Products

Go to the archives

Self-Care for Summer

By Jesse Kornbluth
Published: May 26, 2016
Category: Health

It was cold cold cold, and then it was suddenly 85 degrees. How did summer take us by surprise?

In fact, we know. Our weather is erratic. Has been for some time. Will be more so in the future. And if you are among those who think this is some Chinese plot to bamboozle us so they can leapfrog past us in a trade war, those of us who do not own expensive houses with ocean views fervently hope that you do.

Until sanity rules in environmental policy, we’re on our own.

This means two things.

1) Stop buying soft drinks that contain high-fructose corn syrup. Reason: diabetes. If you must drink soda that isn’t calorie free, buy brands sweetened with sugar. Examples: Mexican Coke, in bottles, now sold in more and more stores.

2) Protect your skin. For years, this site has beat the drum for Anthelios. For years, the smarties among you have one-clicked and used it. Please click, see why, and protect yourself and any child you even moderately like.

Anthelios with Mexoryl
Simply… science.

Dr. Vincent DeLeo, Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Founding Director, Skin of Color Center, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt and Beth Israel: “It produces a product which gives us almost perfect protection against sunshine.”

Dr. Darrell Rigel, clinical professor of dermatology at New York University: Mexoryl “is the No. 1 individual ingredient in terms of protection from Ultraviolet A radiation.”

You want a technical answer? Here: “The UVB range of sunlight is 280 to 320 nanometers, and the UVA range is 320 to 400. Mexoryl sunscreens protect against UV wavelengths in the 290-400 nanometer range. Since Mexoryl doesn’t cover the entire UV spectrum, it is usually combined with other active sunscreen agents such as titanium dioxide, avobenzone (stabilized with octocrylene) to ensure broad-spectrum UV protection.”

And Mexoryl is convenient: It doesn’t degrade in sunlight. One application, and you may be good for 24 hours — even if you swim or exercise.

Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Powder Brush

Readers have raved about Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Powder Brush. Not personally tested here, but any recommendation that begins “My mother-in-law gave this to me…” I note some complaints about the brush. I do appreciate, however, that sunscreen you can apply over makeup has its charms. [To buy it from Amazon, click here.]

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs
For women who don’t flee to beach resorts and like to shed pantyhose in the summer, let me sing the praises — okay, my wife’s praises — of this product. A woman applies Sally to her legs and is rewarded with instant color. Broken veins and imperfections? Covered. Banished, really, for the work day and beyond. And the color suggests vigorous weekend tennis — not chemicals.[To read more on Head Butler and buy it from Amazon, click here.]

Yes to summer reading. To moving your body. To music that restores balance or gets the heart pumping. But first, save your life. And look good. Here, happily, they go together.