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

I realize the skeptic in you is probably wondering exactly how sonic vibrations can clean your pores. I mean, I’ll admit: it DOES sound a little far-fetched. But our education guru Donna (check her out in this how-to video) described it to me by using a really cool analogy that totally makes sense out of the science—and I wanted to share it with you.

Basically, she explains that sound waves move, which you know if you’ve ever been front row at a concert and seen the speakers actually pounding, or been in a nightclub and felt the beat shaking beneath your feet. That is sound in action, my friends.

Donna clarified it further with this great story, which totally gave me an “a-ha!” moment. See, her husband is a musician, and when he had his first band at the age of 13, his parents were kind enough to allow the foursome to rehearse in their basement. Needless to say, their rehearsals were LOUD—we’re talking three teenaged guitar players and a drummer, rocking out full-force. (Those are some seriously cool parents.)

Here’s the thing, though: the basement was directly underneath a gorgeous inlaid tile entryway, and after less than two months of the band rocking out below it, the tiles had actually become loosened from the grout by all of those sound waves. (Bet those parents were slightly less cool after they made that discovery.)

The ‘pore’-fector gadget’s sonic waves do the same thing, only much more gently. Think of the accumulated dirt, impurities, oil and dead skin cells on your complexion as the tiles, and the ‘Pore’-fector as the band—the device’s sonic power vibrates and ‘moves’ the skin’s surface to loosen up all that pore-clogging, skin-dulling gunk so it can be easily lifted and eliminated. (This also helps create pathways for better penetration of other skincare you apply).

After hearing Donna’s explanation, the power of ‘pore’-fector gadget doesn’t sound so hard to believe, does it? I know it was enough to convince me that it totally ‘rocks’.

‘Skin’-cerely,

Miss Bliss

Before I get into the ‘how’, I’m going to wow you with some clinical results we’re really jazzed about: it turns out that after using our new No ‘Zit’ Sherlock regimen, 95% of testers saw clearer skin in 31 days*. Those are some pretty impressive odds, no? I mean, your chances of getting a clearer complexion are a lot higher than winning lotto, and I’m sure you know lots of people who have shelled out for a Mega Millions ticket. Check out before and after photos of two of our lucky testers here.

So what’s in these potions that makes them work such magic? Well, aside from a hefty helping of salicylic acid to break up dead cells and oil, the star players here are probiotics. You may have heard of these being used in yogurt and dietary supplements—basically, they’re ‘beneficial’ bacteria similar to those found in your own body. They help boost skin’s natural defenses against acne-causing bacteria, and create a healthier environment. Learn more about the science behind these solutions here.

The regimen consists of three simple products: a cleanser+toner combo, a moisturizer and a serum. And to make life even easier for you—always our top priority—we’ve packed try-sizes of all three into a convenient little box, priced at just $32.

So what do you do when you want to pulverize pimples pronto? It’s elementary, my dear—pick up our new no ‘zit’ sherlock acne system.

‘Skin’-cerely,

Miss Bliss

*Quantitative results reported from independent clinical study. Individual results may vary.

But let’s rewind a minute, and remind ourselves why being paraben free is so important in the first place. Parabens are preservatives used to prolong the shelf life of a plethora of products. In recent years, it’s practically become a swear word in beauty industry circles, due to some studies that suggest long-term exposure to the chemicals can lead to cancer, along with other unsavory effects.

After the initial hoopla, it’s been suggested that they may not be as dangerous as originally imagined, and the FDA is still looking at the data. But we believe in erring on the side of caution—after all, our products are all about making you feel good, and how can you do that when there’s a little voice in the back of your head wondering whether all the butter you’re slathering on is going to come back to bite you?

So with that in mind, our goal is to remove parabens from all of our products by the end of 2011. But for now, a bunch of our formulas (in addition to the body butters) are already free of the controversial little buggers. Here’s the full list:

poetic waxing at-home hair removal kit
ingrown eliminating pads
problem salved
blood orange+white pepper bath+shower gel
blood orange+white pepper soapy suds
lemon+sage soapy suds
vanilla+bergamot soapy suds
fabulous foaming body wash
blood orange+white pepper sugar scrub
lemon+sage body butter lite
naked body butter lite
fatgirlscrub
fatgirlsleep (in the US)
serious seaweed cellulite soap
mammoth minty scrub soap
the youth as we know it eye cream
the youth as we know it cleanser
the youth as we know it concentrate
steep clean pore purifying mask
steep clean deep pore cleanser
peeling groovy
best of skintentions (in the US)

Pretty impressive, no? So go ahead and get worry-free gorgeous, because at Bliss, we want to make sure you’re safe, sound… and absolutely stunning.

‘Skin’-cerely,

Miss Bliss

*Tube is now 1.8 oz smaller.

The inspiration behind our brand new triple oxygen+c energizing cream actually comes from that same product development diva, Damiana. She told me that she was influenced by the way skin looks after you step out of the shower. “I wanted to translate that perfectly rosy and hydrated complexion into the product,” says Dam. “After using this cream, your skin looks and feels clean and fresh, and glows with vitality.”

Seriously, do the shower test yourself—next time you step out, take a gander in the mirror while you’re still dripping. You’ll see how your face looks decidedly dewy, with an envy-inducing sheen. THAT, my friends, is what Damiana decided to put in a jar when she came up with the new triple oxygen cream. (She also decided to throw in a special form of brightening vitamin C that’s more easily absorbed into skin for good measure. That’s why we love her.)

Of course, if you’re already a fan of our in-spa triple oxygen treatment and our now-famous triple oxygen instant energizing mask and eye mask, you probably won’t need much convincing that this latest entry in the skin-reviving Triple O2 collection is a ‘cream’ come true. But whether you’re a convert or a newbie, it’ll deliver a glow that will have you at hello.

‘Skin’-cerely yours,

Miss Bliss

Since she worships the featherweight SPF formula (I hear she has some sort of shrine to it in her bathroom, but that could just be a rumor), I asked her to elaborate on her love for it—and did she ever. Here’s what she had to say:

check out that spiffy new packaging!

“I’ve been using translucent uv coat for seven years. I love it because I’m not a foundation wearer, but it gives me a little coverage and just really evens out the tone of my skin. I don’t end up too shiny or matte, and it doesn’t clash with bronzer or powder if I add those to the mix. What makes it so special is that it’s not a heavy moisturizer—you can get light coverage/color and UV protection and still use your favorite moisturizer underneath. I love that it has SPF 30 so I can use it over a non-SPF moisturizer without feeling guilty.

I turned my friend onto it who has amazing, smooth, fair skin, and I can tell when she has it on—her skin just looks like porcelain perfection. Maybe it’s the soft-focusing powders. Now, of course she’s addicted too.”

Gillian could go on about it all day (believe me when I tell you that was just a snippet of the praise she lavished on this product). And after reading that, I bet you’re just a little bit curious to try it yourself if you haven’t already. Well, lucky you—there’s a way for you to try it free with this special spa offer:

Get a free translucent UV coat with any Laboratoire Remède purchase and/or Alchemy Facial through October 15.* (Shade availability may vary by location.)**

Now go get yours and make Gillian proud!

‘Skin’-cerely,

Miss Bliss

*Sorry, but this offer isn’t available at Bliss Ft. Lauderdale, Washington D.C. or Atlanta – Downtown.
**You’ll receive the original UV Coat packaging and formula with this offer, but keep in mind for future purchases that Laboratoire Remède has recently made some changes: the UV Coat bottle has a fresh new look, and the shades are now slightly darker, so longtime wearers should test before buying if possible.

Now that we’re older, most of us would still be excited to wake up a few dollars richer—but we’re willing to bet you’d be just as stoked to wake up looking a few years younger. All it takes is a visit from the ‘youth’ fairy. Starting today, she’ll give you a free travel-sized the youth as we know it moisture cream ($24 value) when you buy the full-sized cream (while supplies last). You can take advantage of her generosity online, or at one of our spas.*

Hey, if you’ve lost your ‘youth’, I think discovering more wrinkle-free skin beats discovering a few bucks under your pillow any day. (And I’ll vouch for the fact that the ‘youth’ fairy is real—no scary string trick necessary.)

Miss Bliss

*We’re sorry, but the ‘youth’ fairy won’t be visiting Bliss Ft. Lauderdale and Bliss Atlanta – Downtown.

My favorite part about giving her products is hearing her reviews. Working with this stuff all the time can leave you a bit jaded, and hearing a real person rave about a product really reminds you of why you do this in the first place. My favorite things to ‘test’ on her are anti-aging items. After all, she’s a better judge of their efficacy than I am being that she’s a few years older than me. (Just a few, mom.)

When I first gave her a jar of the youth as we know it moisture cream—our August product of the month—she was skeptical. Let’s be honest: not every formula I’ve foisted upon her has been a winner. But once I explained the idea behind it—that it’s a one-stop shop for everything you’d ever want in an anti-aging moisturizer—she was sold. Like most people, she gets confused by all the different moisturizer options: this one firms, this one lessens lines, this one brightens, this one does your laundry… you get the idea. So she loved the fact that she could have it all in a single jar.

After using it, she called me up raving. She said she could actually feel it working when she massaged it on, and she loved the way it made her skin look. (I can verify—she looks a lot younger than her years.) She was even crazy about its texture and fragrance. And the true test of her devotion? She’s tried some other moisturizers since she started using the youth, and she always, always goes back to it. It’s her ‘desert island dew’, if you will.

Let me just tell you: my mom knows what she’s talking about, and she keeps it real. It’s kind of what’s she’s known for. When she tells you to try a beauty product, you listen. So take her advice and try the youth as we know it. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself saying, “How is she always right about everything?”

‘Skin’-cerely,

Miss Bliss

Our secret weapons against blemishes are about become very public knowledge!
1. Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask: It’s not only good for brightening and hydrating. It’s detoxifyin! Did you know: blemish-causing bacteria are unable to survive with oxygen present. Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask detox-es by creating an oxygen environment on the skin which helps prevent bacteria from causing breakouts.

How is this different from an oxygenating product that contains a form of hydrogen peroxide?
The oxygen delivery system in Triple Oxygen Energizing Mask is a more advanced, efficient way to deliver oxygen to the skin surface. It is truly the next generation of skin care. Also, hydrogen peroxide based products have been known to bleach eyebrows if not carefully applied!

Can you use the Triple Oxygen Energizing Mask with other masks?
Yes! The Triple Oyxgen Energizing Mask is not exfoliating. It is energizing and detoxifying. So you can definitely use it several times each week AND still use our steep clean mask (which is enzymatic and exfoliating) or peeling groovy (an amino acide based exfoliating, decongesting, pore minimizing serum).

2. Bliss Steep Clean Pore Purifying Mask is our professional-strength mask for clearer skin. It’s a once a week, 15-minute facial in a bottle that declogs and minimizes the appearance of pores, brightens the skin, and regulates oil without drying. We use this mask every day in our instant mattification facial.

This pore plunging, clog clearing mask will transform skin into a scene of extremely clean when used weekly for 15 minutes. Intensive exfoliation, oil elimination, and deep pore purging are a perfect for all (but especially pimple prone) skin types.

Cheers to getting ‘clear’!
Miss Bliss