It’s no secret that the sun – as lovely, warm, good mood-inducing, and vitamin D-providing as it is – is not good for your skin. It is the primary culprit behind the dark spots, wrinkles and potentially much worse that can plague your skin now and even more so in the long-term. The key is to use sunscreen every day, not just when you will be outside for extended periods of time. UVA rays are constant throughout the year and penetrate glass, so even while you are inside you can be getting sun exposure. Here are some of our favorite sunscreens to protect your skin year-round.

Kate Somerville SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen ($45) – In addition to UVA/UVB sun protection, this serum/sunscreen includes antioxidants for further protection against damage and premature aging. The quick-absorbing, oil-free formula delivers powerful UV protection without any telltale white residue, greasiness, or stickiness.

Yes to Cucumbers Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 ($12) – This hypoallergenic formula has broad-spectrum protection and is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. The refreshing cucumber formula also has green tea and aloe vera to help moisturize and soothe skin.

Coola SPF 30 Face Classic Moisturizing Sunscreen Cucumber ($32) – 70% certified organic and 95% natural inactive ingredients, this sunscreen and moisturizer combines Rose Hips to stimulate new tissue growth, Comfrey to target inflammation, with Clove and Bergamot Extracts to provide calming, antiseptic properties for those with problem skin. As a bonus, it has the most refreshingly light cucumber scent.

Murad Essential-C Sun Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 35 ($25) – Perfectly portable this broad-spectrum sunscreen  allows quick and easy application and protection from aging UVA/UVB rays and free radicals.

Boscia Daily Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($36) -   This BB of sunscreens combines moisturizing, anti-aging properties and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Special moisture-retention properties enable it to help preserve the suppleness, elasticity, and tone of your skin.

Peter Thomas Roth Uber-Dry Sunscreen SPF 30  ($26) – This super lightweight formula absorbs quickly and leaves a shine-free finish, all while shielding your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. It’s enriched with Vitamins A, C and E to help fight against free radical damage.

Supergoop! Sunscreen Mist With Vitamin C Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($13) – Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates, this broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen mist can be applied to wet or dry skin and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. It also has 35 percent less alcohol than other leading sunscreen sprays.

John Masters Organics Natural Mineral SPF 30 ($32) - Made with certified organic ingredients, extracts of green tea, shea butter & jojoba oil, it provides broad spectrum UVA & UVB protection, hydrates, moisturizes and replenishes the skin.

Visitors have the ability to choose from one of BITE Beauty’s many cream lip colors to create a color the fits them to a tee. After choosing from one of the four available scents (peppermint, cherry, lavender and a superfruit blend), the custom blend goes from mixing and melting to cooling and packaging in around five short minutes. That’s what I call instant beauty gratification.

The pop-up shop is located at 174 Prince Street, New York City. Hours: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (Tuesday-Sunday). BITE plans to open a permanent retail outpost in New York City in September.

Photo credit: Style.com

Fortunately, I only ended up only using 2 of the prescription pain pills (immediately after surgery), had only a day or so of minor swelling and was completely up and out by the end of Day 2. All thanks to the miracle (not an overstatement!) that is Boiron Arnica pellets. I was first introduced to the product after hearing about Arnicare Gel which can be used for muscle pain, swelling and bruising. I’ve heard that the gel is a beauty secret used by models to help quickly rid them of any unsightly bruising before shoots. Both products have the same homeopathic active ingredient, arnica montana (Latin for “mountain daisy”).

The teeny-tiny Arnica pellets

In preparation for my dental surgery (starting two days prior), I put five of the tiny pellets underneath my tongue three times a day and let them dissolve. After surgery, I followed the same protocol, but only as needed. The pellets are very tiny (even pill-phobes will have no problem taking them) and taste mildly sweet. They come is a small tube for convenient pain relief on the go. These super pellets have earned a permanent spot in my emergency kit.

The pellets come in three levels of strength – 30C, 12C and 6C. The higher the strength the better for overall pain. The lower strength is best-suited for localized pain. Retail price: $7.00 (80 pellets)

Disclaimer: We received a product sample for editorial consideration. These are our true thoughts and opinions. Ageist Beauty was not paid for this review.

• Olay Complete All Day UV Moisture Cream
• Olay Professional ProX Anti-Aging Starter Protocol
• RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
• Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau de Parfum Spray
• CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast

To qualify to win, all you have to do is leave a comment below telling us your Mom’s favorite beauty product (skin care, hair care, color cosmetics, fragrance, etc.)

One entry per person. US residents only. One winner will be chosen randomly from the qualifying entrants on Saturday, May 18.

Good luck!

Gray hair occurs as you age when your body stops produces less of an enzyme called catalase. Throughout your youth, catalase serves to breakdown the hydrogen peroxide that is made within hair follicles. Left unchecked, the hydrogen peroxide bleaches the hair from the inside out. The proposed new product would be applied topically and then activated with exposure to UV rays.

So, are you excited potential new innovation in hair care or are you willing to take your grays in stride? I say book me a ticket to Europe so I can grab one of the first boxes of this new product to hit the shelf!

Ageist Beauty: You have many years of experience cosmetics product development and as a research & development chemist for some major beauty companies. What made you decide to launch your own skin care brand?

Ginger King: Cosmetics is in my blood. I was influenced, at a very young age, by my mom who brought Shiseido to Taiwan in the 60’s. When I came to the United States, I started playing with make-up and wanted to be a make-up artist. While in high school, I came across Estee Lauder’s biography which inspired me so much and I vowed to be like her one day.  However, being Asian, it was important that I have my master’s degree and go with the traditional science or doctor’s role so I decided to study Chemistry and make cosmetics while working at the cosmetic counter for Estee Lauder after hours.

I have been in the industry close to two decades now. I have touched every aspect from concept to finished product. I understand the business and products. Creating beauty for everyone is more important to me than creating a brand just because the owner was looking for a solution to himself/herself and accidentally creating the brand. I started with the end in mind – a cosmetic brand which serves men and women globally to address their needs and enhance their beauty, not just my own. I believe in build-to-last and the only way to do it is to address the needs of multitudes. 

AB: We are big fans of your S.M.A.R.T Skin Perfecting Mask and Polisher. They are very gentle, yet incredibly effective. What has been the key to achieving this?

GK:  I always start with careful selection of raw materials, coupled with my years of formulation know-how. I also have access to proprietary technologies and manufacturing facilities to ensure products can be reproducible at a larger scale. Additionally, all products are clinically-tested, human patch-tested to bring the highest level quality.  We will not launch a product just to meet retailer’s demand for newness. We launch a product when we are 100% sure it is the best of the best and can be used for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

AB:  What’s next for Grand Central Beauty?

GK:  We have several skin-perfecting SKUs in the works such as a PP Serum for a perfectly polished look and II Eye Cream for Imperfection Impossible eyes. We aim to have at least one major launch per year around Chinese new year as a celebration because the founders first met at a Chinese New Year’s Eve event at Grand Central Station New York in 2010.

We are currently seeking, and in discussion with, prestige retailers and a few online e-commerce sites to broaden our distribution channels, making the beauty of GrandCentralBeauty products even more accessible for consumers. Our products are currently available at Henri Bendel (New York), Truth & Beauty and New Beauty at Fred Segal. GrandCentralBeauty products can be ordered online at GrandCentralBeauty, Beauty Army and opensky.

AB: If you were stranded on a desert island, what five beauty products would you want to have with you?

GK: Olay 2-in-1 Daily Facial Clothes Cleansing for cleansing my face. GrandCentralBeauty Skin Perfecting Polisher for exfoliating/toning/peeling. Clarins SPF 40 sunscreen, Dr. Denese Hydroshield Serum, and Clinique Even Better Dark Spot corrector. Yep, all skin products because we only have ONE face!

AB: What is one piece of beauty advice or an insider’s secret that you can share with Ageist Beauty readers?

GK: Always follow the directions on your beauty products. You would not take half of a medicine if your doctor prescribed you a full amount. If the instruction calls for use a quarter size or use twice daily, follow the directions as that is how clinical tests are done. If you want to see the results as cosmetic companies claim, you need to follow the protocol to get the maximum benefits to have beautiful skin. There are great products out there and they work. The question is, are you following the instruction religiously?

Thanks, Ginger. We’re looking forward to trying out the new GCB products you have in the works!

Similar to Pinterest, Pampadour allows users to “Adour It” (similar to Pinterest ”Like”), “Pamp It” (share products, images, video – similar to “Pin It”), “Clip It” (capture images from anywhere online to add to your Pampadour profile – similar to Polyvore). Pampadour also has a “Tag It” function similar to Facebook that allows users to tag a photo of themselves or even an editorial photo and note which beauty products were used.

Join us over on Pampadour and tell us what beauty products you are coveting for the Summer!

It is not news that some cosmetics contain these metals. However, for this study, the UC Berkeley researchers developed definitions for average and high use of lip makeup based on usage data reported in a previous study. Average use was defined as daily ingestion of 24 milligrams of lip products per day. Those who wear a lot of lip color and reapply it repeatedly could ingest upwards of 87 milligrams per day. This usage data revealed that frequent reappliers may have exposure to these toxins beyond what is considered safe. Interestingly, the European Union has deemed the use of cadmium, chromium and lead to be unacceptable, at any level, in cosmetic products.

Below are some tips for minimizing the risk posed by some lip products:

Buy organic – Pick-up lip products that don’t have the offending metals. One of our favorites is BITE Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick, which has food-grade ingredients and is chock-full of Resveratrol, the antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes.

Blot – After applying your lipstick, blot the excess. This will help ensure that any excess lip product ends up on your blotting cloth and not being ingested.

Skip the repeated reapplication - Instead of repeatedly reapplying your favorite non-organic lipsticks and lip gloss throughout the day, alternate with a lip balm or sheer shade of an organic product.

Apply a barrier – Use a natural or organic powder to create a barrier between your lips and the lip product. The powder will also help your lip product to stay in place and not be ingested. We like Jane Iredale PurePressed Base Mineral Foundation for helping keep our lipstick in place.

DiY it - Make your own lipstick! There are numerous recipes online for making your own lipstick – from simple concoctions of beeswax, cocoa butter and coconut oil to creations involving melted non-toxic crayons.

Will this study impact the lip products you use or the way in which you use them?

Image Credit: Vikacita / Shutterstock

The line includes 12 different permanent shades, as well as 8 limited edition shades that are part of the summer collection (including our favorites 70 degrees and sunny and Hula Skirt). The polishes cost $16 each.

What do you think? Will you try these new polishes – whether or not you have sensitive skin?

Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream ($15) – I slather this thick night cream on top of my serums before I go to bed. It is chock full of vitamin B3, lightweight and absorbs in a couple of minutes. The next morning, I always awaken to luminous, hydrated skin.

NEST Fragrances White Narcisse Body & Soul Gift Set ($98) – The set includes a White Narcisse Body & Soul Spray, Body Cream and Body Wash perfect for enveloping that special lady in the divine woodsy, floral White Narcisse scent.

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Steamer Solutions ($125) – This is one of the most exciting beauty tools since the Clarisonic. A Steamer is a must-have tool for deep-cleaning your pores and adding much-needed moisture to you skin. Now, Mom can it in the convenience of her own home.

Essie “Come Here!” Nail Polish ($8) - We love this bright coral color. It’s the perfect way to add a pop of color to any outfit, at any age.

NARS Puerta Vallarta Multiple ($39) - The cult favorite NARS The Multiple is now available in a new universally flattering peachy shade. The color is perfect for adding a touch of glowy color to eyes, cheeks and lips.

Neuma neuRepair Argan Treatment ($22) – Use on damp or dry hair to combat the dryness that comes with aging hair. This treatment use argan oil, fruit extracts and shea butter to strengthen and condition hair naturally.

Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening and Lengthening Mascara ($33) – Jane Iredale packs a full 50% more mascara into this innovative squeezable tube by using nourishing algae extract in place of water. The algae extract also conditions lashes and reduces splitting and breakage. Most importantly, this mascara separates and defines lashes and doesn’t clump resulting in a gorgeous, natural look.

Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil ($46) – The perfect lightweight oil for renewing and smoothing skin. It is instantly absorbed into the skin leaving behind a gorgeous glow. It can be applied to the skin directly or mixed into your favorite moisturizer.