger barrier against UV rays and other problem causers and leads to healthier-looking skin. Pick it up at local drugstores like CVS and Walgreens. For another option, try Peter Thomas Roth’s new Max Mineral Naked Broad Spectrum SPF 45 UVA/UVB Protective Lotion ($38). The lightweight lotion features all-mineral zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to help block harmful rays, plus vitamins A, C and E and sunflower extract for their antioxidant benefits. Its universal tint goes on “naked,” so it can work for all skin tones. Find it at Sephora at Coconut Point in Estero (239-390-9889, sephora.com).
DAMAGE CONTROL
We all know that too much sun can lead to skin cancer. But an overabundance of rays can also cause photodamage, a premature aging of the skin marked by wrinkles, discoloration and loss of elasticity. Prevention is always the best course of action. But if the damage has already been done, reach for Mad Hippie’s Hydrating Nutrient Mist ($19.99). It minimizes the appearance of photodamage on the face, arms and chest with the help of several key ingredients. Plant flavonoid hesperidin reduces the appearance of skin discoloration, sodium hyaluronate plumps and moisturizes, ginkgo biloba serves as an anti-inflammatory, and vitamin C brightens skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Spray it on for softer, more supple skin. And don’t forget your sunscreen! Find Mad Hippie products at local Vitamin Shoppe stores.
LIP SERVICE
Show your lips some love by swiping on a little Florida Kiss lip balm ($3.99). Made with coconut oil, vitamin E and comfrey extract, the balms glide on smoothly and provide hydration for your kisser, as well as SPF 15 sun protection. (Don’t forget about your lips when you’re at the beach or on the boat—they can get sunburned too!) Find the balms in four tropical and oh-so-Florida scents: Key lime, orange, coconut and mango. Pick up a tube (or two or three) at Market Earth in downtown Fort Myers to stash in your purse, car or beach bag (239-226-0006, marketearth.net).