Shimmering Sun Protection from Colorescience

For most of us, applying sunscreen is a hassle. Sunscreen lotion is often sticky, slimy or greasy and the thick goo can wreak havoc on your pores. Colorescience has developed a new sunscreen powder with glitter that'll change your mind about protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays. Called Sunforgettable, this Colorescience powdered sunscreen offers SPF 30 with a touch of glamour.

The folks at Colorescience have been working on their powder sunscreen formula for years. Now they've added a new twist--sparkle. They use reflective pigments to create three alluring shades: All Clear with silver sparkles, Perfectly Clear with champagne sparkles and Almost Clear with copper sparkles. It's pretty much guaranteed that one of these versatile colors will work with your skin tone.

Colorescience products are user-friendly; finally applying sun protection is a breeze. Pick from one of three applicator options: brush-on ($50), roll-on ($65) or shake-on ($50). I tested the brush-on version in All Clear. From the start, I was impressed with the functional and fuss-free Colorescience packaging: Simply unscrew the metal canister and the brush-on powder tube slips out. Pull the cap off the powder tube and you'll see the tip of the built-in brush. Slide the protective covering off the brush and start sweeping the bristles in a circular motion over the area you want to protect.

The result of my efforts: a sweet shimmer that didn't look cheap or cheesy. The brush gave me an even application and my skin felt smooth and soft without any caking. According to Colorescience's directions, their sun protection powder is most effective when applied over moisturized skin (dry skin simply won't absorb the powder).

Sunforgettable is highly water resistant (they claim a single application can withstand a six-hour test), but like any sunscreen, it should be regularly reapplied, especially after vigorous swims. The active ingredients are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, and thanks to nanotechnology the tiniest particles provide complete coverage.

I'd recommend this product for teens and tweens-what a fun way to encourage healthy skincare! As for grown-up girls like me, I'd probably save the shimmer for special outings-I don't see the need for sparkle on a quick trip to the playground or park. But I will add this to my cosmetics case, it's a snap to use and the shimmer gave my skin a welcome boost. The product succeeded in livening my complexion and softening my wrinkles-two things I'm always looking for in any skin-care product.

And while you're checking out Colorescience products, you may want to grab one of their nifty new pencil sharpeners; I've never seen anything quite so tiny, perform this effectively. If you regularly use an eye-pencil, you'll want to stash this minute weapon in you make-up bag. It's a steal at $12.50. Measuring about 1.5", this slight cylinder fits onto most standard cosmetic pencils. Give it s quick twist and you've got a precise point. Careful, it's best to use this item over a trash bin, as there isn't a container to collect the shavings.