It's Beginning to Feel Like Summer

Here in Los Angeles, many of us are taking our fans out of storage in preparation for another California summer. My own little apartment is slowly turning into a sauna and I’ve been using my SPF 50 sunscreen on a regular basis. Although many of us wear sunscreen on our faces, we often forget about protecting our lips. As a matter of fact, I have noticed that my pigmented lips become a deep pink by the end of the warmer months.

Exposure to UVA and UVB rays is dangerous but having to cover natural lip pigmentation prior to using trendy lipstick shades is just plain annoying. The solution for your health and vanity comes from an old favorite: Softlips. With an SPF 20, smooth texture, and a multitude of great flavors (my favorite is Strawberry), you can’t go wrong! I wear Softlips underneath lipstick to combat my notoriously dry lips and create a good base for my lipstick. Since Softlips is neither oily nor pigmented, there is no need to blot. And although your lips will feel moisturized, you won’t mind reapplying after meals to ensure that your lips are protected from sunburn.

Do you remember keeping a tube of Softlips in your backpack throughout middle and high school? I find myself doing the same as an adult; it makes me nostalgic for summer vacations from school and running through the sprinklers with friends.

Tell me about your favorite summer essentials!


Image Credit: Softlips.com

Gee Your Hair Smells Like Summer...

Some of us here in California cannot wait for Summer to finally end. The heat seems to get worse with every year; oily faces and dry, parched strands are only part of the problem. Nevertheless, you've got to admit--that wind-blown, textured hair sure looks great (even if it is a little damaged)! Baptiste Tropical Dry Shampoo can give even the straightest hair a bit of texture and with minimal effort at that.

While I abhor the scent of the original Baptiste dry shampoo, I cannot get enough of this coco nutty concoction. It reminds me of lounging on a hammock on Gilligan's Island even if I'm stuck indoors and in front of a computer. And of course, this will make your greasy mane feel fresh and clean so that your boss doesn't even suspect that you rolled out of bed and ran out the door this morning.

Did I mention that washing your hair less often helps preserve artificial color or that a little bit of natural oil keeps your hair moisturized? That doesn't mean you don't have to wash the rest of you, though...

Per the instructions, shake the bottle vigorously between sprays and keep it a 30 cm distance from your scalp. I suggest you use your fingers in a raking motion to distribute the product through your roots, wait about a minute and then use a mixed bristle brush to comb the product through the length of your hair. Be sure to wipe the nozzle clean with a wet cloth to prevent buildup. It doesn't really matter if the product is concentrated around your scalp and roots since that's where hair tends to be most oily anyway.

Baptiste Dry Shampoo is priced at approximately $7 ($6 with Beauty Club Card) at Sally's but the Tropical version is only available in physical stores (not online). This product is also available in the U.K.

Please test the product on a small area of your head (prior to regular use) to ensure that you are not allergic. Baptiste Dry Shampoo does contain Alcohol Denat (denatured alcohol) which can be poisonous if consumed so use with caution. Warning: small amounts of alcohol can be bad for extremely damaged hair and fragrance can affect those prone to dandruff--this product may not be for you.