I used to describe lip balms on a spectrum from waxy (or hard) to greasy (or squishy). Original Chapstick and Mint Chapstick are pretty waxy. Kiehls and potted Vaseline are pretty greasy. I would say I preferred the waxy end of the spectrum, because those tend to last longer. Greasy balms often disappear too fast, and I crave that soothing feeling. But research and development in cosmetics never stops, and there are more and more balms out there that are soft AND long-lasting.

My gold standard, my standby, the balm against which all other balms are measured, is Chapstick Moisturizing. It comes in a blue tube, includes SPF 15, smells like vanilla, and costs about a dollar.

But I have found a few others that I have to rave about. A fairly recent discovery for me is Jack Black lip balm ($7.50). I got a mini of their Natural Mint & Shea Butter in a recent Neiman Marcus gift-with-purchase, and it was love at first swipe. “Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner!” I demanded of my savvy sales associates. Their answer: We thought you already knew.

Jack Black is a mens skincare brand, and their balm comes in a squeeze tube with a slant tip. I don’t even particularly like mint flavoring, but Jack Black’s version is very much like an Andes after-dinner mint, and leaves me with the (possibly dangerous) sensation that I’ve just brushed my teeth.

The formula is incredibly soothing and moisturizing and long-lasting — so, emboldened and curious to try more flavors, I ordered the Grapefruit & Ginger and Black Tea & Blackberry two-pack from Sephora ($10). I don’t love them quite as much. The Grapefruit & Ginger has a sweet, grapefruit-peel scent (which doesn’t linger); Black Tea & Blackberry reminds me of blueberry muffin batter. More important than scent, however, these two seem to dry out a bit on the lips. The Grapefruit & Ginger, particularly, develops a slightly powdery quality. I noticed it most the first time I used it (perhaps I’ve been compensating by applying more thickly), but I’ll stick to Mint from now on.

Side note: I actually liked the Mint balm SO MUCH that I was inspired to search out other treasures from the line. I tried their hand lotion, and it didn’t win me over. I expected a “mens” hand lotion to really dry down completely, and Jack Black’s doesn’t. I guess it’s just the Mint balm for now.

Another great balm in a squeeze tube is VMV Hypoallergenics’ Armada Lip Balm (SPF 60). VMV Hypoallergenics is a +30-year-old company that works harder than anyone to be rigorously, demonstrably hypoallergenic. The North American Contact Dermatitis Group and European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies routinely publishes a list of known allergens — and VMV formulates their products without any of those ingredients. Everything is tested in vitro, in vivo, in double-blind studies — and never on animals. Their line ranges from shampoo and conditioner to color cosmetics to sunscreen to (unflavored) toothpaste.

Needless to say, their Armada lipbalm is unscented. It has a wonderfully comforting “heavy jelly” feeling. But it is $25, which is going to keep some folks away.

Another recent discovery for me (shameful!) is Korres Lip Butter. I actually swatched these ages ago, but hadn’t tried them on because the testers were icky.

Well I finally picked up Mango, and it feels wonderful. This is just about my ideal lip balm formula. Lip Butters come in several flavors, each with a unique color and scent. My next choice after Mango will be Pomegranate (you know me and warm lip colors). These are $12 each.

Oh how I hate pots, though! Using a lip brush with a balm feels too fussy. But using a finger means you need clean hands, and afterwards… you wipe your hands on your jeans? A friend of mine who went on a mission in Africa started applying balm from pot directly to lips, but it’s an imprecise method, and Mango is just tinted enough that I don’t want to color outside my lips.

Europe gets a stick version of these balms, and I’d like to try one at some point. I wonder whether the state change (from pot to stick) is going to significantly affect the formula and performance. Has anyone tried both and care to weigh in?

There are so many balms out there, I could go on and on. Did I miss one of your favorites? I’d love to hear what you can’t live without and why you love it.

Makeup remover is, to some extent, a matter of preference. What are you used to, what format do you prefer, how much makeup do you wear? When I’m swatching, my goal is to get my arm completely clean of often-stubborn products (like heavy-duty foundation, bright lipsticks, and long-wear eyeliners) as quickly as possible, with a minimum of scrubbing, no residue, and without drying my skin. Hands-down, the most effective category is oil cleansers. I prefer them to foams, lotions, cold creams, other liquids, and soaps.

You apply oil cleanser to dry skin, massage it around, add water (to emulsify), massage again, and rinse clean.

Cleansing oil doesn’t leave your skin feeling oily, and it won’t clog your pores or cause acne (the molecules are too large to penetrate). I’m probably going to horrify some aestheticians by saying this, but I don’t use a second product after washing my face with oil cleanser. Once the makeup/sunscreen is off, I’m done.

Anyway, having tried a number of oil cleansers, I wanted to share with you my personal rank list, from best to worst.

1. Shiseido Ultimate Cleansing Oil ($25, 5 oz)
This is, unequivocally, the best cleanser on the market. Designed to remove Shiseido’s notoriously protective sunscreens, it’s the most effective, gentlest, least obtrusive, no-residue, non-drying, best-thing-I’ve-tried. It’s my #1 choice at home and “in the field.” I never need a second product to get my arm “all the way clean.”

Oil cleansers turn cloudy/white when you get them wet (somehow this makes me feel that they’re working), and Shiseido’s does this best.  If you plunge an oiled hand into a bowl of water, it makes a satisfying “poof” of white as the oil dissipates into the water.

2. Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil ($39, 6.7 oz)
If Shiseido’s Cleansing Oil is, for some reason, unavailable, my second choice is Bobbi Brown’s. It gets almost everything off (though if I’m swatching something particularly tenacious, I might have to follow it with a chaser of Chanel Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover).

With repeated use, I feel like it builds up a bit of residue. But you’re probably not going to feel that in a single face-washing.

3. Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O Advanced Formula ($75, 15 oz)
Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils come in several “flavors” — Pore Clarifying (pink) for oily/acne-prone skin, White Recovery Brightening (purple), Classic (yellow), Premium for dry/sensitive skin (this used to be called “Rich” and it was orange… they’ve reformulated and now the bottle is yellow).

Anyway, my favorite is “Green,” which is supposed to address aging concerns, yet still feels light. I think it has the best scent, and it seemed to me to be the most effective of Shu’s oils. (Green is also their #1 seller.)

Shu has a sterling reputation for cleanse off oils (and many people feel they basically invented the category), but in a head-to-head (or should I say arm-to-arm?) test, Shu would sometimes leave behind “ghosts” that another cleanser (Shiseido, Laura Mercier’s old Light formula) would remove completely.

Honestly, Bobbi Brown’s Cleanse Off Oil and Shu Uemura’s Premium A/O are probably a tie for me, but since Shu no longer has a physical presence in the U.S., it’s a little harder to get. (You have to order from their website. Though, on the plus side, free shipping and no tax.)

4. Laura Mercier Purifying Cleansing Oil ($40, 6.8 oz)
Laura Mercier used to make two formulas of cleansing oil (Light and Rich) — and Light formerly held my #2-favorite spot.

“Rich” oils, oils intended for dry or mature skin, often don’t rinse clean. They seem like leave-in conditioner for the skin… they feel sort of oily even after you’ve washed them away.

Maybe a year ago, Laura Mercier reformulated their oil cleanser, and the new edition feels like a combination of the old Light and Rich. I’m not a fan.

5. MAC Cleanse Off Oil ($26, 5 oz)
MAC’s Cleanse Off Oil just isn’t my favorite. It simply doesn’t seem as effective as the others when it comes to removing makeup.

6. Lumene Lift Touch Revitalizing Cleansing Oil ($10, 6.8 oz)
Lumene is just about the cheapest cleanse off oil you can buy, and a while ago I bought some for home use (both face and arm). It was even on sale at CVS when I bought it, so I only paid $5 a bottle.

Now this sounds absolutely crazy, but I stopped using Lumene on my face because it was drying my skin. How can a cleanse off oil (which even mentions dry/mature skin on the bottle) be drying? Well, the bottle also mentions “toning,” so maybe that ingredient is the culprit. Has anyone else had this experience? I did buy this about a year ago, so it’s possible the product has been reformulated since then.

What’s your favorite makeup remover, readers? Are you on the oil bandwagon? Do you have a favorite that I haven’t tried yet?

When I heard about Kate Somerville’s new lash-growing eye makeup remover, I was deeply skeptical. I’ve tried various non-prescription lash-growing products and found them ineffectual. What’s more, I was sure that any eye makeup remover that was ALSO supposed to do something else couldn’t be a particularly effective makeup remover.

My wonderful sales associate Sonya offered to make me a sample, and I happily accepted, expecting to prove myself right.

Well, right off the bat, this is a damn good eye makeup remover. It’s a “cold cream type” remover: you apply it to dry lids/lashes, massage, and then tissue off. It takes off everything in one application — mascara, liner (even tightlined). It’s really quite fantastic.

Once I’d discovered how great True Lash was at taking off makeup, I really wanted to use it like a normal eye makeup remover (you know, on both eyes). But for science, I committed to only using it on my right eye. How else could I really verify its lash-growing claims?

I meant to use True Lash diligently. Every night! I told myself. But I failed in my dedication to the scientific method. I’d forget to use it, or not wear makeup. I was thinking I’d have to ask for another sample and begin my experiment over. But then I went to the Tom Ford launch, and ended up taking some close-up eyelash photos. Wait a minute — were the lashes on the right longer?  I ran to my mirror. Yes! They were!

I was such a bad scientist, I didn’t even record the start-date of my experiment. But after what was probably a month of completely sporadic application, True Lash had INDEED lengthened my lashes. It doesn’t grow new hairs (so you won’t end up with hairy eyelids). I could not be more excited about this product (or more committed to using it regularly now).

True Lash Lash Enhancing Eye Makeup Remover is $35 for a 1.7 oz tube (with a pump top, to avoid waste). It’s part of this totally awesome BeautyBloggers.org charity auction item (and you already know ExfoliKate is fantastic, right?). OR if you shop today at KateSomerville.com, you can take 30% off your order with code HOLIDAY2011.

And if you need to see the results for yourself before you take the plunge, call or visit the amazing Sonya at Neiman Marcus Northpark (214-363-8311). She’ll tell you everything you want to know about any product in the line (including what’s right for your skin concerns), and I know she’ll hook you up with samples.

You could stop here. You could say “pump top! That is so frickin’ smart!” But for the engineers, I’d like to explain how this simple-yet-brilliant machine works.

In the middle of the pump top is a short tube, or straw. The top of the straw is like a little periscope, which is where the cream comes out.

Here is the bottom side of the pump. You can see that the “straw” extends down into the cream. When you press down on the pump, you decrease the volume of the jar (creating higher pressure inside). That pushes the cream up the straw and out through the top.

Now actually, there’s a jar within the jar. That white jar (the inner jar) is the reservoir that holds the product. And at the bottom of that jar (below the product, where we can’t see it), there’s a sliding base. Each time you pump, a little bit of cream is pulled out of the jar, meaning the amount of cream in the jar is a little bit less, and the base slides a little higher — until the jar is empty.

The sliding base isn’t pushing the cream up, it’s just acting as a movable floor.

This is an empty jar, so you can see the base has reached the top (the pump).

And the amount of product left between the sliding base and the pump is literally one application (much less waste than many other designs).

Pretty awesome, right?

For individual help deciding which Kate Somerville products are best for you, I definitely recommend calling or visiting my wonderful associate Sonya (at Neiman Marcus Northpark, 214-363-8311). Even if you’re not in Dallas, she’ll set you up with samples to try-before-you-buy.

Why do we get wrinkles? There are two basic reasons. First, as we age, we lose volume (fat) in our faces. The underlying structure of the face shrinks, but the skin doesn’t shrink with it. If you lose a lot of weight, you may also have too much skin. Wrinkles that result from having too much skin can only be corrected surgically.

Second, as we age, our dermis thins (produces less collagen) and our skin loses its elasticity. Young skin, which has a thick dermis, is extremely elastic.  You can see this in action by gently pinching the skin on the back of your hands. The younger you are, the more readily that skin will snap back into place. The older the skin, the more slowly it spreads back into place (there’s a lag). Loss of elasticity (which you might think of as skin not behaving the way it’s supposed to) is the second cause of wrinkles.

All anti-aging skincare is intended to thicken the dermis (promote collagen production), and thin the stratum corneum (the dead, inflexible top layer of cells).

With skincare, as with any medicine, the important question is “what’s the active ingredient?” Genics’ active ingredient is glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (or AHA). AHAs do two things: (1) in the epidermis, they reduce cell cohesion. Dead cells fall off more easily, and skin cells are stimulated to reproduce. (2) In the dermis, AHAs promote the production of collagen, which increases skin’s elasticity.

Glycolic acid is the smallest AHA. The smaller the molecule, the more effectively it’s able to penetrate your skin. Random tidbit: Lactic acid is also an effective AHA, but it’s a larger molecule. These are the same ingredients that you’d find in a dermatologist’s chemical peel, but doctors are working with higher concentrations.

Are AHAs are the same as retinols? They produce similar effects, but they don’t work exactly the same way. AHAs work between cells, while retinols work within cells (they actually modulate cell behavior).

You might have also heard the term beta hydroxy acid (BHA). Beta hydroxy acid almost always refers to salicylic acid, which is most commonly used as an acne treatment. The mechanism is similar to an AHA. Salicylic acid is a keratolytic (it breaks up the hard little buildup of keratin around the inflamed pore) and a bacteriocide.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Avon gave me the opportunity to try Anew Genics, and so far, I like it. The product doesn’t feel too heavy, and it’s a nice moisturizer (my usually dry cheeks feel pleasantly soft when I wake up in the morning). It does have a somewhat “older” floral scent. I think Avon considers 45-59 their target age range for this product, but I haven’t felt that it was an inappropriate choice for me (30 years old). Avon Genics is $38 for a 1.0 oz jar.

Sublimage cleanser comes out of the tube as a gel, which “melts” into an oil as you rub it on your skin. You massage it onto dry face (and lashes), then dampen the cotton cloth with warm water. Place it over your face and let it sit for a moment (the warmth is supposed to maximize the soothing effects of the camellia and jojoba oils).

With the cloth still over your face, rub with gentle circular motions to remove your makeup. Then remove the cloth, rinse it out, and rinse your face with water.

In a nutshell, this is an oil cleanser. Whether or not you want to follow the full Chanel ritual, you apply it to dry skin, and then wet it to activate and thoroughly remove. It is NOT a cold cream (apply to skin, wipe off with cloth without the use of water). I’m probably not going to be taking the plunge anytime soon, but it’s nice to know how it works.

Sublimage cleanser (plus cotton cloth) is $95 for a 5.0 oz tube.

In my introduction to Kate, I mentioned that her recommended daily routine is:

1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate (once a week for delicate/sensitive skin or skin that’s actively breaking out, up to three times a week if you’re oily/combo, or trying to even out discoloration)
3. Treat (whatever your skin’s issues are)
4. Hydrate (moisturize)
5. Protect (sunscreen)

I also mentioned that if you have a cleanser (or an exfoliator, or a sunscreen) that you just love, that’s totally okay.

I am something of a serial skincare experimenter, and until recently, I was hooked on samples of Chanel Sublimage (which I considered the best, most effective product out there. It actively reduced or erased my fine lines, but it’s also $400). Deep Tissue Moisturizer knocked Sublimage out of my #1 spot. Kate’s moisturizer feels fantastic, absorbs quickly, and your skin feels amazing afterwards. Literally, every morning when I wake up, I just want to touch my face. It’s given me the skin I didn’t appreciate when I was younger.

Big product lines (especially skincare) can be daunting, so I asked my sales associate Sonya to walk me through each moisturizer and who it was intended for. Of course, if you’re able, I really recommend calling Sonya for a personalized recommendation (and let her send you some samples to try!). Moisturizer IS just one piece of the Kate Somerville program, and I’d want you to try the products that are going to make the biggest difference for your concerns. Plus Sonya’s really nice.

Her number is 214-363-8311, and — for what it’s worth — Neiman Marcus’s beauty week/gifts with purchase are going on through Sunday. If you really prefer to order online, her website offers free shipping at $50.

Even oily skin needs hydration. (As I learned a few winters ago, dehydrated skin can break out even more, as it produces more oil to try to compensate.) Oil Free Moisturizer ($65) contains mattifiers for oil control, and it’s great for the oily and breakout-prone. This moisturizer also contains anti-aging benefits (oh, the injustice of adult acne) — which means if you’re younger than ~25, Goat Milk might be the better choice for you.

Goat Milk Cream ($55) is an ultra-soothing treatment-moisturizer, perfect for anyone with dermatitis, rosacea, super-sensitive, or irritated skin. Anyone can use it, and it feels fantastic. Of course we’d all rather prevent than treat, but it also feels good on a sunburn. I’ve tried this one, and I really liked the way it felt, but I’m drawn to an option that offers more treatment.

Nourish ($65) is the moisturizer for the ~25-year-old with normal skin. It contains vitamin A (an anti-aging ingredient that encourages cell turnover) and feels great. Though I love Deep Tissue, I could see myself choosing Nourish (if Deep Tissue’s price point was too high, for example). I feel like Nourish could also be a day moisturizer to complement some of the following options.

CytoCell ($150) is collagen-boosting, radiance-enhancing treatment for sagging or sun-damaged skin. It’s a hybrid moisturizer-serum that helps heal scars and shrink pores. It contains shea butter (so it’s not really for oily skin), and can be layered or alternated (day/night) with Deep Tissue if you need more moisture than you get from wearing CytoCell alone.

Deep Tissue ($150) was/is the blockbuster moisturizer in Kate’s line, though it’s not heavy at all. It can be used by every skintype (though oily should use it at night), it reduces redness, and it instantly plumps and hydrates the skin. I have been loving this stuff. When Winnie started my most recent makeover, the moment she touched my face she said, “your skin feels great, what have you been using?” My smile lines are gone, the lines under my eyes are almost gone, and the lines on my forehead are noticeably reduced — and I didn’t have to use it very long to see/feel results.

Multi-Active Repair ($195) is Kate’s new kid on the block. It’s exclusive to Neiman Marcus now, but will eventually be sold everywhere. Like Deep Tissue, it’s a major moisturizer, but it has a thicker, more luxurious texture (to woo away that La Mer client). It also contains crushed pearls for radiance.

I’m not working for Kate Somerville, I just discovered something I’m really excited about (and when I find something I love, I have to tell everyone). I just got back from a trip to New York for fashion week — for which I made the conscious decision not to pack foundation, just to max out on skincare. I was completely happy with how my skin looked: pores, fine lines, general appearance and texture (and got a bunch of compliments too).

Kate Somerville is an actual person, an aesthetician who worked pre- and post-operatively with the patients of dermatologists and plastic surgeons — first in their offices, and then in a clinic of her own. She didn’t always have perfect skin, which was, strangely enough, one of the first things I liked about her. She suffers from eczema, a chronic, inherited autoimmune disease that results in itchy, scaly patches (and outbreaks can be triggered by stress, among other things). And through a combination of her own experience and her work with others, she recognizes that — no matter what else you’re wearing — it’s hard to feel pretty when you’re not happy with your skin.

Kate’s headquarters are in Los Angeles, and the clinic there offers a wide variety of treatments, from lasers to light treatments to Botox to fillers. For those of us who don’t live in California, every Kate counter is equipped with her DermalQuench device — and, of course, her product line.

DermalQuench is basically an airbrushing machine, which delivers hyaluronic acid serum, followed by oxygen. It’s intended to instantly improve your skin’s hydration and elasticity (best preparing it for the skincare that follows). It’s also part of Hollywood’s unofficial pre-red-carpet checklist. It’s a $260 treatment, but at your local Kate counter, it’s a gift with purchase.

I got “Quenched,” and it felt really nice — soothing and cooling, which was a relief after coming in from +100° heat. The treatment is tailored to each face, so my sales associate, Sonya, treated my whole face, but focused on my smile lines, the lines on my forehead, and the area around my eyes. Unlike some facial treatments I’ve had, DermalQuench left my skin looking and feeling really good. I wasn’t red, I wasn’t super shiny, and I didn’t feel the need to run straight home. I actually got several compliments on my skin just walking out of the mall.

Sonya explained that the effects of DermalQuenching last 4-5 days, so if you’re preparing for a Saturday wedding, she recommends coming in on Wednesday and again on Friday to have your skin looking its best.

Sonya followed the DermalQuench with skincare.

When you first approach the Kate Somerville counter, the product offering seems vast and confusing. It’s actually easier than it looks. Kate’s philosophy, her “skin health pyramid,” is modeled off the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Guide Pyramid. Basically, she believes you need the most protection and hydration and only a limited amount of “detoxifying.” This intuitively feels right.

Her AM/PM regimen, simplified, is:

1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate (once a week for delicate/sensitive skin, or skin that’s actively breaking out, up to three times a week if you’re oily/combo, or trying to even out discoloration)
3. Treat (sun damage, hyperpigmentation, bacteria — whatever your skin’s issues are)
4. Hydrate
5. Protect (sunscreen!)

So her product line can be broken down into a few cleansers (Gentle Daily Wash, Purify Exfoliating Cleaser, Detox Daily Cleanser), exfoliators (ExfoliKate Intensive, ExfoliKate Gentle Intensive), treatments (depending what your needs are, things like Quench Serum, Total Vitamin, HydraKate Line Release), moisturizers (KateCeuticals Multi-Active Line Repair, Deep Tissue, CytoCell, Nourish Daily, etc., as well as their corresponding eye creams), and sunscreen. Then there are “extras,” like her tanning towelettes and neck cream. Kate also JUST launched True Lash, an eye makeup remover that speeds up lash growth. Every product in the line was created in response to a need or a client request. (Apparently Paris Hilton’s unfortunate “before” tan inspired the tanning towelettes.)

Your best product mix is determined by your skincare needs and your lifestyle. How much time are you willing to spend on your skincare? Are you managing the stress in your life? Are you eating right? Like any skincare line, you can get in as deep as you want: adding a product or two to your current regimen; embracing the Kate Somerville line wholeheartedly; or you can go even further, adjusting your diet, and finding ways of controlling stress (subjects she discusses in her book, Complexion Perfection!).

Kate’s products are color-coded (green for sensitive, orange for normal-to-oily, blue for acne-prone, the metallic packages are anti-aging), but you can dip into different lines, and as your skin improves with treatment or changes with age, your product mix should change with it.

On me, Sonya used HydraKate Line Release Serum, Deep Tissue moisturizer, and CytoCell Corrective Eye Cream, followed by the SPF 55 tinted sunscreen. I’ve been using samples of the Line Release Serum and Deep Tissue moisturizer at home, and so far I really like them. I’m still exploring the line, but I’m optimistic that Kate could wean me off my Chanel Sublimage samples.

I’d also like to give a special mention to Kate’s Goat Milk Cream for face and Goat Milk Lotion for body. This is the most ridiculously soothing lotion ever. It’s perfect for super-sensitive skin (if you have dermatitis and can’t use anything else, try this), and though of course we’d all rather prevent than treat, it feels amazingly good on a sunburn. The lotion absorbs super fast, so I like to put it on my hands as I’m passing by the counter. (Just a word of warning: the lotion has a very fluid consistency, and it’s packaged in a big tube, so you can dispense way too much if you’re not careful. If you buy your own, I recommend not storing it standing up.)

Kate doesn’t test on animals (though she does test on celebrities), and her line is paraben-free (though she explains in her book, she’s not anti-paraben; she did it to meet client requests).

If you live in Dallas, I definitely recommend stopping by the Kate Somerville counter in Neiman Marcus Northpark. The DermalQuench is worth trying, and Sonya will help you figure out which products can get you the best results.

Here’s the best part, though: if you DON’T live in Dallas, and you’d like to talk to someone who can help you get into the line, call Sonya (214-363-8311, ask for the Kate Somerville counter). She’ll help you figure which products best meet your current needs, AND, if you live in the U.S., she’ll send you samples to try. (Is she not the coolest sales associate ever?)

Anyway, I found something that I like for a number of reasons, so I thought I’d share it with you: The Body Shop’s Shower Gel for Earth Lovers. The name might be a little silly, but the product is soap-free, sulfate-free, colorant-free, paraben-free, and biodegradable. The aloe vera it contains is organic and free-trade, and the bottle is made from 100% recycled materials.

I like it because it smells good and lathers nicely.

The “Lovers” shower gel comes in six scents (plus an unscented version). I like Fig & Rosemary (it has a pleasant “hotel” scent) and Lemon & Thyme (which is almost manly). They’re available from the Body Shop for $10.

I went through my stupid phase in college, and got a couple of sunburns I regret. I got a fascinating gradient sunburn while watching a mid-morning soccer game from one side of the field (I should have worn sunscreen, but I also should have changed sides of the field at the half). I’ve gotten that stupid last-day-of-vacation sunburn because I’m tired of slathering myself in sunscreen several times a day, and I haven’t burned yet so I must have developed some kind of superhuman sun immunity.

Regardless of your skin color, it’s a good idea to wear sunscreen on a daily basis. Sun exposure is cumulative, and you can get a rockin’ t-shirt tan in two months, just walking to and from your car, 10 minutes a day.

I spend quite a lot of time outside, and I’ve got my technique down: face, chest, shoulders, back of the neck, arms, tops of the feet. If I had a pixie cut, I’d put sunscreen on the tops of my ears, too.

Anew (an Avon brand) recently came out with two new sunscreens: for face and for body, and they asked me if I’d like to give them a whirl. As a sunscreen-a-holic, I enthusiastically agreed.

Based on the price point ($34 for the 5 oz. SPF 30 for body or the 2.6 oz SPF 45 for face), I had pretty high expectations for these suncreens. After giving them a whirl, they’re not my favorites.

Anew Solar Advance Sunscreen Body Lotion offers “very water resistant” SPF 30 with UVA/UVB protection and something called “RepairShield Technology” (which is supposed to improve wrinkles and even out skin discoloration while it protects you from the sun). What turned me off was the way the product pilled as I was rubbing it over my skin. The lotion component also made the sunscreen kind of heavy, and it doesn’t dry very matte. Not a great feeling for an already hot and humid Texas summer.

Like the body lotion, Anew Solar Advance SPF 45 Sunscreen Face Lotion boasts UVA/UVB protection, water resistance, and “RepairShield Technology.” The face lotion felt better than the body lotion, but it had a VERY luminous finish. Okay, my face was really shiny… almost greasy-looking. I ended up matting it down with a powder sunscreen. In a time when everyone (Chanel, Bobbi, Dior, Neutrogena) is offering these sheerer-than-ever, wear-under-your-makeup facial sunscreens, Anew Solar Advance seems out of sync.

This post is part of my participation in Avon’s blog ambassador’s program. Avon provided the sunscreens for this review, and I am compensated for my participation in this program.