Winter Sun Protection

Brrrrr... it's chilly in many parts of the country. However, the debate over our ability to follow through on our New Year's resolutions heats up. A whopping 80 percent of people who vow to change or improve some aspect of their lives on January 1 typically fall off the wagon by Valentine’s Day, say researchers.


I've decided I'm going to make good on my promise, which is to wear sunscreen year-round. After considering the bad news/good news, who wouldn't? It doesn't matter if it's winter, spring, summer or fall, ultraviolet radiation damage often leads to skin cancer, hyperpigmentation and/or premature aging. On the upside, daily use of sunscreen helps shield the skin and important proteins, such as collagen, elastin and keratin, which keep it smooth and firm. 


I'm loving the idea of applying sunscreen year-round--by Valentine's Day and beyond. Check out the latest SPF formulations for your face and décolleté.

SHINE: Bioelements SPF 50 FaceScreen. BEAUTY: Formulated as a moisturizer to help safeguard against wrinkles, loss of elasticity and pigmented brown spots with titanium dioxide, aloe leaf juice, chamomile flower extract and Chinese herbs (including dong quai root extract). BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of synthetic colorants and fragrances, and packaged in glass for maximum freshness and recyclability.  

SHINE: DermaQuest Skin Therapy ZinClear SPF 30 Tinted. BEAUTY: This sunscreen soothes and heals using zinc oxide, and vitamins C and E with tinted coverage that warms lighter skin tones and compliments darker ones. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no parabens.

SHINE: iS Clinical by Innovative Skincare SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen (Translucent). BEAUTY: This formulation contains micronized zinc oxide and transparent titanium dioxide to provide UVA/UVB protection, and uses a self-dispensing brush applicator. BEACON: Supports National Breast Cancer Coalition and Stars For Stripes.

SHINE: Luzern Laboratories La Défense SPF 30. BEAUTY: Zinc oxide, and aloe and green tea extracts protect skin from damaging UV rays, as well as minimize premature aging, reduced elasticity and dark spots. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Also free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, dyes, glycols and petrochemicals.

SHINE: Smart Girls Who Surf SPF 30+ Organic Sunscreen Face Stick. BEAUTY: Provides UVA/UVB protection with sunflower, aloe and avocado oils, vitamin E, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and green tea and rosemary extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no parabens or synthetic fragrances.

Travel-Size Skincare Fix

Have you booked your summer vacay yet? If you're planning a trip this month, there's a good chance you'll be boarding a flight to the enchanted land of mouse ears and make-believe--Walt Disney World Resort.

Orlando tops the list as the most booked summer travel destination in 2011,

according to Orbiz.com. If theme parks cramp your style, consider Vegas, Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Cancun and Boston--which round out the top 10 vacation cities in order of popularity. 

Whether you plan to go camping, clubbing or catamaraning, don't forget to pack your skin care. Check out the following suitcase-friendly, mini must-haves.

BEAUTY: Tote tiny treasures on your trip with B. Kamins, Chemist Dry to Normal Skin Starter Kit (Day Cream SPF 15, Vegetable Skin Cleanser, Night Cream and Eye Cream). BEACON: No animal testing.

BEAUTY: Pack your flip-flops alongside flight-friendly sizes with Bioelements Travel Light Kit for Combination Skin (Decongestant Cleanser, Equalizer, Pumice Peel, Absolute Moisture and Oil Control Sleepwear). BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no artificial colorants or synthetic fragrances.

BEAUTY: Get your glow-on-the-go with Luzern Laboratories Organic Trip Kit (Purifying Cleansing Gelée, Vita O2 Hydra-Refining Mist, Force De Vie Créme Luxe, Serum Absolut, Pure Molecular Oxygen Treatment Mask and La Défense SPF 30). BEACON: Contains no parabens, petrochemicals, formaldehyde, synthetic preservatives or fragrances.

BEAUTY: R&R stands for revitalize and refresh with Sanítas Normal Skin System Kit (Glycolic Citrus Cleanser, Moisturizing Cleanser, Glycotoner 5%, Moisture Mist, Vita-Rich Serum and Topical C). BEACON: Supports the Cinderella Foundation. 

BEAUTY: No need to suffer breakouts during your summer break with sukí To-Go Complete Care For Clear Skin Kit (Sensitive Cleansing Bar, Transformative Cleansing Clay, Concentrated Balancing Toner and Pure Facial Moisture-Balancing). Also includes free samples of Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser and Balancing Day Lotion (not pictured below). BEACON: Cruelty free. Also supports fair trade, biodynamic processing and local sourcing.

BEAUTY: Travel light but promote potent skin renewal with Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Care Kit (Regenerating Body Oil, Regenerating Hand Cream and Creamy Body Wash). BEACON: Contains no synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives or raw materials derived from mineral oils. Also supports Conservation International. 

Follower Giveaway: Skincare Products

Welcome to our first giveaway! Yes, we're raiding our product closet to offer current and new followers the chance to win three prize packages. 


Our summer giveaway showcases skincare products from Bioelements, SpaRitual and Weleda. The deadline to enter is Friday, July 29, 2011, at 9 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time). Good luck! 


UPDATE: We'd like to thank everyone who entered our Summer Skincare Giveaway. Three lucky followers (see names below) have won valuable prize packages. Stay tuned, as more giveaways will be announced shortly.


THE PRIZES

(PRIZE #1) BEAUTY: Bioelements Calmitude Hydrating Solution Sensitive Skin Facial Mist, Lip Buff with Exfoliating Sugar Cane Crystals and Flash Foam Cleanser with Skin-Smoothing Fruit Enzymes. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no artificial colorants or synthetic fragrances. RETAIL VALUE: $89.

BONUS: Bioelements All Things Pure Scrub--Facial Exfoliator with Melting Herbal Grains. RETAIL VALUE: $46


UPDATE: Congrats to follower Pauline15_01. She's our lucky winner!

(PRIZE #2) BEAUTY: SpaRitual Handprint Hydrating Hand Salve and Handprint Hand Serum. BEACON: Vegan and biodegradable. Also contains no synthetic dyes, fragrances, parabens or petrochemicals. RETAIL VALUE: $56.

BONUS: SpaRitual Cuti-Cocktail Pen & Pusher. RETAIL VALUE: $15.


UPDATE: Congrats to follower Mooxinator. She's our lucky winner!

(PRIZE #3) BEAUTY: Weleda Pomegranate Firming Serum, Pomegranate Firming Eye Cream and Pomegranate Firming Day Cream. BEACON: Contains no synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives or raw materials derived from mineral oils. RETAIL VALUE: $111.

BONUS: Weleda Rosemary Hair Oil. RETAIL VALUE: $15.


UPDATE: Congrats to follower Tiffany Lane. She's our lucky winner!

THE RULES

REQUIRED: You must be a public follower of SHINE Beauty Beacon via Google Friend Connect to participate (counts as one entry).

OPTIONAL: Add SHINE Beauty Beacon to your blogroll to receive one extra entry.

OPTIONAL: Add a post about the giveaway on your blog to receive five extra entries (must include our URL).

OPTIONAL: Follow SHINE Beauty Beacon on Twitter @shinebeautybcn and tweet (or retweet) a link to the giveaway to receive three extra entries.

HOW TO ENTER: In the Post a Comment section below, tell us which prize or prizes you're interested in winning (i.e., Prize #1, Prizes #1 and #3, or Prizes #1, #2 and #3). Plus, leave us your GFC name, and let us know if you added us to your blogroll (please provide link), blogged about the giveaway (please provide link) and/or followed us on Twitter and tweeted or retweeted a link to the giveaway (please provide Twitter handle). Note: You will be disqualified if you comment more than once.


THE FINE PRINT
This giveaway is open only to legal residents of the continental USA. Winners must be able to supply a residential address, as merchandise cannot be delivered to a P.O Box. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. The giveaway will end on Friday, July 29, 2011, at 9 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Winners will be chosen by Random.org and notified via the email address provided in the Post a Comment section of this post. Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received (see The Rules above). No cash substitutions allowed. The winner must respond within 48 hours of being notified or a new one will be selected. Void where prohibited by law.  Any tax, international or otherwise, is the sole responsibility of the winner. By entering the giveaway, you release SHINE Beauty Beacon from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, misdelivery or acceptance of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory. SHINE Beauty Beacon is not affiliated with Bioelements, SpaRitual or Weleda, but we received complimentary samples for review purposes.  

We look forward to your participation. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at shinebeautybeacon(at)gmail(dot)com.

Elizabeth Taylor Eyes

The world not only lost a beauty icon and film legend when Elizabeth Taylor passed away last week, but a true humanitarian. As a tireless AIDS activist, the two-time Academy Award-winning actress raised millions for The Foundation for AIDS Research and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Taylor's flawless beauty also endures. She possessed a nearly perfect complexion, along with dramatic brows and one-of-a-kind violet eyes. A genetic mutation gave her two rows of lashes, which only enhanced the mesmerizing effect of her eyes. 


With a nostalgic nod to Taylor's best beauty asset, the following products help to maximize the look of eyes, lashes and brows: 

BEAUTY: glo.minerals gloEye Shadow and glo.therapeutics Vital Eye Cream. BEACON: Mineral formulations are talc-free, non-comedogenic and free of perfumes and chemical dyes. Also contains no parabens or gluten-derived ingredients.

BEAUTY: Bioelements All Things Pure Eye Oil. BEACON: Natural Products Association Certified. Contains no artificial colorants or synthetic fragrances, and no animal testing. Also packaged in glass for maximum freshness and recyclability. 

BEAUTY: RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum. BEACON: Paraben and fragrance free.

BEAUTY: iS Clinical Eye Youth Complex. BEACON: Supports Stars For Stripes, a group that provides celebrity entertainment tours for military personnel.

BEAUTY: RevitaLash Volumizing Mascara and RevitaBrow Eyebrow Conditioner. BEACON: Supports Relay For Life and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

BEAUTY: Jane Iredale Professional Faux Lashes and Mystikol Powdered Eyeliner/Highlighter (Citrine and Aquamarine). BEACON: Supports Living Beyond Breast Cancer and platinum sponsor of Teens For Safe Cosmetics Green Spa events.

BEAUTY: Refineé Anti-Puff Brightening Eye Gel. BEACON: Works with the Noreen Fraser Foundation. Also supports Look Good... Feel Better.

BEAUTY: B. Kamins Laboratories Eyelash Fortifier. BEACON: Contributes to Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation and PJs For the Cure, which raises money for juvenile diabetes research.

BEAUTY: Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Pen. BEACON: Cruelty free and vegan certification. Also supports Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Gilda’s Club.