Our Favorite New SPFs

We all know sunscreen is important. The issue now? There are so many sunscreens out there, who knows what to use? That's where we come in. Check out our favorite SPF's for your upcoming summer of fun in honor of World Health Day!

 L'Oréal Invisible Protect Clear Cool Lotion SPF 30

First off, spray SPF's just make life so much easier (fact). This is a truly great spray sunscreen that even smells delicious! It's provides great protection from the sun without leaving your skin feeling greasy, because that is literally the worst.

Shiseido Wet Force Ultimate Protection Lotion SPF 50 

This is one of those products you'll wonder how you lived without. It's a super light-weight SPF that nourishes skin as it protects you from harmful UV rays. It's also waterproof, so your summer of fun is uninterrupted! (Just the way we like it.)

Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport Lotion SPF 30

You know we had to throw a sporty SPF in here. This Neutrogena product is guaranteed to stay strong even through your toughest workout. It's a thicker sunscreen but it really gets the job done because it doesn't clog your pores and lets your skin breathe.

Palmer's Eventone Sun Balm SPF 15

It may not seem like it from the outside, but this is a really amazing SPF! It protects your skin from the sun all while moisturizing to baby-soft perfection. Do we really need to say more?

 Coppertone Sport Accuspray Sunscreen SPF 50

This is another awesome spray SPF. It sprays on evenly and dries in seconds. It's the perfect SPF for anyone who's active. It's very light and odorless, so it's great not only for your morning jog, but your picnic in the park!

Have some other summertime favorites? Let us know your favorite SPF in the comments section!

SPF by Number, Truth About What You Really Need Will Change the Way You Shop

Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer so before you begin frolicking in the sun (if you live anywhere near NYC, we can thank Mother Nature for raining on our parade, literally), you need to read this.  The drugstore shelves are full of SPF options that range with numbers going up to 100+.  This post will change the way you shop and keep money in your pockets.  I spoke with DDF Founder and NYC dermatologist, Dr. Sobel, to find out what you really need. What level of SPF should I use?

Sunscreens with SPF 15 or greater should always be applied to the skin daily. Be sure to pick a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection against harmful both UVB rays that contribute to damaging outer skin layers, or receiving a sunburn, and UVA rays that damage deeper layers of the skin contributing to fine lines and wrinkles. If you’re hitting the beach, I recommend increasing your protection to an SPF of at least 30 and be sure to reapply every two hours.

How effective is sunscreen with SPF 50+?

The SPF rating measures the time it would take you to sunburn if you were not wearing sunscreen as opposed to the time it would take with sunscreen on. SPF 15 blocks about 93% of the sun’s rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97% and SPF 45 blocks 98%, so doubling the number and applying SPF 50 or higher doesn’t double your skin’s protection and none offer 100% protection.

There you have it.  An SPF of 30 with UVA & UVB protection that's water resistant is all you need.  Don't be fooled by marketing.  The higher the SPF, the higher the price tag.  Don't forget to reapply every two hours and have a great summer!

BeautySweetSpot Launches A Safe Sun Facebook Campaign, Join In & Win!

Hey BeautySweetSpot readers!  With all of the attention that's arouse from my tanorexic story I decided to take the opportunity to launch a safe sun Facebook contest.  I've been getting a ton of emails and Facebook messages from all of you and people around the world about your safe sun stories and thought it would be an awesome if you had a place to discuss them, help me spread the word and a chance to win a years worth of SPF and a chance to be featured on BeautySweetSpot! So here you go... Check out BeautySweetSpot's Facebook page and visit the Photo Contest.  Once there, upload a pic of yourself by August 13th practicing safe sun.  It can even be a pic of your fave SPF, self tanner, a wide brim-hat... anything that sends a safe sun message and tell me why practicing safe sun is important to you.

After submissions are collected, there will be a voting round!  Share your submission with your friends and vote for yours and your favorites.  Three winners will be chosen on August 27th and each receive a years worth of SPF along with their stories and photos featured on BeautySweetSpot.com.  At random, one will receive 12 bottles of Vichy, another, 12 bottles of La Roche-Posay and another will receive 12 bottles of Australian Gold.

Yes, I'm deeming 12 bottles of SPF a years worth, even though any person may need more than that.  Let's not get greedy!  I thank you all for your support through out my tanorexia story and it's media coverage.  Now, let's all help spread the message of safe sun!  Good luck!

Take Action to Prevent Skin Cancer

May is Skin Cancer Awareness month so it is my duty as a journalist to bring a few important messages to your attention.  First and foremost it alarms me to know that 50% of Americans still don't use sunscreen when one if five people will develop skin cancer during the course of a lifetime. If you are one of those people or know someone who is, take the time this month to get educated or educate someone and help save a life.  For about six years I lived in a tanning bed daily and basked in the sun slathered in nothing but oil.  My first journalism job in the beauty department at Cosmopolitan magazine may have saved my life.  I know it seems like a stretch, but my boss (and the whole staff) forbid me to tan.  We had to practice what we preached at Cosmo... safe sun.  Five years later, I don't walk out the door without an SPF of 30 on my face (even in the rain) and haven't stepped foot in a tanning bed.  Embracing my new self (pale) and learning to practice safe sun, I am now very thankful for that experience because who knows what could have happened.

This week, I had my first full body skin check by a dermatologist.  Getting braver with the years, I'm ready to face good or bad news and take action.  You should too.  One person dies of melanoma every hour and it can be prevented if caught early enough. With regular skin checks this doesn't have to happen.

La Roche-Posay recently launched SOSsaveourskin.com so you can join the cause.  For each person that joins the cause, a donation is made to the Women's Dermatologic Society and Skin Cancer Foundation to help educate people on sun protection.  You can also find out information on sun safety and locate a derm near you to get your skin checked.  Do yourself a favor, be responsible about your skin.