Le Soleil

Today was 81 degrees and sunny. It was amazing. I walked around Central Park for not-long-enough (20 minutes). I had been outside for maybe 1 1/2 hours in all, much of it spent in the shade, and I started to turn a little pink. After putting on a little sunscreen this morning as always. It got me to thinking.

A week or two ago a mystery commenter asked me to write a blog about sunscreens (being an official Seph0ra consultant), since summer is coming up. BAM, delivered.

First, here are some fun facts I have learned through my company's education program:

- up to 90% of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are actually caused by the SUN. The NUMBER ONE thing you can do to prevent aging is use a sunscreen every day.

-melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in young adults aged 15-29.

- one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life.

- one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during the course of a lifetime.

The majority (94%) of UV rays that reach the earth are UVA, the rays that caused skin wrinkling, leathering, sagging, fine lines, uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, breakdown of collagen and elastin, etc. UVA rays can and do penetrate through cloud cover, and UVA rays are also emitted by computer screens and indoor lighting, which is why it's important to wear SPF EVERY DAY (not just in the summer, and not just when you go outside). UVB rays are the rays responsible for burning. (So when a tanning salon tells you that your skin won't be harmed by the rays they are using, the UVA rays which don't burn, what they're really telling you is that the rays they are using are AGING rays so you will lose that lovely elasticity in your skin all the sooner. LOTS OF DAMAGE, DON'T GO TO A TANNING SALON.)

The SPF rating tells you how long the sunscreen has the ability to protect, not the potency of the protection. Reapply EVERY TWO HOURS as a general rule. The recommended amount is 1 TBS for the face, 1 oz. for the body. Using less will cut down the amount of time you can wait before reapplying. SPF ratings apply to UVB rays, which cause skin to burn, and not to UVA rays. Therefore, in order to get adequate protection against both rays, you must use a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection, not just a sunscreen with a high SPF. All physical sunscreens (titanium dioxide, zinc oxide) are automatically broad spectrum. Not so with chemical sunscreens, they usually protect against UVA or UVB, not both simultaneously. This is why products often have more than one sunscreen ingredient in them.

Using a moisturizer that has SPF 15, and a foundation that has SPF 15, does not = SPF 30. It will only equal the highest SPF in one or the other of the products, in this case 15.

Here are some of my favorite sun products, in no particular order:

This is the must-have-in-bag-at-all-times item. It's a powder that you can buff on over your makeup. In the morning I think it's easiest to slather on a good lotiony sunscreen, and after putting so much effort into my makeup in the morning, why would I want to disturb said makeup with a sunscreen lotion? Enter PTR Mineral SPF30! And it mattifies to boot.

This was our Best of Seph0ra sunscreen last year (and the year before I believe), which I think is saying a lot. That's when our clients vote for their favorite sunscreen. It's easy, powerful, and doesn't weigh heavily on the skin. Shiseido in general has a lot of fantastic sunscreening products, such as a sunscreen for the delicate eye area, a sunscreen for the lips, (one of the areas most prone to skin cancer since people forget to protect it and some lip glosses and lipsticks augment the unhealthy effects of the sun), and sunscreens for the face and body.

For those clients who prefer to stick to Natural skincare products (myself included), my favorite natural sunscreen is by Ole Henriksen. He actually created two, the one you see here for dry skin with green tea and grapeseed oil in it (great antioxidants for further free-radical protection), and shea butter for moisture. And one with chamomile and algae extract for oily skin. They feel great, and look great, and are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, and triclosan.

For those with oily or acne-prone skin this is a great choice. Dermadoctor always has a great blend of ingredients that utilizes plenty of antioxidants for free-radical protection. This product also has willow bark extract, the natural form of salicylic acid, to help clean out your pores. And it mattifies to keep your skin from getting oily. Very multi-tasky.

This is an easy choice for the body. The bottle sprays 360 degrees, so you can turn it upside down while you spray your back or your legs. Quick and easy.

This is not a sunscreen. This is the best after-sun product. It's a Yogurt Cooling Gel from Korres. Korres is one of my favorite skincare brands because they're natural, and they're from Greece. Korres started in the pharmacies of Greece, and uses homeopathic remedies from its homeland. Yogurt is very soothing and hydrating for the skin. After a few days of 60-90 degree weather in NYC, countless people have been walking through our store doors with sunburns, and I just want to hand them all this. It's so soothing, especially if you keep it in the refrigerator, and helps a burn heal faster and with less peeling.

Bottom line: wear sunscreen every day, and reapply regularly. Your skin and vanity will thank you in 20 years, and you will spend less in the future on anti-aging products trying to fix the damage you let happen to you.

words words

At BYU I dreamt of having the luxury of just popping into the bookstore and being able to buy any book that I wanted. For some reason this is what would most comfort me on rough days. Sometimes I would let myself buy a book, and then return it a few days later just so I could alleviate that desire. One of the books I picked up was this one, The Book of Embraces by Eduardo Galeano. It was sitting on an endcap, a small special display, because (I believe) the author was visiting the university. After reading a few pages, I thought it was beautiful and imaginative. Enchanting really, like the cover says. I have wished, years later, that I kept this book, which I never even read all the way through (I wouldn't return a book if I had read it all, I'm not one of those people.) I'm sure I just felt like I needed that $15 for more practical things. Years down the road I couldn't even remember the name of the book, nor the name of the author. While browsing the Latin America section at one of my favorite bookstores, I found it! Fate! And here it is, in my home, fresh from the library. I think I will buy it though eventually. Here's one of my favorite anecdotes so far:

 Celebration of the Human Voice/2

"Their hands were tied or handcuffed, yet their fingers danced, flew, drew words. The prisoners were hooded, but leaning back, they could see a bit, just a bit, down below. Although it was forbidden to speak, they spoke with their hands. Pinio Ungerfeld taught me the finger alphabet, which he had learned in prison without a teacher.

"Some of us had bad handwriting," he told me. "Others were masters of calligraphy."

The Uruguayan dictatorship wanted everyone to stand alone, everyone to be no one: in prisons and barracks, and throughout the country, communication was a crime.

"Some prisoners spent more than ten years buried in solitary cells the size of coffins, hearing nothing but clanging bars or footsteps in the corridors. Fernandez Huidobro and Mauricio Rosencof, thus condemned, survived because they could talk to each other by tapping on the wall. In that way they told of dreams and memories, fallings in and out of love; they discussed, embraced, fought; they shared beliefs and beauties, doubts and guilts, and those questions that have no answer.

When it is genuine, when it is born of the need to speak, no one can stop the human voice. When denied a mouth, it speaks with the hands or the eyes, or the pores, or anything at all. Because every single one of us has something to say to the others, something that deserves to be celebrated or forgiven by others."

Don't be scared, just watch.

even more?

A couple of pictures of me Sarah took.

We like how it almost looks like I am worshipping in this last one, or like it brought me to my knees. I was really just taking a picture. But nicely shot, Sarah!

Freedom Tunnel Part II

I love how this one almost looks black and white. The tunnel was very dark in some places.

Translation: No More Hate.


My favorite shot.





The entire tunnel is somewhat surreal with its chiaroscuro lighting, creating a gallery for the paintings on the wall.
A glimpse of the outside world.


I like how it looks like she's disappearing in the light in this next one.
And then my camera died. And let me tell you I was not happy because the best graffiti was coming up. Graffiti that is truly art. Sarah and I will be returning so I can shoot that soon. Keep your eyes peeled.

Freedom Tunnel Part I

The other day, in looking at High Line information, I stumbled upon another well-kept Manhattan secret: Freedom Tunnel. And of course I wanted to go. So on the first sunny day off I've had in a long time, Sarah and I headed into the creepy subterranean depths of the Tunnel. It is now being used on a regular basis for trains, but was at one time abandoned, and sheltered hundreds of homeless people. The cops cleared out the shanty town, and some incredible graffiti has built up over the past 15-20 years, including that of a "Graffiti Legend", Chris Pape. 

At first I insisted that we should take Alfie with us, as the tunnel seemed like a perfect opportunity and place to attack/rape/kill two unsuspecting girls. Alas, Alfie works normal hours. So out we go, armed with a knife and cell phones.

After 10-15 minutes wandering around trying to figure out where the entrance was, we headed up an off-ramp, down a wooded bank, and through this conveniently cut doorway in a chain link fence.

This tunnel is off-limits. As will be obvious to you soon, plenty of people head in.

This is how we felt heading into the dark, long, creepy tunnel. Sarah: excited! Me: excited and scared.
Trains periodically roar through. They are somewhat silent until they're very close to you, so it's a little dangerous.

Someone set up this little shrine near the entrance with duck and book. Book's title: Expect Nothing, A Zen Guide.

We were expecting people to be living down there, but this gentleman startled us nevertheless. We spoke with him for a few minutes, his name is John. He's been living down there for 14 years. He lived in the Park for 7 years before that. He was very informative, and very nice. I was in obvious need of a tripod since I refuse to use a flash.

Some cautionary words.

some Reasons to look forward to summer:

in no particular order

I am actually watching this one tonight, a friend had a copy of DVD. I am generally vehemently against film pirating, but he had it... right there... and it was free for me... (yes I am ashamed)
The Time Traveler's Wife. Guuuuuuuuuuhh!!! THIS HAD BETTER BE GOOD!!! I wish it were Rachel McAdams and Paul Bettany, but whatever casting director...
Have you seen the latest trailer for this? IT LOOKS DELICIOUSLY AND BACK CRAWLINGLY DARK. I. can't. wait. I shut my eyes already just thinking about the end. The trailer looks pretty effects-heavy, which I am generally against, but it does look like the director was influenced by Alfonso Cuaron's exploration into and interest in creepy under-water movement. I approve of that.
Oh why hello Hayao Miyazaki, another delightful film for us to feast on? Why thank you!
My favorite part of the trailer is a tie between Maggie Gyllenhaal and Allison Janney.
Guuuuuuuhh!!! My toes curl!!!

You already know my thoughts. Can't wait for the Fall.