Beauty Friday: Sun Protection Basics.

Last week we learned a little about the importance of drinking water and staying hydrated = healthy. It was indeed a great advice for the summer, but ultimately for life. Today we are going to learn about sun protection, also another GREAT advice for the summer time and for life. Now, you might come and roll your eyes and exclaim "For life?! I live in a city where it's cloudy 80% of the day! And the rest is night!". Well my dear, sun's rays are so potent that they can go through the clouds, windows and your clothes even when you don't see it and still cause damage. So what can we do?

First things first. What are we afraid of?

The sun produces Ultaviolet (UV) radiations that reach the earth, these are invisible to our eyes. There are three kinds UVA, UVB and UVC. The first two are the one we care the most about because UVC is absorbed by the ozone layer (therefore it is so important for our health to try to stop affecting the changes on it! But that's another topic...). Anyways, we've got the UVAs which are present as long as a daylight lasts; they penetrate deep in our skin and are known to be the main cause of premature skin aging, eye damage (like cataracts), sun spots and skin cancer. UVBs are the ones in charge of the sunburn and making you red, these affect only the superficial layers of your skin.

Image from skincancer.org

In a nutshell, UVA = Aging ; UVB = Burning.

That said, what can we do about it?

Use broad spectrum sun protection, this doesn't necessarily means SPF. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, basically it's a measure to tell you how much can that product protect you from UVBs. If you have a product SPF 15 it means that if your naked face (meaning that you don't have any sun protection product) takes about 20 minutes to turn red while in the sun, the product will extend that exposure time times 15 (20mins x 15 = 300mins; 5hours). Wearing a SPF 15 product will protect you for 5 hours, assuming you don't swim or sweat during that time. 

"So, if I buy the greatest SPF number available will be the best protection and I won't have to reapply right?"

Not necessarily! An SPF 15 already filrters 93% of the UVB you're exposed to, SPF 30 blocks 97% of the rays, SPF 50 blocks 98% but none of them, not even SPF 100 gives 100% protection. Ideally, you have to reapply during the day. In a sunny day or a day at the beach, you should reapply every 2 hours or immediately after sweating profusely or swimming. 

"What protects me from UVAs?"

If the product you are buying has any of these ingredients, you are covered. 

• Avobenzone
• Ecamsule (Mexoryl)
• Zinc oxide
• Titanium dioxide

"What protects me from UVBs?"

• Octyl methoxycinnamate
• Octyl salicylate
• Octocrylene

The next two are "physical filters", meaning they block the radiation rather than absorbing it like the previous ingredients, which are called "chemical filters". There is no wrong or right here, no best or worst. The difference is in their mechanism of action and the the physical filters are responsible of the white cast you get when you apply them, specially if you have a darker skin color.

• Zinc oxide
• Titanium dioxide

Now you know your basics on how to choose your products, other measures you can take if you are really sensitive to sun are: 

• Use the highest SPF possible or ask your dermatologist about what are the best options for you.
• If you have oily skin, use a gel based one or the ones that say "oil free" or are meant to be for oily skin. 
• Avoid being exposed to the sun for prolonged periods of time. 
• Avoid being on the sun between 10am - 4pm since it's when we get the most UVB radiation.
• Use sunglasses and hats while out in the sun.
• If you are high above sea level (like up in the mountains) you might need more protection, use long sleeves and long pants.

Hope this helped you clear all your questions. If you have any question, please leave them on the comments, I will do my best to answer  it.

DISCLAIMER. This article is not meant to give medical advice. Even though I am a doctor, I am NOT a specialist. At all times if you have any health concern ask your doctor and discuss what are the best options available for you and your condition. Take notice that you might be allergic to some ingredients, read your labels well if you are very sensitive to certain products. These advices are not mean to heal or to cure any existing condition but to prevent one from happening; that said, this is not 100% fail proof. The information I have posted I made sure is certain, but for the latest information out there, ask your doctor.

 

If you would like to go deeper on this topic visit http://www.skincancer.org

Look of the day: "Alexa's version".

Hello! My sister (Alexa Reyes) and our colaborator for the "Beauty Fridays" was going to the premiere of a movie yesterday's afternoon. She chose a beautiful fresh spring/summer combination full of colors and vere suitable for this ocassion. here it is:

 

She was wearing:

Collar: Forever 21

Peplum Shirt: Classic Couture (Avaible at Neiman Marcus)

Printed Jeans: J Brand.

Bracelets: Juicy Couture

Shoes: Stradivarius.

Stay TUNED! for more intersting posts! Share your comments with us! :)

SUMMER TREND: Blue Porcelaine!

Hello there! I decided to make a post about this beautiful Spring/Summer 2013 trend: The Blue Porcelaine because its very delicate, sweet, classy and fresh with some modern touch...In other words: "modern pieces with classy details" inspired in old british/french/chinese fine porcelaines.

As we can see, Roberto Cavalli was one of the most important creator of this trend but this doesnt mean its a "Haute Couture" trend, low cost stores already have it: 

 

And these are some looks:

 

 

Do you like it? Share with us your comments or ideas!

Beauty Friday:This is probably one of the best summer advices you will ever get... DRINK WATER!!!

 I know, I know, it might sound overrated and it might be, but your body really needs it!  60% of us, is water, if there wasn't enough, how do you think our body would work properly?!

 
It's summer, the temperature is rising and it will for sure get hotter as we get closer to the middle. On a daily basis our body uses water for many processes, specially your cells. They need water in order to be able to do their job. Also, blood carries oxygen, nutrients and waste products. Imagine your blood being all dense an unable to move. All the good things would be harder to get by the cell and all the bad things would be harder to unload by the cells. You would end up with a big bloody mess, weak cells and they wouldn't be able to do their work properly.
 
That said, here are some benefits you can get from drinking water:
 
1. Lose weight. Drinking enough water will substitute other drinks high on sugar and empty calories.
 

2. Your skin will look better. When skin is dehydrated it looks wrinkly and dull. Stay hydrated to have a nest summer glow!!
 

3. Keeps your body waste free. The kidneys are the filters of the body, they take out many toxic substances and stuff  you don't need on your blood. Which means you end up being healthier inside. The sufficient intake of water also regulates bowel movements, which is another way of your body getting rid of unnecessary products.
 

4. Avoid a kidney stone!! Most of us know at least one person who has had kidney stones, and it's very well known that it hurts. Some people are more likely to develop stones in their kidneys than others and by different causes. What is no secret is that drinking enough fluids will decrease the likelyhood of crystals binding together and forming the infamous stone. Also you might excrete it (in case it's already there) before it causes trouble.
 
How to know you're hydrated? Your urine is the key. When you're taking enough water, your urine is light and almost odorless. The lighter the better. And chill, if you think you're over hydrated, your kidneys will get rid of the water you don't need.
 
Hope this post helped you! If you would like more posts like these, please leave it on the comments!!
 
- Alexa Reyes

How to be a Smart Shopper

Hello girls! I've been looking and sometimes we dont make smart shoppings and spend a lot of money on things we wont ever use, things we dont like, things we dont need... Here are my personal tips to make great shoppings and dont regret it later.

1. Check on your clothes and make a list of things you need.

2.Get rid of clothes you dont use!: Give it to someone else, donate it to charity or restore it to make it more useful (example, take an old pair of jeans and crop it to make "jean shorts").

3.Remember this: TRENDS FADES!: Its good to have some pieces of the trends of the season, but remember another season is coming and you wont use the same summer maxi skirt with sandals for winter! and maybe the other summer some "this summer trends" wont be the same. 

   NOTE: This also depends in where you live, for example, i live in a tropical island which means i can wear summer clothing the whole year (its a little cooler in december) but i can wear shorts any time of the year.

4.Look for neutral colors: black, nudes,gold or silver: Those colors you can match them with any outfit in any season, they will always look good, and then once you have those, have fun with a "funky" pair of shoes that are IN in that season.

5.Ask yourself if you need it or when you would use it: Sometimes we like something SO much but maybe we wont have the oportunity to use it or nothing to match it with.

6.Be alert with the SALES!: You can find high quality clothes in very good prices! Be alert! 

7.Always stand for high quality!: It is better to spend some more money in a pair of shoes that you would use a hundred times and they would still look good instead of 10 pairs of shoes that will make you go barefoot with 2 uses. The same for clothing! Good quality clothing will always look better! That doesnt mean you have to wear expensive clothes always, but its always good to have at least one piece in your closet.

8.Ask yourself if its worth it: Sometimes we find something we like but its too expensive for how it looks and maybe you can find something better for the same price.

9.HAVE FUN WITH YOUR CLOTHES! : Sometimes we dont find anything in our wardrobes because we already wore the combinations you did when you bought it, the solution is: COMBINE IT DIFFERENTLY! There must be something in your wardrobe that you never thought it could look good.

10.Always look for clothes that looks good in your body: If something doesnt look good or doesnt fit well when you try it, it wont be better later (that doesnt count with stretch clothes).

Sunday Outfit

Hello! Hope you had a great weekend! Yesterday, i was going to the mall with my mother and aunt, and i got inspired and created a casual look for a summer afternoon with pastel color pants and camel-brown belt and shoes.

I bought those pants few weeks ago, because i wanted a pastel color ankle pant, and i felt in love with this one because of the zipper it has in one side, that gives it a "modern" touch

.

I was looking for a camel heels because its color is VERY useful, and i found this pair and felt really in love with them. They're very comfortable and have become my favorite shoes.

I was wearing:

Belt, Pants and High Heel Sandals: Stradivarius.

Polo Shirt: Polo Ralph Lauren. 

Nail Color: Tangerine by Essie.

Stay tuned for more posts during this week! Share with us your comments and your ideas.

Friday Night Outfit

Hello! Yesterday i was going to dinner with some friends, and then we would party a little!. I was looking to make a different look, not that summer style but pretty accurated for a "friday night out". 

I was wearing:

Blouse: Forever 21.

Sequined Shorts: "La Cite"

Clutch: Cargo Cometics.

Charles David Satin Pumps.

Pandora Bracelet.

Stay TUNED for the next post! and share with us your idea for a friday night! :) 

SUMMER TRENDS: 2013 SUMMER MAKEUP LOOKS

This summer’s makeup trend is COLOR!! Get your tan on and add a pop of color to your eye makeup, will make the difference. This trend was seen on the runways of Nanette Lepore and Balenciaga SS 13 fashion shows.

Demi Lovato was one of the first artists to wear the bronze eyeshadow and turquoise eyeliner along the lower lash line. Peach toned lips and a bronzed skin are THE LOOK for this season.

If Demi’s look is too bold for you, Selena Gomez is wearing a lighter version of it with a very smoked out turquoise on the lower lash line and a nude shimmery lipgloss.

NEON is the other summer makeup and fashion trend. Kelly Rowland portrays this trend beautifully on her video “Kisses down low”. Overall, that video is a great inspiration for everything NEON.

                                       

Which look is your favourite? Which one would you use? Would you dare to use the bold neon makeup? Leave your comment and share with us!

- Alexa Reyes

Rompers, Jumpsuits and Playsuits

The other day while i was browsing things on internet for the blog, i found some pages that called "playsuits" to the rompers and i was really confused between rompers, playsuits and jumpsuits... aren't they the same?

So after a great investigation, i concluded that, rompers are the same as playsuits and jumpsuits are just long playsuits. I decided to make a post of this, because its a very common confussion between this concepts.

So, this is a "playsuit" or commonly called "rompers"

 

 And these are jumpsuits...

Im in love with jumpsuit and playsuits this season, they can be easily worn during the night, the day, to the beach or just to hangout in the city all afternoon.They tend to look good with sandals, wedges or high heels.

Stay tuned, for tomorrow"s "Beauty Friday" :)

SUMMER TREND: Pants!

Harem Pants.

Do’s and Dont’s for Harem Pants.

DON’T

-Wear longshirts.

-Wear booties

DO

-Tuck your shirts

-Add a blazer with a neutral color.

-Pick pointy-toe pump, ankle-strap heels or sandals.

Printed  Trousers.

Printed Trousers are one of the main trends of this summer. Wear them with solid color shirts so you don’t look so overwhelmed and with sandals, flats or heels.

Palazzo Pants.

 It may seem like "old" but its the new IN!.

Palazzo pants can be used with croptops and sandals or wedges for a relaxed and casual look in the morning.And combined with a jacket, a blouse or high heels for the evening.

They also look better with big handbags or crossbodies and cool accesories.

 

Be ALERT for this friday, we start with the "Beauty Friday" for make up reviews, hairstyles, makeup trends and more.