FUN IN THE SUN WITH THE RIGHT PRODUCTS AT THE MAYAN RIVIERA, MEXICO

Text, Vivian G. Kelly
Contributions by Hans Van Zutphen

Images of the products, from the companies’ respective websites
Images of the Grand Mayan grounds, from the Grand Mayan website
Images of Vivian G. Kelly and Hans Van Zutphen, the staff from the Mayan Palace

TIME & PLACE
The week of March 16th, the Mayan Palace/Grand Mayan Compound, @ 40 miles away from Cancun, Mexico

We hit the beaches and pools of the five-star/picture postcard perfect compound with a tote bag full of products to road test. The resort boasts 4, maybe it was more, pools – we lost count and a beautiful beach with fine-grained white sand. With 2,500 employees tending to the grounds and the guests, no wonder it looked immaculate.
WE were both ghostly white after a long snowy winter and hit the pools and beach loaded with a bag of products to road test.



VIVIAN TRIED:
As I’m typically close to a TWILIGHT-shade of white, I pull out all the stops when it comes to protecting my skin in the sun, and am happy to leave with a light tan – St. Tropez bronze seems to be out of reach for me, in this lifetime.
On the FACE – I swear by Neutrogena’s SPF 70 - remembering Dr. Frederic Brandt’s admonition that he “never leaves the house with less than 30 SPF block on, and neither should you”.
On the BODY – I stuck with Menscience SPF 30, which effectively stopped any and all reddening and resulted in a light tan.
Once back in the room 3 applications of DEX bodyglow mist delivered a medium tan that’s normally beyond my reach.

HANS TRIED:
For Days 1 – 3, good old-fashioned sweat, which he claims, “acts as a natural sunscreen” and HAWAIIAN TROPIC’s SPF 4. Sweat seems to work to a point, but in climate where the sun isn’t nearly as potent as in Mexico. By the end of day 3, Hans relented and covered himself up with Menscience SPF 30 and went from the color of a raw steak to the color of a milk chocolate Easter Bunny by day 6, when we packed up our bags to head home.
Menscience ALSO applied as an after sun body lotion, offered him relief as it’s got soothing ALOE in the formulation.
To fill in squint lines, STRIXADERM-MD did an admirable job, acting as line filler and plumper, as the literature promised it would.


WHAT’S IN THE BAG: THE PRODUCTS & HOW THEY RATED/HIGHLIGHTS


I. FOR THE BEACH & POOL:


MENSCIENCE ANDROCEUTICALS Ti02 /sunblock SPF30
4 oz., $31
• The ideal unisex sunscreen, no smell, stayed on and offered lots of moisture.

www.menscience.com



NEUTROGENA Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sun block SPF70 with helioplex=broad spectrum uva-uvb
*Think this high an SPF is over-doing it? No way, we left minus the ugly red nose we usually wind-up with due to a too-low SPF.
www.Neutrogena.com

HAWAIIAN TROPIC Dark Tanning Lotion with Sunscreen – SPF 4 – Waterproof
*Tip: only use this as an extra, if used alone, you’ll burn, guaranteed.

PAUL MITCHELL Color Protect Locking Spray – sunscreen for your hair
*Made our hair shiny and soft, great results for the price.

8.5 fl. Oz., $10
www.paulmitchell.com

II. FOR POST-SUN CARE:
STRIXADERM-MD Ultimate Lifting Correcting Facial Treatment, New Active Formula, Repairing & Anti-Wrinkle
*Actually delivered, so few “anti-wrinkle” formulations actually do. Delivers a much-needed wallop of moisture after a day out in the sun.

www.thepuresource.com

MENSCIENCE ANDROCEUTICALS Microfine Face Scrub
4.4oz, $29
*Felt wonderful to get rid of dry dead skin and exfoliating is a must if you hope to get an even tan.

www.menscience.com

DEX body glow Sunless Tanner
6fl.oz. $34
*The best of the lot, no streaking, as promised, really.
We’ve converted to mist tans now. It’s not unlike the spray tan you can get at Hollywood Tans but it’s in the privacy of your own home.

www.dexnewyork.com

For more information about the Mayan Palace Resort, visit the official website,
www.thegrandmayan.com.mx