Even though we take our skin care very seriously, slathering on every kind of SPF you can think of, sometimes even the most cautious still get burned -- leaving our skin begging for sunburn treatments that bring instant relief. We have a long list pool parties to attend this summer, after all, and can't let a sunburn put a damper on fun.
Matcha has gotten major love from wellness (and caffeine) aficionados over the past few years, but the latest buzz is coming from the beauty world: the superstar ingredient (a fine powder made from ground-up green tea leaves) is popping up in masks, moisturizers, serums and scrubs and has some big-time bragging rights. "Matcha is rich in antioxidants known as catechins, which neutralize free radical damage and reduce inflammation of the skin," says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. (Those pesky free radicals, which come from the sun and pollution, can accelerate aging and cause wrinkles and uneven skin, but antioxidants -- like matcha -- can act as a barrier to protect you.) Another perk of matcha: it contains caffeine, which helps reduce redness and puffiness in skin, says Zeichner. Ready to take advantage of this powerful green powder? We've rounded up ten matcha-infused skincare products to protect and perfect your skin with.
There are a lot of old wives' tales associated with pregnancy, like that heartburn leads to hairy babies. Or that you can predict a baby's gender by your cravings. And then there's the so-called pregnancy glow, which is the notion that pregnant women are magically #blessed with the most radiant skin of their lives.
There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who love pimple popping videos, and those who hate them. Seriously, no one feels "meh" about watching the contents of a dirty pore explode across their screen. Either you consistently find yourself on the dark side of YouTube at 3 a.m., lured by the promise of "best blackhead extraction ever," or you think those people are gross. (And even then, it's hard to look away.)
Bug bite season is upon us, but that's no reason to hide indoors. There are lakes to splash in, grills to fire up, and starlit soirees to mingle at. Sure, those red welts are unsightly -- not to mention uncomfortable -- but there are plenty of mosquito repellant products on the market to solve your bug bite woes. From natural insect repellants that'll suit most summer needs to DEET bug sprays approved for jungle territory (as well as effective DEET alternatives), here are our top 15 recommendations to keep you bug-bite-free in every situation.
If your Facebook feed is anything like ours, it's likely flooded with friends, family, friends of friends, neighbors, and random acquaintances all selling what they swear is the latest and greatest beauty product. Couple that with those "parties" where someone wants you to buy an eye cream that will make you look 10 years younger or the most flawless-looking foundation ever, and it can easily feel like multilevel marketing beauty companies have totally taken over the industry.We get that it can be mildly annoying to be bombarded with sales pitches when you just want to Facebook stalk your ex or find cute videos of puppies and babies, but, here's the thing -- these brands really do have GREAT products. So to make it easier for you to figure out what you should actually be buying, we've rounded up the hero products from some of our favorite multilevel marketing beauty brands. Ahead, the 16 beauty products that are so good, you won't mind being reminded by your neighbor when it's time to restock.
You're probably well aware of the fact that the sun's rays can do serious damage on your skin. But when it comes to wrinkles, dullness and dark spots, that big spiky ball in the sky isn't your only nemesis. Exposure to pollution can be just as bad.
For us, summertime is synonymous with barbeques, long nights, beach days, the brightest, punchiest shades of lipstick and breaking out our most adorable summer sundresses. For bugs, summer means one thing: dinnertime.
Face masks are an undeniably satisfying part of the spa visit, as there's nothing quite like the feeling of pampering yourself and giving your skin some much needed TLC. While, massages, hot tubs and aromatic meditation rooms also rank high on the self-indulgence scale, spoiling yourself with a facial mask takes the cake. Who can resist the relaxation time and skincare benefits?
In the beauty world, the hottest hydration ingredient of the moment is good ol' H2O. Water lotions, creams and gel moisturizers use, you guessed it, water (along with other lightweight hydrators such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin and dimethicone) instead of oils to deeply quench parched skin, leaving it soft and supple, but never greasy. "They absorb more easily than thicker moisturizers, making them choice for anyone with oily skin or who simply doesn't like the feeling of heavy creams," explains Dr. Michele Farber of
It's the future, which means we can now give ourselves microdermabrasion at home with "Friends" playing in the background. Beauty innovators have made DIY-safe versions of the gadgets we would normally only trust a professional to wield so close to our face. There are all kinds of lip-plumping, wrinkle-removing and acne-clearing skin-care devices created specifically for the beauty layman. While many of these gadgets don't come cheap, the one-time investment can save you money compared to monthly trips to the pros. Ahead, the best anti-aging devices that will give you the results of a professional beauty treatment without a trip to the derm.
Estimate: I spend at least 50 percent of my time by the pool rubbing white streaks off of my swimsuit. For someone who's compulsive about covering every inch of her body -- and that should be all of you -- a sheer sunscreen is a summer must-have. Aside from broad spectrum protection, the most important part of a sunscreen is that it's user-friendly enough for you to want to reapply all beach day long.
If you're thinking about trying microdermabrasion at home, there are a few things you should know about the beauty treatment before you begin. Microdermabrasion uses physical exfoliation to slough away the top layer of skin to give it a healthy glow and help increase cell turnover. If you've been to a spa or dermatologist's office for a microdermabrasion treatment, then you may have loved how each and every dead skin cell was removed, leaving you with softer skin, fewer fine lines and even a reduction in acne.
We'd never dream of knocking a good face mask, but, let's get real, sometimes (most of the time) popping one on and then kicking back with our feet up for half an hour is just not an option. So what's a girl to do when she's in crunched for time, but still wants glowy, de-puffed, refreshed skin? Enter flash facials (aka flash masks), the fast-acting skin-savers that offer the same benefits of traditional masks -- minus the time suck. Exactly how speedy are we talking? These 11 face masks all do their thang in five minutes or less. Now you'll always have time to get your glow on. Image via Getty
Gone are the days when mineral sunscreens were thick, chalky, and left your face covered in a (very unappealing) white residue. The latest formulations are sheer, weightless and barely detectable, not to mention ideal for layering under makeup.
Not to rain on your summer parade, but here are a few facts that should wake you up from your margarita-and-sun-induced coma, forcing you to take a big whiff of sunscreen: The incidence of melanoma (a deadly form of skin cancer) isn't going anywhere — an estimated 73,870 new cases of invasive melanoma will be diagnosed in the US this year. If that doesn't scare you, this will: 80 percent of the aging that dermatologists see is due to excess sun exposure, since it can break down the collagen and elastin in your skin and cause more wrinkles.
Remembering to apply sunscreen daily makes you feel pretty darn good about your skin-care routine -- and general adultness level. If you're applying SPF every day (or close to it), we suspect you also regularly contribute to your 401K and eat vegetables with most meals.
Whether you're battling blemishes, clogged pores, dullness or a frustrating combination of all three, there's a face mask for that. Better yet, some of the best and buzziest masks can be found in the sparkling aisles of your favorite drugstore. Potently packed with skin-loving ingredients and available for under $25, we've rounded up the holy-grail drugstore masks that will boost your squad's complexions with a one-two punch of TLC and Instagram-worthy radiance. Cheers!
Glow is having a serious moment. Brands like Becca and Anastasia Beverly Hills are all about the highlight (see: Becca x Jaclyn Hill and Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit), and even Kim Kardashian has traded her signature contour for strobing (check out our tutorial here). Plus, there's just something so youthful and fresh about dewy, glowy skin. As someone who is a fan of glow, shimmer, sparkle and all iterations thereof, my glitter-encrusted heart skipped a beat when I heard about glotions, the latest way to give your skin a luminous finish. Glotions (sadly, I cannot take credit for the name) are part moisturizer, part luminizer. They make your skin look ethereal without being OTT sparkly (no disco ball effect, scout's honor). Wear one solo for an effortless look, mix it into your foundation for a dewy tinted moisturizer effect or dab some on the tops of your cheekbones to get that Taylor-Swift-post-gym glow.
