Steal My Beauty: Sunscreen Q&A

Awhile ago, I wrote about my (perhaps unnatural) love for sunscreen (which I'm tonguing in the pic above), but then I found out some sunscreens might be causing cancer. In this case something may be WORSE than nothing. What a bitch.

Since every doctor in the world will tell you to protect your skin form the sun, I now avoid anything with Oxybenzone (supposedly bad active ingredient/suncreen) and retinyl palmitate (a form of vitamin A often found in the inactive ingredients list) and only use products with avobenzone, Mexoryl SX, octisalate, Tinosorb M & S, titanium dioxide, and/or zinc. Why does everything have to be so f**ing complicated?

Life, I guess. Those are the rules! To add even further frustration, there's the smell and feel of wearing sunscreen. What to do? Sometimes people send me questions, so I answer them:

Q: How do you keep your skin from being a greasy shiny mess after applying all that SPF cream several times a day? I break out just thinking about it... Do tell me the secret. :-)

A: I've found a couple brands that don't leave you all greasy. One of them is the Trader Joe's brand I'm holding/licking in the pic above, plus they have another one that's pretty good too (in the orange bottle). The best sunscreen I've ever used (so far) is what I keep in my bag at all times: Vichy Liftactiv CxP UV. It is super light and fluffy like a moisturizer and only has a slight scent. There's no slick or shiny aftermath. Generally, I've found it best to avoid generic grocery store brands. Those are cheap, provide poor coverage -- and most of them are potentially toxic!

Tom Ford: 5 easy lessons in how to be a modern gentleman

Because he's so super fancy, Tom Ford tells AnOther magazine what he thinks are 5 tips for today's refined gentleman:

1. You should put on the best version of yourself when you go out in the world because that is a show of respect to the other people around you.

2. A gentleman today has to work. People who do not work are so boring and are usually bored. You have to be passionate, you have to be engaged and you have to be contributing to the world.

3. Manners are very important and actually knowing when things are appropriate. I always open doors for women, I carry their coat, I make sure that they're walking on the inside of the street. Stand up when people arrive at and leave the dinner table.

4. Don't be pretentious or racist or sexist or judge people by their background.

5. A man should never wear shorts in the city. Flip-flops and shorts in the city are never appropriate. Shorts should only be worn on the tennis court or on the beach.

Elizabeth Taylor arrives 15 minutes late to her own funerial

This week the world lost screen icon, Hollywood legend, classic beauty, fragrance queen, diamond lover and AIDS activist Elizabeth Taylor. As part of her final wishes, she arrived 15 minutes late to her own funeral. The grand dame -- THE STAR -- always arrives last. Fucking diva.

Timeliness counts; it matters. After many years in LA, I've noticed that practically everyone thinks they're a diva. Arriving to a particular destination on time hardly seems a consideration sometimes, leaving others to then wait and waste their time.

Remember dolls, however fabulous as you may be (or think you are), you're no Elizabeth Taylor. Be on time and show respect.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Maybe I will take it into consideration, but ultimately I do what I want."

Find out who said it here

Steal My Beauty: Man Junk Giveaway

The giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!

MY FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY!!! Reach down between your legs and feel the excitement! I mean that quite literally. This one goes out to all your private parts.

Man Junk is an intimate cleanser designed with guys' needs in mind. Yah, I know, it's called soap, amirite? The difference is that this product was specifically created to deal with crotch sweat and odor. Dudes need special stuff. Down there.

* Designed by men for men
* Natural & organic ingredients
* Fights sweat, odor and odor-causing bacteria
* Improves overall hygiene and body health
* Increases confidence and sex appeal

The company is giving me a complimentary bottle to give away to one of you lucky bitches. Leave a comment if you want a chance at it with a link to your Facebook (whatever comes up when you click your profile pic, like this: http://www.facebook.com/wesferguson) so I can contact you privately. About your privates.

I'm not saying you bitches stink, but I am saying there's a BETTER way to clean your naughty parts.

Before & After: Celebrity body makeover

Boy-bander Ronan Keating (Boyzone) is sure hitting his stride at 34. That's him in his (slightly) younger days before, this is him now (below):

Yes please! Wrap it up, I'll take a to go box.

There's really no way to measure progress unless you're tracking yourself somehow, because duh. I've had friends tell me they're too embarrassed to take "before" measurements, because they DON'T WANT TO KNOW how fat (or skinny and unmuscular) they really are. Fair enough. Take a "before" picture and be done with it. Nothing is more striking -- or motivating -- than a visual of how far you've come so far.


P.S. David "Bud Bundy" Faustino also celebrates his bday this month after successfully metamorphosing from TV geek to a muscle midget.

Lifestyle: Alex O'Loughlin fights fear

Hot bitch alert! Alex O'Loughlin, like many, struggles with change. Celebs: They're just like us! Sometimes, you just have to open yourself to the experience and go with the flow...

For a number of years, O’Loughlin struggled to find his place in LA. Just as he’d put down some roots, he had to relocate. "When I first moved [to Hawaii] I was really, really nervous," he tells GQ Style (Aussie edition). It took me six years to settle into living in LA. I had my life together there, my niche and my friends. And I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m up and moving to the middle of the ocean, to a small island where 
I don’t know anyone.’ And it’s one of the greatest things that’s ever happened to me. This place is one of the greatest on the planet; the people here are amazing. I’ve already made so many incredible friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life. I can’t really see myself leaving, regardless of what happens to the show."

Spread 'em, baby...

Eatery: 5 Hour Morning

So then I was like yeeee-yahhhh!!!

Although I don't necessarily dislike coffee, I'm not all for it either. It gives my legs the shakes and makes me go number two. Overshare? Anyshits, I prefer a more gentle wake in the morning, which is about the only time of day I don't have energy (I schedule little meals & snacks every three hours to keep myself energized). This week I'm trying 5 Hour Energy rather than coffee.

I've taken it before, but only when I had to work an overnight shift, which I don't think that's a fair test. It did keep me awake, I guess? It was absolutely imperative that I stay awake and I was completely delirious afterward so I don't know. I'd eaten before I took it, because I figured a nice meal and an energy drink an hour or so later would kick me through to the light of day. It hurt my tummy. Many things do, so the sensation wasn't unusual.

For my little experiment this time, I decided not to eat first thing in the morning but instead chug the 5 Hour Energy and eat when I got into the office (still within about an hour of waking up). My stomach still hurt a little. I'd say the energy level, on a scale of 1 to 5, was definitely a fucking rush! Mild crash a bit later in the day, felt a little sad. I bought 5 bottles (they were on sale) so the experiment continues throughout the week...will I switch from coffee??? Are there health benefits (or risks)? Dare I google the answer? Stay tuned to this really important stuff right here!!!

Fitness: Wash your gym bag!

I see Kellan Lutz carrying his gym bag around like every single day. I'm hardly what you'd call a neat freak, but sometimes I realize just how gross I truly am -- like suddenly coming to the realization that I've actually NEVER washed my own gym bag. That's just nasty.

"[A gym bag] becomes a terrific breeding ground for bacteria such as MRSA, which causes skin infections," Dr. Charles Gerba tells Men's Health. Bacteria like MRSA can live for at least a day, which makes reaching into your bag a lethal health hazard. Infected by your own filth!

Your nasty gym bag is likely breeding:

* Odor
* Fungi
* Bacteria
* Viruses

Throw your bag into the wash at least once a season (that's 4 times a year for those keeping track). If you have a leather bag that can be washed, consider ditching it for a washable alternative. When it comes to laundry, go green(ish) -- choose the medium cycle over the long one, go light on detergent; wash in cold water rather than hot. This saves water and money while keeping colors bright.

Here's how to fight the gross in-between washings:

* Completely empty bag of all gear.
* Sanitize the inside of the bag with a disinfectant wipe.
* Carry some wipes in a side-pocket (I put a few in a zip-lock bag) and wipe down after removing sweaty clothes.

Lifestyle: Words of wisdom

I had the distinct pleasure (yes I'm fancy now) of interviewing Katiti Kironde, who was the first black woman on the cover of a US fashion magazine in Glamour's 1968 issue. She's now a successful designer with a Harvard education. Here are some words of wisdom:

"Even though I work from home, I get up in the morning and I dress myself up."

"Only worry about yourself, don’t worry about what the other guy has. You want to be, in life, like a racehorse with blinders on; you only compete with yourself."

"Always be persistent, always be persistent, don’t be put off; always be persistent."

"Whatever you do, never ever sell out your integrity."

"Always keep laughing and smiling and always be kind. And slow down."

You can read the enchanting interview over at Celebuzz -- plus enter a sweepstakes to score one of her shirts!

Fitness HNT: Cameras ready, prepare to flash

I used to chastise people who said they have no time for the gym, yet that's why I've missed all week. I know, I suck (and very well thank you)! I hate feeling like a hypocrite. What's worse, even though I know 3 days off isn't going to make a difference in the long run, I've been obsessively doing the fat check. Just in case!

As a writer, my daily jerb duties do not require movement beyond flicking my fingers at a keypad. I really need physical activity to keep my sanity.

I guess the lesson is: it's not always possible get to the gym. That was yesterday, today is another opportunity to make it BETTER.


UPDATE (10:00 pm): Fucking crushed it tonight at the gym.


Happy Half-Nekkid Thursday!

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Fitness: Kerr Smith is no longer scrawny

Remember Dawson's Creek? I mean as in a general sense of awareness, I know nobody actually watched it. The show's token homo Kerr Smith turns 38 today. As Peter Griffin would say, "I'm so gay for you."

"I've been lifting weights for about ten years now," he says. As a self-described "tall and scrawny" 10th grader, he began weight training to build muscle and never quit. "Now it's pretty much maintenance -- just trying to keep what I've built up over the years." With a pat routine of chest, back, arms, shoulders and legs, Smith does high reps with lower weights. "I rest only about 45 seconds between each set, so it's a very aerobic type of workout that keeps me cut, too," Smith explains. In addition, he incorporates 30-minute runs three days a week. While Smith admits to a rigorous routine for his abdominals, he says, "I've always been OK with my arms. They've been a good size and haven't required much work."

"I've tried it all--five-day sessions with two days of rest, four-day workouts with one day of rest--everything. I think what works best for me is going in there and working on whatever I feel like that day for 90 minutes. My body responds better with two or three days a rest per week."

"Skiing is my favorite sport. It's the one I really adore," he says. In fact, the combination of his love for the sport and Vermont's ideal conditions inspired Smith to join the ski patrol in Stowe, Vermont. "I played sports my whole life, but I think I played because it was something I did with my friends," he says. "However, it bred a competitiveness in me which helps in my career now."

Fitness: Paintball Hero

I had sincerely hoped to avoid this. On Sunday, I joined the Varsity Gay League for a day at the paintball park. Then this happened. Yes, those paintball thingies hurt!

I feel like I'm always droning on about how fitness isn't just about tossing salad and getting pumped at the gym. Sometimes I need to be better about giving examples. Paintball is totally that example! Running around the field was one hell of a workout, and we did it for about 5 hours.

Not only is it physical in terms of a decent cardio workout, but you also have to carry the heavy ass gun and there's that adrenaline thing going on. Getting hit wasn't as painful as I'd imagined because most of the shots were launched from pretty far away (there's not even a mark on my leg and only a small red spot on my arm.

The guy who shot me in the abs wasn't even in our group! He had drifted from his battle field onto ours -- I was actually already out and walking with my gun straight up in the air in the "surrender" position (which is what you have to do as you walk back to the supposedly safe zone so you don't get shot over and over again once you're "dead"). Dude busted into our safe zone and shot me at close range. Don't let some twat who wasn't following the rules scare you from tying the game. Nobody else in my group had that happen to them...well ok there was one but he ran first thought second, guns blazing, into a trap. Play smart and you'll be safe from injury. Probably.

As ever, everything is better with a buddy! Since this was my first time out with the group, I was fortunate to have my friend Kenyon accompany me. He was really excited about going and had an awesome time -- as did we all. Not only was it super fun, but it was also a great way to meet new people. I know (for me) it would have been more difficult to socialize with a new group by myself. There might have been a few guys I talked to but personally I prefer to be the "quiet guy" versus the "obnoxious douche who is trying too hard and won't STFU." There's no middle ground with me. Silence or douchery. Battleground pics below:

Fitness HNT: Better with a buddy

Everything is BETTER with a buddy! As ever, Half Nekkid-Thursday gives the reach-around to my ego by ditching the celebrity lust and puts my money maker on shameless display. Turnabout is fair play, after all. The only way to improve on one hot half-nekked guy (that would be me) is ANOTHER hot half-nekked guy (that would be my friend Rob).

Having a buddy also makes you more accountable when it comes to keeping on track of fitness goals. Having a hard time hitting the gym? Make a workout date with a friend. You're less likely to skip when somebody is waiting on your fat ass to meet up. Rob and I had a hiking date because 1) It can be dangerous to hike alone due to cliffs and snakes 2) I would probably never climb up a hill unless a friend dragged me outside and forced me to enjoy the beautiful day.

At the gym, on the trail, or wherever you need a "helping hand," buddies are the best!


Happy Half-Nekkid Thursday!

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Fitness: Hottest fatty

I don't care how close to death they push the contestants on 'The Biggest Loser' because the results obviously pay off. Take a look at Adam Hurtado, he went from fatty to fuckable!

That's not to say size is the only thing that matters in the bedroom, unless you're talking dick size. Let's be real that totally matters. My point is that, most likely, the first thing you notice in the "before" pic is his size. At over 400 pounds, that is just an obvious observation. In his "after" pic, his good looks clearly take focus. Or maybe I'm just a superficial asshole.

That's probably more likely, because I once feigned an emergency phone call because my butt buddy failed to mention he'd put on like a hundred pounds since the last time we'd hooked up. Does gaining weight make somebody go from hot to not? I don't think I've processed this entirely and therefore haven't reached a conclusion, but I do know I ditched him and never called again. He didn't even look that bad, I just felt like he was lying to me by sexting hot sexy pictures to lure me over when things didn't match up IRL.

If I were totally into some guy and he got progressively bigger, I like to believe I'd still ride that gravy boat. Probably. Ultimately I think my ideal partner would be physically active so we have shit in common, but life happens and sometimes a bitch gets fat. Big girls need love too! Natch, I'd do my best to help him work off those extra pounds with the sex diet.

Steal My Beauty: Mustache March

Hanging on Sam Sparro's shoulder is about as close as I've ever gotten to a mustache. This month, the fine folks at Celebuzz are rocking their annual Mustache Month. Since I was a total fail at Movember, I'm sort of almost sure I might consider growing out some facial hair to be included as one of the gang. Let's do this together: I challenge you to participate and send me your mustache pics! Boom. Winning.

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

* Participation is not gender exclusive.
* You can grow a full beard, but on Monday, March 29th, the beard has got to go. At that point, you’re allowed facial accessories to your ‘stache (sideburns, chops, etc). Just no full beard.
* Post on your blog, Facebook or Twitter for the world to see!
* Contrary to normal “Mustache March” rules, you do not have to be clean shaven at the beginning of the competition.
* Prizes will be awarded based on company-wide voting in several categories. (NOTE: Since you're not likely a co-worker, I'll come up with a prize to award people who send me their pics, probably a sext message or something).