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 The Southern California sun is like an official announcement that summer has arrived. You may find yourself dreaming of basking in those warm rays while achieving that perfect golden tan. However, you may or may not have the time to invest consecutive days poolside. And we also know of the sun’s harmful effects.There is a way to tan safely using various products and techniques without increasing your risk of freckling, aging or skin cancer. Self-tanners Follow these simple rules to ensure that your self-tan is smooth, even and radiant: exfoliate, dry then apply. Scrub areas where skin is the thickest with the most grooves, such as elbows, knees and ankles. Make sure you are completely dry, since it will allow for a better application. If you prefer a natural sunless tanner without chemical colors or parabens, you’ll love Rodial Brazilian Tan ($49) – infused with moisturizing coconut oil, purifying Tiare flower extract and antioxidant-rich, toning pomegranate. It offers a sun-kissed, long-lasting glow for both face and body. How it works: Natural sugar-based ingredients combine with amino acids in the outer layers of skin to create the bronze effect. Many sunless tanners on the market, such as Jergens Natural Glow Daily Foaming Moisturizers ($8.99), moisturize while building your tan over time. Use it every day for seven days for optimum results. The gradual color allows you to ease into a shade you are comfortable with. For those who may still be wary about self tanners, try Tinted Solerra Tantee Tan Line Corrector ($5), guaranteed to fix up any self-tanning mishaps. Bronzing For those who need instant gratification and results, you may prefer the bronzing method. Many cosmetic companies offer bronzers in powder, liquid or cream form. Be sure to apply sparingly at first to avoid looking dirty or overly orange. Find one that is a few shades darker than your skin tone, and apply with a wide powder brush to the areas where the sun would naturally hit. For a powder, try Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer ($39) or for liquid, try Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddness Luminous Liquid Bronzer ($29). Practice safe sunning For all of you sun worshipers, you know by now the merits of practicing safe sunning: Use a daily sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. To protect face and body, we love Aveeno Positively Ageless Sunblock Lotion SPF 70 ($11.99), Nivea Sun Protection Lip Care SPF 30 ($2.49) and Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Daily Sunscreen Towelettes ($18). Your skin’s health is a top priority. Happy sunning or sunless tanning! •> MOM'S GIVEAWAY: ZIP IT UP Zip open your mind and experience the revolution that is Zipz shoes – the world’s first and only interchangeable shoe system! This inventive and worldwide patented technology provides wearers with the ability to interchange shoe components. Whether its fashion, function or fun, Zipz shoes have the whole family covered. Zip on and off different tops (“Covers”) and bottoms (“Souls”) for the perfect fashion statement. Go HERE for the chance to win one free pair with an extra set of covers. Congratulations to last month’s winner: Christina Valenzuela of Santa Ana. •> LOW BACK PAIN What are the 5 biggest myths? By Dr. Alan Cheng More than 80 percent of us will experience an episode of low back pain at some point. However, more than 80 percent of that pain will go away within two to three weeks. What you do during this crucial time can make the difference between a full recovery or recurring issues for life. Be aware of these five myths: Myth No. 1: Use heat versus ice. Following an acute episode of low back pain, ice is the best treatment. Apply for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours for the first few days. After that, heat is usually better to relax tight muscles, decrease joint stiffness and increase circulation. Myth No. 2: Stay off your feet. Bed rest is only recommended for one or two days after an acute episode of low back pain. Studies show that patients who are more active are better off than those on bed rest for more than five days. This can worsen pain and lead to other complications such as depression, decreased core strength and blood clots in the legs. Myth No. 3: Never exercise if you have low back pain. Exercise may be the best and most effective treatment for low back pain. Maintaining and building muscle strength is extremely important for recovery. Activities such as stretching, swimming, biking, Pilates and walking are ideal. Ironically, yoga is not recommended following an acute episode of low back pain. Myth No. 4: High heels do not cause low back pain. High heels can cause low back pain by altering your center of gravity. When heels are raised, your center of gravity shifts, causing your spine to abnormally curve forward to maintain balance. This adds more stress to the spinal joints, discs and ligaments. Myth No. 5: Always see a chiropractor for low back pain. The latest research shows that chiropractic care can be very effective; however, spinal adjustments are an aggressive treatment option. Find a reputable chiropractor and stay away from those looking to sell you a multi-visit package, not treat your pain. Dr. Alan Cheng is a doctor of physical therapy specializing in AcuStretch, a unique treatment approach for neck and low back pain. Visit him in Anaheim or Laguna Hills. acustretch.com •> SERENITY SALON & SPA By Susan Belknapp Just a short hop up the 405 is a relatively new salon and day spa that is well worth a visit. It is right off the freeway, and the thing that impressed me the most on my arrival was how warm and welcoming everyone was. They all seemed genuinely happy to be there, and that speaks volumes to me as a patron. I was first scheduled for a facial, and my esthetician, Katherine, greeted me promptly. She showed me back to her treatment room and quickly put me at ease with a conversational interview of skin types, problems and issues. We swapped a few tips and secrets before I took my place on the table. This was an incredible facial. Katherine didn’t take a break while I was steaming and my masque was setting. She instead did an incredible leg, foot and hand massage – then, later, shoulders, neck and scalp. Wow. After my blissful facial was done, I was delivered to stylists Nicole and Fallyn, who were going to do a Brazilian Gloss smoothing treatment on my hair. I wrote in April about the Brazilian Blowout, which I was extremely happy with. The Brazilian Gloss is the same concept with a different formulation, which Bon, the owner of Serenity, explained that she preferred. The process is the same: thorough shampoo, section hair, brush-on treatment, dry, flatiron, rinse then style as usual. With two very skilled stylists working on you, it goes by amazingly fast. And the results are something that is quick to convince you to have a gloss or smoothing treatment in your hair again as often as possible. My hair was silky smooth and full of body and shine. Though it still holds curls, it straightens much more easily and stays that way. It speaks volumes when every person who works at a salon that I’ve encountered over the past few months has had a Brazilian hair-smoothing treatment of some kind. Serenity reminded me of the salons of old, where everyone knows your name and is happy to be there. This is the social hub. The facility is a converted commercial space and it is fun and funky, with custom-built stations that make ample use of space. I can’t wait to go back. Serenity Salon & Spa 12800 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach 562.431.9009 goserenity.com |
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