It is summer time, which means lots of sun and potentially sun damage if you're not careful out there.  As a pale person who happens to get sun hives I like to make sure I am protected as much as possible. Today I am going to talk about my favourite sunscreens.

Body Products:
First off I should let you know I hate cream sunscreens, it is rare that I will use one on my body and it is even more rare that I will be happy with the results. This is why I usually reach for sprays.

L'oreal Paris Sublime Sun: Invisible Dry Oil Spray
This spray isn't an aerosol, it is pump that has a fantastic dry oil inside it. My skin feels soft and supple when I use it, not greasy or sticky, but like a dry oil you might use as a moisturizer. I find it doesn't take too much to get a good coverage. I usually give myself a good spray, then a spray on my hands before rubbing it in. If you have dry skin like me you might also enjoy this oil and how it hydrates while protecting your skin.  It comes in both 15 spf and 30 spf.

Vichy Idéal Soleil: Invisible Mist
This spray provides a comes in an aerosol, it feels dry, light and feels great on the skin. It has Mexoryl in it, which is the number one recommend sunscreen filter by dermatologists. It dermatologist tested for sensitive skin and has Vichy Thermal Spa Water in it and Paraben Free. I find when I use it my skin feels soft and silky. Being a dry touch spray I feel it is almost absorbed right away. It comes in both 30 spf and 50 spf.

Face Products:
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face & Body Stick Sunscreen

When it comes to your face you don't always want a lotion, this stick is what I use at those times. I love to use this on my face but also on my body. Shoulders, decolletage, neck, it covers it all for me. Other then the formula working really well on my face, I love that it is an easily portable stick that I can put in my purse at any time for touch ups throughout the day without lugging around a can of spray or a lotion that might leak. It comes in spf 50+.

L'oreal Paris Sublime: Sun Silky Sheer BB Tint

This has been a favourite of mine since it launched 2 years ago, and I haven't stopped using it since. It is by far the best face sunscreen I have ever used. It has a tiny tint to it, but not too much, that is actually the only thing that makes it different from their Silky Face Sunscreen. It is just the trick to even out my skin and isn't greasy at all for a face sunscreen. It needs to be shook a lot before using because of its thinner constancy, but that constancy is part of the reason I love it so much on my face. I also love the high spf protection of 50.

Coppertone ClearlySheer: Faces Sunscreen Lotion

This is a feather light lotion that blends into the skin just like a proper skin lotion should. I love to mix my CoverFx drops into it to create a tinted moisturizer. It is also water resistant up to 80 minutes. The only down side is that is only comes in 30 spf.

So there you go, my favorute ways to protect my skin from the sun.

L'oreal Quick Dry Sheer Spray 50 SPF: Last year I was sent the 30 SPF version of this and liked it so much that when it came time to buy sunscreen for this trip we opted to grab the 50 SPF version (it was on sale for about $9 so I was happy). I highly recommend it. Would I buy it again? Yes, but for now I have quite a few other sunscreens I must try to use up before they go bad.
Banana Boat Kids Tear-Free UltraMist Sunscreen Spray in 60 SPF: This is supposed to be UltraMist (like a thing they invented I guess) but went on in a stream. It works well in a few ways because it makes it easy to see and rub around, but doesn't go on in anything resembling a mist. I screamed every time the put it on my back because it was so cold and in a stream Would I buy it again? Truth be told it works well, I think we just got a defective can, so yes I would try it again. PS we got kids incase we needed it for our nieces who were traveling with us on the trip.
 Bath and Body Works Oahu Coconut Sunset Body Wash: I wanted to get a travel bottle of the BBW Waikiki Beach Coconut body wash, but my store was out of it. I got this instead. I liked the smell a lot and it did a good job of washing away all the sunscreen at the end of a day in Mexico. I used it all up before we left because the hubby ran out of his body wash on day 4 or 5. Would I buy it again? No, while I like the smell I like some of the other ones from the collection much more and would get them instead.
L'oreal Casting Step 3 (Conditioner): I coloured my hair using L'oreal Casting right before leaving, I packed up a refillable bottle with Palmer's Olive Oil Conditioner and I brought this baby along for the ride. Both were used up at the end of the week. Would I buy it again? While not something you can go out and get on its own, I really did like it, it's a nice hair mask.
Moving along to non trip items...
Joe Fresh Pop Goss: I got this back in 2011 when I won a contest, so it is old now and needed to go. Would I buy it again? Yes, it was a sheer lip gloss with an iridescence to it that I liked. I don't think they sell it anymore though.
Elf Studio Exact Lash Mascara: I've gotten so many of these over the last year and a half, I really like the tiny wand for lower lashes and tightening lashes. It also is crazy waterproof ( a big deal for me). But like all Elf mascaras they dry up almost right away into a hard mess. This was this mascara's fate. Would I buy it again? Yes, I still have more though. I will find a way to stop it from drying up.
ELF Lip Stain:  I've had this forever, it sort of is just too old to keep, and dried up. Would I buy it again? I would, which is strange for me to say. I like stains when doing bold lips, it gives them longer staying power.

High protection UVA/UVB with Mexoryl XL technology in an ultra-comfortable and refreshing texture with 0% alcohol. 100% suitable for sensitive skin. -vichy.ca

 As you may have heard me talk about a few times before in this blog, I am super sensitive to the sun and its effects on my skin. Yes, I get sun hives. It just sort of happens when I go out in the sun, with or without sunscreen. My best protection is to layer up with good quality sunscreen, reapply and hide in the shade while covered up. But I still get hives. So when I learned that alcohol in my much beloved spray on sunscreens could be further irritating my skin I  decided to look into my options.

Alcohol is traditionally used in spray on sunscreens a carrier ingredient and lends to its 'lightweight' feeling, the very thing I love about spray on sunscreens. As a result skin can feel dry (it is alcohol after all, it does that to the skin). But in my case, if I've had hives the night before and I use a spray on sunscreen the next day with alcohol it can burn a bit, because well I often scratch the hives, I just cant help it, leading to little open soars.
Needless to say alcohol on my skin after hives is just not a good idea.

I learned that Vichy had found a way to make their Capital Soleil Invisible Mist not just feel great on the skin but also alcohol free and hydrating with vitamin E but it also sports the new Health Canada UVA Seal of
Recognition.

Criteria for the UVA Seal of Recognition as follows:

• The UVA protection factor must be at least 1/3 of the UVB protection factor (for example, a product with an SPF of 30 must then have a UVA PF of 10)
• The formula must protect against the long UVA rays reaching a critical wavelength of 370 nm. 

Pros:

• Alcohol free = less irritating
• Smells good
• Vitamin E = a bit of moisture for your skin
• Spray on - my favourite type of sunscreen
• Has the Health Canada UVA Seal of Recognition 
• Feels incredibly nice on the skin - light weight, non drying , but still soft on skin

Cons:

• 30 SPF is the only strength it comes in at the moment - I generally prefer stronger SPF level, but I found it worked quite well.

Overall:
So what do I think of the formula after using it for the last month? I love it. It feels lightweight , my skin feels soft and supple after using it, but still like no product was really applied. My skin is far less irritated, if I use it after a hive breakout I itch far less the next day, it certainly feels more refreshing on my skin.

I would recommend this sunscreen to anyone with sensitive skin who is looking for a good quality sunscreen that wont dry out your skin but still feel ultralight on your skin without leaving a residue.

photo by Michal Marcol

I just read a startling article about how in Canada and Ontario in particular the UV rays will be extra strong this year. WHY? Well, the ozone layer that had been on the mend seems to have the largest hole ever lingering over Canada, but mainly Ontario.

Now I've always been careful with my skins exposure to the sun, but this news shows that now, more than ever skin protection is important all year round.

Loading up on SPF is your best defence when enjoying nice hot sunny days. For the last year I've been using two Neutragena products with 100+ spf but unfortunately the company doesn't offer it here in Canada (but they do have 30, 45 and 60spf which are more than antiquate). I also love Coverfx Briteprepfx with 50 spf.

My best tip for avoiding sun damage (yep damage not tanning)

• Give Yourself Time. Apply a sunscreen with a spf of 30 or higher 15 minutes before going outside. If using sunblock (physical protection like a mineral product) you don't have to wait.
• Use Enough Product. It is said a shot glass is needed for the body and a teaspoon for the face. When in doubt add more or go with a stronger spf just to be safe.
• Reapply. Reapply it after swimming or doing anything active. When in doubt put more one, just be safe. I prefer sprays for my body so I fill a travel bottle so I can reapply during the day.
• Wear Sunglasses. Wear them. You can get melanoma on your eyeballs!!! Not worth scotching your eyes when going out. Try to wear them whenever possible.
• Wear a Hat. Protect your scalp, very important for men too.
• Be Aware, Be Prepared. Check the UV index for the day. Should you bring something to cover up with if you are out for a long time? Will there be shade where you are going?

These are my tips, I hope they help. Last year I was out at a ball game and then to the bar, in direct sunlight from 1:00 until the sun set...no burn why because I was prepared.
For more information here is a great article from CBC  and information from The Canadian Cancer Society

• 80% of all skin cancers are caused by over exposure to the sun and/or sun beds?
• One of every three cancers diagnosed is skin cancer?
• There are over 13 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed annually?
• Melanoma is one of a handful of cancers where in the incidence in Canadians continues to increase?

Alarming isn't it? That 80% of the cases of skin cancer could have been prevented? CoverFx makes some amazing products with high SPFs to protect your skin from sun and it's harmful rays. My personal favourite is Brite PrepFX with it's 50 SPF as a primer in the summer. Skin Tint is also amazing for the hot weather and because it has an SPF of 30.

I know quite a few people effected by various types of skin cancer and the statistics are quite startling when you read them. I really am an advocate for proper sun care so that we can prevent this needless damage and the illness from hurting more people.

For the month of June CoverFX is donating money to several different fund across Canada, The United States and The United Kingdom that raise awareness for skin cancer.
Take some time right now to like them on facebook and check out your local Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix, Murale, Jean Coutu, select The Bay and Sephora stores, Sephora.com, TheBay.ca, Ebeauty.ca or CoverFX.com this month, they are great products and a great cause

The other week I went on a little trip that involved going across the border to grab some goodies that are not sold here in Canada. Target and Ulta were my top destinations (a hockey store 45 min from the border was his).


At Target I got:

	Maybelline Great Lash in BLUE - yep blue great lash. Despite the fact I don't wear blue mascara (I have blue eyes), I thought for the $5 it cost me I should grab it and have it for my kit. It dries a vibrant blue and has the same tried and true Great Lash formula that makes it the worlds best selling mascara. Since coloured mascaras usually cost a lot (or at least for a vibrant one) I felt I couldn't pass it up. The only con, no other colours, just blue.
	Boots No7 Glycolic Peel Kit - Although Shopper's Drug Mart sells the legendary Boots line in Canada, they do not sell everything that you can get in the USA or the UK made by Boots. We do not have their Mediterranean line or many of the No7 high end treatments. I have yet to try this baby out but I wanted to try something serious in the glycol department and the one step wipes made by Avon didn't seem to be the right fit for me. I like the fact that there are steps to the kit and it is made by such a reputable company.
	Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock with Helioplex SPF 100 - Ok you are all going to call me nuts on this and the next one. I know you can get the regular body cream sunblock by Neutrogena in a 100 spf in Canada, but I like sprays for my sunblock. It is a fact that most people do not apply enough sunblock/sunscreen. We should be using a whole shot glasses worth on our bodies to get the protection listed on the label. I know I don't use that much, so I always fear that I'm going to get burned...and bad (like last year, I still have marks for 8 months ago). I must say I love the Sheer Body formula, it absorbs within minutes and leaves the skin feeling soft and non greasy. I wore this last Sunday to the Blue Jays game with the roof open and then drinks on the patio until sunset (that's over 9 hours of being in the sun) and I was the only one who didn't get burned or even tanned. I am so happy with this. Another reason why I grabbed it was the price, to buy the 60 spf version here costs over $15 to buy this was $8.99...big difference and it is stronger so it should last me longer.
	Neutrogena Spectrum+ Advanced Sunblock Face SPF 100+ - this falls in the same crazy category as the last item. You cant get this strong of a sunblock here, and the highest one cost about double the cost of what I paid in the USA. For the face we should all be using about a teaspoon. I know I don't use that much! Claiming that my face lotion has a 10 spf or a 25 spf means nothing to me, I know there isn't enough in there to protect my pale skin, also it is so low in spf I doubt it would do anything anyways. This stuff is thick but will not make you break out. The only flaw I have with it is the texture, I like smooth feeling products on my face. I like to mix it with a bit of CoverFx Skin Prep for a smoother feeling on my face. I don't want to get wrinkles, skin cancer, or anything else that sun exposure can cause, so I'm loving this product.

What I got at ULT: