Bright Ideas About Skin
- By: Wesley Richardson

People may wish for a "healthy tan" but exposure to ultraviolet light damages skin cells' genetic material and can contribute to skin cancer formation, not to mention lines and wrinkles. Here are some rules to live by when it comes to the sun and your skin.



• Remember, sun damage is cumulative. Exposure to ultraviolet light during childhood will increase the risk of developing skin cancer in later years. It's never too late to begin using sunscreen, however, to inhibit further sun damage and not just for a day at the beach. Daily exposure adds up. It is important to use daily products with SPF for your hands and face and any other exposed skin. Don't forget your lips. They burn just as quickly, so opt for a lip balm such as Beyond Belief Lip Balm with SPF 15.



• Get enough protection. SPF stands for "sun protection factor" and ranges from a base of two to a maximum of 50, providing the strongest protection. The sun protection factor helps you determine how long the sunscreen will protect your skin. In general, if your skin is fair, you will burn more quickly than if your skin is olive or dark. To determine how long you can stay outdoors without burning, take the number of minutes it takes your unprotected skin to start turning red, then multiply it by the SPF factor. For example, if your unprotected skin begins to redden in 10 minutes, an SPF of 15 will give you 150 minutes of sun protection.



• Ensure constant protection. Reapply sunscreen after swimming or other physical activity and at regular intervals to be sure that perspiration doesn't leave you unprotected. Remember that reapplying sunscreen does not make it safer to stay in the sun longer; it just re-establishes the protection you have already applied.



• Protect sensitive skin. It's not okay to go without, so start looking at the ingredients. You may be allergic to PABA, an effective sunscreen ingredient. Look for a PABA-free sunscreen. Additionally, if you are allergic to hair dyes, avoid sunscreens containing PABA.



• Don't forget your hands. Keep a hand lotion with SPF in your glove compartment. Your hands get a lot of sun when you drive and remembering to apply some sort of SPF when you're on the road will keep them younger looking. BioLink Daily SPF Moisturizer is a good choice.



Kristi Fuhrmann is a Hollywood stylist who works with major studios and is a spokesperson for Sally Beauty Company.

People may wish for a "healthy tan" but exposure to ultraviolet light damages skin cells' genetic material and can contribute to skin cancer formation, not to mention lines and wrinkles. Here are some rules to live by when it comes to the sun and your skin.

See Also: Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Spf

Scent-sational Gifts That Show Mom How Much You Care
- By: Wesley Richardson

It can be a challenge deciding on a gift that personifies all of your mom's best qualities. Is she loving, feminine, unique, fun, sporty?



There are many different types of moms but fortunately, there's a gift for each of them and many of the best feature fragrance.



Here are a few perfumed gift-giving suggestions designed to please:



• Scents Make Sense



Perfume is always a scent-sational gift-giving idea and there are as many types of fragrance as there are moms.



Whether her favorite is a classic, designer or hard-to-find perfume, most moms love receiving fragrance.



• Layer Fragrances



A fragrance gift set is an even better option because it offers greater versatility, often including additional items such as body lotion, shower gel or even purse-travel size bottles.



That way mom can layer fragrance for a harmonious marriage of scents.



• Bring The Spa To Her



Spa treatments are a great but pricey gift. You can, however, give mom a spa experience without going into debt.



Give mom luxurious spa products that she can use at home to create her own spa experience.



A really popular line of spa skin care products, Sedona Valley Spa, was developed with beneficial ingredients, such as Desert Flower extract, Prickly Pear Cactus, Yucca and Agave, that are found in Sedona, Ariz.



These products are designed for easy, at-home use to renew body, mind and spirit. Such spa products are sold exclusively at Perfumania and are an accessible indulgence.



• Don't Forget The Classics



The classic Mother's Day gifts are also much appreciated. Make mom breakfast in bed and serve it on a tray with fragrant flowers. Give her a steaming cup of herbal tea and run her a bath filled with fragrant bubbles.



There's nothing like a leisurely morning to get her special day off to a good start.



A great place to look for bubbles, fragrance and spa products is Perfumania. If you can't decide what to get mom, the 250-store chain offers its own gift card.

It can be a challenge deciding on a gift that personifies all of your mom's best qualities. Is she loving, feminine, unique, fun, sporty? There are many different types of moms, but fortunately, there's a gift for each of them and many of the best feature fragrance.

For more information, visit www.perfumania.com.

Luxurious spa products are a great gift to help mom enjoy the spa experience at home.

See Also: Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Side Effects