The Beauty Box: Skin

Baby Powder: A Bargain Beauty Tip for the Beach

What: Johnson’s Baby Powder

Why: I love discovering new uses for everyday products. There’s nothing worse than spending an idyllic day frolicking in the surf and sand, and then suffering an itchy, irritated car ride home with sand sticking to every inch of exposed skin. Rinsing off in the water never works since the second you step into soft sand you’re covered again. A better plan is to sprinkle some baby powder (I’m partial to the Vanilla & Jasmine) on dry, sand-covered skin, and the sand easily brushes off. You’re left with soft, sand-free skin, for a comfortable end to a beautiful day at the beach.

Price: $3.86 - $5.12

Get Yours: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Bath Find: Get Zen with Healing Garden’s Relaxtherapy Body Wash Lotion

What: Healing Garden Relaxtherapy 2-in-1 Moisturizing Body Wash With Lotion, Green Tea

Why: Studies have shown that drinking tea has numerous positive effects on everything from your heart and weight, to your emotional wellbeing. Now the rest of you can get in on the aromatherapy action with this green tea 2-in-1 moisturizing body wash and lotion. As Zen as I try to be, I’m always in a huge rush, and when forced to choose between mascara and lotioning up after my shower, the mascara wins every time. Still, I’m totally over dry skin. The creamy cleanser smells amazing and the nourishing lotion works with the heat of the shower to penetrate deep into the skin so that moisture is sealed in as you step out of the shower. I may not achieve Nirvana anytime soon, but this may be my first step on the path towards enlightenment.

Price: $6.39

Get Yours: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Beach Find: Bug Off with Skin So Soft from Avon

What: Skin Soft Soft Bug Guard Plus SPF 15

Why: Sun, salt and sand aren’t the only things we need protection from at the beach. Nasty gnats, mosquitoes and flies are just waiting to feast on your sweet, exposed skin. The old sleep away camp staple is still a strong front-runner in the bug repellent department, and now Avon Skin So Soft is available with SPF 15. This non-greasy, waterproof formula does not need to be washed off after use, and the new gentle breeze fragrance is a nice upgrade from your days around the campfire. Those little buggers don’t stand a chance.

Price: On sale for $4.99 (orig. $10).

Get Yours: Avon.com (Earn 8 Pts/$1 spent)

Beach Find: SPF For Those That Sweat

What: SkinCeuticals Sport UV Defense, SPF 45

Why: Sure, there are plenty of girls who go to the beach to lay out, read a magazine, drink a frappacino, and make an effort to sweat as little as possible. But not you. You’re the girl with the washboard abs and sporty suit who came to the beach to play, not just to lay. You need a sunscreen that will keep up with your high energy activities, which—if you’re doing them right—will cause you to sweat.

SkinCeuticals Sport UV Defense, SPF 45 was formulated with you in mind. It’s waterproof and sweatproof so you can play your little heart out without stopping to reapply every 15 minutes. Leave the “glowing” to the ladies that lay. We know that real women sweat. For more waterproof and sweatproof finds, check out our guide to Waterproof Makeup.

Price: On sale for $26.25 (reg. $35)

Get Yours: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Bargain: Ciao Bella

What: Cleo Bath and Body Products

Why: Everyone knows yogurt is a good friend to have when you’re trying to fit into that itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny yellow polka dot bikini. What has recently been brought to my attention is the fact that natural yogurt extracts are as good for your skin, as yogurt is for your waistline. Before you start slathering your lunch on your face, acquaint yourself with Cleo, an extremely affordable, new Italian import. Available in several yogurt-inspired scents, the line ranges in price from $1.56 for a bar of soap, up to $6.36 for an extremely generous serving of Bathfoam (a.k.a. bubble bath).

I’ve long felt that cherry is an underutilized scent, so I’m especially loving the Red Fruits Shower Cream ($3.96) and the Cherry Body Cream ($6.36). The shower cream is thick and frothy, but washes really clean, and the body cream is extremely moisturizing without leaving me as sick as a slick as slice of pizza. I’m left with a subtle, lingering scent of cherry, and silky smooth skin.

If only someone could figure out a way to make eating yogurt half as enticing.

Price: $1.56 - $6.36

Find It: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Bargain I Can’t Live Without: Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Creme

What: Burt's Bees Radiance, Day Creme with Royal Jelly

Why: Everyone knows that Burt's Bees Lip Balm is the best balm ever, but what about the rest of the products in the line? The carrot body cream had me wary, but I've just fallen madly in love with the Royal Jelly Radiance Day Creme. I kid you not it has the most indulgent smell of sweet honey that hits just the right note; not overly strong, sweet or dizzying, just fresh and clean. 

The texture is ideal for a day cream. Perfectly balanced with enough power to hydrate without weighing skin down, this mid-weight cream sinks in and replenishes fast so you don't have to wait forever to apply your makeup.  Not only can I not get over how much I love this cream for what it is, but it's also 99.02 percent natural.

Thanks to the great smell and silky formula, I never would have known it was so good for me—the label boasts vitamins A, C, D, E and K, plus every single B vitamin known to man, a variety of amino acids and 12 minerals. Considering skin absorbs 65 percent of what we put on it, I could just about give up my multi-vitamin.

Price: $15 a jar. 

Get Yours: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Find: A Faux Tan That Protects

What: Physicians Formula Solar Powder Pressed Powder, Light Bronzer

Why: Despite my best efforts, my skin tone is never even…and my tanned skin is no better. In the winter, I smooth it out with a light powder and in the summer, I pick up a light bronzer like this Solar Powder from Physicians Formula.

Specially formulated with SPF 20, the Physicians Formula bronzer helps protect against damaging UVA and UVB rays – all while providing a silky smooth finish.  Hypoallergenic and fragrance free, Solar Power is also good for those with sensitive skin.

This bronzer is also good for layering and comes in a few tints, depending on your skin shade.  It applies smoothly and doesn’t flake off your skin – so no one needs to know about my secret uneven tone.

Price: $11.95

Find It: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Find: A Gradual Tan

What: Dove Energy Glow Daily Moisturizer with Subtle Self Tanners

Why: My cousin is getting married this month and it’s the see-everyone-once-a-year family round up down in Los Angeles.  Being from the Pacific Northwest, I’m seriously behind on my tan and I don’t have any desire (or time) to lay out in the sun, head to a tanning booth or turn orange with the fake stuff.

Thankfully, Dove has come to the rescue with their Energy Glow Daily Moisturizer.

Because it gradually builds your tan, you don’t have to worry about turning orange overnight or ending up with the tell-all colored palms.  The glow works best when you use it daily over the course of a week.  Since it also contains a moisturizer, use it in place of your normal lotion and you too can say goodbye to never-sees-the-sun skin.

Price: On sale for $6, originally $7.99.

Get Yours: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Find: A Shielding Sugar Cream for Softer Skin

What: Korres Natural Products Sugar Crystal Cream Multivitamin Skin Shield

Why: Sugar and spice, and everything nice; that’s what this cream is made of. Korres Sugar Crystal Cream is a sugar-based, multivitamin shielding moisturizer that protects your skin from dehydrating, even in drier climates. Vitamins A, C, E, F and B5 are all contained in the lightweight fluid that goes on smooth and instantly soaks in, leaving skin refreshed and soft.

Price: $36

Get Yours: Sephora.com (Earn 5 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Find: Better than Botox

What: Frownies Immune Perfect

Botox might be an option for some Hollywood celebs, but it’s not high on my to-do list. Yet, I’m not enjoying the fine lines and wrinkles accumulating on my face, either. Enter Frownies’ Immune Perfect, an anti-wrinkle cream that uses polypeptides and phenols to fight those destructive free radicals. While I’m not sure what exactly all of those things are, I am sure of the results I’m seeing. After a few weeks of use on my face and neck, my tone is more even, my skin feels soft and those fine lines are fading.

Price: $99 for 50 ml

Find It: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Find: Dr. Brandt’s Pore-Shrinking Miracle

What: Dr. Brandt Pores No More

Why: I recently looked at my summer photos and screeched. Rapidly dialing my best friend, I took stock of the salad in my teeth and horrible complexion. 

“Help!” I wailed, “My pores are now so big I can see them in photos!" My best friend stifled a giggle and did what any good friend should do—fix it.  She directed me to Pores No More by Dr. Brandt. 

The product is aimed at women with combination or oily skin, and while it doesn’t actually make the pores any smaller, it does minimize their appearance by decreasing shine and diffusing light, thus providing the skin with a smoother appearance.  Unlike foundation, Pores No More won’t clog pores because it contains tea tree oil—an all-nautral anti-bacterial ingredient. 

Pretty pictures await! 

Price: $45

Get Yours: Beauty.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Find: N.V. Perricone Alpha Lipoic Acid Eye Therapy

What: Skin-tingling, stimulating eye therapy from N.V. Perricone M.D.

Why: The Alpha Lipoic Acid Eye Area Therapy with NTP Complex and DMAE from N.V. Perricone M.D. has a fancy name, but that’s because it does fancy things, too. The tall-sounding alpha lipoic acid is the star of the show, and because it’s an anti-inflammatory, it helps to reduce dark circles, puffiness and fine lines around the eye area. The NTP complex with DMAE works to improve the skin tone while helping to ‘lift’ the sagging skin as well.

Used twice daily under the eyes, it produces a slight tingle upon application (great when you need a quick pick-me-up after a long night). While we’re not sure if that means anything or not, we always consider skin stimulation to be a good thing -– especially if it helps eliminate those saddle bags under the eyes. And there’s nothing fancy about results.

Price: $60

Get Yours: SkinStore.com (Earn 15 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Find: RoC Night Cream for Every Evening

What: RoC Protient Fortify Lift and Define Night Cream

Why: Country stereotypes die hard—there’s something about Italian cooking and Canadian wilderness. That’s why I get olive oil from the boot and my winter gear from my northern neighbor. There is also a very good something about French beauty.

I recently discovered RoC Night Cream. Although made in France, the price is right, thanks to its big brand parent, Johnson & Johnson.

RoC is a rich smoothing cream and works to firm skin and moisturize without leaving pounds of oil on your face so you wake up looking greasy each morning. With a light, unobtrusive smell, it won’t scare off your boyfriend, either. Best of all, it doesn’t block pores—a hard thing to find in an ultra-rich night cream. I say, if there’s any way to indulge your inner Franc-o-phile (brie and champagne aside), this is definitely it.

Price: $19

Get Yours: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Find: Summer Happy Feet

What: Callex Ointment Cream for Calluses

Why: After months of walking around in boots, my feet desperately need some fresh air. Unfortunately, when I looked at them for the first time after months in hibernation, I realized they needed more work than just a pedicure.

I picked up a jar of CalleX Ointment, which can be found both online and your local drugstore. This heavy-duty cream works to soften the hard spots on your skin while exfoliating dry, cracked heels. It provides moisture to rejuvenate the skin and the light peppermint scent keeps any funky scent at bay. After regular use for about two weeks, my feet were ready for that great pedicure and those sexy summer sandals.

Price: $14.99

Find It: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Beauty Find: Undercover Eye Cream from Emerita

What: Emerita Dark Circle Eye Serum

Why: Once a year, the beauty magazines will come out with a decade-based planner to skin care: Do this when you’re 20!  Do that when you’re 30!  And now that you’re 40, freak out! 

Thankfully, not all products are marketed to the dewy-skinned set.  Emerita, which has been producing products for women for years, recently came out with an entire line of skin care products aimed at the 40+ woman.  I’m especially impressed with the Dark Circle Eye Serum; a product that any woman with tired eyes—no matter what her age—can appreciate.

The Dark Circle Eye Serum isn’t excessively oily or heavy in smell.  Plus, I can feel good using it. Emerita is paraben-free, does not test their products on animals, and includes natural ingredients such as green and white tea extracts and cucumber. This ups the ante and does away with those scary-sounding, skin-damaging free radicals. 

Price: On sale for $24. Originally $32. 

Get Yours: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Eco-Chic Beauty Find: Stella McCartney’s CARE Elixir

What: Care by Stella McCartney Calming+Soothing Elixir

Why: Our skin absorbs 70% of what we put on it, which means the most important thing consumers should be aware of are the ingredients in the products they use. Organics, like Stella McCartney’s CARE skin care line, are one safe way to treat your skin without the worries and are the ideal choice for people with sensitive skin.

The Calming+Soothing Elixir is a bit pricey, but it’s very effective. Through the use of chamomile, azulene (commonly used to soothe skin after waxing), arnica and licorice, this lightweight serum instantly brings red, irritated skin back to a balanced state. It’s so light you can use it under moisturizer or makeup, and it has a lovely, natural smell that calms the senses.

Price: $64

Get Yours: Sephora.com (Earn 5 Pts/$1 spent)

Hello My Name Is… And I’m a Tanning Addict

What: A Tan For All Seasons by Bliss

Why: My best friend—we’ll call her Shirly—is a bonafide tanning addict. For years I’ve dragged her through every makeup isle we’ve ever encountered in hopes she’d ditch her fake-and-bake bronze for an equally appealing—and cancer free—tanning lotion. And every year, without fail, she’d reluctantly purchase whatever tanner I’d beg her to buy, only to proclaim one use later that she looked like a “disgusting pumpkin,” or other, similarly horrifying orange creature. But last week, a breakthrough occured, or more specifically, a birthday present in the form of Bliss’ A Tan For All Seasons. After two uses, Shirly raved about this self-tanner’s “realistic” color and “easy” aerosol-style application. Her favorite part? The lack of the usual “icky” fake-tanning smell.

Price: $36

Get Yours: Beauty.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Neutrogena to the Rescue: A Powerful Sunblock That’s Gentle on Skin

What: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer, Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 70

Why: My boyfriend insists that I can put any type of sunscreen on my face. While he slathers on the Banana Boat, I recoil in horror, digging through my collection to find the one that won’t make me look like my face has been bitten with fire ants.

However, nine times out of 10, I end up looking like Rudolph, while he emerges unscathed. Despite the fact this irks me to no end, I still refuse to pick up the No-Ad. Instead I tried a different tactic -– using sunscreen from a company that specializes in skin care instead of the Coppertone that promises to be ‘good for faces’.

The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer line with their new Helioplex ingredient is right on target. It absorbs fast and doesn’t leave the sticky residue that I’m used to -– more importantly, it actually stops the rays with a heavy-duty SPF 70 rating. It’s waterproof, sweatproof and after a weekend in the sun, my skin is still in the clear. I cannot, however, say the same thing for my boyfriend.

Price: On sale for $9, Org. $11.29

Get Yours: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Sensitive Skin Solution: Rejuvenating Oil-Free Moisturizer

What: Avalon Organics Vitamin C Rejuvenating Oil-Free Moisturizer

Why: The hotter it gets, the scarier it is for those of us with oily, sensitive skin. Moisturizer is a necessity, but if you sweat at all, you’re bound to break out. I’ve been stuck in the cycle for years, pleading for a longer spring so I can show my face a little longer before I stock up on concealer and admit defeat.

Luckily, I’ve managed to outsmart Mother Nature (just like the butter commercial!). My summer solution? Vitamin C Oil-Free Moisturizer from Avalon Organics, which manages to rehydrate and tone my skin without oil, without residue, and without worry. It’s even slightly mattifying, which means it works under makeup, should you be bold enough to try eyeliner when it’s 90 degrees outside…

Allergy Alert! This Vitamin C is partially derived from soy, so if you’re terrorized by tofu, skip this one.

Price: $15.25

(Don’t) Shine On: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Shave Find from Skin Milk: Soft, Smooth Legs and No Razor Burn

What: Skin Milk Shaving Milk

Why: This is not your typical shave cream if you are used to the drugstore variety cans of foam from Gilette. While I love the foamy consistency of the stuff you get from a can, there is something to be said for a true shave cream such as this that allows your razor to glide nick-free and without causing stubble or razor burn.

With the consistency of a fluffy body moisturizer, this shave “milk” softened up my fur and didn’t irritate my sensitive skin one bit. Best of all, I think it even helped moisturize my dry legs a bit, which is always a plus. In addition, this product has a lovely smell, similar to fresh cream and vanilla.

It’s definitely a positive change from my usual Gilette and just it time for shaving season.

Price: $5.50

Get Yours: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Some Grape Each Day, Keeps the Wrinkles At Bay

What: Caudalie Premieres Vendanges Moisturizing Cream 1.3 oz

Why: Is there anything that the magical grape can’t do? Last year, scientists proved that the so-called “French Paradox”—the fact that Frenchies guzzle wine, smoke like chimneys and gorge themselves on fatty cheese, yet still manage to live longer (and thinner) than the rest of us—was not only a cute cultural myth, but indeed a reality. And last week, after this researcher stumbled upon Premieres Vendanges Moisturizing Cream by Caudalie, I learned that the benefits of this antioxidant-rich fruit aren’t limited to the national mortality rate. After just days, my skin glowed like I’d been on a week-long tour of the wineries in Bordeaux. Will I purchase more of this magic potion when the tube runs dry? Oui oui. 

Price: $39

Get Yours: SkinStore.com (Earn 15 Pts/$1 spent)

Summer Skincare: Daily Moisturizer That Protects

What: Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45

Why: We know that you can get burned almost as easily in the winter as you can in the summer.  Still, in the summer, we’re more likely to spend precious time outside, whether it’s walking to work or eating lunch outdoors.

Therefore it’s time to up the ante on our daily moisturizer.  Normally, moisturizer + sunscreen = grease and breakouts.  However, we heard rave reviews about Neutrogena’s new skincare line with Helioplex and picked up a few products.

The Healthy Defense SPF 45 was amazing, and just as advertised, it’s not greasy and really did provide coverage all day.  It’s fragrance-free, safe for sensitive skin, and it didn’t lead to breakouts even with the added UVA and UVB protection.  Now we feel a little more comfortable about those extra long lunches in the sun.

Price: $12.49

Get Yours: Drugstore.com (Earn 10 Pts/$1 spent)

Summer Skin: Clarins Ultra-Matte Rebalancing Lotion

What: Clarins ‘Truly Matte’ Ultra-Matte Rebalancing Lotion

Why: Summer usually means two things when it comes to face care, and it doesn’t matter what kind of skin you have: unwanted shine and unwanted grease and grime. Fight the elements with this super summer skin saver. Though it’s formulated for oily skin, it works just as well as a gentle moisturizer for women with drier skin too. Either way, your face won’t be shiny and it will feel strangely back to normal in no time. It’s a must-have for those of us plagued with humid weather.

Price: $38

Get Yours: Nordstrom.com (Earn 5 Pts/$1 spent)