How to Protect Skin, Hair From Sun
April 28, 2011— -- Hair Helpers
The Scalp Scrub
Clear the way for healthy hair this summer by exfoliating your scalp: Before showering, run a boar-bristle brush, like the Sephora Boar Detangling Brush ($24; sephora.com), gently along your scalp multiple times, then give hair a thorough brushing. "It sounds old-fashioned, but it really works to exfoliate dead skin cells and distribute the scalp's natural oils for more shine," says Eva Scrivo, author of Eva Scrivo on Beauty ($35; amazon.com).
The Frizz Fighter
Get the right haircut to handle humid weather. "If you have curls, add layers to keep your hair from puffing out at the bottom and creating that pyramid shape," suggests Scrivo. Straight hair? Ask your stylist not to overtexturize or slice into the ends with a razor. "You want a little extra weight at the bottom to keep hair from expanding in the humidity," she says. If you know from experience that the right cut alone won't curb your hair's frizz frequency, consider an at home, formaldehyde-free smoothing treatment such as Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy ($14; drugstores).
The Ultimate Air-Dry
When it's hot out, you won't want to blow-dry--so now's the time to master the art of air-drying. If you have straight hair, distribute a styling cream such as Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Smoothing Cream ($5; drugstores) from your roots through the midsection, then clip strands up on the top of your head until they're almost dry. "When you let your hair down, you'll have more lift in the root area," says Scrivo. For curly hair, apply a curl-enhancing cream, then twist sections around your finger to encourage spiral shapes. Once hair is dry, don't tousle it.
"A broken curl is a frizzy curl," warns Scrivo. Smooth any remaining frizz with a bit of serum, like Dove Hair Nourishing Oil Care Serum ($5; Walgreens).
Makeup Moves
The Skin Saver
It may work to use an anti-ager, a lotion with sunscreen, and foundation on your face in winter, but that's a recipe for an oil slick in warm weather. When humidity ramps up, switch to an all-in-one like (1) Origins Brighter by Nature SPF 30 Skin Tone Correcting Makeup ($28; origins.com); it has cellulose to absorb oil, and the powder's light-diffusing minerals make fine lines less noticeable.
The Eye Opener
Switch to a growth-promoting mascara; with longer, darker lashes, you won't need eyeliner, which tends to smear in the heat. Try StimuLash-Fusion Lash Enhancing + Lengthening Mascara ($28; sephora.com). For even prettier eyes come summer, wear shadow that has anti-aging benefits too. Shimmery, antioxidant-rich (2) Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Shadows ($22; qvc.com) have a water-resistant formula that's perfect for the sweaty days and pool dips to come.
The Lip Fix
If you want to wear brighter lip colors this summer but worry they'll draw attention to fine lines around your mouth, this move is for you: Prep with a balm that has hyaluronic acid, such as Blistex Deep Renewal with SPF 15 ($3; drugstores). "The acid has a slight plumping effect that diminishes the appearance of lines," says Marta I. Rendon, MD, founder and medical director of the Rendon Center for Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine in Boca Raton, FL. Next, fill in lips with a lip crayon or pencil, like (3) Jane Iredale's Lip Crayon ($10; shop.janeiredale. com). "This will last longer than lipsticks or glosses in hot weather," says Mai Quynh, an LA– based makeup artist for Mark Cosmetics.
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