Beauty News for Germo-phobes and Frequent Flyers

Hygienic and tote-able, single use products take the guesswork out of whether to carry-on (and risk confiscation of) your pricey beauty favorites on your next Jetblue flight. Of course the convenience costs more, but it might save you a bundle in the long run.

Lancôme’s Flash Bronzer Self-Tanning Face Petals: single-application self-tanning face petals deliver the perfect amount of light formula for a natural-looking.

Bloom Eye Makeup Remover Buds: single-use, soft, cotton-tipped swabs are each filled with a pre-measured amount of gentle, skin-conditioning eye makeup remover.

Heat Caps by Model Co: single use, 60-second, self-heating and exfoliating mask capsules designed to open pores and deeply cleanse. The clay formula instantly heats up on your face like a hot towel treatment, removing impurities and leaving your skin feeling soft and nourished with the calming properties of green tea extract.

SUNX® sunscreen features SPF 30 protection in a single-use pouch. Contains Aloe Vera Gel and Vitamin E. Active ingredients: Octyle Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Benzophenone-3.

Smooches Lip Quickies are a single use lipstick application that easily and conveniently replaces the bulk of a standard tube of color.

Lip Cancer Risks High: Public Awareness Strikingly Low

In a recent study of beach-goers, only 47 percent of respondents said they used UV lip protection. Richard Wagner, MD, a lead researcher on the University of Texas study, says UV light can cause as much damage to the lips as it can to the skin .

To protect your pout:
-Use lip products with an SPF 30 or higher.
-Options abound, from Shiseido's high end Sun Protection Lip Treatment SPF 36, $19 at Sephora.com, to Banana Boat Aloe Vera with Vitamin E Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF30, $1.79 at drugstore.com.
-Avoid petroleum jelly, high shine lip gloss and baby oil (on your lips or anywhere else) when you're in the sun; they attracts UV light and can intensify damage to your lips.
-For any new growth or bleeding on your lips, see a dermatologist, pronto!

Don't spend much on sunscreen (except for Anthelios SX with Mexoryl)

Generally, the pricier a sunscreen is the less of it you might use to "stretch" it out, so affordable brands like Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutrogena are your best buys, with one exception:
Mexoryl
This breakthrough sunscreen ingredient provides far better protection than commonly used UVA filters such as Oxybenzone, Titanium Dioxide or Parsol 1789. Used in Europe since 1993, Mexoryl received long awaited FDA approval in 2006 and is sold in the US as Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizing Sunscreen with Mexoryl SPF 15 (apx. $29 for 3.5 oz.). This product combines the sunscreen ingredient Parsol® 1789* with Mexoryl™ SX (ecamsule) for optimum protection.

Dermatologists are crazy about this product because it has the highest protection against harmful broad UVA and UVB rays (short and long wavelengths), it's the most complete broad-spectrum protection, it's the first sunscreen approved by the FDA in 18 years and it provides 24 hour protection! Check it out at amazon.com or drugstore.com. If the product's a tad pricey for you, save it for the most sun exposed spots including your face, chest and hands (and your scalp if you're a baldie), and use other dependable yet less expensive sunscreens for the rest of you.