Dr. Obagi Summer Sun Skincare and NEW NARS, Smashbox Makeup

Beautiful skin this summer starts with Sunscreen and Lighter Makeup

Summer is finally here so you may want to change up your skincare and makeup routines to accommodate the hot, humid weather to come. I got a preview of how sticky things can get on my last trip to West Palm Beach in May. You could literally feel the makeup being steamed off of your face and your blow-out going limp! It was like my honeymoon in Miami Beach all over again. Even more, the sun was ferocious. So summer is no time for whimpy sunblocks that offer little or no protection. Here are some new sunscreens with attitude and high-tech makeup for a lighter touch in the heat.

Marriot Resort Hotel - West Palm Beach

New Sunscreens & Moisturizers with Sunblock to Try This Summer:

Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Sensitive Skin Daily Calming Moisturizer SPF 30 is from the "Yes to Carrots" line of more natural skincare products. It does smell of cucumber! It's a zinc oxide based formula without a white undertone to it. Water-based, it is loaded with 96% natural goodies like cucumber, green tea and aloe, yet it contains no dimethecone/silicones. See more at YestoCarrots.com

Obagi Medical Sun Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen-Matte is a zinc oxide based formula which is odorless and absorbs quickly. No white or ashen cast, it looks and feels especially good on the skin. The matte finish makes it a top choice for use under your foundation and concealers. It did "pill" a little bit so just be sure to apply it as evenly as possible before putting makeup on top. I wore this under very light Lancome Creme foundation for a bicycle tour and it did an amazing job of protecting my skin even in full sun.

Obagi Medical Professional C Suncare Broad Spectrum SPF 30 has a 10% concentration of the antioxidant, vitamin C and grapefruit peel extract. This is a silicone or dimethecone based product and would work well with similarly based blurring primers, (try Lumene's Bright Now Blur Line & Pore Minimizer or L'Oreal Miracle Blur) and the newer fluid foundations. The 1.7 oz pump bottle makes it the perfect size for travel too. This product is like primer + sunblock and good for moderate sun exposure. It looks AMAZING under liquid foundation, giving you just a touch of moisture yet with a semi-matte finish.

Obagi Medical "Obagi 360" HydraFactor Moisturizing Cream with Sunscreen SPF 30 has a lovely beachy scent and absorbs even more quickly than the Sun Shield. No pilling or roll off either. However, I think the Sun Shield leaves a smoother finish due to the matte base. However the HydraFactor has a pump bottle vs a tube which I prefer. Either product would be good under your makeup so just think of the amount of sun exposure you are expecting. Please be consistent and wear sunscreen every day this summer. Visit Obagi online at Obagi.com

New 2015 Summer Collection of Obagi Medical Suncare

Stealthy Moisturizing is still needed despite high summer humidity. The trick is not to let it mess with your makeup so the way I like to do it is at night. That's when you can really bring out the big guns! Products like Hyalauronic Acid found in Sublime Beauty's Hyalauronic Acid Serum and Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Water Gel. Another good product to use under your night time moisturizers is Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair and Belli Healthy Glow Facial Hydrator. The latter is more natural with Vitamin C, Grape Seed and Chamomile. The idea is to go heavy at night so you can lighten up during the day. Also moist skin uses much less makeup because it's not dry and busy soaking up the foundation. When you go out, keep a thermal water bottle of icy cold agua with you for hydration.

Packing a chilly bottle of ice water

Lighter Summer Makeup Options can include some of the newer, highly pigmented yet very fluid liquid and powder foundations. This first product is actually a combination of all three as it dries down to a powder finish. L'Oreal Paris' Magic Nude Liquid Powder gives you great coverage with only a few drops of foundation. The finish is lovely and feels like nothing. Said to be a dupe for Giorgio Armani's Maestro Foundation, LOreal's Magic Nude offers a good range of colors. 

NARS  All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation is one of the best new cosmetic counter foundations to arrive on the scene this year. The pump bottle dispenses the tiniest drop of foundation BUT that's all you need. The coverage and finish is incredible, second only to my Kett Hydro Foundation via airbrush. Since you use so very little product, it feels like you are wearing nothing which is pretty close to the truth. Works well with sunscreens and moisturizers that likewise are silicone or dimethicone based.

NARS  All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

Best New Powder Foundation would have to go to Smashbox for their Photo Filter Powder Foundation. If you are a Bare Minerals fan, you will like this product. As for me, I'm not really into powder foundations any more but do like these from Smashbox. Very light, the pigment doesn't fall into fine lines perhaps due to the dimethicone in the product (silicone is everywhere these days). I find it works well as a very light finishing touch to my makeup.

Best New Natural Eye Palettes and Naked Dupes in this category. include Lorac's UnZipped Eye Palette which is a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked II Palettes. Just out this season is Hard Candy's Natural Eyes which has a total of nine shimmer and matte neutral eye shadows. Comes with a little tube of eye shadow primer, applicator and mini Take Me Out Liner in black.

Finish it all off with something like Hard Candy's new Fast and Fabulous Makeup Setting Spray. Another good one is L'Oreal Paris Infallible Pro Spray & Set which is a Makeup Extender Setting Spray. You'll find you can get away with much less makeup that stays put this summer if you spritz these products on. 

Beach Body in 7 Days

Some clever cheats to make you look sleeker in just ONE week!

Oh no!  You've just gotten an invitation to a beach or pool party.  Take hold of yourself and don't panic.  All you need is ONE week to transform yourself into the swimsuit diva within.  So what's the crash plan?

BRUSH UP YOUR FIGURE
We've already covered the benefits of dry brushing with a how - to video under Get Glowing: Dry Brushing but it bears repeating.  Use a simple boar bristle brush or loofah and brush arms, legs and torso with long strokes towards your heart.  Follow with a shower with a Clarisonic Body Brush. You should see a difference after three days, especially if you apply Skinny Tone afterwards.

SUNLESS SPRAY TANNING
If you're really in a hurry, you can cheat a lovely tan in a few hours with an airbrush.  We like Dinair's Sunless Tanning Airbrush Set.  This works especially well if you've already done the Dry Brushing routine as the tanning solution will go on much more evenly.

SUNLESS TANNING CREAMS

While you'll have to figure out which creams work best for your particular skin tone, a few drugstore brands I like include Jergens Natural Glow Series.  The Jergens Natural Glow FIRMING is what you want as it contains seaweed and will firm you up in about 7 Days.  The Jergens Natural Glow PROTECT has sunblock and will give you color plus UVA protection.

SKIN SHIMMER
You can top off your sleek looking faux tan with a little shimmer which always gives you that healthy, beachy glow.  Victoria's Secret is known for using their own glittery products on their Angels lingerie models but you can take a page from them.  I like Hawaiian Tropic's Shimmer Effect which is a SPF 20 lotion sunscreen with mica minerals.  


BEACH BODY NUTRITION

A Nutritional Program for a sleeker you in 7 Days!

While I surely do NOT advocate crash or fad diets, this protocol is a healthy alternative to boost your metabolism, facilitate an inner cleanse and lower body fat all without losing important muscle mass.  Here's the food program to follow for one week:

Morning:  Upon awakening, take one Terry's Naturally Tri-Iodine Capsule.  This will jump start your metabolism for the day and give your thyroid the nutrition it needs to perform at its peak.

Breakfast is one 8 oz serving of Rainbow Light's WHEY Protein Energizer.  If you are really hungry in the morning, add 1/2 banana or 1/2 tbsp Natural Peanut, SunButter or coconut oil to the mix and blend.  

Lunch: Eat a normal, sensible lunch but take 1 tbsp of Saf Slim High Linoleic Safflower Oil just before you eat. 

Dinner: Same thing for your last big meal of the day.  1 tbsp of Saf Slim before dinner.  Focus on lean protein and complex carbohydrates like non-starchy vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

Snacks: Snacking is good, just pick low fat cheese, hard boiled eggs, raw vegetables and plenty of ICE COLD WATER.  I keep my Insulated Klean Kanteen filled with ice water for just that purpose.  Ice cold water boosts your fat burning ability more than drinking warm or room temperature liquids.

Exercise:  Aim for 30 minutes a day.  It can be cardio one day and lifting weights the next.  Just mix it up and get moving. 

Throw Them a Curve:

Here's another little secret from those Victoria's Secret Angels. Style Secrets Shaping Inserts.
Sometimes you just need to balance out things a bit. These shaping inserts hide under your favorite swimsuit top for added lift and shaping.  They look and feel like silicone implants but without the cost and risks.  Simply insert them in your favorite bikini top, (most higher end bathing suit tops have removable pads) and BOOM, instant curves. 

That's it!  Your new tanned look and weight loss will have you renewed without feeling deprived or losing important muscle tone.  Savor the Summer that's for you to enjoy with our video below.  Now are you beach ready?