C H E C K – O U T  F A C I L E ,  A N D  L E T  T H E M  C H E C K  Y O U  O U T 

B E F O R E  Y O U  S O A K  I N  T H A T  S U M M E R  S U N !

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Did you know May is national Skin Cancer Awareness Month? It’s okay, I didn’t either! I had no idea until I received a very pretty email from an even prettier boutique beauty and dermatology office, Facile, located in the design district of West Hollywood. I’ve been a follower of theirs on IG for a while now because, well, their posts are pretty, their office is pretty, and above all it’s reminder to try and keep my skin healthy and pretty!

The email was offering free skin checks for the entire month of May. I’ve never had one before and I know I should, so I thought, why not?! It gives me an excuse to go to this very pretty office and take very pretty pictures for myself, and hopefully leave with the peace of mind that my skin is in the clear (literally).

First impressions: Gorgeous! I want to work here! Heck, I want to live here!

 

From the lobby I was taken to an equally chic, yet calming room where I undressed to my bra and underwear, then covered up with a blue paper robe (pictured further below. fancy!).

I met with Nurse Practitioner, Breana Wheeler, who went over my medical history before having me stand to do a thorough scan; top to bottom, front to back. The appointment took all of 15 minutes, but in my short time with her I learned a few things…

 

Skin cancer can be found in more than just dark moles. Pink and white spots can carry cancer as well, so be on the lookout. We noticed one white spot towards the top of my chest, where the sun tends to hit directly often. My next step: a biopsy. No cause for concern, but rather be safe than sorry.

 

Other things to look for: moles that change color. Sounds gross, but basically it’s a mole that is darker in the center and lighter on the outside, fading into the skin. Rather than posting my not-so-cute examples here, I’ll point you to some direct resources of information from the The Skin Cancer Foundation: How to Perform a Self-Check, Types of Skin Cancer and Precancers

 

Lastly, before you hit the pool or the beach – or for any of us in sunny cities – before you even step out of your house or sit by a window, lather on SPF with zinc. To be honest, I’ve never looked beyond the number on the bottle when buying sunscreen. EWG.org reports that Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide provide strong sun protection with few health concerns, and they don’t break down in the sun. Some of my favorites right now include the following:

Pacifica’s Mineral Bronzing Sunscreen – This is a great all-over sunscreen when you’ll be outdoors for an event or family BBQ. It sprays on nicely and has a bronzing tint that evens your skin tone, gives you a subtle glow, and doesn’t look or smell like you’re wearing sunscreen. It’s like a protective body make-up that also doesn’t come off on your clothes once it’s dry. Amazing!

Algenist – Right now, this is part of my everyday routine. It’s lightweight, yet has a high SPF, and has little to no sunscreen smell. It wears perfectly under make-up. After moisturizing in the morning, I apply this to my face, neck, chest, and then into my hands before I put on my make-up and I know I’m covered.

Drunk Elephant – Yes, I love the brand name, and yes I love the packaging. Nonsense aside, I love that the brand is non-toxic and unscented. I use this on my body when I want thicker, long-lasting coverage that isn’t too high in SPF. This is the first product of Drunk Elephant that I’ve tried and it has me wanting to test out the whole line of products!

I’d love to sign off wishing you a summer of “safe tanning,” but there’s really no such thing. Instead, because I love the sun as much as any other SoCal-born girl, I’ll wish you all an amazing summer and “cautious tanning!” … I know – it doesn’t sound quite as right, but it’s the best I got and the best we can all do!

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