365 Days of Summer
By Monica Guessous Summertime, the season of sun kissed skin, golden hair, icy drinks and dinner on the boardwalk. Wonderful memories are created during the hot summer months. We become one with nature, and try to enjoy everything the summer has to offer. Miami, of all places, should be the definition of summer. We are blessed with 365 days of sunshine, along with beautiful beaches, delicious food and wonderful people. However, having the sun on our side all year around, leaves us vulnerable to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. These rays are the cause of premature aging of the skin, dark spots, deep wrinkles and even skin cancer can happen over time. So how do we care for and protect our skin from our dear friend and skin’s enemy the Miami sun? Understanding the effect of the UVA and UVB rays on our skin, will help us understand and protect it from further damage, it’s never too late to start. UVA rays, enter the skins deepest layer called Dermis, they are the causes of premature aging of the skin. UVB rays cause skin cancer, sun allergies and sunburn, because they penetrate the upper layer of the skin (epidermis). Protecting our skin is a must, and sunscreen is our skin’s best friend. However, not all sunscreens are created equal. Cosmetics companies are constantly searching for new ways to improve their formula. One company in particular is challenging the traditional idea of sunscreen, by creating a drinkable sunscreen. Impressive! But does it work? Harmonized h2o UV Neutralizer, is the world’s first drinkable sunscreen. The company claims, drinking one teaspoon of Harmonized H2O UV neutralizer will give wearers a factor 30 protection. They go on by explaining, that their product works by molecules vibrating on skin, canceling UVA and UVB rays. Their product comes in two varieties, ‘tanning’ and ‘nontanning’.Theystate,thatharmonizedh2O UV Neutralizer tanning allows users to achieve a tan while being protected from harmful sun rays. We were very impressed with their claim and even more impressed, with the great reviews of their products on the web. The days of carrying a sunscreen bottle in our beach bag, might just be over. With the peace of mind of having our skin protected, we are left with much more to worry about. Like, having fun! Photography by Allana Wesley White Photography Makeup by Colleen Stone, Ford Artists Model: Emily Vainstein Click here to view post on the July/August 2014 issue.