WEEKLY MUST-HAVE: Peter Thomas Roth Powder Sunscreen

I'm obsessed with summer. As daily readers of this site can attest, I love me a tan. But in my "old age" I've realized that harsh effects that sun causes on skin and thus, I NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT SUNSCREEN, EVER!

Now, I have an oilier complexion than most... and my skin is super sensitive. I'm not a fan of those thick, weighty creams that don't absorb and leave a white residue on my mug. I've been using Neutrogena's Dry Touch for ages but I think I'm loving my new find even more... well, let's just say that they're in close competition.

Peter Thomas Roth's Un-Wrinkle Instant Mineral SPF 30 is a genius product created for oilier skin types that can't deal with the greasiness of lotion sunscreen. It's super compact and convenient. The brush is attached to the mineral powder which, in turn, is loaded with titanium dioxide and zinc (protecting against UVA and UVB rays). To re-educate yourself on the importance of zinc in your sunscreen, click here. My only issue is that I wish the SPF was 50 or higher (I usually wear SPF 70!).

The translucent powder mattifies as it protects. Perfect choice for sensitive, oily or aging skin. The color pretty much suits all skin tones too.

No excuses... block the sun, ladies.

PRICE TAG: $35.00

Fight Acne with PTR's Sulfar Cooling Masque

I am a huge fan of Peter Thomas Roth products - I've doted on their Lips To Die For Lip Facial and their Blemish Buffing Beads Body Wash. Well, my fellow beauties, here is another PTR favorite!

The Sulfar Cooling Masque is a must for anyone with acne or problem skin. As I've mentioned earlier, sulfur is a natural ingredient used in the treatment of acne (click HERE to read about all of its benefits). In short, sulfur contains anti-microbial, anti-fungal and antiseptic properties that are great for unclogging those stubborn pores.

In addition to acne-fighting sulfur, PTR's masque is loaded with therapeutic eucalyptus, aloe vera (for soothing) and kaolin (for purifying). My favorite aspect of this mask (compared to other sulfur masks) is that the eucalyptus actually tingles like a menthol (and smells like it too) on your skin. The real treat here is the medicinal quality of eucalyptus - it penetrates deep into the pores and soothes broken and infected skin.

This is a heavy-duty mask - not intended for dry skin. It exfoliates, cleanses and clears oily, acne-infested pores with a single use - allowing the gunk to rise to the surface for a speedier recovery time. After using the mask, my skin felt tighter, my pores appeared smaller, and those nasty little zits seemed almost non-existant (at least, a lot less noticeable)!

To use, apply a generous layer all over the face, allow the mask to dry, and remove with cool water and gentle finger tips. Your skin is left feeling smooth, refreshed and totally clean!

PRICE TAG: $40.00 for 5 oz

HAPPY 4th MY FELLOW BEAUTIES!!!!

It's hot out there (at least in Los Angeles it is) and that means... load up on the sunscreen! Save you skin years of irreversible sun damage!

Editor's Choice: Peter Thomas Roth's Uber-Dry Sunscreen with SPF 30


Oil-free, fragrance-free, shine-free finish, water resistant, absorbs quickly, weightless (no icky white sunscreen residue left on face and body) AND it protects against UVA and UVB rays. Oh yeah, it also contains vitamins A, C & E and anti-oxidants.
Note to Self: Do not leave home without your tube... or your face and body will suffer!

For additional sun and swim tips, click HERE (for some good old fashioned do's and dont's) and HERE (for sweatproofing in style).

WISHING YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES A HAPPY, HEALTHY, SAFE AND BURN-FREE INDEPENDENCE DAY...

PTR BLEMISH BUFFING BODY WASH... WITH BEADS!

Peter Thomas Roth has long been a favorite skincare line of mine. I recently tried one of their many body washes - the very refreshing, slightly citrusy Blemish Buffing Beads Body Wash - and I'm in body heaven.

This is a great wash to kick off our hunt for the Best of Summer Beauty Finds...


The PTR skin line is great for people with acne and/or problem skin. Roth himself suffered from problem skin and thus, he understands the frustration we face (pun intended) on a daily basis when forced to choose our products. That's why I like his line... it works, and it's pretty decently priced too.

His washes are no exception. The Blemish Buffing Beads Body Wash is a great choice for your summer body wash. After a long, sweaty day lounging poolside in the sun, people with oily skin types are bound to break out - and we're not talking face break outs.... we're talking about the neck, back and chest. It's miserable, annoying and a total pain, and unfortunately, the sun and sweat only make matters worse.

Insert PTR's Blemish Buffing Beads Body Wash. It contains 1% salicylic acid to help fight minor break outs yet it won't overdry or irritate. It also has moisturizing beads that release vitamins A, C, and E and pro-vitamin B5 into the skin to moisturize and soothe. And the scent is so summery - a mild, grapefruit-like aroma that is absolutely fresh and delicious!

Basically, the wash exfoliates (very mildly... we wouldn't exactly call this a true exfoliator) and foams to clean the skin, improving its complexion, while still restoring the your skin's needed moisture.

It's everything you could possibly ask for in a body wash (oh, and it has a flip-top... great for easy access in the shower)!!!

PRICE TAG: $22.00 for 18.5 oz (that's BIG!)

St. Valentine... Day 1

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we will be doing a countdown... each day until Thursday, we'll be posting products perfect for your Valentine urge to splurge (via you or that hot and sexy significant other of yours...).

So, for Day 1, we have...

Peter Thomas Roth's Lips To Die For (A Lip Facial)

Putting aside that we are obsessed with the name (die is one of my all time favorite terms... I use it as in, "no way," "shut-up," "are you kidding," "dieeeeee!"), this product actually delivers the softest, most kissable pucker in town.

A precious pout is something that we, at Beauty Banter, feel is vital (remember our Sara Happ post during Best of Scrubs Week? And long before that, guest editor Di Gaeta wrote about Too Faced Lip Injection Mask in a Fabulous Pout Part Deux). The PTR Lip Facial combines the best of ALL lip care into one convenient trio.

What it is:

Three treatments to smooth and soften lips.

How it works:

Heavenly Lemon Sugar Scrub - Sugar and glucose to rid your pout of dead skin, condition and moisturize. Apply in circular motions and rinse with warm water.
Super Smooth Lip Putty - A lip mask of sorts. Natural clay that promotes moisture and exfoliates dead skin. It feels a little goopy, but once you rinse it off, your lips are so soft and luscious, like a baby's bottom! Apply the putty and leave on for 2-3 minutes.
Pink Bombshell Lip Balm - Avocado oil, Vitamin E and shea butter nourish, hydrate and protect lips. Not to mention, this balm is SO good that it actually adds a sheen rose hue that lasts for hours (I've been using this non-stop... before bed, in the morning, through out the day, after my lip treatment... I'm loving it!). Apply as needed.

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, what better time to get your pout pucker-ready? This is a MUST-HAVE for the lip conscious individual... Buy it today and treat away! Your lips (and that guy you have a MAJOR crush on...) will thank you!

PRICE TAG: $60.00 for the trio.