Penny's UPDATE - More Sunscreen

Hola!

This is just a brief follow-up to the posts I did previously (May 25th & 27th) on the importance of SUNSCREENS.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently cracked down on sunscreen manufacturers and what they can claim on their labels. Key things to note:

• Manufacturers now have to 'prove' that their products protect against UVA and UVB rays if claiming that they reduce the risk of skin cancer, wrinkles, and sunburn
• Sunscreens also have to have an SPF of at least 15 to make that same claim [NOTE: Most dermatologists recommend no less the SPF 30].
• FDA is barring the use of the terms: sunblock, waterproof, and sweatproof
• Labels must be changed to reflect the new requirements
• FDA also plans to ban the use of any SPF rating above 50, since there is no evidence to prove that those products provide adequate protection.

Here is a link to the Washington Post article from June 14, 2011 regarding the FDA's requirements...check it out!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/fda-cracks-down-on-sunscreens/2011/06/14/AGaz3fUH_story.html

Be blessed. Be beautiful. Be smart. Be safe.
Penny

Lip Locked (Part Deux)

Penny here!
For some reason after I post something I remember six other things I should have included in my write up. smh. LOL!

So in my last post Penny encouraged folks to 'update' their lip look and be sure that they were choosing the right liner, and blending their lip liner correctly.  Most everyone has natrual color to their lips; look closely at yours when shopping for a brown or nude lip liner. Here are the important things to remember:

1. Blend your lip liner by pressing your lips together and moving them back and forth, or use your finger to lightly smudge the line inward. 
2. Do not overline your lips. Search Google and Youtube for techniques on how to line your lips (especially if you want them to appear fuller).
3. Find a lip liner color that matches your natural lip color or your lipstick  
4. Find a color liner that compliments your lipstick or gloss (not one that directly contrasts it)
5. To get the most out of your lip color one trick the pros use is to dab a little foundation or concealer on your lips to diffuse your natural lip color and let the true color of your liner and lipstick show through. This is especially good for the "nude lips" look. NOTE: Try not to do this every day as it could dry out your lips. M.A.C. used to have a product called Lip Erase, not sure if its still available.

Just to be clear, Penny's not saying that you can't wear dark brown lip liner with something other than brown lipstick or gloss. I'm saying if you do...if there is a look you're going for...if your natural lip color is close to dark brown...then please, please, please blend the heck out of  your lip liner so that the lines are diffused and your lips don't enter the room before you do! LOL! This also applies to purple liner with pink lipstick, etc. Lip liner should be blended into the lipstick. Lip liner can also help your lipstick color to last longer if you fill in your lips entirely with a matching color lip liner. If your comfort zone only allows you to use dark liner, then try a lipstick or lipgloss shade that compliments the darker liner instead of one that is in direct contrast with it. 

Back in the day the look was M.A.C's Chestnut liner with popular shades like  Oh Baby, Chai, or Explicit.  Rupaul rocked the look as late as 2008...but he/she is Rupaul after all! LOL! To update the look, try M.A.C liner in Cork or Oak, and Tinted Lipglass in C-Thru, Spite, or Revealing. Cork also looks great with Hug Me and Honeylove lipsticks. Penny also noticed that the more modern take on this duo usually includes a creamy, or lustre formula lip color or high gloss...instead of a 'frost' formula. (read full story...)

Lip Locked (Revised)

NOTE: Penny wrote this piece a couple years ago (pre-blog) but decided to revise and re-release it...so here goes. Penny knows she's going to get a lot of flack for this one...but oh well. LOL!.

"Back away from the dark lip liner/light lipstick combination!"

We all know the look...we see it all the time. [Think Pamela Anderson, Kim Mathers, and Sara Palin...yikes!].  Yes, this is an outdated look ladies. Don't shoot the messenger; I'm not setting fashion trends or making up beauty rules. LOL! Speaking of rules...there are always exceptions....let's talk about your options. 

"To line, or not to line?...that is the question."

The purpose of lip liner is to keep your lipstick from ‘bleeding’ onto your skin. Some use it to even out lip shape or to try to make your lips appear a little fuller. Lip liner is also supposed to look ‘natural’ according to the pros. When applying your lip liner, remember that it should to be the same color as your natural lip color, no more than one shade darker, or the same color as the lipstick/lipgloss. Never use black anything to line your lips unless your creating a vampire look. LOL! Always blend your lip liner well by smudging it from the outer edges of the lip inward toward the center; its easist to use your finger. Do not leave a hard line around your lips; this is called overlining. If you think blending the liner will change your lipstick or lipgloss color, then pick a shade close to the lipstick/gloss color. It's the APPLICATION as well as the COLOR combination that makes lips hot!

Penny loved her M.A.C. Chestnut liner too back in the day...but now it only goes with dark lipstick shades and is blended well. There are other shades of medium brown liner (i.e., Cork, Stripdown, Spice, Hover by M.A.C.) that will give you a more updated look if blended well with your lipstick or gloss...look for medium browns or pinkish-browns that can be worn with a variety of colors. This is especially for you ladies who have a hard time letting go...just go a little lighter and blend well. (read full story...)

Penny's Not Done - More Sunscreen

 It's 9am....Do you know where you SUNSCREEN is? 

Okay folks! Its currently 91 degrees and sunny where I am now! Well, let's face it, most of us don't wear sunscreen daily or even think about it as we get dressed each day (unless we work outdoors). Penny admits that although I wear sunscreen on my face daily, and have for many years, I don't think about my body. I have worked in a corporate office for most of my career and I can easily go an entire day without being out in the sun for more than the time it takes to get to my car and commute to and from work. But I really want to change my habits and become more protective of my skin. It doesn't have to be complicated people. We develop bad habits in an instant...and keep them for half a lifetime. Why not develop some good ones? LOL!

If you dread an extra step to apply sunscreen in the morning (cause everyone knows we don't have a minute to spare!)...then purchase a body lotion "with" sun protection. The key is to look for 'broad spectrum' products; products that fight UVA and UVB rays. Here are a couple body lotions with SPF you muight want to try:

• Eucerin Extra Protection Moisturizing Body Lotion, SPF 15 ($9.99, 13.5oz Target)
• Yes to Carrots Hydrating Lotion with SPF 30 ($14, 4.2oz, Walmart)
• KIEHL'S Creme de Corps Light-Weight Body Lotion SPF 30 ($27, Bloomingdales)
• Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30 ($6.99, ULTA) *

* Some may contain 'oxybenzone' which may cause allergic reactions amongst other things. See blog post from May 25th.

Here are some more commonly seen brands of sunscreen as well. I found that the list I gave you the other day had lots of brands I've never heard of that may be hard to find. So here are some that should be more recognizable.

• Aveeno Active Naturals Protection Mineral Block Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 ($10, drugstore.com)
• Banana Boat Sport Performance Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 ($10, Target)*
• NO-AD Ultra Sunblock Lotion, SPF 30 ($9, Kmart) *
• Walgreens Sport SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion ($2.99, Walgreens)*
  
  

* Some may contain 'oxybenzone' which may cause allergic reactions amongst other things. See blog post from May 25th.

Penny also recommends NOT using the same product that you use on your body, for your face. Especially if you have sensitive skin. Almost every brand mentioned in these blog posts has a formula specifically for the FACE. There are also formulas for babies and kids needs.  (read full story...)

Penny's UPDATE - Skin is In

Guess who?

This morning I came across an article about sunscreen that caught my attention. Penny 'was' a sun worshipper in another youthful life. But today she has to be much more wise and conservative about her bake time. LOL! The lovely color that once came naturally to this Virgin Island native is harder to achieve these days. With so many changes to my skin in the past 10 yrs (i.e. melasma, sun spots, eczema, etc)...some from age or hormones...and some from bad habits...I'm now more protective of my skin than ever before. After all, dermatologists and aestheticians have been telling me for years to protect myself from the sun...my sun...the sun I love. *sigh* Now I know why. Sun damage is no joke. And in case you haven't noticed Mother Nature has been coming at us with a vengeance for years now...everything occurs at a heightened state. We must be careful of UVA and UVB rays. Growing up in the Caribbean I had never even heard of either. But today we must be more diligent about using sunscreen. Not only are we to wear it DAILY but we need to re-apply it to (especially if exposed to sun regularly or continuously).

And don't be fooled by "high" sun protection factor (SPF). Many believe that the high SPF is no more effective than others with a lower number, and that it gives folks a false sense of security. Please take a moment to read this article that provides more detail on the types of sunscreen to avoid...and ones to try:  (Click on the link)

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/sunscreens-to-avoid-2488130/

In my post from May 3, Skin is In, I mentioned that it was important to use sunscreen and listed Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30   as the one I was currently using. Well according to the article, this sunblock contains "oxybenzone" which it turns out can cause 'allergic reactions and is a potential hormone disruptor.'  Well, Penny needs no help disrupting the hormones so I will be shopping this weekend for a new sunblock from the following 'recommended' list. LOL!

(read full story...)

Penny's UPDATE - Eye Shadow Primer

Hi all:
Hope everyone is well and enjoying their Sunday afternoon.

 

 

As promised, I’m going to start posting UPDATES to some of my previous posts. Most times I reply to individual questions about a particular product but then others who have the same questions may not get the answers they're looking for. So whenever there is something new to report even if its a previous posted product, I will try to post a new blog about it.

In my April 27^th blog I recommended Stila Prime Pot in Caramel ($20, Sephora)…I said it was the perfect primer (for those with dark lids like Penny)…well, it’s not so perfect. I think I may have jumped the gun on this one and I was wrong. (Stranger things have happened. LOL! Remember that Penny is on the ‘trial & error’ plan too). For those who do not have oily eyelids or a problem with eye shadow creasing, then this primer may still be a good buy for you. But I have since used this primer on warm days when my face tends to get oily and the primer did not hold up (see pic).  Here is my previous list of pros and cons…revised.

PROS:

• Holds my eye shadow in place all day
• Neutralizes the uneven skin tone on my lids
• Creates a smooth surface to work with
• Doesn’t crease
• Easy to apply (for Penny at least)
• Dries quickly

CONS:

• Creases if you have oily lids
• Only comes in 2 colors (Caramel & Tawny)
• Dries quickly (for some this can make it harder to apply)

(read full story...)

Skin is In II

Hi!

I think Penny got tired during the last post because she forgot to mention a couple of products. LOL! Until a week ago when I received my order of Passion Body Butter from Forplai, I was successfully using and loving the following products.

• Trader Joe's 'A Midsummer's Night Cream' Moisturizing Cream, Extra Dry Formula (unscented) - This pH balanced herbal blend body lotion is an excellent, non-greasy, rich cream that absorbs quickly and tackles my dry skin all day. It is inexpensive ($3.99 I think) and works as well or better than lots of the more expensive lotions on the market. Unfortunately if you don't have a Trader Joe's grocery store near you, its not always available online.
• African Shea Butter Oil 100% (unscented) - This is a gem I stumbled upon on one of my many shopping trips at Amazon.com. LOL! I love this oil! It is pure shea butter that is processed differently so that you get a thick oil that pours instead of a hard solid cream in a jar that you have to scoop. It has little bits of solid shea butter in and absorbs into the skin without feeling heavy. Most of all it helps control the nighttime dryness and itching I experience from my eczema. This is exactlty like the pure shea butter I've bought in the past from random vendors but in a more convenient, liquid formula. I found that the product was cheaper on Amazon than on the distributor's site once you add in shipping & handling.  (www.Amazon.com; $10, 8oz; $17, 16oz, plus S&H).

This is my nighttime treatment.  I will continue to use this regimen and use the body butter as an alternate nighttime treatment.To successfully treat my eczema I have combined body lotion with a light body oil for many years. I believe this combination helps keep my skin moisturized the entire day. In the mornings I use the same Trader Joe's Moisturizing Cream combined with Neutrogena Sesame Body Oil or Origins Ginger Glossing Oil.  I love the fresh, citrus smell of these products.

(read full story...)

Skin is In

Penny here!
It's time for us to show some skin! Yes...it's that time of year again to ready our skin for the exposure it gets in the warm spring and summer. One of the best ways to prep your skin is to exfoliate and moisturize regularly. And always remember your sunblock. Those of you living in warmer climates should already practice this beauty regimen.

 

Exfoliate:
Exfoliating helps rid the body of dry dead skin and dullness to reveal smooth more vibrant skin. Focus on elbows, knees, heels, and any place you feel dry, rough, patches. Often we neglect our skin in the winter months because we keep it covered up. So now is a good time to pay special attention to it. Be gentle even with exfoliation; just because you want to rid yourself of dead skin, does not mean you should be harsh or use anything abrasive.

 

Penny has been known to partake in a brown sugar body scrub or two (or five, LOL). I even make my own from time to time with the simplest of recipes using kitchen ingredients:

• Light brown sugar
• Honey
• Pure Olive or almond oil

Combine all ingredients adding the oil slowly until you make a paste. This scrub may be applied to damp or dry skin. I prefer to apply to dry skin in very light circular motions. Be careful when you shower off the paste as the shower floor/bathtub surface will become slick from the oil. (Use a household cleanser strong enough to remove the oil). You can add other essential oils and spices to your concoction if you choose. Surf the Internet for your favorite recipe!

Lately I have indulged in another scrub. Bath and Body Works now has a Sudsing Scrub ($13, www.bathandbodyworks.com ). I love the Aromatherapy lines Energy (orange-ginger) and Stress Relief (eucalyptus-spearmint) scents.  These scrubs not only wash clean and smell great, but they leave your skin super smooth and soft.  BBW's Aromatherapy line also offers Sugar Scrubs ($16) in my two favorite scents as well as others like Sensual (jasmine-vanilla), Energy (lemon zest), Sleep (lavender-vanilla), Stress Relief (vanilla-verbena), and Sleep (lavender-chamomile). 

Moisturize:
Body butters are Penny's favorites. Since I have dry skin (eczema) I need serious moisture and not products with high water contents. Sephora Collection Super Supreme Body Butter ($14) is one of my favorites. It's rich yet light and non-greasy; it absorbs well into the skin. It has a nice smell but scent is a personal thing so take a whiff from the tester while you're in the store if you plan to try this for the first time. LOL!

Penny is also trying a fairly NEW Body Butter. Actor turned entrepreneur Lamman Rucker teamed up with Kofee & Kompany (a Dallas-based spa) to create line of skin care called FORPLAI. I have to confess that I was curious because I love me some Lamman Rucker! (Who doesn't dig Sherriff Troy? LOL!) So I ordered the Passion Body Butter ($22, 4oz). www.forplai.com   There are two lines available containing a body mist, body scrub, and body butter. Passion is described as a "unisex fragrance; warm and sensual with hints of chocolate, caramel and vanilla."

(read full story...)