teenage.me

I’ve been using Lavera’s delicious (and eco!) cherry lipbalm for the last few months and absolutely love it. SO I was super excited to find out the line has SPF. Even if it’s not quite balmy yet, we beauty editors always have SPF on the mind! I got some tips from Lavera’s CEO, Ulrike Jacob-Dewor, who not only has a PhD in biochemistry, but has also worked as an environmental consultant!

Here, her top safe summer tips!

1) Find out the required SPF for your skin type. Here’s how:

a. Know your skin’s sun safety time (how long you can safely stay in the sun before burning): Fair skin: 10 minutes, olive skin: 15 minutes, and dark skin: 20 minutes.

b. Identify the SPF on your sunscreen (eg. SPF 20).

c. To calculate your sunscreen protection time (the amount of time you can stay outside before burning), multiply your skin type’s sun safety time with the SPF listed on your sunscreen. For example, 15 minutes (for olive skin) x SPF 20 = 300 minutes (5 hours) of sun protection. Result: Olive skin using a sunscreen with SPF 20 can under ideal conditions stay in the sun for up to 5 hours.

2) Be natural. Use natural, mineral-based sunscreens.

Avoid synthetic chemicals such as4-Methyl-Benzylidencamphor, (4-MBC), Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-3, Octyl-methoyl-cinnamates(OMC), Octyl-Dimethyl-Para-Amino-Benzoic Acid(OD-PABA), Homosalate(HMS).

3) At the start of the summer, choose a high factor of SPF 30 or higher, and only stay in the sun for short periods in order to acclimatize your skin gradually.

4) Apply sun screen carefully and generously. Reapply after swimming and perspiration.

5) Apply sun protection even while in the shade; you are still exposed to 40% of the sun’s UV radiation.

6) For the best protection under make-up, use a two-in-one moisturizer/sunscreen such as Lavera’s Anti-Aging Sun Screen SPF 20 for Face.

7) Avoid direct sun exposure between 11 am and 3 pm as sunlight is strongest during these times.

When traveling, remember that snow and water reflect sunlight, intensifying its UV rays.  In these conditions, it’s best to wear a SPF 30 or higher. Also, use SPF 30 and up when near the equator and in mountainous areas where the sun’s rays are more intense.

Find lovely Lavera products at a Whole Foods near you!

Girls, today was not a good hair day — it’s raining, it’s humid and
it’s windy out there! I don’t know about you, but I absolutely hate
frizz — and what I hate even more is humidity, because it makes my hair
frizz AND pouf out! For you girls who live in hot or humid areas like
Miami and Texas, frizz is what happens when thirsty dry hair tries to
suck up the moisture from the air.

To find out more what products Yesenia uses to fight frizz, click “read more”!

Let’s talk about this picture.

Vanessa is enjoying a perfectly nice day of shopping in a cute oversize plaid shirt, classic aviators, and a great pair of shoes; but… something is missing.

What is it? What did sweet, adorable V forget to put on this morning?

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen the oversive top without bottoms on people. I see it all the time on the street. I’m pretty sure she must be wearing a pair of tiny shorts under there, but maybe not.

What do you guys think? Are you into this cheeky oversize-shirt-am-I-wearing-pants look?

Tell me, what do you hope is in Vanessa’s Diesel shopping bag:

1. A Pair of jeans that she will hopefully wear next time she goes out.

or

2. Another adorable oversize shirt- who needs pants anyways??

Always wanted to be a T-shirt designer? Even if you’ve never even thought about it, now you can be! Felissimo Design House has just started Social Designer: Goods for the Greater Good, a Web site where you can design and buy and sell T-shirts and tote bags and more — while making a difference! They have different competitions every week to raise awareness and give money towards a different cause. The categories are Animal Welfare, Peace, Education, Arts & Culture, Emergency Relief, Environment, Health & Well-Being, Human Rights, and Poverty. You can vote or submit your own design! If you win, you’ll get $2,000 and your design will be sold on the site! Awesome, right? Shopping and designing for good causes — now that’s a cause you can get behind!

Summer is upon us! Hurrah! When the weather gets balmy, it’s easy to forget about your hair (most people become obsessive about SPF, right? RIGHT??? :)) Anyway, with that in mind, I got some easy/great tips from the folks at Kerastase…

1. Be bold! Slick your hair back in a low tight ponytail with a UV creme, like our Cr??me UV Defense (which has a double UV filter).
2. Be proactive! Before taking a dip in the pool or ocean, apply a product like Gelee Aqua Proof to protect your hair from harmful damage of chlorine or salt water.
3. Sleep easy! In the evening, use a deep conditioner like  Brume Nuit to replenish your hair as your night careafter exposing your hair to the summer elements.
4. Be smart! “Get your hair trimmed every four to six weeks to prevent split ends or damage to your hair. 

…which marks the start of MELANOMA AWARENESS MONTH! Over the next few weeks, we’ll all be sharing our favorite sunscreens/sun protection factoids.

To kick it off, I thought I’d share this must-have broad-brimmed hat that Lauren Moffatt (laurenmoffatt.net… One of my favorite sites! Check out the Grey Gardens dress, ahhh, so cute) created for the Skin Cancer Foundation! Love the gold grommets and the brilliant hidden pocket! 100% of the net proceeds benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation. $65.

One things sure: All will be well at Casa de Chen for Mother’s Day if any only if I come armed with some Jo Malone deliciousness! My mom is a fragrance addict. She doesn’t really wear perfume all that often, but she loves having them around her and occasionally spritzing some on for special events. Jo Malone’s newest collection, Kohdo Wood, is sure to please my mom. I LOVE the Lotus Blossom & Water Lily bath oil so much I may have to hijack it for myself! Visit Saks Fifth Avenue to catch a whiff… 

How fabulous is this new Dior Cristal gloss compact? Definitely worth showing off! Hurry! It hits Sephora stores TODAY for $60!

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