So I work in a mall. I stand for 8 hours a day on a hard tile floor. My feet hate me. Somehow, whenever I remember to call for an appointment for a pedicure at the salon that is also at the mall where I work, they are always booked up that day and the next. Boo hiss!

Inevitably, it falls upon me to take care of my feet at home, and that’s where this cool kit from Ms. Pedicure comes in.  It’s called The Foot SpAHH! and it contains a pumice stone, a foot scrub, a foot lotion, a leg rub, and a massager, all in a cute pink bag. Taking care of my feet becomes fairly easy with this inexpensive kit. I really like it because the products are nice too – the lotion moisturizes with grapeseed oil and aloe vera, and it smells good too. Good quality on a budget? Yes please. The set retails for only $12.99!

First, I crack out my Conair Foot Bath, fill with warm (not hot) water and soak my tootsies for 10 minutes or so.  Setting up and cleaning the foot bath takes the most time, but it’s totally worth it. Next, I use the Pumice Stone to exfoliate rough heels. Then, I smooth and polish with a small amount of the Exfoliating Foot Scrub. I dry my feet, and massage in the Moisture Rich Foot Lotion to take care of dryness. The last step is to massage my tired legs with the Invigorating Leg Rub and the cute little massager. Voila! Happier feet. (If you don’t have the time or energy for a foot bath, just use the stone and scrub at the end of your shower, before you get out.)

Because I like this set so much, I am giving one away to a lucky reader! Just enter your name and email address in the contest box, and on June 14th one winner will be drawn!

Click on Details for specific rules. Also, please use the contest box. Names & email addresses left in the comments will NOT be counted. Thank you!

After my previous post talking about skin cancer, it seemed relevant to follow up with a post on sunscreen. I have been test-driving Coppertone’s new product NutraShield SPF 70+ With Dual Defense and Nutrashield Faces SPF 70+ With Dual Defense.

I’ll be the first person to say that while I get it that sunscreen is important to maintaining beautiful skin and good health, I really dislike the stuff. My biggest peeves are texture and smell. I usually dislike the textures of physical sunscreens, and I usually dislike the smell of chemical sunscreens. What is a girl to do? Since the smell problem can be easily solved with the light application of a body mist, it’s easy enough to find one that I’ll use.

Enter Coppertone’s new NutraShield line. There are three products, two body sunscreens and one face sunscreen, which are enriched with antioxidants to help promote natural skin repair by neutralizing harmful free radicals created by UV exposure. The results of independent studies presented by the makers of Coppertone at a recent American Academy of Dermatology meeting show that exposure to sunlight can cause some antioxidants to become skin-damaging pro-oxidants. Coppertone NutraShield contains specially-selected antioxidants that continue to function even in the presence of UV light. Based upon the results of an ex vivo study, the formula is proven to reduce free radical formation by 74 percent in skin exposed to UV light. Pretty cool, huh?

I haven’t been using NutraShield Faces for a whole two weeks, but in the few days I’ve put it on I haven’t had any breakouts or irritations. It is quite non-greasy, so it’s easy to slather on a bunch (remember you want to use a teaspoon for your face and neck) and rub it in. I use the sunscreen in place of my regular moisturizer and it’s been mostly hydrating enough, especially if I hydrate well at night. Coppertone says in a clinical study conducted by an independent laboratory, results revealed that with daily use on the face, NutraShield helped reduce visible signs of skin aging and improved skin elasticity, texture and clarity in as little as two weeks in women who showed signs of mild to moderate photo damage (premature skin aging). So it’s got some good corrective anti-aging going on for it too. I give it two thumbs up. I really don’t get exposed to enough sun during my workdays to warrent high protection, so I will probably continue to use one of my various SPF 15 products for my face – but I’ll definitely crack out this puppy for days off and vacations. It was pretty decent under makeup, especially the lighter makeup I prefer in the summer.

NutraShield for the body gets a good score from me too. You have to rub rub rub it in, but once you do it isn’t all greasy or gross feeling. My skin feels soft and happy, although I will also continue to use a separate body moisturizer after showering or at night – I have really dry skin. It wasn’t quite moisturizing enough on it’s own to combat the dry skin. The only thing I don’t like is the smell – which is par for the course for sunscreen. My solution is simply to carry a travel-size body mist in my purse to help diffuse the sunscreen scent that develops after about an hour. Or else I just tell myself to get over it. It’s really not THAT bad. Like with my face, I’m not particularly exposed to enough sun on work days to justify such high protection SPF for my body, so I’ll use the SPF 70+ formula on my “sun days” and use the SPF 30 on work days.

Overall, I think Coppertone has developed a good product line with these NutraShield sunscreens. They are definitely worth checking out!

I realize skin cancer isn’t just a concern for women, but since summer is coming I wanted to write a post about it because May is Skin Cancer Awareness month.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than one million skin cancers are diagnosed annually. Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, and contrary to popular belief, 80 percent of a person’s lifetime sun exposure is not acquired before age 18. Only about 23 percent of lifetime exposure occurs by age 18. (Source: Skin Cancer Facts)

There’s more. Seventy one percent of tanning salon patrons are girls and women aged 16-29. Frequent tanners using new high-pressure sunlamps may receive as much as 12 times the annual UVA dose compared to the dose they receive from sun exposure. People who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. (Source: Skin Cancer Facts) Furthermore, based on 7 worldwide studies, people who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk for melanoma by 75 percent. Are you seeing a trend here? I am.

So what’s the solution? It’s very simple. UV radiation can cause skin cancer. Decrease your exposure to UV radiation and you decrease your risk of developing skin cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation offers these tips:

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
• Do not burn.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
• See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

There is no such thing as a healthy tan. If you have to have bronzed skin, try a self-tanner instead. The Skin Cancer Foundation also has some good information on sunscreens, and facts about the different kinds of skin cancer. I recommend you check it out!

Do your feet need a break? Looking for a nice splurge-worthy product? Look no further than Kenzo’s Barefeet Fantasy. This creamy balm will soothe your tired feet, and the scent is definitely drool-worthy.

Part of the Sensual line (that includes the Enveloping Velvety Wash cleanser I wrote about before) of products, the foot balm has the same rice steam scent that I loved in the face wash. It’s such a relaxing scent, I just love it. The texture is also amazing – very rich and creamy, but not greasy at all. It sinks right into your skin and leaves it very soft-feeling. My feet were feeling particularly dry tonight, but I rubbed some of the Barefeet Fantasy in and they feel so much better. The cream is also enriched with cupuacu butter and shea butter to deeply nourish the skin.

I highly recommend Barefeet Fantasy if you need some serious foot-pampering in your life. It’s a bit pricey for a foot cream, but it smells like heaven in a jar and will definitely soften up hard, tough heels with regular use. It rocks.

Don’t forget to enter our Pevonia Giveaway! Enter to win a Pevonia Tropicale gift set with a retail value of $80! The products are great for summer, so don’t pass up this chance to win.

The gift set includes a full-size Tropicale De-Aging Saltmousse in Papaya Pineapple, a full-size  De-Aging Mist in Papaya-Pineapple, and a travel-size De-Aging Body Balm in Papaya-Pineapple.

Click here to enter!

I recently gave  a test drive to two moisturizers with sunscreen, and I’m quite pleased with both. Here is the scoop!

Collective Wellbeing makes a Day Moisturizer with SPF, that contains a titanium dioxide/zinc oxide based SPF 15. This lovely lotion contains a slew of plant oils like jojoba, borage, sunflower, and apricot kernel, as well as plant extracts like chamomile, comfrey, and licorice. It’s a lightweight lotion that spreads easily on the skin, and it left my face feeling soft but not greasy. If you are very oily, you may not like it due to the high concentration of plant oils. My combination skin likes it just fine, and I don’t feel greasy during the day with it on. The plant extracts are all known for soothing the skin, so I’m guessing even sensitive skin types could use this with no trouble. I give it two thumbs up.

The other new moisturizer I’ve tried recently is L’Occitane’s Almond Apple Velvet Face Fluid SPF40. This is a new lotion that is essentially a lighter version of the Almond Apple Velvet Concentrate with added mineral sunscreen. When I first investigated the Velvet Concentrate I did think it was odd that L’Occitane was offering a line of products to address the first signs of aging, and yet had no sunscreen in the product line. As we should all know by now, wearing sunscreen is the number one first step in preventing the signs of aging. So I’m really pleased to see a sunscreen offered, and with a high protection level to boot. The Velvet Face Fluid SPF 40 is quite thin and runny in texture – so be aware of this when you pump it out. The non-SPF version does not have this issue. It spreads nicely on my face, and sinks in very quickly. The high silicone content means makeup goes on beautifully over it. For all these reasons, I will definitely keep this product in the lineup for summertime. Dry skins may not find it moisturizing enough, but normal-combination skin types should be fine with the hydration. My biggest complaint is I don’t like how my fingers feel after applying and have to go wash my hands. Otherwise, two thumbs up.

The biggest drawback to  titanium dioxide/zinc oxide based sunscreens is the issue of the whitish cast left behind. Folks with lighter skin tones probably won’t notice – I didn’t. Darker skintones may want to try a sample first, if one is available.

I used to be a vendor at an outdoor weekend market (Portland Saturday Market) that ran from March – December, and I’d be there nearly every weekend. Over the course of three years, I got to do a lot of people-watching! I saw a lot of faces, and it’s from this experience that I bring you Claire’s tips on looking good in bright sunshine!

Here’s the deal: generally speaking, women do their makeup indoors, usually in artificial lighting. What looks great in your bathroom may not look so great when exposed to bright sunshine, especially if you are using a lot of powder, foundation, or the colors aren’t quite right for your skin. If you are planning to be outside a lot on a bright sunny day, you might want to consider a different approach to your makeup so you look fabulous in the sun.

First, heavy foundation will be usually be very apparent in bright sunlight – unless you have a perfect match for your skin and it’s applied super-evenly. Why not skip the full-coverage foundation and try a lighter formula like a tinted moisturizer instead? Stila makes two great formulas (oil-free and regular), both with sunscreen. I’ve also heard good things about DEX New York’s Mineral Tinted Hydrator (celebrity fans of the brand include Carrie Underwood, Kelly Ripa and Amy Poehler!), which is studio makeup formulated to look good under bright lights – it makes sense it would like great in sunshine too. A tinted moisturizer will even out your complexion, but should blend right into your skin and look totally natural.

Here’s the hard part for me: skip the powder. I know, I know… I love my Clarins Loose Powder!  But powder tends to look “makeup-y” since the particles will catch the light and be totally apparent in the bright sunshine. If oilyness is a concern, try patting a mattifying powder like Laura Geller Matte Maker, brushed only on your t-zone. It’ll cut down on shine without looking overly powdery.

Try a cream or gel blush instead of a powder blush for a more natural look, and blend well. I’m fond of Becca, Stila, and Flirt cream/gel blushes. A smidge of luminizer looks nice on the cheekbones (try DEX New York Mineral Glow or Stila All Over Shimmer) but go easy – too much sparkle and you’ll look like a disco ball.

I still fill in my brows on “sunshine days” but I do it lightly so it doesn’t look harsh in the sunlight. Also, I prefer to use simple washes of color if I’m doing eyeshadow, or I skip it entirely. Brown or plum mascara looks pretty too.

The idea is to keep it simple and natural, so you don’t look too made-up or overdone. What looks great indoors or on a cloudy day can end up looking very fake and unflattering in the bright sunlight. Hopefully, we can all avoid that fate this summer!

Although I will be working all weekend, for most people Memorial Day weekend heralds the beginning of Summer Fun, so here is a list of must-haves.

1. The Pearl Anis Green No. 02  shade of the Sephora Pearl Eyeshadows. This color is seriously the BOMB! It looks scary and obnoxious, but is a ROCKIN’ bright green for spring/summer. Use it sparingly, or go nuts, either way it’s a FAB shade.

2. L’Occitane Self-Tanner Progressive Natural Tan (aka the Castanha Self Tanner that Oprah Mag. loves.) I love it too. I’ve been using it every other day to keep the nice color from the Bella Bronze.

3. Warm days call for a light, crisp fragrance. I suggest Kenzo Eau de Fleur de Magnolia, it’s a perfect blend of crisp citrus notes and sweet floral notes.

4. Sunscreen. Make sure it has both UVA and UVB protection, aka Broad Spectrum protection.

5. I think the new Sephora by OPI shades are perfect for pedicures, especially Mermaid to Order.