wear your sunscreen!
I do not take this matter lightly. Honestly people ask me what is the number one thing they can do for their skin and, hands down, it would be to always wear your sunscreen. Always- even on cloudy days in the dead of winter, but especially in thick of summer. It is so much easier to prevent than correct. Speaking as somebody with crazy pigmentation issues from being a tanning bed junkie in my ding-dong years of youth, protecting your skin is undeniably invaluable. For some reason people are in search for the fountain of youth, but they resist sunscreen like the plague. I know there is nothing thrilling and exciting about sunscreen, but it works and its relatively inexpensive. Not a bad combo. With that said, not all sunscreens are created equal. So you have two types of sunscreens a chemical and a physical sunscreen and they are two very different beasts.
chemical sunscreens:
- these are your avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate and all of the other long unpronounceable words you see listed as the active ingredients on the back of your sunscreen bottle
- they work by absorbing UV radiation
- if people have an allergy to sunscreen it is usually one of these fellas that is the culprit
- they take about 15 minutes to begin working
- they break down after being exposed to sunlight- say what? Isn’t it their sole purpose to provide protection against the very thing that breaks them down. hmm…
- under suspicion for carcinogenic (cancer causing) properties. Children and pregnant woman are advised to steer clear of sunscreens containing Avobenzone in lieu of the oodles of free radicals it produces. side note: free radicals age the skin as well. Again, hmm…
physical sunscreens:
- these are your zinc oxide and titanium dioxides. They are also referred to as mineral sunscreens.
- they work by reflecting UV radiation (they are an actual physical block)
- zinc is anti-inflammatory, so it actually calms down redness and it is mildly antibacterial making it a superb choice for those battling rosacea and acne
- extremely stable in the sun. Zinc and titanium will keep working after it has a been exposed to sunlight. Phew, given that is generally why you are wearing it in the first place
- difficult to rub in given their whitish hue. However, companies are getting better at making them more user friendly.
With that said, I realize some of the physical sunscreens feel heavy and goopy, which can be a real turn off especially if you are combating acne. I totally understand this. However, I found a handful of supreme sunscreens that work, do not give you cancer or age the skin and they go on like water.
Here they are:
Images’s Hydrating SPF 30. I love this cat. I must also state that I sell this guy, which could make me a little biased. Maybe it does. Or maybe I sell this guy because I love it so much. To get his stats go here.
There he is- in all his glory….
I am also a big fan of the tinted variety. He offers a lovely tan to those who do not naturally possess one. I must admit this color is not for everyone, so if you are genuinely interested in purchasing, I suggest trying a sample first. To get more info go here.
I really also enjoy Elta Md’s UV Physical SPF 41. He errs a little on thick side, but all-in-all he is a winner.
And if you are completely opposed to applying a liquid sunscreen daily, then I would opt for the powder route. My favorite version of this is Color Science’s sunforgettable line. This line comes in variety of different colors, so you have no excuse not to indulge.
Hats and bags over the head also work as superb sun protection, but both are mildly obstructive and inconvenient, so finding a good physical sunscreen from a bottle (or brush) is a decent plan.
If these nuggets of info appeal to you, by all means, sign up skinspot’s letter of news to get more of my skin and health musings delivered straight to your inbox. Upon sign up you get my top 10 skin tips. I mean the gifts just keep on coming…. To sign up for such goodness look to the right of this blog- it really is that easy.
On a completely unrelated note, I am in love with Oreck’s steam cleaner. For whatever reason we have been spending a lot of time together these past few days and I really cannot sing his praises enough. If you have at least one room in your abode that is sans carpet, then this fella is worth his weight in gold.
quite the pair…
Alright that is enough rambling for one post. I hope y’all have one helluva weekend!
pickles and breakfast
this title is a wee bit deceiving. i did not have pickles for breakfast, although i might. however, i did partake in a portland pickle party this weekend. and i made two really amazing breakfasts, hence the very clever title.
da pickle party. i would love to say i that i am responsible for the amazing pickle creations and that i now know how to pickle, but that would be a lie. i basically drank wine, washed dishes and observed the pickling process. i can’t stop typing some version of the word “pickle.”
pickling was a hoot and i may do it again or i may just buy store bought pickles… either way, i loved spending a weekend with ma ladies!
now on to these breakfasts i speak of.
first up: no oat “oat meal”
this recipe is adapted from carrots-n-cake’s recipe. i have made this before, but I tweaked it a wee bit more and i am simply tickled by how it came out
the goods:
- 3 egg whites
- 1T chia seeds
- 1T ground flaxseeds
- 1/4c unsweetened coconut milk
- 1/3 banana (mashed)
- 1/4 c frozen cherries & blueberries
- 1/2t vanilla
- 1/2t cinnamon
- dash of sea salt & liquid stevia (optional)
how to:
- crack eggs in a separate bowl
- put all of the ingredients (except the frozen berries) in a small sauce pan and heat on low for 2 minutes
- add the egg whites and whisk continuously for a few minutes. this can feel like it is taking forever.
- after “oatmeal” has reached the desired consistency add the frozen berries and stir for 1-2 minutes
- serve with topping of choice. i choose a giant scoop of peanut butter.
if you are thinking about going the paleo route this is a great breakfast.
breakfast numero 2: oats in a jar (aka OTA)
i had an almost empty peanut butter jar and a brand new protein powder. a combo that screams for oats in a jar.
plant fusion protein powder came in the mail a little over a week ago. it is vegan, gluten free, soy free and sugar free. it also offers a full amino acid profile, which is tricky with vegetarian protein powders. the only vegan protein powder i like is metagenic’s ultra clear ph, but it is time for a change. so far, i like this one. he was superb in this morning’s breakfast.
the goods for oats in a jar
- nearly empty peanut butter jar (almond butter will suffice if you must)
- 1/2c oats
- 1c water
- dash of unsweetened coco milk
- 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 5 strawberries (quartered)
- handful of blueberries
- 1/3 banana (mashed)
- dash of sea salt, cinnamon, & vanilla
how to:
- bring oats, water, vanilla, sea salt, & cinnamon to a boil
- reduce heat to a low for 5 min
- stir in banana, blueberries, & strawberries
- stir in coconut milk & protein powder
- pour mixture in peanut butter jar
- feel pleased as punch with yourself and consume your goods
And with that, I am off to the dentist. I am also pondering chopping my hair off today. big plans
Happy Tuesday!
mason jar madness and peanut butter balls
I got a Mason Jar on Sunday (I know I am ubber trendy- deal with it) and I can’t stop serving all of my meals/ beverages out of it.
my new coffee mug
fits the green monster perfectly
one great pumpkin & peanut butter oat bran holder
makes the dandy blend that much more divine
Not pictured is my peppermint tea and Monday’s breakfast of overnight oats, both resided in the Mason.
Now onto the Peanut Butter Balls. For a while these were my peanut butter balls of choice:
However, due to a slight lack of control around them, I have moved on to these peanut butter balls
you will notice there appears to be one missing...
If you are chocolate, peanut butter enthusiast, these may change your life. I got the recipe for them from Oxygen Magazine. It lives here. I pretty much followed the recipe to a tee, but used maple syrup instead of honey and used a little less than 1/3c. I also used Thorne’s Vegalite chocolate protein powder instead of the Whey protein powder they use. These took me, maybe, 5 minutes to make and they are an awesome dessert. These balls are great because I don’t want twelve of them like I do with most desserts, but I am completely satisfied, so I am not craving a cookie after eating a “fake” dessert. The nutrition stats are simply superb. This is according to Oxygen’s recipe.
That’s all I have for now.
Happy Wednesday!
2 things I am not proud of
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1. I just goggled “bachelor spoiler.” I do not know what crawled up my knickers. I don’t even watch the damn thing. Well, I sorta do, but that is not really important. I honestly could not tell you what I learned via this very intellectual search. I was so bored two sentences into the article, I stopped reading. If the picture on the website is any indication, then I think I know the answer. I will sleep soundly tonight.
2. I have had 7 of these little darlings. Six were consumed before 10:00 AM. At 9:30 last night I got a wild hair up my fanny and decided to make these grain-free sesame cookies from Elana’s pantry. I know I am on this blog way too much. I pretty much followed her recipe except I used grass-fed butter for the grape seed oil and maple syrup for the agave. I cannot tell you how amazing these cookies are. I have about 7 cookies left and it is taking every last bit of strength I have to not eat them.
I am off to study for my first Integrative Institute for Nutrition exam. I wonder if there is a question on there on how to control a cookie addiction? Deep thoughts
devil
Happy Wednesday!
