You probably have been able to tell that we love traveling. That’s why we’re starting our latest series: Chicest Vacations. We’re taking a look at some of the most beautiful and amazing places to visit all over the world. This week, we’re starting with a remote and gorgeous park in New Zealand called Fiordlands National Park.

Breathtaking views are a given when you arrive. Cliffs rise over winding arms of sea on the southwest coast of the country’s South Island. Visitors can take boat rides through the park to get a better look at the entire area. Other than that, access to the park is pretty limited. Helicopters, boats and limited vehicle access are the only way in and that means you’ll be able to find peace and quiet wherever you go.

Possibly the best place to enjoy the views in the park is Frasers Beach. On the shore of Lake Manapouri, this beach features some of the most breathtaking sunsets you will ever see. Take the family and relax just on the sand late in the afternoon and you’ll be glad you made the trip.

Where would you like to travel?

With Father’s Day coming, our very style CEO Valerie McMurray is thinking about gifts for dad. From our end, we think dad deserves a day at the beach. That’s why this week, Valerie’s picking some great beach-related gifts to make Father’s Day even better. And while you’re at it, why not make Dad look good!

That’s why this week’s picks are centered around fashionable and fun ways to shower your beachy dad with love. Here are five gifts to consider this year:

1. Bantu board shorts: Give dad a handsome, new bathing suit so he can take a dip in the ocean!

2. Brera Diver watch: Valerie says, “Love this green face.” Plus dad can go for a dive and still tell time.

3. Surftech Laird Stand Up Paddle Board: “Our friend Bill Homer at East Coast Surf Products recommends the Surftech Laird Stand up paddle board.” That way, dad can have a little extra fun at the beach.

4. Olebar Brown Swim Trunks: They’re printed with old photographs. Valerie’s a fan of the Tahoe Jelly version.

5. John Allan’s Slickwater pre-shave lotion: Okay — not so much for the beach but this is a great pre-shave lotion. Wouldn’t be great if dad’s shave was a little smoother?

What are you getting dad this year?

We’ve known this for a long time but we finally have confirmation: a new study shows that sunscreen can reduce aging signs on your skin.

A study from the Annals of Medicine monitored groups of participants who regularly wore sunscreen and reapplied at different times. Participants who had been asked to use sunscreen daily over the course of four and a half years showed 24% less skin aging than other participants. After they completed the whole shebang, researchers determined that daily use of sunscreen protected skin against skin aging.

So there you have it. But even aside from slowing the aging process, sunscreen protects from damaging UV rays and so much more. So we have many, many reasons to stock up on and wear sunscreen daily.

To help you with that, we’re giving you 20% off for the rest of the month of June. Go stock up on our 100% mineral sunscreens for your face and body and enter this coupon code when you’re checking out: SOJUNE13.

Happy Summer Shopping!

Congrats to all 2013 brides and grooms! Wedding season has begun and we’re getting ready to attend some great fétes this year. Our favorite ones are destination weddings in beautiful and sunny spots all over the world. Whether you’re the one getting hitched this season or you’re just attending, destination weddings are like mini vacations. And picking the right destination can be key. We took a look at our favorite spots for destination weddings:

1. Sea Island, Georgia: A quiet, beachy location on the Atlantic coast of Georgia, this destination has just enough exotic charm without being too far for your guests to travel. While the island is primarily owned by Sea Island Company, a resort that has limited public access to the island so you’ll be able to host (or attend) a very intimate affair and still spend some time on gorgeous beaches.

2. The Bluff, Cayman Islands: The Caribbean has so much to offer as a whole but our favorite destination in the Caribbean Sea is the Cayman Islands. The beautiful views, delicious seafood cuisine and friendly people make a visit to the islands a delightful experience. It hosts amazing weddings every year all over the island but we think if you’re going to say your vows, why not head to the highest point in Cayman — The Bluff, a 140 foot-high piece of limestone overlooking the water.

3. Playa Langosta, Costa Rica: Costa Rica is another of our favorite destinations — even just for vacation. The people are very welcoming, the resorts are beautiful but not too over-the-top and the wildlife, beaches and natural surroundings make us feel so relaxed. Playa Langosta is just one of those lovely beaches. Located on the Pacific coast, jaw-dropping sunsets are a commonplace backdrop for a wedding.

We’d love to be invited to these destination weddings! Where are you headed this wedding season?

(Photos via SeaIsland.com, Local-Secrets.com and WeddingsinCostaRica.com)

We like to change up our hairstyles with the seasons. And with summer and beach season upon us, this is a great time to pick up some adorable updos or beachy styles. We’ve been watching celebrities take to the beach with some beautiful summer hairstyles this season already and we’ve picked our three favorites.

1. Side French Braid: The braid is perfect for the beach in any style but we love this side look previously sported by the likes of Julianne Hough and Nicole Richie. It doesn’t have to be perfect — that’s what’s great about it. Just tuck it in on the side and you’re ready for the beach — or really any summer occasion.

2. Beachy Waves: These could actually be the result of having a braid in. Or you could do a little magic with a blowdryer and a flat iron. Either way, this messy, somewhat Bohemian look is a very relaxed way to greet the summer and pairs well with a swimsuit or a summer dress.

3. Low Ponytail: This is a classic for any season but if you make it a little messier, it works really well for the beach too. Eva Longoria and Blake Lively are fans of this style and have even worn it to recent red carpet events. But they’d have looked just as sexy laying out on the beach.

No matter how you decide to wear your hair this summer, make sure you protect your scalp from the sun. The best way to do that is with a sunscreen mist, like our 100% Mineral Sunscreen Mist SPF 45. Spray it over your head and reapply every few hours to keep those UV rays off your head.

Let’s talk summer vacations. Where are you headed this summer? We’re still trying to make up our minds. But we do love the idea of taking a trip to the Caribbean for a tropical atmosphere. One of the places we’d love to visit is the resort and spa Barbados’ Sandy Lane. This luxury hotel has beautiful rooms, gorgeous views and plenty of places to find a little peace and quite.

The rooms are a good start! These well-furnished accommodations feature a big, comfortable bed and a lot of usable space. We’re especially taken with the luxury ocean rooms. The big balconies overlook the beach and the ocean. We can definitely see ourselves having a delicious brunch while taking in the view.

It only gets better at the spa. The 47,000 square foot facility offers aromatherapy and hydrotherapy services among many other great treatments. Their Rhassoul might be a nice place to enjoy a steam bath and sweat out some toxins. We could also go for a massage or take a dip in the hydrotherapy pool.

And after all that relaxing, we’re going to be hungry. With four restaurants, several bars and a great wine cellar, we’re pretty sure we won’t be disappointed in anything the culinary team at Sandy Lane cooks up.

So we’re ready to go. How about you?

(Photos Courtesy of Sandy Lane)

Our fashionable CEO Valerie McMurray always looks chic and put together — frankly, we’re jealous. That’s why we begged her to share her style secrets with all of us. She’s already told us about her penchant for body oils, her love of Shelter Island and her preference for Converse High Tops. We’re learning a little more about her today — she loves shoes! But who doesn’t.

When it comes to heels, her style is changing a bit. She’s angling more toward low chunky heels for the season. We’ll let her tell you the rest:

“I’m thrilled to take a break from sky high platforms and wedges and opt for what my podiatrist has been recommending to me for years: a one to two inch chunky-heeled shoe. The thought of it always brought to mind the types of shoes my religion teachers wore growing up — not the most appealing fashion go-to. I wore a pair of Gucci chunky-heeled sandals into the ground in the mid-90s but decided they belonged in that decade and haven’t broken them out since.”

“Spring of 2013, they’re back and my feet (and podiatrist) couldn’t be happier. My friend wore a super chic pair at an event in NYC last night and I decided I needed to delve in. Here are the ones I’m eyeing.”

1. Pierre Hardy jute block-heel sandal

2. Jil Sander tri-tone suede and patent-leather sandals

3. Marc by Marc Jacobs color-block suede and leather sandals

4. Givenchy braided shiny leather sandal

5. Stella McCartney faux-leather sandals

There you have it! They’re comfortable, sturdy and a steady foundation for good balance. Why not go for that extra glass of wine this weekend? Cheers!

Memorial Day has passed and it is unofficially summer. The official first day of summer is June 21 so it’s really not that far away. But we want to start practicing our summer skin care and sun care regimen now. What does that mean? A few things but here are our five favorite tips to keep your skin healthy all summer long.

Sunscreen before getting dressed. Even better — lathering on UV protection (perhaps in the form of a replenishing lotion) for a few days prior to a full day in the sun can help build up a layer of protection for your skin. Then — of course — be sure to put on the sunscreen before you get dressed the day of to have that full protection. And don’t be shy about reapplying every couple of hours.

Have fresh sunscreen on hand. Sunscreen can remain effective for up to three years but if that bottle has been sitting on the shelf, gathering dust, look for an expiration date. Or to be safe, just replace it. And as Dr. Lawrence Gibson of the Mayo Clinic points out, if you’re using the proper amount of sunscreen, there shouldn’t be an entire leftover bottle at the end of the season.

Use sunscreen mist to protect your scalp. Our scalp too often gets forgotten in the sunscreen application process. But it’s not easy to get sunscreen under your hair without gooping up your mane with sunscreen. That’s why using a sunscreen mist, like our 100% Mineral Sunscreen Mist SPF 45, is a great option. It’s a light and easy way to protect your scalp from the sun.

Exfoliate, post-beach. We mentioned this last year: sunscreen can build up on your skin and if it’s water-resistant like ours, it may not be easy to wash it off. The best option is using exfoliation. There are several easy, at-home ways to do so. And it has the added benefits of buffing away dry skin, stimulating the circulatory system and leaves your skin glowing and healthy.

Be good to your sunburn. No matter what, at one time or another, we all get a sunburn. So if you find yourself in this condition this summer, try a few at-home treatments. Dermatologist Patricia Wexler suggested using a cloth soaked in skim milk and ice as a cold compress to bring down inflammation and calm the skin. In addition, use pain relievers and apply aloe vera or hydrocortisone lotions. And drink water — always drink water.

How do you protect your skin all summer long? Stay safe in the sun!

We’re on the verge of the summer and it’s finally Memorial Day weekend! For many of us, that means a trip to the beach — or just a trip out of the city. For our stylish CEO Valerie McMurray, that means an excursion to NYC’s neighbor, Shelter Island. This is a great mini-vacation for the three-day weekend. So why is she spending Memorial Day Weekend in Shelter Island? She has a few great reasons.

“Hard to imagine it’s already Memorial Day, given the ominous clouds and cold, damp depressing weather in NYC,” says Valerie. “We’re heading east to Shelter Island for the weekend and we’re excited to hang out with friends, relax and get the house organized and ready to kick off the season.”

And she also has her favorite spots on the island. Here are her must-hit destinations:

1. The Carousel in Greenport: Take the kids!
2. Blue Canoe: Grab lunch here after the carousel. “Love their lobster salad and their fried oyster Po boy.”
3. Marie Eiffel: Valerie’s planning to do a little shopping at “my favorite store on the planet.” Valerie adds, “She has the chicest and most unique selection of clothes and accessories.”
4. Sunset Beach: “Can’t kick off the summer without a little rosé at Sunset Beach.”
5. “My husband Scott will drag us out on our doughdish for a family sail. Break out the foul weather gear!”

What are you up to this weekend? Enjoy the Memorial Day Weekend!

 

As we’re getting ready to go to the beach for the upcoming Memorial Day three-day weekend, we’re not only planning which swimsuit we’ll wear, we’re also looking at some flattering and sexy beach cover ups that will help protect our skin. We found several beautiful options through Refinery29. Here are our three favorites:

1. Nili Lotan® for J.Crew Beach Maxidress in Wood-Block Print: The design on this streamlined maxidress is adorable and summery. It’s a bit more coverup than you normally see on the beach but we think it’s just enough to go from beach to lunch and back again.

2. Graff Surfer Tunic: Showing off a little more leg, this bright and flowery tunic has the perfect combination of summery beach colors. It makes us want to fly to Hawaii, actually. While it’s a great accessory for the beach, this could even be a good outfit for a beachy party.

3. Albemarle Hoodie from Anthropologie: For a much more laid back look, we love this hoodie. It covers up just enough of our suit for the trip to and from the beach but we also don’t mind taking it off and stuffing it in our beach bag while we lay out or go for a dip in the ocean.

Are you headed to the beach this weekend? Make sure you enter our Ready for the Beach Giveaway on Facebook and get 20% off Soleil Organique instantly through the end of the month!