More About Sunscreen Dos and Don'ts

A few weeks back, we told you about our turning into the SPF police. Our crusade is never ending! This weekend during our NYC Staycation, we tried out the Kiehl's UV Protective Suncare, which has Mexoryl to protect against those pesky aging UVA rays. We give it a thumbs up! We didn't burn during two consecutive days of lying out on Manhattan's Pier 83. Remember, Kiehl's gives generous samples in their stores, so pick up a few before your next weekend getaway.

Have questions about applying your SPF properly? Check out Annie's Everyday Health story on Suncare Dos and Don'ts featuring tips from the fab Dr. Doris Day.

Musts for Checking In

We can’t wait to get to San Fran for BlogHer and check into our hotel, the Westin St. Francis. We’ve stayed there before and know it’s a pretty fab hotel with a killer location, but we know from experience there are a few things we must do when checking in.

First off: Get extra keys made—at least 2 per girl. When you’re rushing out the door, late for your 8:30 dinner ressie this will prove unbelievably handy. Those key cards are also notoriously easy to deactivate, so this saves you from having to traipse back to reception for a new key. Next, double check everyone's name is on the reservation. There was a time in Miami when one of us couldn't get in the room because she didn't have a key or her name on the reservation.

If we’re not in a rush, we always let the bell hop help us with our bags. He knows the inside scoop on the hotel (i.e. if the bar is worth going to, if there are celebs under the same roof). Equally valuable, he knows the layout of your room, including the all important secret to adjusting the thermostat, which we inevitably need to know when we’re burrowed under the covers at 3 am in a 65 degree room. Always let him get you ice—unlimited ice is one of our small loves about hotel life. And don’t forget to tip—the old standard is $1-$2 per bag.

What’s the first thing you do when you get to your room? We hope you didn’t say unpack, because you’ll want to scope it out first and decide if you really want to be in that room for the weekend, week, whatever. Do you like the view? Can you hear the elevator? Is the room down a long dark hallway? Even if you think the problem is minor and will only bother you a little, request a room change immediately. Trust us on this one. The “minor” problem will be multiplied by 60,000 by day two. Call down and politely describe the problem and request a room change. If the hotel is booked, and you’re stuck where you are, ask for a discount. This is what we did on our trip to the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne. Our “Ocean View” room had a view of a black asphalt parking lot. With one phone call, management agreed to cut our rate—in half! Turns out we didn’t hate the view that much.

Annie's picks for Sephora's Beauty and the Blog

Last week we shared Hope's fave Sephora products, this week, it's Annie's turn! Read her picks from everyone's favorite beauty emporium here.

Kate Moss + Longchamp + Café de Flore=A Winning Combo

Back in the day, we went to Paris every year to fill our lust for mocha macarons, walks along the Seine, nights at the Buddha Bar (when it was still cool) and café society. We bought a new Longchamp bag on every trip. Mind you, this was back in early 2000, when the euro was new and the dollar still bought you something. We loved the sleek styling, colorful leather and playful fabrics--still do.

This shot from the Fall advertising campaign makes our heart ache. Shot at Café de Flore by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Kate Moss looks so gorgeously chic with her blonde bangs that perfectly cover her eyes and her chapeau noir. That bag is to die for, too. The Cosmo tote bag comes in a gorgeous platinum leather and the size is perfect for sulking around Paris. Too bad it will set you back $1,065. Damn that euro!

Starting on Tuesday, click on Longchamp.com to get a behind the scenes looking at the photo shoot. If we can't go to Paris, at least we can visit it on our laptop.

Happy Bastille Day!

Photo courtesy of WWD.

Gap's Fall Looks in Glamour

We were flipping through August issue of Glamour magazine yesterday as we sunned ourselves (with SPF 30) on a Manhattan Pier. One story in particular caught our eye, "The New Rules of Casual Chic" otherwise known as 6-pages devoted exclusively to Gap. It feels pretty similar to the brouhaha over Bazaar and Gwyneth Paltrow and the other faces of Sensuous from a few weeks back, if you ask us. Just as in that instance, there's no Gap advertising in this issue, but color us shocked if September doesn't turn up a few pages.

While many of the pieces are winners--we're seriously thinking about the above bag that folds over into a clutch, making it a natural for packing--typically when a mag features a designer, they'll at least mix it up or accessorize with pieces from other brands--like if Lucky features Milla Jovovich, the story will have clothes from Jovovich Hawk and other lines. Couldn't Glamour have even thrown in some Banana or Old Navy? Whatevs--we did enjoy the Q&A with new designer Patrick Robinson and the sneak peek at the Pierre Hardy shoes that aren't available online yet.