Set Free from Sunburn (for today at least)

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am constantly muttering about the difficulties of finding the right sunscreen for the summer months. Not only does the medication for my condition make me sensitive to sun, but I start sweating like nobody's business as soon as I step foot in the brutal rays of the sun.

This summer I am trying something new. Banana Boat Clear Ultramist UVB SPF 30 Continuous Spray Sunscreen.  I found mine at Walmart, but I think you can get it anywhere.  Some people mock and aggravate me about the price I pay for good sunscreen, but the way I see it - it is definitely worth the price.  Some say that we shouldn't use are-sol spray sunscreens, but I am cautious about not breathing it in and its the only way I can make sure that I get every inch of my (exposed) body.  After doing some research and talking to my physician, I am learning that if you have the UVA and UVB protections you don't have to splurge as much on a higher SPF.  This is really the first summer that I have used a lower SPF so I was curious about how it would work out.


Luckily, I had a plan!  I went into the events of the holiday making sure that I could keep an eye on the clock. While it may sound a bit dull, I reapplied the sunscreen every 90 minutes.  Yes, I climbed out of the pool and dried off every 90 minutes, spraying myself with the sunscreen and massaging some onto my face.  The coolest part was that my 5yr old niece climbed out of the pool with me - and I went ahead and slathered her up too.  It's never too early to teach sun protection and skin care!


Well guess who DIDN'T burn!!  That's right, ME!!!  In the pool for hours during the hottest part of the day and while I did get a little bit of color - no lobster-red burns for me this year!   




Happy Independence Day!

For more FAQ about sunscreen, check out the American Melanoma Foundation.

Budget Friendly Budget Secrets: Starring Michelle Phan!

Like so many others on YouTube, I am a faithful fan of Michelle Phan's videos.  I'm not one for wearing a lot of make-up and things, but I do enjoy her homemade skin care secrets.


For example, Michelle walks us through making an exfoliating scrub out of three things that can be found in anyone's kitchen.  This is definitely on my "to do" list!!





In this video, Michelle shows how to use an organic egg to give yourself a facial can tighten and boost your skin's appearance.  I haven't tried it yet, but I am considering it..  :)

Here Michelle walks the viewer through making homemade pore strips!

Here are the links to a few other low budget homemade tricks that she clues us in on: 

Do It Yourself Cucumber Eye Pads- Reduce dark circles and puffiness 

Creating kissable cheeks with hot chocolate

 Homemade lip scrub to get pucker worthy soft lips

Turn extra eye shadow into beautiful lipstick in just a few minutes

How to salvage your lip-gloss, lower your waste

Snow White's Secret for Skin Care

Snow White is the very first movie I remember seeing in a movie theater, it has always held a special place in my heart.  Imagine my smile when I heard that my niece also enjoys this movie!  This part always makes me laugh, yet this time it reminded me how important it is to have healthy skin and a good skin care regime. 

Being a spoonie, like many others, I have to be aware of my energy levels and am often not feeling up to do most of the things I should.  But taking a hint from my sister, Jennifer, I have a small tote that contains my essential skin care items, I keep it within easy reach of my bed.  




My tote contains:

• Equate Micro-Exfoliating Daily Cleansing Cloths,  they remove makeup, dirt, and anything else that may be lurking after the day.  I love these!  I truly feel that these cloths are a good substitute for those days I don't have the energy to properly wash my face before going to bed. 
• Biore Triple Action Astringent and generic cotton facial pads (or cotton balls, depending on your preference).  I definitely make sure that I use astringent on my neck, around the back of my neck and in the front, because of how badly I have night sweats.  
• Equate Complete Beauty Lotion with Vitamin E for Sensitive Skin that includes sunscreen.
• A new item I have added to my tote is a container of Simple Vital Vitamin Night Cream.  It was a bit of a splurge ($9) but I'm eager to see how it does with helping my face and neck stay moisturized at night without the blemishes.  
• I also keep my favorite body lotion by my bed and lather it on as often as possible!  

Yes I have other things for my skin, but those are when I have the luxury extra energy - stored in the shower so I can reach it easily.  But to be honest, this tote is for doing the minimum.  I wouldn't exactly say the minimum, because it beats doing nothing at all.  :)