Beauty: Everyday Sun Protection

To start off on a depressing note, did you know Washington state had the 5th highest rate of skin cancer in the U.S. in 2008? Ugh. I'm not totally surprised, but it's still not a pleasant statistic. When it's cloudy most of the year, you kind of forget that the sun's rays are still making their way through the atmosphere. Then there's always that week in May or June where it finally hits 75 and everyone rushes outside to spend the day obvliviously soaking up the UVB. The next day we're like a city of cranky lobsters.

I've been trying to avoid both absent-minded errors by making sure all my make-up has SPF in it, as well as wearing a good lotion with added protection. My one problem I always seem to run into, though, is that most sunscreens make my skin greasy. It may be vain, but I just don't like walking around with a shiny face all day. Luckily, my partnership with SkinCareRx gave me the perfect chance to try out some higher end lotions. 

 My first choice was La Roche-Posay Rosaliac UV Fortifying Anti-Redness Moisturiser (woo, try saying that in one breath!) It's perfect for sensitive skin, soothes redness, and has a built-in sunscreen. I've been using it for a couple months now and I like it quite a bit. I don't notice a huge reduction in redness, but I have noticed that they dry, bumpy areas I attributed to a skin allergy have disappeared. It leaves a bit of a shiny residue, but that seems to soak in after 30 minutes or so.

The second lotion I tried happened to be a lucky occurrence in my first package of samples they sent for me to hand out to family and friends. It emphasizes its non-greasiness right in the name: Peter ThomasRoth Max Sheer All Day Defense Cream. It's packed with ceramides and anti-oxidants and all that jazz, on top of having a sun protection factor of 30. It's also fragrance free and suitable for all skin types. I haven't noticed any problems and neither has my mom, so I can vouch for its suitableness. It doesn't go on as sheer as I would like and takes a little longer to soak in, but it's still a great lotion

This is before I put any foundation on. See! No grease!

Now I just need to focus on my laziness when it comes to applying to the rest of my skin.

♠

Fashion Victim

Good news, my foot is all better! The bad news is that it can be blamed on heels, for the most part.

I gave in and went to the doctor (with the help of my boyfriend). I didn't need x-rays, thank goodness, and the doctor only took 10 minutes to diagnose it. I have sesamoiditis, which is an inflammation in a very tiny bone in the ball of my foot, the sesmoid. These bones are found in a few places in your body and serve the purpose of protecting tendons that are located over major joints (your patella is another sesmoid). It's a common injury among dancers and anyone who spends lots of time on the balls of their feet. Anyway, my high arches, prior injury, high heels, and tripping all played a part in the pain I was experience. Mostly though, my doctor told me to stop wearing heels, which officially makes me a victim of fashion :(

I can't promise to stop wearing heels, but I can take better care of my feet, and I want to encourage you to as well! Who wants to have old-lady feet at the age of 26?? I went out immediately and bought insoles with arch support. The relief was pretty much instant. I haven't worn heels out of the house in about 3 weeks and I don't plan to until the 26th, when I have a wedding to go to. I think this will give my foot enough time to heal properly.

More tips:
1. Wear insoles in any shoes they will fit in! Full-foot or 3/4-foot insoles are the best options.

2. Take a break from heels every once in a while. Platforms are a better option as they provide more padding, but they can cause problems in other areas of your feet and body.

3. If you have localized pain in one or both feet, don't ignore it. Achy feet are common after a long day, but pay attention to what kind of pain you are feeling. One of my symptoms was this feeling that there was a lump in my foot. Not a normal achy foot!

4. An ibuprofen does wonders for any kind of inflammation!

Feet are important! Remember, they don't heel as quickly as other parts of your body, because it's harder to rest them properly. You need to use them everyday for the rest of your life, so take care of them!


I am eating toast and Marmite :D Sooo good!


In these photos:
Vintage Nordstrom Merino Sweater
American Apparel Biker Shorts
Aldo Flats