Look, I get it: no matter how much we go on about how important it is to wear sunscreen, it’s always going to feel like a chore (like when your mom used to constantly badger you to ‘bring a sweater’). But one thing that makes slathering on the SPF a little more fun? When it’s part a really fabulous skincare formula. That’s why I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite skin-protecting picks. Each of these broad-spectrum blocks has a beauty bonus to make it so much more enticing to apply than your average ho-hum sunscreen. Load up on these babies to make sure your ‘red, white and blue’ celebration is a little less heavy on the red:

bliss best of skintentions spf 15
Beauty bonus: It nourishes skin with vitamins, minerals and omegas, and illuminates.

laboratoire remède uv coat spf 30
Beauty bonus: It’s a slightly tinted foundation that feels feather-light.

la mer the spf 30 uv protecting fluid
Beauty bonus: It helps prevent skin discoloration and unevenness.

3LAB perfect sunscreen spf 55
Beauty bonus: It has antioxidant green tea and acai berry for environmental protection.

rodial skinny beach spf 15 tinted
Beauty bonus: It firms, lifts and tones while delivering an instant bronze tint.

colorescience suncanny spf 20 bronzer brush
Beauty bonus: It supplies a sunless tan in seconds and is super-easy to dust on.

clarins uv plus day screen spf 40
Beauty bonus: Its Expertise 3P Anti-Pollution Complex helps shield skin from free radicals and pollution.

skinceuticals sheer physical uv defense spf 50
Beauty bonus: It increases skin’s resistance to UV aggressors, heat stress and DNA damage.

sisley all day all year spf 8
Beauty bonus: It’s a super-luxe anti-aging treatment that reduces lines and wrinkles.

sk-II facial treatment uv protection spf 25
Beauty bonus: It contains SK-II’s signature smoothing, brightening and moisturizing ingredient Pitera.

elemis liquid layer spf 30
Beauty bonus: It moisturizes with jojoba seed oil and coconut oil.

omorovicza complexion enhancer spf 15
Beauty bonus: It’s a tinted foundation that blurs imperfections to make skin look digitally retouched.

Hey, I figure if I’m going to celebrate America The Beautiful, I might as well do my part to keep its residents looking that way. So protect your skin this weekend, and make sure the only thing getting burned are those hot dogs on the grill (because unlike your skin, those can actually be good a little crispy).

‘Skin’-cerely,

Miss Bliss

Aside from the fact that we don’t carry a product with a 3-digit price tag unless we’ve tried it and seen fabulous results, we also love the way using these fancy formulas makes us feel. We might not be strolling the red carpet, lounging at our private villa in Tuscany or dripping in diamonds—but meticulously massaging on a rich, opulent cream makes us feel like we could be. Heck, they make us feel so much like celebrities that we could practically be entering rehab (well, maybe not—but they do seriously rehabilitate your complexion).

We know there’s a lot of sumptuous skincare out there, but we’ve culled it down to the ‘crème de la creams’—if we’re hyping it, you know it’s good. There are certain classics we’ve been devoted to for years, like the aforementioned La Mer, along with names like Laboratoire Remède, Z. Bigatti and RéVive.

And now, we’re carrying more exciting new upscale brands than ever: SK-II, a Japanese brand whose signature age-fighting ingredient was discovered in a saké brewery. Elemis, a Brit brand that blends natural ingredients, science savvy and impressive clinicals. Omorovicza, a Budapest-born brand whose ‘mineral cosmetology’ products have left us ‘Hungary’ for more. And—you heard it here first—we’ve just debuted our latest discovery: Sisley, a famed French brand whose plant expertise and limitless scientific research budget make it one of our most exciting extravagances yet.

The best part? You’d normally have to visit a department store to shop all of these hard-to-find brands in one place. But on blissworld.com, you can browse all of them while you’re on the couch sporting your Steep Clean Mask—and you don’t have to deal with the annoying perfume-spritzing brigade.

So go ahead and peruse our selection of ‘fit for a queen’ fixes. Because while you might not be able to live out all your grandest fantasies, you can treat yourself to a dream cream and look as good as any paparazzi-dodger out there.

‘Skin’-cerely,

Miss Bliss

And while we won’t pretend that all our products were plucked straight from an organic farm, there are brands that really go the whole nine natural yards. We know that lately, everyone on the beauty scene is sprouting the word “green” so you might be perplexed about what it means. That’s why we’ve identified the extent of our ec-consciousness for each product line (from “pure and simple” to “our employees only drive electric cars”).

Paraben & Phthlate-Free
Purlisse, a savior for sensitive-skinned types, this line contains soothing antioxidant-rich Blue Lotus flower, and is free of irritating harsh ingredients.
The must-have product: Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser

Environmentally Sustainable Ingredients
Cor. To get to the ‘core’ of aging issues, these products harness the properties of natural elements silver and silica.
The must-have product: Cor Silver Service Treatment for the Face

Dr Bragi Perfume-and-dye-free potions are packed with marine enzymes from the Icelandic coast and become ‘super-active’ at room temperature.
The must-have product: Dr Bragi Age Management Marine Enzyme Gel-only available at Bliss

Botanically Based, Natural Ingredients
Laboratoire Remede, featuring skin-shielding Green Defense technology, derived from stem cells of White Nymphaea without removing the flower from its natural habitat.
The must-have product: Intensive Double Serum

Euoko. This scienficially sophisticated line uses plant-based derivatives from all over the world, avoids unnecessary preservation or stabilization.
The must-have product Blueprint Resculpting Cream

100% Natural
Ren. This vegan brand has all the eco-bases covered, from their all natural formulas to their 100% recyclable and biodegradable packaging. Ren’s products are formulated without ‘skin unfriendly’ ingredients like synthetic fragrance and color, petrochemicals, sulfate detergents, animal ingredients, parabens, irritants. And, Ren donates part of their profits to environmental and social causes. In fact, Ren’s philosophy can be summed up in 5 principles: right ingredients, right science, right product experience, right environmental impact, and right attitude.
The must have product Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask

Are you a green-loving beauty queen? Tell us your thoughts!
Bliss Kisses
<3 Karen

I found this entry from searching for more information on Remede’s High Energy Eye Contour Creme being discontinued. Was this brought back in another form or is there a new alternative for that now?

I’m in my twenties and don’t have wrinkles. I just really liked the product because it was light enough to wear during the day or night and was great for moisture.

Could you please let me know?

Sincerely,
I scream for eye cream

A: Dear I scream for eye cream

I feel your pain! I loved the High Energy Eye Contour too and almost shed a tear when I found out it was being discontinued. Remede made this fantastic chart to help us navigate their new skin care line. So according to the chart, if you liked the High Energy Eye Contour, you’ll love Hydra Therapy Eye Creme. Hydra Therapy has a gorgeous exture and has a very similar finish to our beloved High Energy Eye Contour. What I love most about the Hydra Therapy Eye Creme is that it has no caffeine.

Does a caffeine-free eye cream really work?
Ab-so-lutely. Instead of caffeine, Hydra Therapy Eye Creme contains citrus peel and Sorb Tree bud extracts, which promote circulation and diminish dark circles and puffiness, while eyes are illuminated with soft focusing powders. If eye puff doesn’t particularly concern you, you’ll reap the benefits of:
Glasswort Extract: reduces water loss and provides visible and prolonged moisturizing benefits to dry and/or sensitive skin

Trehalose: improves skin’s ability to retain balanced moisture levels even in the harshest conditions; helps prevent dehydration and protects skin infrastructure

Cottonseed Oil Lipids: a combination of ceramides containing omegas 3, 6, and 9, helps nourish, soothe and calm irritated skin, reducing inflammation, easing dryness and tightness

All in all, a thumbs up!

Bliss Kisses
Karen

Have you ever opened up your beauty cabinet and thought to yourself “Hmmm…how old is THAT? I wonder if it’s still good?”

We all have (please tell me I’m not alone here!). Since I have acquired a *ahem* LARGE amount of beauty products in the past year and a half, I have devised a system to ensure freshness with my beauty products. Spring is coming and I highly recommend taking a peek in your medicine cabinet. Out with the old, in with the new!

Tips for keeping your skincare fresh!
1. When you open up a new product, take a permanent marker and write the date that you opened it. So if you opened up a Youth As We Know It Moisturizer today I would mark the jar 4/9/09. In case it gets buried in the depths of my medicine cabinet and I don’t see it again until ohhh….say 7/14/15 I know that it’s time to go buy a new one.

2. Keep your beauty products away from excess heat and light. Store them in a cool, dry place. Active ingredients can go bad if they’re exposed to extreme light and heat. I once left an eye cream on top of my heater (which doubles as a shelf for vases, folded laundry, and such) and forgot about it for a couple of days. My eye cream was totally cooked and had to go in the trash. Bummer!

3. Don’t buy more than you’ll ever use. This sounds like a no-brainer, but I have seen women at sample sales buying 15 of the same cream because it was “such a great deal.” The most expensive products are ones that don’t work! Find multi-purpose products that you *love*-you’ll get more bang for your buck.

My favorite multi-taskers:
Fabulous Foaming Face Wash a 2-in-2 gel cleanser + exfoliator

Intensive Double Serum Vitamin C helps brighten, lighten, tighten while Oxygen helps prevent blemish causing bacteria, energizes the skin and boosts clarity

Zo Skin Health Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer moisturize + protect in 1 easy step

Bliss Kisses!
Karen

When the economy is booming again, how is your skin going to feel? Stop watering a plant and it dies. Stop moisturizing and protecting your face and it, well….wrinkles. Protect your most important asset-YOU! If you’re going to splurge, do it wisely. We’d eat ramen for weeks just to keep these skin saviors in our regimens.

If I were being sent on Survivor and they told me I could bring one beauty product, I’d bring the Clarisonic skin care brush system and I’d be a totally happy camper. I love it that much. It makes my face feel so super clean and it enhances the absorption of products used after cleansing. My favorite product to use it with is clog dissolving cleansing milk.

If you’re a slave to shaving and waxing, why not trade it in for the tria personal laser hair removal system. If you’ve been waxing for more than a year, this at-home device would have already paid for itself.

Plagued by puffines? I am! Zelens Intensive Triple-Action Eye Cream has 20 natural ingredients (including 14 antioxidants) and will help you put puff in its place. This eye cream is serious business when it comes to under eye puffiness and leaves the under eye area with a beautiful primer-like finish. I find that my concealer goes on super smooth whenever I use this eye cream.

‘Skin’-dulge and your skin will thank you!
Bliss Kisses!
Karen

When Nuface was here a few months ago, I let them test it on me. I was afraid it was going to hurt (hi, my name is Karen and I’m a baby), but it was totally ouch-free and fast. After one quick application you could see that one side of my face was noticeably perkier than the other and lasted for several days. Nuface® is good for all ages and all skin types.

Nuface works wonders with thinny thin chin, a multi-action skin renewing complex addresses all the major concerns of maturing skin-smoothness, firmness, brightness, hyperpigmentation, clarity, luminosity, cell turnover, and renewal, fine lines and winkles-all without irritation.

Bliss Kisses!
<3 Karen

1. Kate Somerville Anti Bacterial Clearing Lotion-perfect for breakout prone skin, it delivers the most advanced Benzoyl Peroxide formulation on the market (encapsulated and time-released so it’s not drying to the skin) $39

2. klein-becker instant deep wrinkle filler. Need an oil change-go to the mechanic. Need to fill in fine lines + wrinkles-go to StriVectin. ‘Nuff said!$59

3.
Laboratoire Remede UV coat SPF30 is my can’t-live-without-it tinted moisturizer. This UV coat has been on vacation with me, to the beach, to weddings, under my foundation, as my foundation, and everything in between. If UV coat were my boyfriend, I’d propose. It comes in 3 shades and 1 untinted shade so even your man can partake in the SPF action without looking like he was sifting through your makeup drawer.$40

4. ren glycolactic skin renewal peel mask is my favorite mask for when I’m getting in touch with my high-tech natural side. Ren is synthetic and petrochemical free with high tech bioactives that stimulate improvement in the skin without any harsh ingredients. Recommended for congested and mature skin, and works well on post acne scarring, blemishes and blackheads plus sun damaged skin. After just 2 months out on the market, this mask won InStyle’s best beauty buy for 2008. A must-have for every medicine cabinet.$55

5.
Bliss Best of Skintentions, a daily moisturizer with vitamins, minerals, omegas and SPF15 with a pa++ rating to protect the skin against UVA and UVB damage. It’s got a light citrus scent and leaves the skin with a primer-like finish for easy makeup application.$35

BEAUTY BONUS!
While this item caps out my $60 price point, the value is just too hard to resist. Freeze 24/7 daily essentials skincare system includes Includes 2-in-1 skin glacé daily detoxifying cleanser and mask (3.3 oz), resurfacing icecrystals anti-aging prep and polish (2.5 oz) and nourishing icecream double scoop intensive anti-aging moisturizer (1.7 oz). A $235 value for only $150