Rachel Bilson’s Dermatologist Offers Tips for Healthy Summer Skin

Everyone feels better with a summer glow, but unfortunately the sun wreaks havoc on our skin — unless we protect it.

Rachel Bilson and Vera Farmiga’s dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman — author of the new book Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist — obviously knows this, so to get us all summer-ready, she’s sharing her top tips on keeping skin summery — but healthy — all season long. Here are some rules to study up on before you hit the beach in the weeks ahead:

1. Everyone should wear sunscreen. Just because you’re blessed with olive skin that doesn’t burn doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear a low SPF. “The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 30 for all skin colors,” Jaliman tells PEOPLE, adding that “it’s also important to look for sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays.”

2. Protect your skin all the time. Even if you sit in a cubicle all day, the sun you get on a walk to the office can eventually take a toll on your skin. “Sun damage is cumulative, so even five minutes per day in the sun adds to broken blood vessels, brown spots and wrinkles,” Jaliman says.

And newsflash: a moisturizer with SPF doesn’t always count as adequate protection. “It’s fine for the city, but not good enough for the beach or if you’re doing sports,” Jaliman cautions.

3. Don’t forget the small stuff! “Most people miss important areas like the tops of the ears, feet, ankles and the tip of the nose,” Jaliman explains. Even your scalp is at risk of burning, so she recommends using spray sunscreen on the part of your hair — or wearing a hat with an SPF 30 rating on the fabric (they do exist!).

Her final words of wisdom? Reapply — more than once. As Jaliman instructs, “When you’re on the beach reapply every two hours, or when you get out of the water.”

Style Watch

Cameron Diaz Is Almost Naked For Harper’s Bazaar UK (PHOTOS)

We know Cameron Diaz likes to show off her killer figure — and we’re cool with that — but we’re definitely not feeling her Harper’s Bazaar UK cover.

Diaz fronts the June issue in a cream dress with one of the straps pulled down past her shoulder à la Katy Perry. Tousled hair and an oily sheen on her body adds to the steamy vibe. Inside the issue, the What to Expect When You’re Expecting actress poses on a bed in a swimsuit and forgoes pants in exchange for a button-down. So original.

We’re really not sure how the photos relate to the mag’s article about Diaz’s love for London and her friendship with Gwnyeth Paltrow. One thing we do know is that we’re pretty tired of all these boring nearly-naked magazine covers. We’re looking at you, Lana Del Rey and Izabel Goulart.

 

Stylite

How to Dress for Weird Weather

This unpredictable weather we are experiencing lately makes dressing a major challenge. I don't know about you, but when we had that super hot week I put away all my woolies and brought out my maxi dresses, flip-flops and jean shorts, and started stocking up my summer wardrobe. Then snow happened, only 4C weather, and lots and lots of rain with very chilly wind.

So how is one supposed to dress for this weather? Do you keep your winter jacket out or put it in storage? Do you wear boots or can you get away with shoes? Do you still wear tights or go with bare legs? These are questions we are debating each day when we dress. We all want it to be summer, but mother nature is playing tricks on us and we need to be prepared for whatever weather throws our way.

So what can women wear for this time of year that will be comfortable, practical, and fashionable? The best advice that I can give you is LAYERING. Layer, layer, and layer some more. Seriously. Either way, layering makes sure you are appropriately dressed in any temperature; you can add or take off a layer at any moment. Since we are Canadian, and love sitting on patios before the appropriate weather graces us with its presence, I'm sure you have sat there and thought, "Man, I wish I had brought a sweater" or "Why didn't I wear a jacket today?"

Some quick layering tips:
A tank top is the best first layering piece. If tanks aren't really your thing, opt for a three-quarter-length sleeved T-shirt. Over the tank or T-shirt, wear a light weight cardigan or sweater for the cold winds that we are experiencing. Next, get yourself a solid spring jacket. Put that winter jacket AWAY! What type of spring jacket is the best? Well, denim jackets, trench coats, or cotton jackets are all solid options. Also, look for a spring jacket that has a removable lining -- this allows you to remove the lining should one day be hotter than another.

Scarves are the best accessory. Not only do they look really good, but they also keep us warm. Should winds pick up, scarves can be wrapped around our heads to ward off that chilly breeze, or if unexpected rain comes, they protect our hair from getting drenched when you don't have your friend the umbrella nearby.

Wear loafers with patterned socks. You can find some amazing patterned socks today that can look professional or casual. It adds a punch of style to your look. If the weather gets too hot you can remove your socks and just wear your loafers with bare feet. Pair your loafers with a skinny pant that cuts at the ankle for a more contemporary look. When the weather warms by late afternoon you could swap out your loafer with a wedge sandal (I'm sure you keep an extra pair of shoes in your desk at work! If not, you should!).

You can wear tights. Instead of wearing opague tights, go for a sheer tight that has a pattern. This way you won't over heat if the weather gets hot.

Opt for jeans or pants with thicker material. Avoid lightweight linens or cottons. Do not start wearing capris, shorts, or mini skirts. If you want to wear a skirt, wear a maxi skirt, or if you want to wear a dress, wear a maxi dress paired with a blazer.

Just remember that the key is layering. Layer with what you got! Luckily, the style right now is not matchy-matchy, so it's okay to mix patterns.

Want you want to do right now with this weather is to stay warm or cool, or at least be prepared for either!

Huffington Post

How High Heels Ruined My Feet

I was a strange breed in high school. While most of my classmates cruised the halls in their Hollister jeans and Birkenstocks, my girlfriends and I wore black trousers, pretty blouses and dressy heels -- every day. It sounds like a page torn out of the Mean Girls rule book, but we thought it was stylish to dress like a teacher (for which I was mistaken on several occasions).

When my tootsies weren't squished into my beloved pointy-toed pumps, they were stuck in flimsy cheer sneakers and unstable soccer cleats. I was a girl on the go, but midway through high school, my feet started to slow me down. Admittedly, I've never had great feet. They've always been flat and wide and a little bit stubby (kind of like the rest of me) and have even earned a distinguished nickname among family: 'Flintstone feet.'

After long days at school and practice, I started to have throbbing pain near my big toes and noticed the start of a protruding bone near the joints. The bulge is actually quite common (in grandmas) and is known as a bunion. Bunions are a bony growth on the joint at the base of the big toe, often caused by wearing too tight shoes and having flat feet. In some cases (like mine), bunions are believed to be the result of a genetic trait as well -- thanks Mom! For some people, bunions are just an annoying bulge that get in the way of them wearing strappy sandals, but for others like me, there is severe and near constant pain associated with them.

After a visit to the podiatrist, I walked away with a set of funny looking foot x-rays and a pair of $400 Orthotic shoe inserts, which are supposed to help hold your foot in a more normal position and relieve excess tension. I partially complied with the doctor's orders and wore my Orthotics in my athletic sneakers, but continued to pound down the halls in heels most days. (I was 17 and had social standards to hold up, sneakers not being one of them. Cut me some slack.)

I eventually became older and a little wiser, reserving my heels for weekend adventures and special occasions, but the pain, which ranges from throbbing to little electric shocks that radiate up my leg, hasn't dulled. The bulge has gotten bigger and my big toes are no longer straight, sporting a hard lean that forms a perfect 'V' when I put my feet side by side.

When at-home remedies like Advil and extra padding don't cut it, the next option is surgery. There are several procedures to consider, the most common being a bunionectomy, where the surgeon shaves down the bump and realigns the foot bones in order to straighten out the toe, but it's a notoriously risky and painful orthopedic surgery that knocks you off your feet for weeks and leaves behind an unsightly scar. In this case, surgery isn't a cure-all and can leave patients with limited toe mobility, a loss of feeling or worse, the return of the bunion.

While the jury's still out on whether I'll go through with surgery (I'm trying to find an opportune time when navigating the subway with crutches won't be impossible), right now I'm stuck trying to find shoes to put these malformed nubs on the end of my legs in. I'm not being scientific about this, but I'm going to estimate that my bunions add a good three quarters of an inch of width to what is already the widest part of the foot. While flats are the optimal choice for comfort and style, your generally adorable designer flats don't quite cater to bony overgrowths. I've resorted to shopping in plus-size boutiques that carry wide and double-wide width shoes, but admittedly, it's hard to find styles that don't make me feel like I'm in my mid-forties when, in reality, I'm freshly 24.

Despite shoe-shopping feeling reminiscent of the story of Cinderella and the glass slipper, I've learned to count my blessings. So what if my feet make natural snowshoes? I've got a great head of hair!

Huffington Post

Soft Smoky Eye – Daily Tips

If you’re afraid dark eye shadow will look too severe, take a tip from Leslie Mann and opt for a subdued smoky eye. We love how her look isn’t dominated by the deep shadows, but they still make a sultry impact. “Leslie’s look is pretty simple and modern,” her makeup artist Melanie Inglessis said. “We had to make sure it stayed on all day, since the event was in Las Vegas.”

Inglessis created the effect by first defining Mann’s eyes with a thick swipe of liner, winging it out at the end. She then layered a purple cream shadow onto Mann’s lid, and blended it slightly over the liner with a small brush to soften the definition. Because of the cream shadow’s texture, you can achieve a more subtle effect. Inglessis smoothed more of the color on the outer corners of Mann’s eye to add depth, then finished up with a quick swipe of mascara.

InStyle