Although the summer season officially begins June 21st, Memorial Day weekend traditionally kicks off beach season. In New York our temps were up to nearly 90 by last Friday and the sun really came out to play. Without sunscreen even my medium-tone skin was turning pink in under 30 minutes!

Of course, now that college semesters are ending and kids are going to be home from school, it is also vacation season. This can mean sunny destinations and increased time spent outdoors. While most dermatologists recommend year-round sunscreen, summer is the time when people suffer the worst sunburns. Even one bad sunburn can increase your risk for developing skin cancer in the future, which can be mild or fatal.

Sun exposure can also irreparably damage your skin in other ways, such as premature aging, wrinkles, severe burns, and other skin conditions. Even the sexiest tan is not worth wrinkles down the line (pun intended), and it’s certainly not worse risking your healthy or your life.

Even though those who are fair-skinned and the very young are at a higher risk for severe burns, everyone should use sunscreen! It isn’t just for the fair-skinned. People of any age or race can suffer burns as well as develop skin cancer.

Here are some of my favorites:

Clinique Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40

This lightly tinted high-level daily sun protection comes in a sheer, weightless formula. It’s great alone or as a makeup primer. I have super sensitive skin, so I love Clinique’s products. This one is oil free so it’s great for any skin type. It offers SPF 40 protection from the sun’s UVA/UVB rays. I wore this everyday in Turks and Caicos last August and it worked great protecting my skin from sunburn. It also contains antioxidants and helps protect against environmental irritants.

Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lotion, 50 SPF, Ultra Sweat-Proof

In the warmer months, I spend a lot of time outdoors. I love to exercise outdoors and this is perfect for when I am running, biking, skating, or swimming. Coppertone Sport Lotion is a high performance, ultra sweat-proof sunscreen that bonds to your skin on contact. It won’t run into your eyes and sting them. The breathable, ultra dry formula doesn’t leave a greasy residue that could adversely affect your grip while being active. This formula is also oil free, hypoallergenic, waterproof, and PABA-free and provides UVA/UVB protection. It’s also available anywhere from SPF 15 to SPF 70+ and in spray-on versions.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55, 70 & 85

This ultra-sheer dermatologist-tested formula contains Helioplex® technology, the latest breakthrough in UV protection. Helioplex® delivers unbeatable UVA protection. It works better to help prevent damaging UVA rays from penetrating deep under skin’s surface. Its Dry-Touch technology absorbs excess sunscreen oils, leaving a clean, lightweight, non-shiny finish. This one is waterproof, sweat-proof, PABA-free and on-comedogenic which means it won’t clog your pores.

Coppertone NutraShield™, Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 – SPF 70

This one is now on sale at Drugstore.com. I absolutely love this product. Coppertone® NutraShield™ with Dual Defense™ combines superior, photostable UVA/UVB sun protection plus nourishing antioxidants to help neutralize free radicals that contribute to the visible signs of aging. The ultra-sheer formula moisturizes your skin yet won’t clog pores so it’s perfect for everyday use. It retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in the water or sweating. There’s also a version specifically for your face.

Don’t forget to wear lip-gloss or balm with SPF in it. There are some with an SPF up to 70, which is great because the skin on your lips is thin and extra sensitive. Other areas to remember are scars, your ears (especially the top), your scalp and hairline – especially where you part your hair, under your arms and behind your knees, the tops of your feet and even the bottoms of your feet!

The Clinique Sun SPF 45 Targeted Protection Stick is great for protection against the aging and burning effects of UVA and UVB rays for fragile areas like the skin around your eyes, your lips, nose, earlobes, as well scars. Enhanced UVA defense helps guard against premature aging.

My new favorite skincare product is . If you have been following us here at Beyond Beauty Basics, you might already know that for me, the big 3-0 is just around the corner and I have been taking all the necessary precautions to make sure no one can tell. Fortunately my genetics are on my side, as I am not yet graying (thanks, Dad!), but no one wants to get wrinkles, right? I mean, gray hair is SO much easier to fix!I was ecstatic (to say the least), when our own Paul Baranda was invited to take a tour of 3LAB’s headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey. Okay, maybe not ecstatic. Jealous is probably a more appropriate word.

However, my jealousy wore off a little when Paul returned with some product samples. The first product I tried was 3LAB WW Eye Cream.

3LAB, a brand that claims to be harnessing “the advanced science of perfecting your skin,” and the makers of “h” serum, has developed WW Eye Cream to battle UV damage, smooth wrinkles, erase bags under the eyes, suppress melanin production in the delicate eye area, and improve skin tone and texture.

I couldn’t wait to see how 3LAB’s WW Eye Cream would work for me, but before trying it though, I had to do some research. I’ve read a lot of reviews about 3LAB WW Eye Cream. Is there really one product that works to firm your skin, stimulate circulation, and even skin tone?

3LAB was developed by a renowned dermatologist and two chemists with cutting-edge science on their side. WW Eye Cream contains 3LAB’s patented Nano-Claire GY, as well as Niacinamide and Portulaca Extract.

Nano-Claire GY, is a proprietary formula that 3LAB describes as a “bio-engineered growth hormone material” which reduces the signs of wrinkles in aging skin at the cellular level.

The next ingredient, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), “inhibits melanin production and combats UV damage and dark circles.” Combats UV damage and dark circles? Did they make this just for me?

Lastly, “Portulaca Extract, a powerful anti-inflammatory, helps to erase under eye bags and improve skin texture.” With my late nights at grad school, the thought of reducing under eye puffiness sounds like magic!

Now, if you’ve been reading, you may also know that I have very sensitive skin and a lot of allergies. I first look for strong perfumes, because this is a sure sign it will aggravate my skin. WW Eye Cream passes the sniff test (I don’t think there’s any odor whatsoever).

Also, keep in mind that trying new products may require a patch test, especially if you know your skin is sensitive. My doctor has me test in an inconspicuous spot. Check with yours before trying it in any area where your skin may be sensitive. After it passed the sniff test, I went for the patch test. No offensive odors and no allergic reactions.

This is by far the most luxurious and well, creamiest, eye cream I have ever used. I dabbed it on in small dabs around my eyes. I could hardly believe how smoothly it went over my skin. I tried it the first time before bed, and the next morning when I was getting ready, I used it again. In just days, I already see an improvement in my dark circles, and under eye puffiness. My eyes truly look brighter and younger.

With results this good, I am stretching my sample size for as long as I can!

3LAB products can be purchased online at eCosmeticWorld.com, or in stores and online at Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys.

Vichy Laboratories has been a recognized pioneer in optimizing skincare for nearly 77 years and is the #1 skincare brand in Europe. Vichy offers a wide selection of all natural, allergy-tested products. One of the main ingredients, Vichy Thermal Spa Water, contains 15 mineral salts and trace elements that dermatologists claim have tremendous positive effects on the skin. For someone who has dry, ultra-sensitive skin, this all sounds mighty impressive. European favorite? Check. Water that is filtered through the earth’s volcanic layers? Check. Allergy-tested and no breakouts? Check. Really pretty packaging? Check!

In the past, my problematic skin has led me to purchase a vast amount of products claiming to be the absolute best, the solution to all of my skin problems. I’ve tried both drugstore brands and luxury brands, products ranging from as affordable as $5.99 to a less than affordable $59.99. I have caked my face in all kinds of outrageous extracts and substances. Once I even bought mud in a jar (yes, MUD in a jar!) – but not just any mud. It was straight out of the Dead Sea and the removal process involved a special magnet that I had to swipe across my face. Besides being not at all pleasant, my wallet and face were not impressed.

When I learned about Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal products, my interest was piqued. Vichy holds a strong and long-standing reputation and it’s high-end without being astonishingly expensive. Certainly, it’s not the most affordable in the market but I was curious enough to find out if the price was worth the results.

The first product I sampled was Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal Eyes.

Being 30 years old means 8-10 hours of sleep is a thing of the very distant past. I’m lucky if I can squeeze in 6 hours of solid sleep. Any less results in tired, puffy, dark circles under my eyes. Although I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I resemble an extra from the movie Dawn of The Dead, I’m at least halfway there!

Aqualia Thermal Eyes needs to be applied twice every day. Luckily, it comes in a compact tube that fits in my makeup kit. Not only that, it’s gentle enough to use even when I’m wearing my contacts. It has a gel-like consistency that’s cool to the touch. Vichy says that this product has natural ingredients (in addition to the Thermal Spa Water) that will help de-puff, soothe and fortify the tissues.

After two weeks of consistent use, I am thrilled to report that I have had very positive results. The darkness and puffiness have subsided. My eyes look a little more lively and a touch more youthful. And although I still don’t get more than 5-6 hours of sleep, I look as well-rested as any girl who enjoys an 8-hour long beauty sleep every night.

Next up was the Aqualia Thermal Cream 24-hour Fortifying Moisturizer.

The first thing I do when I test out a new skin product is to take a nice long whiff. Anything with a strong fragrance tends to get a big “Oh, hell no!” from my skin. For us girls with sensitive skin, we know fragrance usually means a break out, itchy skin, and/or that stingy feeling. It’s generally uncomfortable. The Aqualia Thermal Cream did have a fragrance but it was subtle, fresh and even kind of pleasant. With that, I let it pass my whiff test. But when I put it on my face and lay in bed, I immediately felt a soothing sensation. It was comfortable and cool once again but I didn’t start feeling real results until about 1 week in. With continued use, my skin feels softer, hydrated and looks brighter. The only downside? After applying, you might want to wash your hands before you start playing games on your iPhone. It took almost 5 minutes for me to wipe down my slippery phone.

These Vichy Aqualia products and others are available in participating retailers or online at: www.vichyusa.com