Unless you've been living under a rock, you know how important it is to take care of and protect your skin in the summer.  You will want to look for a sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection.  UVB rays play the greatest role in producing sunburn and causing skin cancers.  UVA rays also play a role in causing skin cancer, but they also cause premature aging, including wrinkles!

Hawaiian Tropic Antioxidant Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 With Green tea extract
I really like the way this sunscreen feels on the skin and it blends in really nicely.  I prefer to use SPF 50 or higher when going to the beach, because of the sun's rays being reflected off of the sand.  

Coola Classic Sport Face SPF50 White Tea
I received this SPF in a FabFitFun box and have enjoyed using it this summer.  It feels nice on the face and absorbs well without leaving white streaks.  This is also a moisturizer, so save space in your travel bag with this dual product.  

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless After Sun Lotion
​If you find that despite your best efforts to reapply every 2 hours, I really enjoy using this after sun lotion.  It contains aloe, but I prefer this over straight aloe because this does not leave a sticky feeling.  When on vacation, I use this as my body lotion, burned or not.  Being in the sun can dehydrate your skin, so it's best to restore the moisture.  I prefer to apply this straight after a shower.  

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• 90% of aging is caused by sun damage
• 10am-2pm is when the sun's rays are the strongest
  
• 1oz of SPF should be applied when wearing a swimsuit
  
• Water, Snow, and Sand can reflect the sun's rays so use caution!
  
• Use a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher to protect not only against sunburn, but reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging caused by the sun.
• ​In addition to applying SPF, seek shade, wear a hat and avoid peak hours.
  

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Drinking plenty of water is paramount to keep every system in your body working at optimum levels.  It also makes your skin look more youthful and plump as an added bonus.  When I find myself not getting all of my water intake, I notice it in my skin, lips and energy levels.  Keeping a  cute tumbler or water bottle nearby helps motivate me to drink more water.  Here are some cute options you can check out to up your H2O game.  Just click on each item to go to the retailer's website.

BUT HOW MUCH WATER AM I SUPPOSED TO DRINK?!  At minimum, you should drink about half your weight in ounces each day, and I know for some people they find it difficult to even accomplish that.  Ideally, you should drink about 2/3 of your weight.  For someone who is 125 lbs, they should be consuming about 84 oz each day.  

If you are someone who does not enjoy the taste of water, try adding fruit.  I wrote a blog a few  years ago about the benefits of drinking lemon water.  You can check it out here: ​www.xofancy.com/blog/benefits-of-drinking-lemon-water

I prefer my water filtered, so I use this Brita Ultramax 18 cup pitcher that I keep in my fridge and fill up every few days.  You can get your own on Amazon Prime:

​You can now click the heart underneath the items linked above to get an alert when they go on sale!  ​Give it a try!

xo Sarah

We all know how important it is to drink plenty of water, right?  It keeps all of your body's systems working in tip top shape and makes your skin look more youthful and plump as an added bonus.  I have made drinking more water an important goal in my daily routine and there is one simple hack that has made it easier for me to do.  Buy yourself a cute tumbler or water bottle.  At home I prefer to use a tumbler with a lid and straw, but if I am on the go or at work, I like to use a bottle with a screw-top.  Here are some super cute options that would definitely motivate me to drink my H2O.

Here is the tumbler I am using today, and as you can see I am ready for my third refill.  Even though St. Louis easily has the best water, I still prefer the taste of it filtered.  I used to use a Brita pitcher, but found that I would dread having to refill it every day or more.  I decided to purchase this Ultramax version which I typically have to refill every 2-3 days.  You can get your own Brita system HERE.

BUT HOW MUCH WATER AM I SUPPOSED TO DRINK?!  At minimum, you should drink about half your weight in ounces each day, and I know for some people they find it difficult to even accomplish that.  Ideally, you should drink about 2/3 of your weight.  For someone who is 125 lbs, they should be consuming about 84 oz each day.  

If you are someone who does not enjoy the taste of water, try adding fruit.  I wrote a blog about 2 years ago about the benefits of drinking lemon water.  You can check it out here: ​www.xofancy.com/blog/benefits-of-drinking-lemon-water

I'm curious to know if you have any hacks that help you consume your water for the day.  Share them below!

xo Sarah

There are many benefits to drinking lemon water first thing in the morning, but these are my top 8!
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After sleeping for (maybe) 8 hours a night, our body can get dehydrated.  Drinking water first thing in the morning, can rehydrate our cells and aid our body in performing it's functions optimally.

Bye bye water weight.  Lemon is a diuretic that will help flush out excess fluids and uric acid from our bodies, reducing bloating and inflammation.

Lemons have antiseptic properties that can reduce the bacteria in our mouths.  I think we all know that morning breath isn't pleasant.  Drink up!

Water alone will give your skin a more plump and youthful appearance when you are well hydrated.  Adding lemon will give you a boost of antioxidants that will help repair damaged cells and flush out toxins that can lead to dull and problematic skin.  

Drinking water before a meal will help lubricate the digestive tract and will flush out undigested waste from the colon.  Lemon is similar to saliva on a molecular level, so by adding lemon to your water you are stimulating the production of bile--a fluid necessary for our body to flush out waste and toxins.  

Drinking a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day can boost your caloric burn by 30%.  This is based on a study performed by Michael Boschmann of the Franz Volhard Research Center.  The additional benefits of flushing out excess water weight and undigested waste as noted above, will make a difference the next time you step on the scale.

This is an important one for me!  While drinking lemon water should not replace medications, it can aid in thinning mucus and improving the symptoms of a cold or allergies.  

Our Vitamin C levels plummet when we are stressed.  Since lemons are high in this necessary Vitamin, drinking a glass first thing (and throughout the day) can aid in boosting our immunity, lower our blood pressure, and balance blood sugar levels.  We all know stress can wreak havoc on our health, so take a few minutes to add this drink to your morning routine!
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I prefer to drink cool water, but you can also drink lukewarm water for additional benefits.  I squeeze the juice of half a lemon into my water and drink 15-20 minutes before consuming any food.  
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I received this Nature's Bounty kit for free from Smiley 360 to review.  

These Nature's Bounty gummies contain vitamins A & E, and biotin to support hair, skin, and nail health.  I really like that these don't contain artificial colors or dyes.  And they actually taste really good!  The serving is 2 gummies a day, but I could've eaten a handful.  

Vitamin E contributes to skin health and Vitamin C is involved in collagen production and formation.  Biotin helps to maintain healthy hair and nails.  I've taken biotin supplements in the past when I was growing my hair back after chemo and I definitely think that they helped.

For more information, click here: http://h5.sml360.com/-/1dicx