The Eucerin Moisturizer I've Stolen From the Boyfriend

On a recent trip to the States with the bf, Allan, we (of course) went to Target.  I have a feeling that I rave about Target all the time but let me reiterate how much I adore this huge, big box shop.  First of all, their color scheme involves red, which is my favorite color.  Second, their prices are out-of-this-world-fantastic and third, they have brands and products we just don't have in Canada.  Take the brand Eucerin for example.  Yes, we have a few of the body products in our Canadian drugstores but we DO NOT have the facial line.  Who knew that this awesome product line has everything from cleansers to redness relief night cream and, my personal fave, an SPF 30 moisturizer.

This whole hoopla came about when Allan ran out of his Clinique Moisturizer.  We were at the duty-free shop, perusing through the shelves, and could not find any men's moisturizers that contained an SPF.  After looking for quite some time, Allan got slightly frustrated and said, "I refuse to apply a sunscreen AND a moisturizer so the cream we buy has to do both."  Since there weren't any there, we moved on.  We drove the short way to Target who, low and behold, had a moisturizer/SPF 30 lotion for a measly $7.19.  I know, amazing.  So we bought it.

This miracle product is called Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion.  I love Eucerin products because they are dermatologist recommended, non-comedogenic (so they won't clog your pores) and are completely fragrance free.  Though the bottle is small, a little push of the pump goes a very long way.

This amount came out of the container with one little push of the pump. (I will say that for my face, I only need about half this amount.)  However, it's a nice lightweight lotion (not cream) so the texture is light and absorbs very quickly into the skin.

Pros:

Fragrance-free

Non-comedogenic

Dermatologist recommended

SPF 30

Perfect for sensitive skin

Non-greasy and very lightweight

Price point: $7.19 for a bottle

Cons: 

Not available in Canada

Too much product dispensed in one pump

I am sooooooo loving this moisturizer.  Actually, Allan has taken the Eucerin bottle and hidden it from me because I'm constantly using it.  He's in luck that I am going back to the States this weekend so I can pick up my own bottle.  Ladies, if you're looking for an inexpensive moisturizer that is non-greasy and provides the perfect amount of SPF, I highly recommend you try this out.

XO

Tanning Oil and Sunscreen: A Debate

I was taking part in an "Amazing Race" like event last Saturday with a couple of my close friends. My partner in the race, and very good friend, was lubing (Ha...sorry Carmen) herself up with her "all-natural" tanning oil whereas I was slapping on the 30 SPF sunscreen. Let me first say that Carmen is the only natural blonde I know that doesn't burn. (Trust me, it makes me nauseous too.) Because she never burns, she was laughing at me and my OUTSTANDING relationship with the sun. Needless to say, she and I started to disagree about which product is better for you; Carmen taking the side of the oil and me, sticking with my trusty sunscreen.

Neat thing for me is that I get to post my opinions online. (YAY for blogging.)

Tanning Oils are mainly made with a base of Sunflower Oil and/or Coconut Oil. From there, other products are added like almond oil, cocoa butter, lanolin and eucalyptus oil. These products are what gives the skin a moisturized look and feel. Also, vitamins A, D and E are typically added and are very effective in treating dry and weathered skin. There are undeniable advantages of using tanning oil such as the amount of moisture your skin gets to the deep color of your tan.....this is where it gets a bit tricky. See, tanning oil intensifies the amount of ultraviolet light that reaches your skin, thus giving you a deeper, darker tan in way less time which means there is nothing that protects your skin from the UVA/UVB rays. Yes, some tanning oils promote an SPF 4 or 8 but this protection is almost too low to prevent anything. Plus, having an SPF added is almost counterproductive as oils promote tanning.

Sunscreens are, quite simply, the polar opposite of tanning oils. It was designed to absorb and reflect the UV rays which, as we all know, helps to prevent sunburns. (UV Light also triggers overproduction of melanin, which can be seen in the darker spots on the skin...aka freckles, moles, etc.) To make a long story short, about 90% of aged skin and wrinkles are caused by the sun's rays. SPF prevents those harmful rays from seeping into the skin which means a more youthful look for longer.

A lot of times people think that if they can't see skin damage it's not there which is definitely not the case. Most of the damage we are doing to our skin will not show up for 20 years.....SO, ladies, slap on the sunscreen. Remember, sunscreen is only preventing the damaging effects and will still allow you to get tanned.

Oh, one more thing, look for a sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide. (This pigment absorbs the UV light very quickly!) I highly recommend Clinque's Super City Block as it has titanium dioxide AND has an SPF of either 25 or 40.