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.

Spring SPF: Make the Most of Community Giving & National Skin Cancer Awareness Month

The tangerine grove at E. Waldo Ward & Son.

Citrus fruit makes my soul sing—especially oranges and tangerines. These sweet spheres of succulence pack a lot of flavor, nutrition and healing health benefits into each bite. So imagine my delight when I discovered an organization that recruits volunteers to harvest citrus fruit for needy community members. 

Los Angeles-based Food Forward engages in "fruitanthropy" to pick, donate and distribute produce for humanitarian purposes. Volunteers rescue excess fruit, such as oranges, grapefruits and tangerines, that would otherwise go to waste from the properties of local homeowners. The produce then gets dispersed to food banks and homeless shelters in the Southern California area. Since its founding in 2009, the grassroots organization has harvested almost 1.5 million pounds of fruit.

SHINE Beauty Beacon recently participated in a weekend pick at E. Waldo Ward & Son, which produces marmalades, jams, jellies and marinades from fruit trees located on its 30-acre property. The ranch was originally built in the late 1800s by Edwin Waldo Ward Sr. to fulfill his dream of making his own English-style marmalades. The business is now run by Ward's grandson and great-grandson, and they generously donated the fruit from one of their abundant tangerine groves to Food Forward. The harvest yielded approximately 1,200 pounds (see pics below).

Outdoor activity requires lots of sun protection. May marks National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so we've compiled the latest spring SPF sensations. They're designed to shield your skin from the harsh rays of the sun and provide transparent application while also helping your complexion maintain a youthful glow. Plus, as an added benefit, the manufacturers follow no animal testing practices.

When you give back to your community, you get so much more in return. The same can be said about the health of your skin. If you give it the products it needs for overall wellbeing, you'll see radiant results for years to come.

Volunteers wear large shoulder satchels to temporarily store the tangerines, which ultimately speeds the picking process.

 Clipping the tangerines with garden sheers, rather than pulling them from the tree, helps save the integrity of the fruit.

Volunteers retrieve even more fruit from the tops of the trees.

Once the fruit comes off the tree, the stems and leaves need to be trimmed.

Boxes quickly fill up with ripe fruit.

Volunteers then load up the tangerines, so they can be transported to local homeless shelters and food banks.

Group pic of our group pick.

SPRING SPF SENSATIONS

SHINE: CellCeuticals PhotoDefense Daily Skin Protector SPF 55+. BEAUTY: Protect and pamper your skin with active ingredients, such as avobenzone and oxybenzone, and moisturizing fruit extracts, such as pear and pumpkin. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Contains no artificial colorants or fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfates, phthalates or parabens.

SHINE: Coola Mineral Sunscreen Rose Essence Moisturizer SPF 20. BEAUTY: Titanium dioxide, coriander and acai fruit oils, and cucumber fruit extract minimize sun damage and early signs of aging. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. Supports Save Our Seas.

SHINE: IT Cosmetics Color Correcting Cream SPF 50+. BEAUTY: This multitasking moisturizer evens your skin tone and helps you steer clear of sun damage with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and grape and pomegranate seed oils. BEACON: No animal testing. Paraben and fragrance free. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil-Free Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Zinc oxide, hyaluronic acid, and aloe, apple, pomegranate and white grape juices soothe, shield and soften skin. BEACON: USDA Organic certified, vegan and no animal testing. Free of parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances.

SHINE: Murad Essential-C Sun Balm SPF 35 | PA+++. BEAUTY: Defend your skin from dehydration and damaging UVA and UVB rays with avobenzone, tangerine peel oil, sweet almond oil, vitamins A, C and E, and broccoli extract. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Ligne Soleil Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30. BEAUTY: Nourish your skin and nullify environmental effects with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, vitamins C and E, and green tea and aloe vera leaf extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Prana SpaCeuticals Reflect SPF 45. BEAUTY: Zinc oxide, hyaluronic acid, sesame seed oil extract, and vitamins C and E safeguard and soften your skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS.

SHINE: Refineé Daily Defense Cream SPF 30. BEAUTY: Prevent sunburn and signs of premature aging with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, aloe vera leaf juice powder, green tea extract and vitamin E. BEACON: No animal testing.

 SHINE: Skin Authority Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 30. BEAUTY: Avobenzone, oxybenzone, algae extract, vitamin E and aloe vera leaf juice help hydrate, create a protective barrier and control blotchy skin tone. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

Glow Gift Guide: Must-Have Mother's Day Skincare Sets & Kits

Photo by Gareth Simpson  

Mother's Day arrives on Sunday. This means you've got less than seven days to pick out one or more gifts for the special ladies in your life--your mom, mother-in-law and/or maternal mentor.   

No need to stress. We've compiled a Glow Gift Guide of skin/body care sets and kits. These serums, SPFs, eye creams and lotions serve to protect, nourish, heal and soothe--all the things moms typically do for us. They also help her maintain a youthful appearance. 

There's no better way to say thank you than with skin care. We hope you agree. Have a Happy Mother's Day!

SHINE: Apothederm Anti-Aging Skin Care System 4-Piece Kit (Firming Serum, Hydrating Eye Cream, Moisturizing Cream and Moisturizing Cleanser). BEAUTY: Quench thirsty skin, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce visible signs of aging. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, phthalates and fragrances.

SHINE: Caldrea Coconut Fig Leaf Body Wash and Body Lotion. BEAUTY: Reawaken radiant skin with chia seed oil and fig fruit extract. BEACON: Free of parabens and phthalates.  

SHINE: Gingi Eye Treatment Gift Box (Instant Eye Lift Mask and Instant Eye Lift Cream). BEAUTY: These eye care essentials contain hyaluronic acid and cucumber extract, as well as aloe vera gel and shea butter, to maximize elasticity, and minimize puffiness and fine lines. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Malie Organics Anti-Aging Facial Set (Anti-Aging Firming Elasticity Cream and Anti-Aging Cream Cleanser). BEAUTY: Hawaiian coffee fruit extract helps repair and revitalize skin to reveal a natural glow. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of petroleum, sulfates and parabens.

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Myoxy Caviar To Go Timeless Renewal (Timeless Balm Cleanser, Timeless Repair Lotion and Timeless Repair Cream). BEAUTY: Promote regeneration, restoration and age-defying results with this travel-size trio. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Prana SpaCeuticals Reishi Mushroom Serum and Reishi Mushroom Shield SPF 45. BEAUTY: This dynamic duo protects your skin against sun damage, and prompts cellular vitality and longevity. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS.

SHINE: Skin Authority Bright Skin Duo with Gift Travel Tote (Age Defying Moisturizer SPF 18 and Brightening Serum). BEAUTY: Lock in luminosity, shield skin and diminish existing discoloration. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: vbeauté Eye Never Eye Creme, Buying Time Everyday Creme and Undercover Agent Anti-Wrinkle Protecting Serum. BEAUTY: Utilizes Swiss Alpine Rose Botanical Technology to boost hydration levels and counteract the effects of aging. BEACON: Contains no parabens, fragrances, gluten, oats or nuts. 

SHINE: VenEffect Anti-Aging Lip Treatment, Firming Neck & Décolleté Creme and Anti-Aging Eye Treatment. BEAUTY: Smooth, soften and supersize the suppleness of your lips, eye area and neck/décolleté with grape and grapefruit seed extracts, and peptides. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

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.