melanoma awareness month: protect yourself with the new UV app!

It's that time of the year again...time to get outside, enjoy the warm weather, hit the beach and get a healthy dose of sunshine. After all, we could all use some extra vitamin D, right? But while you're basking in its glow, keep in mind that May is Melanoma awareness month and you need to do everything possible to protect yourself from those harmful UV rays and keep yourself from becoming another statistic.

As part of La Roche-Posay’s SOS — Save Our Skin campaign that encourages daily sun safety through education and awareness--the brand has launched a new iPhone application, “My UV Check,” that uses location-based services to assess the strength of sun rays. Studies show that regular use of sunscreen led to a 50% decrease in melanoma. With ‘My UV Check,’ choosing which SPF factor to bring to the beach has never been easier.

MY UV CHECK is the first application on the market that measures both the UVA and UVB index, provides individualized sun risk diagnosis, shows you how to check your own skin for suspicious lesions/moles, and explores the Anthelios range for individualized product recommendations and to find the closest store near you.

Find out more about the SOS — Save Our Skin campaign--at www.SOSSaveOurSkin.com orwww.facebook.com/LaRochePosayusa.

national sun protection day: keep your kiddies undercover, with Jason Naturals

It's only May 27th...there's a whole summer of slathering up the kids right around the corner. In honor of National Sun Protection Day, Jason Naturals Sunbrellas offers plenty of options to keep your family safe in the sun. At our hosue, we already use the Jason Kids Only Shampoo and Conditioner which we love, so we're excited to spend the summer with the brand's sun-smart sunscreens. Try Facial Natural Sunblock SPF 20 ($11.95), Family Natural Sunblock SPF 45 ($11.95), Kids Natural Sunblock SPF 45 ($11.95), Mineral Based Natural Sunblock SPF 30 ($14.95), Sport Natural Block SPF 45 ($11.95) and Lip Balm SPF 25 ($4.95). My kids love lotioning up themselves--hopefully I can tolerate the mess! JASON Natural Products are available at Whole Foods and other health and natural food stores in the United States and Canada, or by visiting http://www.jason-natural.com.

dry heels, elbows and knees--oh my!

When it comes to moisturizers, there are cutting-edge products, innovative formulas and trendy ingredients. Then there are names you can trust. Jergens is one of them--and the brand's new Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer is what every dry, cracked heel, elbow and knee needs in the dead of winter. Moms who spend hours on their knees and feet, and running around outdoors in frigid temps, will appreciate this lotion for dry skin and its moisture retaining lipids that offer 24-hour hydration. So if you smooth some on in the AM and don't have time to reapply at night, you're still covered. Thanks to a combination of vitamins C, E and B5, this innovative skin product is supposed to triple your skin's moisture content. I can't vouch for the exact amount of hydration it offers, but it sure makes my rough patches feel smooth again. For your dose of soft skin and a complete collection of skin healing products, go to www.jergens.com.