Sunscreen expires, just like hairstyles and people

Get this summer's must-have haircut + the best sunscreens to kick off the season

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By Lauria Locsmondy

Growing up, my mom, aunt, and bushia collected crepe-paper red poppies on little twist ties, found in random nooks around their houses, on jackets, and in their cars. I didn’t know what they meant, just that they were special to my grandpa, a Navy soldier in WWII.

A little history

I’ve come to find out that the bright wildflowers, known as Papaver somniferum, symbolize the memory of fallen servicepeople. The story goes that after the Napoleonic wars (1803–1815), the destroyed, infertile land magically grew poppies around the bodies of the deceased soldiers. Then in 1914 during WWI, when fighting broke out in Northern France, the only plants to regrow after the war were red poppies.

Image: courierpostonline.com

Of course, scientists discovered that the soil became enriched with lime from the rubble left by the war, fertilizing the poppies. The wartime poem “In Flanders Fields,” speaks of these seemingly heavenly flowers, marking their hue as a symbol of bloodshed.

Happy Memorial Day

I always thought it was odd that people say, “Happy Memorial Day.” There’s nothing happy about this day. But like most American holidays, we bastardize and commercialize the meaning to benefit our needs. I’ll be with my family and friends at a baseball game. Others will be lighting grills or shopping outdoor furniture sales. And still others will be wearing red poppies — let’s remember them.

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Classic bob | Lucy Liu

What’s the haircut to get this summer?

Just last week, Jessica Biel (42) blew up her Instagram with hits and comments about how the actor, recognized for her long, beachy tresses, opted for the Hollywood-mandated ’90s bob. Celebrities are snip-snipping above their shoulders with immediate reassurance on their socials, and according to my hairstylist in Chicago, clients of every age are asking for the chop, too.

‘90s bob | @jessicabiel

Whose bob?

Classic, sexy, and flattering to all face shapes — the bob is back. This hairstyle can take many forms, including the classic bob (an inch or two below the chin), the Baroque bob (think body, curls, and glamour), the French bob (chin-length, often with bangs), and the uber-trending ’90s bob (blunt cut with a middle or side part).

Baroque bob | @frannfyne

French bob

For most hair textures, the bob saves time getting ready — still, the cut, especially shorter cuts and those with bangs — will need more frequent visits to their stylists to maintain the length. For anyone looking for a new ‘do or a simple summer refresh, this simple haircut will get you there.

The ‘90s bob, the first time 'round | Nia Long, Cameron Diaz

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What sunscreen can you reuse this summer — and what needs to go!

By Anne Holub

When Gen Xers were kids, summer was still that easy, breezy style of escape that meant long days watching cartoons, reading enough library books to win a personal pan pizza, or spraying so much lemon juice on our hair that our mothers would cringe. 

But now that we have (sigh) adult responsibilities, the arrival of Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial social start of summer have some different connotations. Yes, we get to break out those white shoes for the season (don’t @ me, Serial Mom), but we also need to avoid trouble from a bunch of old bacteria (or worse) a sunburn!

Check these great sunscreens off your summer prep list

In case you didn’t know, sunscreen expires! Thanks to modern labeling standards, your sunscreen bottles should now have an easy-to-find expiration date printed on them. Make sure you’re not keeping around sunscreen that has gone the way of that mystery container of leftovers in the back of the fridge. The good news is the USFDA requires that sunscreen maintain its original strength for at least three years. 

Your sunscreen should last that long if you take good care and keep it in the shade (not a hot car). But if it takes on a strange texture, color, or odor, toss it.

Need some new sunscreen? Try one of these!

One of my favorite daily face sunscreens is also a yummy face moisturizer by La Roche-Posay. Their Toleriane Double Repair UV SPF Moisturizer for Face, Daily Facial Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 30 has been in my bag for years now.

For bodies, the new Sun Advanced Hydration SPF 50 Sunscreen by Eucerin has a creamy texture that blends in without feeling greasy or needing a million hours to blend.