Happy Birthday Pink: How to Preserve Youthfulness with Vitamin C Serums for Women 35 & Older

High five! Pink turns 35 today.

The songstress has a style all her own. Her music gives her an edgy pop sound, while her acrobatic moves on stage make her a one-woman circus. Who can forget her high-flying performance at the Grammys earlier this year? She showed off her flexibility and strength by spinning and swinging upside down while suspended far above the audience in a daring aerial dance act.

Pink pursues bold looks, too. Known for her creative coifs, she's rocked short and sassy platinum blonde hair, fluorescent spikes, pink-streaked dreadlocks and a pitch-black skater cut. They bring to mind the unique styles of her two biggest musical influences--Madonna and Janis Joplin.

Born Alecia Beth Moore, Pink inspires fans with empowering songs such as "Try," "F**kin' Perfect" and "Raise Your Glass." She learned the importance of giving back early in her career and became a prominent campaigner for PETA more than a decade ago. Plus, she supports Human Rights Campaign, ONE Campaign, Prince's Trust, Save the Children, UNICEF and World Animal Protection.

Charitable endeavors not only make the world a better place, but the act of helping others in less fortunate situations also soothes the soul. So in honor of Pink's fierce philanthropy and motivational music, we've compiled good-for-you skincare serums, masks and creams that contain vitamin C. They allow women 35 and older to strengthen collagen, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, brighten skin and prevent premature aging.

Topical vitamin C makes a big difference--just like Pink. Happy birthday lovely lady!

SHINE: DeVita Natural Skin Care C 17% Serum. BEAUTY: Increase the elasticity of your skin, and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with aloe vera gel, green tea leaf extract, castor seed oil and vitamin C. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no FD&C colors, lead, carmine, cochineal, gluten or parabens.

SHINE: emerginC Scientific Organics Phytocell Cream. BEAUTY: Aloe vera leaf extract, shea butter, kombucha ferment and vitamin C help to hydrate your skin to improve its tone and texture. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of parabens, and synthetic colors and fragrances. Supports The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Black Currant C Serum. BEAUTY: Slow signs of premature aging with vitamins C and E, and black currant leaf and pomegranate extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of petrolatum, mineral oil, propylene glycol and parabens.

SHINE: Probios Transderma C Vitamin C Serum. BEAUTY: Vitamin C stimulates collagen production and skin cell regeneration to brighten and tighten your skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, fragrances, oil and alcohol.

SHINE: Vie Collection PHOTO-C Bright Radiance Mask. BEAUTY: Correct pigmentation flaws and restore radiance with vitamin C, and micro-algae and sea lily extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

November Celebrity Birthdays: Transformational Treatments that Help Turn Back the Hands of Time

Photo (c) SpreePiX-R.Imre
Rachel McAdams stars in About Time.

What would you change if you could go back in time? Rachel McAdams' latest romantic comedy, About Time, explores this age-old question. It tells the tale of a young man, portrayed by Domhnall Gleeson, who has inherited his father's ability to time travel. He then uses this gift to visit the past to correct a few mistakes that he's made with the love of his life, played by McAdams.

The notion of going back in time to change the course of history presents a fascinating concept--especially when it comes to dealing with the aging process. Fortunately, women over 35 don't need a time capsule to help shave off a few years from their appearance. Today's formulations contain ingredients that plump, protect and pamper skin to minimize signs of creasing, crinkling and creping skin.

McAdams turns 35 this month. In honor of her new movie, which opens today, and other actresses aged 35 and over who celebrate birthdays this month, we've assembled the latest anti-aging moisturizers, serums, peels, eye treatments and cleansers. They're designed to create a dewy, youthful glow. 

Truly transformational--and no time travel required!

November 1: Jenny McCarthy turns 41.

Photo by Manfred Werner

November 6: Rebecca Romijn turns 41.

Photo by Andrew Bishkinsky

November 17: Rachel McAdams turns 35.

November 24: Katherine Heigl turns 35.

Photo by Stefanie Keenan

November 25: Christina Applegate turns 42.

SHINE: Beauty Without Cruelty Facial Cleanser 3% AHA Complex. BEAUTY: Alpha hydroxy acids, aloe vera leaf juice and sweet orange oil help cleanse, condition and calm the skin to remove dead surface skin cells and impurities. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of parabens and synthetic fragrances.

SHINE: CellCeuticals InterActive Moisture Serum2. BEAUTY: Hydrate and heal your skin with peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and green tea leaf extract. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Contains no artificial colorants or fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates or parabens.

SHINE: Coola Face Mineral Sunscreen Unscented Matte Tint SPF 30. BEAUTY: Retain moisture and protect your skin with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, shea butter and cucumber fruit extract. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. Supports Save Our Seas.

SHINE: Gingi Refreshing Toning Water, Deep Comforting Cleanser and Make-Up Removal Clarifying Cleanser, which represents the cleansing component of the Gingi Oscar Official Presenter's Gift Box. BEAUTY: Aloe vera gel and vitamin E help maintain a proper pH balance for your skin, stimulate circulation and promote a supple complexion. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Hydroxatone Hydrolyze Instant Under Eye Illuminator. BEAUTY: Refresh and rejuvenate the look of your eyes by diminishing the appearance of dark circles, and minimizing sagging skin and wrinkles with hyaluronic acid, peptides and vitamin E. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

SHINE: L'Occitane Sublime Essence. BEAUTY: Salicylic acid, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid reduce redness and tighten pores to help create radiant skin.  BEACON: Contains no parabens. The L’Occitane Foundation supports women’s entrepreneurship and visual impairment fields of action.

SHINE: M-61 Power Glow Peel (10 Treatments). BEAUTY: Delivers deep exfoliation to enhance your skin's tone, texture and clarity with glycolic and salicylic acids, vitamin K, witch hazel and bilberry extract. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances and dyes. Supports Action Against Hunger.

SHINE: Maijan Moroccan Organic Argan Oil Healing Treatment for Hair, Skin and Face. BEAUTY: Argan oil and vitamin E revitalize and restore dry hair, skin, nails and scalp. BEACON: Free of alcohol, parabens and sulfates. Vegan and no animal testing.

SHINE: ProBios Laboratories Transderma M Moisturizing Serum. BEAUTY: Smooth and soften your skin by maximizing its moisture-retention ability with ceramides and vitamin E. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of preservatives, fragrances, oil and alcohol. 

SHINE: Refineé Anti-Aging Eye Treatment and Micro Derma-Peel. BEAUTY: Aloe vera and green tea extracts, and vitamins A, C and E help stimulate the skin's renewal process to firm its tone and maintain its suppleness. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Weleda Pomegranate Firming Serum and Pomegranate Firming Day Cream. BEAUTY: Improve elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with aloe vera leaf juice, and jojoba, pomegranate and macadamia nut seed oils. BEACON: Contains no synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives or raw materials derived from mineral oils. Supports Conservation International.

2013 Spa Week: Unmasking the Latest Treatments that Combat Common Skincare Concerns

Mask mania begins! Not only do they reach their full appeal during Halloween party season, but they gain even more popularity when fall Spa Week arrives. 

Starting today, hundreds of spas across the country offer discounted services for the entire week. Participating facilities reduce the price of two to three full-service treatments, such as facials, massages and scrubs, to $50 each. The promotion ends on Sunday, October 20. 

Spa Week also allows guests to address specific skincare concerns. If you've got dry or aging dermal issues, for example, a hydrating and healing facial that utilizes lots of vitamins and natural oils would work best for you. For oily or acne-prone skin, look for treatments that purge toxins while still regenerating new cells. In other words, they should say buh-bye to blemishes without causing excessive dryness or peeling. 

Check out the latest ingredients that help treat common conditions:

Acne--Salicylic acid, zinc oxide, alpha-hydroxy acid, benzyl peroxide, glycolic acid, aloe vera, green tea extract and licorice root.

Dry/aging skin--Shea butter, vitamins A, C and E, and avocado, coconut and sunflower oils. 

Sensitive skin--Oatmeal, cucumber extract, almond and jojoba oils, and chamomile.

Millions of Americans struggle with skincare problems on a daily basis. So, in honor of Spa Week, we've assembled the latest products designed to treat acne-prone, sensitive and dry/aging skin. We've also included revitalizing products for your body. Be prepared for spaaah-tacular results!

ACNE-PRONE SKIN

SHINE: Murad Acne Body Wash and Clarifying Body Spray. BEAUTY: Keep pores clean, clear and unclogged with salicylic and glycolic acids, green tea and licorice root extracts, and vitamin E. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Pevonia Problematic Skin Care Cream, Purifying Skin Mask, Problematic Skin Lotion and Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser. BEAUTY: Salicylic and glycolic acids, aloe vera leaf gel and grapefruit peel oil help to purify and protect skin, as well as prevent breakouts and bacterial growth. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, mineral oil, artificial colors and sulfates. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Prana SpaCeuticals Acne Complex. BEAUTY: This advanced liquid form of benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria and prevents future breakouts without drying your skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS.

SHINE: Skin Authority Calming Mask. BEAUTY: Hydrate inflamed skin caused by acne with aloe vera leaf juice, algae extract, sea kelp extract, peptides and eucalyptus leaf oil. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, dyes and added fragrances. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Soy Doctor Acne Treatment Serum. BEAUTY: Salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera leaf juice, and cherry bark and green tea leaf extracts help to reduce sebaceous glands and decrease the amount of sebum secreted. BEACON: Free of parabens, mineral oil and petrolatum.

DRY/AGING SKIN

SHINE: Beauty Without Cruelty Daily Facial Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 18 Sunscreen. BEAUTY: Shield and smooth your skin for a more supple looking appearance with avobenzone, aloe vera leaf juice, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of parabens, SLS/SLES and synthetic fragrances. 

SHINE: Coola Rose Essence Tint Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20. BEAUTY: Titanium dioxide, acai fruit oil, and cucumber fruit and sunflower seed extracts prevent sunburn and promote elasticity. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. Supports Save Our Seas.

SHINE: NeemAura Naturals Concentrated Neem Cream. BEAUTY: Highly moisturizing, this face and body cream mends skin by replenishing and rejuvenating it with aloe vera leaf juice, cocoa seed butter, and neem and jojoba seed oils. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan.

SHINE: Refineé Firming Mineral Moisture Cream. BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid, red marine algae, and vitamins A, C and E maximize moisture retention, and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

SENSITIVE SKIN

SHINE: Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Lotion and Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion. BEAUTY: Calm redness and irritation, and soften and strengthen skin with sweet almond oil. BEACON: Contains no synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives or raw materials derived from mineral oils. Supports Conservation International.

BODY

SHINE: Eight Skincare Ginger Lime Créme Body Wash, Ginger Lime Body Moisture and Ginger Lime Sugar Body Scrub. BEAUTY: Sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and jojoba and avocado seed oils revitalize your skin to promote more smoothness and silkiness. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

SHINE: Sonoma Soap Company Citrus Medley Hand & Body Lotion and Citrus Medley Bath & Shower Gel. BEAUTY: Remove impurities and restore skin's natural moisture balance with vitamin E, aloe vera leaf juice, and orange and grapefruit fruit oils. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Contains no parabens, gluten or artificial colors. Supports Clean the World.

Summer Sun Safety: 12 Ways to Protect Your Skin During A Heat Wave

Photos by Rhonda J. Wilson

I admit it. I'm a former floppy beach hat snob. Thooose types of accessories only serve to remedy a bad hair situation while possibly creating a new one, I thought. Plus, floppy hats look much better on celebrities trying to avoid the paparazzi. 

Before I left for my annual summer vacay in Lake Arrowhead, Calif., I spotted a hot pink hat on sale for under $10. For some reason, it called out my name in a major way. So I tried it on, and the rest is herstory. 

This hat has consumed my life. I wear it everywhere--sunbathing on the lake, buying groceries, hiking along the trails and watching the sunset from my deck. Not only does it look super chic, but it also helps shield my face from the harsh rays of the sun. 

Now that a heat wave has gripped the country, skin sun safety takes top priority. A floppy hat can provide protection during the peak summer months, but we still need to apply SPF to prevent dermal damage and premature aging.

Check out the latest sun shield superstars. They may not cool you off during a heat wave, but they'll help you look cooler for years to come by minimizing skin damage--and fine lines and wrinkles. Floppy beach hat optional!

SHINE: CellCeuticals PhotoDefense Color Radiance SPF 55+ (Tan). BEAUTY: Green tea leaf extract, peptides, hyaluronic acid and titanium dioxide balance your skin tone and protect against excessive sun exposure. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Contains no artificial colorants or fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates or parabens.

SHINE: Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster SPF 50. BEAUTY: Prevent sun and free-radical damage with green tea leaf, lemon peel and grape seed extracts, and lavender oil. BEACON: Contains no artificial fragrances or colors. Championed joinFITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship). The Dermalogica Foundation also supports Everychild Foundation, Children’s Skin Disease Foundation and Our House.

SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Bright Skin Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen. BEAUTY: Stone crop, lactic acid, and vitamins A, C and E  calm irritated skin and safeguard yourself against excessive sun exposure. BEACON: No animal testing. The company plants one tree for each product sold through its Forests For the Future program.

SHINE: Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector SPF 15 (Light/Medium). BEAUTY: Even skin tone, provide UVA/UVB protection and brighten your complexion with titanium dioxide, tinted mineral pigments, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: Parent company L’Oréal partners with UNESCO to support For Women In Science.

SHINE: Kate Somerville Serum Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50. BEAUTY: Oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, aloe vera leaf juice, and vitamins A, C and E help prevent sunburn and support overall skin health. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of synthetic oil, parabens and alcohol.

SHINE: Mineral Fusion Brush On Sun Defense SPF 30 and Facial Moisturizer SPF 40. BEAUTY: These mineral formulas--silky powder and cream lotion--provide sun and antioxidant protection with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, sea kelp and vitamin E. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of gluten, parabens, SLS, phthalates, artificial colors and synthetic fragrances. Supports the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Lift Perfection SPF 20. BEAUTY: Octinoxate, oxybenzone, peptides and pomegranate extract help counter aging and environmental damage. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no parabens, artificial colors or fragrances. 

SHINE: Organoderm by Dr. Domanskis Day Cream SPF 30+. BEAUTY: Protect and nourish your skin with avobenzone, sunflower seed oil and vitamin E. BEACON: USDA organic certified. Vegan and cruelty free.

SHINE: Sanítas Skincare Solar Block. BEAUTY: Zinc oxide, plankton extract, vitamins C and E, and hyaluronic acid help safeguard your skin against ultraviolet rays. BEACON: Contains no parabens or preservatives. Supports the Cinderella Foundation. 

SHINE: SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50. BEAUTY: Prevent overexposure to the sun with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and vitamin E. BEACON: Free of parabens. Supports the Melanoma Research Alliance.

SHINE: Somme Institute Double Defense. BEAUTY: Vitamin E, SPF 30 and aloe vera extract shield your skin from the harmful effects of the sun. BEACON: No animal testing. 

SHINE: Susan Posnick Brush On Block SPF 30. BEAUTY: This mineral powder sunscreen stops sunburn with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and chamomile flower and green tea extracts. BEACON: Supports Linking the World. 



Roxy the Rescue Dog cools off by playing fetch 
along the shoreline.