Paint by Number Sunscreen

I am completely obsessed with sunscreen. I went to St. Barth's for a friend's 40th birthday party and perfected my summer sunscreen regimen. In the scorching hot sun, at the beach, on a boat, and by the pool, I did not burn once.
During the morning before breakfast by the pool, I quickly slathered Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions Super Fluid Daily UV Defense SPF 50+ on my face. Light and hydrating, this feels nice and light on my clean morning skin.


After breakfast, I stepped it up for the beach. I applied Skinceuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50 on my face and back of hands. This is the powerful gorgeous new sister of my 10 year favorite, Skinceuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 45. Light, but with the same strong physical block, there is no other product like this. I won't go to the beach or into direct sun without this. I applied Skinceuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 45 to my chest and shoulders (this super strong block is essential since I always seem to burn my chest).

I followed with Peter Thomas Roth Continuous Sunscreen Mist SPF 30 light and airy sunscreen on arms and back. Then, the glam block: I sprayed Dermalogica Water Block Solar Spray SPF 30 on my legs for the sexy, hydrated look. This is oil based, has a heavenly citrus scent, and has a bonus of being SPF 30!
This is my summer sun routine and I am sticking to it!

Pimple Persistence

My skin has been breaking out more than ever since the start of this year. Not huge breakouts, just consistent. At any given time I have 1 to 3 pimples. This is new for me. I am finding if I am diligent, I can control the quantity and severity of the pimples. But, like dieting, it is taking huge discipline. My tools:

1. Wash face right after running. I have been crazy busy this year. In an effort to drive up my energy level, I have stepped up my exercise to running 3+ miles, 3 to 4 days a week. There is nothing like lingering perspiration to ruin the skin.

2. Cut the afternoon caffeine, switch to herbal tea. I am a Starbucks addict. A double tall skim no whip mocha is my daily morning drink. When I feel low in energy in the afternoon, I have been drinking another one, or a mocha frappucino. I think the extra caffeine and milk has been adding to breakouts and skin dehydration. It takes huge will power for me to order passion fruit unsweetened tea instead of a sweet, energizing coffee.

3. Cut the dairy. I love cheese. I am a non-meat eater so I get protein and calcium from cheese. I know this causes me to get pimples around my mouth. Resisting the parmesan on a salad or brie at a cocktail party is so hard.

4. Use Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads when desperate. Last night I had 3 inflamed, red pimples right in a row on my right cheek. I used these salicylic acid pads before bed and nothing else. My skin was clear in the morning.




5. Cover and disguise with Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick (my color - warm beige). I have this bad habit of grabbing any concealer in my drawer to cover pimples with (Laura Mercier, Cle de Peau, Trish McEvoy). The problem is that they cover, but actually the oil in them feeds my blemishes. This Bobbi concealer covers and heals. I keep one in my purse. (A hint - I had to go much darker than my bobbi skin foundation color to get the right coverage.).

Annoying pimples are new territory for me. My current road map is working for now.