Beauty that Protects

According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), the skin cancer disease called Melanoma kills one person in the United States every hour and 65% of those victims are women.

Furthermore, Melanoma is now the second most common cancer in women ages 25-29. Not only do we need to protect ourselves, but we need to set an example for our daughters and granddaughters. Protection and early detection is crucial because the disease is highly curable when treated in the beginning stages.

Although May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, every month should be dedicated to protecting ourselves since we live in sunny Arizona. Each morning when you apply your skin care products, stop and ask yourself if you are protecting yourself from the sun. Fortunately, there are many products that multi-task, both satisfying your cosmetic needs and offering sun protection all in one container.

Read on for the products that I recommend for your beauty and for your protection. You will look good and feel good knowing that you are doing everything you can to protect your largest organ, your skin.

Listen to that Desperate Housewife & Get Screened for Free

You watch her on “Desperate Housewives” and now you can take her advice, too. Actress Marcia Cross has joined forces with Olay and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) to be the official spokesperson for their “Skin Cancer Takes Friends” campaign, which includes free cancer screenings around the country. Just go to skincancertakesfriends.org to find a dermatologist close to you. I checked out the site and was directed to a Glendale dermatologist. You can’t beat a free screening and that complimentary appointment could save your life! Once you see a dermatologist, be sure to go back for an annual check-up to have those moles looked over from head to toe. In addition, make sure you are using a daily moisturizer such as Olay Complete Defense SPF Daily UV Moisturizer on your face. Many of us automatically apply sunscreen to our bodies, but forget the face. Don’t overlook any part of your body because skin cancer can strike anywhere. Dermatologists recommend products with an SPF of 30.

Don’t Skip the Lips

Don’t skip your lips when it comes to sun protection because skin cancer can develop on numerous parts of your body including areas that you may not have considered like your scalp, ears and lips. Try DDF’s Glossy Lip Therapy SPF 15 for protection and hydration. This unique lip balm includes beneficial ingredients like flaxseed oil that is known to protect cell membranes, shea butter that locks in moisture and Vitamin E for cellular support. It also plumps while it moisturizes and protects. Check it out at Sephora.

Sensitive Skin Spray-On Sunscreen for You & the Kids

My favorite family sunscreen is Aveeno Active Naturals Continuous Protection Sunblock Spray SPF 45 for several reasons. First of all, my daughter has very sensitive skin with regular Eczema outbreaks. Her pediatrician recommended the Aveeno moisturizer line when she was a baby and the sunscreen protection works well, too. I also enjoy the ease of the spray-on application. It has a gentle and steady stream that the kids can master on their own. Teaching them good sun protection habits early is crucial. It is also oil-free, non-greasy and waterproof. So for the entire family or for your sensitive skin, get Aveeno at your local drug store.

Dress Like The Celebs With a Marcia Cross Staple: THE SUN HAT
Another piece of advice you can take from actress Marcia Cross is to wear a hat. Sun hats are stylish and attractive. SunGrubbies sells a variety of sun protection wear for men, women and children. The brown hat pictured here also comes in pink and white and sells for $30.00. Another star that loves the SunGrubbies hat is Oprah. She features this product on her Oprah’s O List.
Topping off your style with a hat will help to protect your face and your scalp, an area many of us forget to check for skin cancer. This month’s issue of Glamour Magazine tells the story of 29-year-old Ellen Gray who died of skin cancer that was first found on the top of her head. Read her story and see how to check yourself for suspicious moles in the May issue, which is on newsstands now.

Put Your Shades On
Cancer can happen in and around your eyes, too. I was shocked to discover that I have a mole on my eyeball that has to be closely monitored! Boy, was I glad that I have regular eye checkups because I wear contacts.
I had never heard of moles on your eyeball, but my eye doctor showed me the spot during my exam. Since my eye mole can lead to cancer, I make sure that I never leave home without protective eyewear and I get annual eye exams. One sunglass brand that I recommend is from a credible website called Dermadoctor. The sunglasses shown above can be ordered directly from the site for $38.00. This pair has large frames that cover the sensitive skin that surrounds the eye and is rated UV400, which is the maximum rating for UVA and UVB protection from the sun. The site is run by Dermatologist Audrey Kunin, M.D. Her site covers a variety of skincare issues and sells doctor-approved sun protection products.
NOW… TAKE YOUR SHADES OFF & CHECK YOURSELF OUT
It is crucial to know how to check yourself for suspicious moles. Learn your ABC’s all over again because this time it can be lifesaving. Here is the formula for looking for irregular moles: Asymmetry – half of the mole doesn’t match the other half… halves are different. Borders – ragged, notched, or blurred edges. Color – different shades of tan, brown or black in one spot. Diameter – a mole that looks larger than a pencil eraser. Evolution – change or growth of a mole. Also, remember to put sunscreen on your ears, feet and other areas that you may skip over. It is also best to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. since the most harmful rays occur during these hours.

Beauty Foods

If you are what you eat, then it pays to know which foods will benefit your beauty plan. Read on to learn what to eat or apply to build stronger nails, healthy hair, great skin and more. Plus, I discovered a few cool beauty tricks like which fruit peel will whiten teeth and which cooking staple can help to dry your nails in a hurry. Check out my recommendations below and take bites that will boost your beauty.

The Beautiful Berry that Everyone is Raving About!

Blueberries and their numerous health benefits have been in the news for quite some time. Blueberries are still cool, but the new kid in town is the Acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry. Called “nature’s perfect food” by the US Health Science Institute, this little purple berry boasts a powerful blend of antioxidants that battle premature aging. The Acai berry has 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes and twice the antioxidant content of a blueberry. Numerous articles are popping up about this super berry that has been featured on Oprah as the ultimate anti-aging food.

Each time I write these articles and collect my research, I always ask my panel of 40 and 50-something girl friends what is currently working for them when it comes to their health, budget and beauty routine. One of my gal pals first told me about the Acai berry last year. At the time, she was adding a new daily juice to her diet that is loaded with the Acai berry called MonaVie. That was nine months ago. I checked in with her recently about the bottle that looks like a fine wine. Almost a year later, she swears by this drink and she consumes a glass of MonaVie each morning.

Called “the next big workout cocktail” by Vogue Magazine, this juice combines Acai with 18 other fruits like apricots and bananas. Elements Living Magazine described MonaVie as the drink that has all the good stuff like essential fatty acids, complex carbs and dietary fiber that we fail to get enough of in our daily diets.

So, I put some to the test. At $40 a bottle, I like the taste and am anxious to experience the health and anti-aging benefits that my girlfriends rave about. Plus my friends look good, are healthy and have lost weight. For more information about this product, visit www.monavie.com or call local company representative Ruby Castro at 480-250-8026.

The Acai berry is also showing up in beauty products. DDF has an alternative to injection treatments called DDF Mesojection Healthy Cell Serum.

Mesojection is the anti-aging treatment that’s sweeping Europe, but is administrated with a needle. DDF’s version is needle-free and helps to prevent free-radical damage that causes lines, wrinkles and discoloration.

The product delivers a customized blend of antioxidants from the Acai berry and peptides to the deepest layers of the skin. It rejuvenates the skin’s surface for younger skin tone, texture, and a renewed vitality. Pick one up at Nordstrom’s or order online at www.sephora.com.