How quickly time flies when you’re hanging out in the sun. Whether your Summer is filled with lazy days or jam packed with outdoor activities, it’s pretty certain that you will be getting a lot of sun - which means the proper protection and forethought is essential.

By the time you’re poking your skin wondering if your skin is burned…it is. I am sure you remember being a kid, testing your arm against your friend’s arm to see how long it took for the spot where your finger was to turn back to the same color as the rest of your skin.

Image: Newscom

You could get something like the UVSunSense Wristbands to monitor your sun exposure in a more scientific way. But besides that, and of course the consistent use of 30+ SPF sunscreen…what else do you need to know to make sure you are doing everything you can to reduce your risk of wrinkles - or worse - later down the road?

Well, there is no easy way to tell that you’re getting close to a burn, without actually burning. But there are several things you can keep in mind which will increase your chances of making it home from a day outside without an emergency pitstop at the drugstore for an extra large bottle of aloe lotion.

First, stop it with the lounging out on a beach towel at high noon. Depending on how fair your skin is, it can be a matter of minutes before you’ve already laid the foundations for a bright red sunburn. If you insist on tanning, go before 10am or after 3pm, when the sun is far less strong.

If it is a cloudy day, don’t think that’s an excuse for laying out all day. Clouds aren’t protecting you from the blazing hot sun that’s hiding behind it. Without the constant squinting and beads of sweat to remind you that it’s been a few hours already, it’s fair to say this is one of the most common causes for why people overestimate how much time they should be out in the sun.

Even if you are just hanging around, reapply your sunscreen every two hours. You don’t need to work up a sweat or jump in the water for sunscreen to wear off. If you truly want to do everything you can to keep from getting burned, it’s important to stick to this frequent schedule of reapplication.

But if you do decide to go in the water…beware of the reflection seriously amplifying the impact of the sun on your skin. Just like the clouds, the cool water can be deceiving when it comes to how much exposure your skin can tolerate. Make sure that sunscreen in your bag is waterproof and once again - don’t forget frequent reapplication.

So, how can you know when your skin has had enough? By erring on the safe side, following all the necessary precautions outlined above, and constantly keeping an eye on the clock and how your skin is feeling. A sunburn doesn’t have to be inevitable - it just takes a bit of work and the strength of mind when to know it’s time to call it a day and get back in the shade.

This post was sponsored by Neutrogena skinID™ – The only Personalized Acne Solution made just for you. Guaranteed Results or your money back.

A friend and I passed by the Philosophy counter this past weekend and the sales associate told us about the newest product in the line, Divine Illumination. She raved about its wonderful skin brightening and moisturizing properties.

(Image: Philosophy)

Philosophy Divine Illumination is their skin illuminating anti-aging moisturizer. It’s formulated to fade dark spots, hydrate, smooth and even out your skin tone. There are also firming and anti-wrinkle benefits. This would be a great product to try if you have age spots and feel your skin needs a little more ‘help’ than what you’re current moisturizer is doing.  I didn’t pick it up this weekend but I’m definitely intrigued about it.  The Divine Illumination moisturizer is $85 for a 1.6oz size jar.

Are you a fan of Clarins? Well you’re in for a treat because today Bloomingdales has a wonderful offer for you! Starting on July 1st and through July 12th, when you purchase $75 worth of Clarins skin care products, you’re eligible to choose 1 of the 4 deluxe Clarins Skin Care Collections.

(Image: Bloomingdales)

Choose from the following:

Super Restorative - Replenish, Lift and Renew
- Cleansing Milk Dry/Normal - 50ml
- Super Restorative Day Cream - 15ml
- Super Restorative Serum - 10ml
- Super Restorative Décolleté & Neck Cream - 10ml

Extra-Firming Choice - Firm and Lift
- Pure Melt Cleansing Gel - 20ml
- Extra-Firming Day Cream - All Skin Types - 15ml
- Extra-Firming Botanical Serum - 10ml
- Extra-Firming Neck Cream - 15ml

The Brightening Choice - Brighten, Smooth, and Illuminate
- Pure Melt Cleansing Gel - 20ml
- Protective Brightening Day Lotion - 20ml
- Bright Plus Serum - 10ml
- UV Plus Day Screen SPF 40 - 10ml

The Hydrating Choice - Nourish and Hydrate
- Cleansing Milk Dry/Normal - 50ml
- HydraQuench Cream - 15ml
- HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase - 15ml
- Gentle Eye Make-up Remover Lotion - 30ml

That’s a great incentive to pick up a refil of your favourite Clarins moisturizer or if you’re a newbie to the brand, this is a great way to try out the rest of the line.

A few years ago, it seems Avon jumped on the Oil of Olay bandwagon (or maybe Avon was the trailblazer?) and revamped its image. These days, Olay doesn’t immediately make one think of that little pink bottle on grandma’s dresser, and Avon has scored a reputation as a bona fide skincare savant.

With products like Anew Ultimate Age Repair Elixir, it’s easy to see why.

Avon Anew Ultimate Age Repair Elixir

The light-weight serum is like a blanket of silk you cloak around your face and neck before applying your sunscreen or night cream. The elixir is full of something called Sirtuins, which are considered a breakthrough in antiaging because they have been shown to protect skin cells from DNA damage. The elixir rapidly absorbs into the skin and actually makes it feel tighter and about a hundred times smoother.

I’m not one who believes in miracle wrinkle cures. For me, if a product keeps my skin clear, soft and supple, it’s a keeper. Well, Avon’s elixir is just a bit more special than that. It tames the redness in my cheeks and leaves my skin dewy and powder-fresh.

For $54, you get a pretty big bottle that lasts about two months. And, if Avon’s enthusiastic reviewers are to be believed, I’m not the only one who thinks the mail-order mavens have created a pretty special product.

If you’re shopping for someone who is a cosmetics and beauty buff you’ll want to check out the Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives! These Nordstrom exclusive products are special beauty buys available for pre-order right now.  Place your order today and the items will ship out no later than July 17th.

This is a great way to nab the latest and greatest in beauty, skincare and fragrances before anyone else.  Below are just some of my skin care picks from the lot…

(Image: Nordstrom)

Philosophy Celebrate Love and Celebrate Dreams 3 in 1 bath gel, shampoo and bubble bath ($8 each)

(Image: Nordstrom)

Juice Beauty Organics to Glow Set ($29)

(Image: Nordstrom)

Clinique Best of Clinique Beauty Set ($45)

These are really great  buys and we’re all looking for unbeatable bargains, right? There are other great buys so definitely check out Nordstrom today!

If you want to invest in a really, really good moisturizer, I highly suggest picking up something from Kiehls. Namely, the Kiehl’s Creme de Corps body moisturizer.

(Image: Nordstrom)

Right now you can pick up this value sized (33 oz!) bottle exclusively at Nordstrom for $70. Creme de Corps is an all over body moisturizer made for those of you with extremely dry and/or flakey skin. This rich lotion is not greasy and your skin will soak it up quickly. Use it after you shower to retain your skin’s moisture. It’s infused with beta carotene (which gives it that natural deep yellow colour), sesame oil and cocoa butter. After using this for 10 days your skin will feel super soft and look absolutely amazing.

I’m a fan of Heidi Klum (love her on Project Runway!) but I wasn’t aware she had her own skincare line until I stumbled upon In An Instant®. In An Instant is the latest skin care line that claims to diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles in seconds. That’s quite a claim as most wrinkle reducer products take a couple weeks or more for you to notice any results.

The secret is the Instant Wrinkle Smoother containing magical moisture spheres which fill in lines, while optical diffusers smooth the look of your skin, virtually erasing the look of forehead lines, laugh lines, crow’s feet, and much more.

(Image: In An Instant)

Intrigued? Well, you can purchase the introductory In An Instant 30-day System for $39.95 which includes the following:

Gentle Foaming Cleanser
This mild, freshly scented cleanser has a light and airy foam texture that effectively cleans makeup and dirt without stripping skin of its essential moisture barrier.

Intensive Firming Serum
The silky-smooth formula contains light-diffusing properties that create an instantly softer and more luminous face, while increasing skin firmness and tone over time.

Instant Daily Tinted Moisturizer w/ SPF 15
This unique moisturizer is the ultimate “one-stop-shop”, containing UVA and UVB sunscreen, antioxidant protection, moisture, and skin tone eveners.

Instant Wrinkle Smoother
This rich emollient smoothing cream plumps the look of wrinkles - both fine and deep. And it is designed to help promote your skin’s natural collagen production over time.

If you check out the before and after photos on the In An Instant website, they show dramatic improvements. And they say 100% of participants reported “an immediate improvement in skin clarity with visibly clearer, smoother and less blemished skin.”

What do you think? Would you try this system? Would you try it if Heidi Klum wasn’t the spokesperson?

One of my favourite places to shop for beauty and skincare related items is Sephora. Their stores are the ultimate go-to places for whatever cosmetic, skin care or bath and body product you can possibly need or want to try. What’s great about them is the fact that they give you free samples with your order! Who doesn’t love samples, especially if they’re free?

This time around they offering their Sephora Favourites Kits which contain their best selling, obession worthy products for only $40! This is a wonderful way to try out new items or pick up travel-sized options of your favourite products!  Here are three kits targeted for skin care…

(Image: Sephora)

Face Quenchers Moisturizers Deluxe Sampler ($37)
This set contains:
- 0.34 oz Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizer SPF 6
- 0.5 oz Fresh Soy Face Cream
- 0.5 oz Murad Perfecting Day Cream SPF 30
- 0.4 oz Philosophy Hope in a Jar
- 0.51 oz Bliss Best of Skintentions SPF 15
- 0.33 oz Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Cream SPF 15

(Image: Sephora)

The Fix-It Kit Skincare Deluxe Sampler ($40)
This set contains:
- 0.19 oz Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Eye Mask
- 0.5 oz Perricone MD Ceramic Skin Smoother
- 0.02 oz Cosmedicine Wrinkle Write Off
- 0.24 oz Kinerase Extreme Eye Lift
- 0.253 oz Dr. Brandt Pores No More
- 1.06 oz Clarins High Definition Body Lift

(Image: Sephora)

Skin Saviors Moisturizers Deluxe Sampler ($24)
This set contains:
- 1.69 oz Korres Guava Body Butter
- 1 oz Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough Body Lotion
- 2.03 oz Fresh Sugar Lemon Body Lotion
- 1.7 oz Bliss Blood Orange + White Pepper Body Butter
- 2 oz Murad Body Firming Cream

Awesome isn’t it? All these sets are exclusive to Sephora and what’s even better, they’re fabulously inexpensive!

Are you familiar with the Kenzo brand? The House of Kenzo was founded in 1970 by Takada Kenzo in Paris. The KenzoKi skincare line is inspiried by nature with four natural elements from Asian to create a balance of performance and pleasure. They use four plants, four fragrances, and four collections to enhance the natural beauty of your skin.

(Image: Kenzo)

Kenzo Cleaning Ice Jelly ($28) is a self-cooling cleanser with a jelly like consistency. It turns into a water-like cleanser when it touches your skin. A cleanser and make-up remover in one it even takes off stubborn waterproof make up and tones your skin. It contains plant water, genseng extract, ginger plant extract and essential oils. Kenzo products can be found at major department stores and Kenzo online.

Guess what ladies (and gents!), here’s your chance to try out the Philosophy product line at bargain prices! Philosophy is holding their Friends & Family Sale starting today, June 22nd through June 28!

Philosophy Friends & Family Sale

You can get up to 20% off on your order when you enter the code: sharethelove upon checkout.  This is a great way to try out their infamous Hope in a Jar moisturizer, my personal favourite, Purity Made Simple cleanser and their Microdelivery Peel!