Summertime is here, and the summer sun can be intense. Choosing a sunscreen can be overwhelming. So let the experts do the work for you.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a list of top-rated sunscreens that meet strict criteria, so you know you’re getting a good product. In their annual guide to sunscreens, they feature seven EWG-verified sunscreens. Look for the EWG verified mark on the products. When you see the EWG seal, you’ll know the sunscreen meets strict transparency and efficacy guidelines, doesn’t contain toxic or unacceptable ingredients, and has been reviewed by scientists.
Also, note that EWG verified sunscreens can’t include aerosol or powder sunscreens because they’re an inhalation risk. Plus, verified sunscreens will always be between SPF 15 and SPF 50 because sunscreens higher than SPF 50 can give you a false sense of SPF security.
The top seven EWG verified sunscreens are below, and not only are they great sun protectors, they’re affordable too. At the time of this writing, they’re under $20. Many are available at retail stores, and all are online at Amazon.
Wear sunscreen daily and reapply often. While sunscreen is a great first step, the EWG also advises wearing protective hats, clothing, and sunglasses with UV protection. Stay out of the sun during peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and stay in the shade whenever possible.
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Fruit is making a stylish statement this season. From sour cherries, tart lemons, and sweet strawberries to refreshing watermelon, juicy peaches, delicious kiwi, and more, fashion and decor are inspired by fruits.
Adding fruit accents to your home or personal style can be charming, light-hearted, and playful. Many pieces look vintage, as if they’re from the 1950s Italian Riviera. Others are modern, bold, and juicy. Some pieces seem seasonal, while others can be enjoyed year-round.
Just in time for Amazon Prime Day, now’s the time to squeeze the opportunity to try fun, fruity styles. From purse charms to kitchen towels to shoes, shirts, and more, let fresh fruit guide the way to summer style. Click the links to check out the products mentioned.
Fruity, fresh footwear
Cherries are having a big moment this season, and these cherry Crocs are the perfect combination of trendy and comfortable.
Pamper your feet with these fun, bold slides. These red, black, and green cherry slides are bursting with style and cheeky whimsy.
Kick up your relaxation with these comfy strawberry slippers, which will keep your feet warm year-round. These are also available in other fruity themes, including peaches, grapes, pineapple, and watermelon.
Fruit-inspired kitchen items
Towels are an easy way to mix and match with fruit patterns while cooking or entertaining. This set of two flour sack strawberry towels looks sweet, and they’re well-rated and durable.
You’ll be smiling when you use these “Hello Summer” 3 pack of dishtowels featuring peaches, watermelon, and pineapple. They add wonderful pops of color to your kitchen while being functional, too.
These lemon- and lime-colored Limoncello kitchen towels look elegant. They’ll do double duty for dish drying and overall decor. The towels are highly rated and praised for their beauty and quality.
Snuggle up with your favorite fruit! This cozy strawberry blanket is available in two sizes and multiple patterns.
Add some tropical fun to your space with these vibrant Kiwi throw pillows. The pillows, sold as a set of two, are 14 inches and look like slices of the fuzzy fruit. Whether you use them as outdoor decor or as a throw pillow for your bed or couch, these kiwis will get a lot of attention.
Up your entertaining with these lemon shaped appetizer plates. Whether you’re serving sauces or small snacks like nuts, your guests will rave about these colorful dishes.
You’ll smile when you pour your favorite hot drink into this cherry coffee mug. Reviewers love this wide-rimmed mug for its cute look and its quality.
Fruity fashion
Wear your favorite fruit on a shirt. This strawberry t-shirt features a boho look, and reviewers describe it as soft and vibrant.
You’ll wear this Limoncello t-shirt all year. It’s effortlessly chic and can be paired with jeans, shorts, or a skirt to create a variety of looks. Reviewers say it’s soft and high quality.
If you’ve always had a sunny outlook on life, you’ll need this “Just Peachy” shirt. Praised for its softness and stretch, this tee is available in a variety of colors, including gray, green, cream, and pink.
Men can get in on the fruit-inspired trend, too. These men’s pineapple swim shorts are highly rated, with Amazon reviewers praising their pockets, vibrant colors, and ability to dry fast.
Speaking of color, some Hawaiian shirts are wild with color and zany designs. But this men’s Hawaiian tropical shirt — in a blue background and a mix of tropical fruits — is full of charm without being too much.
Fruit Accessories
Add a little something extra to your look with some playful fruit accessories. These leather purse charms are available in various fruit options, including orange, blueberry, apple, avocado, and more. This faux leather cherry coin purse charm is adorable and makes such a statement. Similar purse charms sell for a lot more.
Grab a piece of summer with these dangly fruit-themed earrings. These lemon wedges are an attention getter. These lightweight, statement earrings are also available as watermelon and orange slices.
Fruit styles, especially cherries and lemons, are having a fashion moment. And the trend is not going away anytime soon. So go ahead, snag your favorite fruit fashions and accessories, and start enjoying this fruit-forward style.
Thrive sent me three limited edition shades of their brilliant eye brightener: Tara, a rose mauve shimmer, Racquel, a soft silver shimmer and Betty, a sky blue shimmer. These colors are inspired by a tropical beach filled with bright skies and a great sunset.
I tried all three colors including blending the Betty and Racquel. I really like how these shades make your eyes pop with color and how long last!
Did you know? Thrive Causemetics products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free and consciously formulated without parabens, phthalates, sulfates and fragrance. #gifted
If you have long hair, you know the importance of having a ponytail holder at the ready. Often times that means keeping hair elastics in your pocket, your purse or on your wrist.
Wearing a ponytail holder on your wrist can pinch and that hurts, which is why I’m intrigued about an inventive product: hairband bracelets from Maria Shireen.
The concept is simple and stylish – wear a bracelet that has a “channel” to hold the hair tie in place. The silver or gold bracelet is fashionable and functional. They even have plastic ones for kids and teens!
I was excited to try one out. Since I frequently write about weddings, Maria Shireen’s team sent me a bracelet from their wedding collection. It’s silver and comes with a baby blue hair tie. I can picture brides and bridesmaids wearing these bracelets throughout wedding planning and all the celebrations, including the reception and after parties.
I’ve been enjoying wearing the bracelet which is cute and comfortable. Best of all, finding my hair tie to pull my hair back onto a ponytail is easier than ever!
Think about it: you’ll always have your ponytail holder nearby. No more searching the house, office or your bag for a hairtie because you’ll have one ready-to-go on your bracelet.
The bracelet looks pretty on its own and can be worn separate from the hairtie. When worn together, it’s hard to tell you’re rocking a ponytail with your bracelet.
Fall is such a great season. Even in San Diego, the temps are cool(er) this time of year and it’s fun to wear cozy clothes and accessories in rich, autumn colors. I’ve been layering more and wearing knits and velvet.
My accessories and makeup have taken on fall tones as well. I love burgundy, crimson and deep shades of brown.
Jane Iredale sent me their Naturally Glam beauty collection to try out and I’m loving it.
There’s a five-color eye shadow palette featuring shimmery neutrals, as well as a bubblegum pink blush which has delicate gold shimmer.
They also sent this soft makeup mitt, which is so useful to wipe off the day’s makeup.
My favorite items? The gorgeous, seasonal lip colors: PureMoist lipstick in Gwen, an apple red and Just Kissed lip plumper in Paris, a sheer light port wine.
These lipsticks have been the star of my fall. I’ll continue to wear them during the holidays.
Excited to be trying Personal Microderm Pro. This product, which exfoliates and buffs dead skin (outer layers only!), promises comparable results to a professional microdermabrasion treatment.
Thanks PMD Beauty for sending me this complimentary beauty product!
We’ve had a heat wave in Southern California for the past week. Nearly 100 degree temperatures plus humidity, day after day. It’s been uncomfortable to say the least.
Still it was a great time to try out two products that were recently sent to me. I received two cans of Dove Invisible Dry Spray Antiperspirants. The product line is new and I tried the sheer fresh and clear finish.
These sprays give you 48-hour protection from odor and wetness and they won’t stain your clothes – I love that!
It’s always so annoying to see white chalky deodorant marks on your clothes, especially when you’re wearing a dark top or dress. This antiperspirant has been tested to be invisible on 100 colors of clothing – not just dark clothes.
The heat wave is over but I’m glad I had the chance to try this new spray. I’ll be feeling fresh day every day and my clothes won’t have marks either.
Fall is here and I’m ready to celebrate with autumn’s colors. I am excited to check out Jane Iredale’s Fashion Forward collection, featuring eye shadows, retractable brow pencils and lipstick. The company sent samples for me to try and I’m impressed.
First I tried two Smooth Affair® eye shadows. One called Naked is sheer nude color; the other, Iced Brown, is a sheer golden brown. I liked how light and smooth they were to apply and it’s cool that they double as either eye shadow or as a primer for more shadows. They’re smudge proof too! There are four other colors in the line including a sheer pink called Petal; a matte yellow named Lemon; a champagne color called Canvas; and a shade of Gold.
Next up, I tried the retractable brow pencils in two colors: brunette and dark brunette. (There’s a blonde color too that I didn’t try.) The pencils do a nice job of filling in brows. And I totally love the built-in “spoolie” on the end of each pencil, perfect for brow shaping.
The finishing touch? The Cindy Puremoist® lipstick, a sexy shade of red! As the name suggests, it’s named after supermodel Cindy Crawford. I love the lipstick’s scent – a light, fruity mix of pomegranate and backberry extracts. Plus I love how the color complements my fair skin.
Sampling these products has been lots of fun – I’m looking forward to wearing them throughout the fall.
Having a good hair day is elusive when you have fine hair. I’m always looking for products to make my hair look clean, full and well, really good!
My dermatologist recommends not washing my hair daily since it’ll dry out my hair. To keep it fresh between washes, I’ve tried a variety of dry shampoos.
That’s why I was excited to receive a sample of Perfect hair Day (PhD) Dry Shampoo. Launching next week, this dry shampoo promises to “absorb and remove oil, sweat and odor” to lengthen the time between washes.
I’ve tried it at least five times in the past few weeks and I’m impressed. Unlike other dry shampoos, PhD doesn’t leave my hair with a white powdery residue.
This dry shampoo contains the company’s patented OFPMA molecule, which reduces surface friction on the hair, making it easier for hair to remove the powders used to soak up oil and sweat.
All you do is spray it in a sweeping motion about six to 10 inches away from hair. Then wait 30 seconds to massage and shake your hair starting at the roots.
Perfect hair Day (PhD) Dry Shampoo is already available online. It’ll be out in stores on September 6 and will be sold for $22 at Sephora, Ulta, and on LivingProof.com. A travel-size version costs $12.
I’ll be using this dry shampoo between washes and to freshen my hair!
Kristen Castillo 