SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Since sun exposure is one of the leading causes of premature aging, it's only logical that skincare companies would develop products that combine anti-aging technologies (from nourishing antioxidants to amino acids and peptides that stimulate collagen production and repair damaged cells) with proper UV protection. Aloette has definitely taken these factors into account with its offerings, which help to tighten and hydrate skin, while also protecting it from sun exposure. Pictured above are three of Aloette's leading products to get you through the summer: the Dual Action Bio C Vitamin C powder, the Multi-Active Prevention Plus Day Treatment and the Cellular Day Defense Firming Complex with SPF 15.

The Multi-Active Prevention Plus Day Treatment is a lightweight serum that protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays, as well as from free radical damage (through the inclusion of Vitamin E), and which nourishes the skin with antioxidant-rich ingredients like green tea and pomegranate extract. Collagen production is induced thanks to Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, helping to smooth out any existing lines and wrinkles. But the most interesting aspect of this product is that it relies on Micrococcus Lysate (a restorative enzyme) andLecithin (a fatty tissue found in plant and animal cell membranes) to repair past DNA damage at the cellular level, hence rewinding the clock a bit.

I've heard people say that wrinkles are a natural phenomenon, a map of one's varied life experiences, a sign of the wisdom accrued through the years. I smile when I hear these beautiful, romanticized observations about aging and wrinkling. But, at the same time, I can't help but wonder if we developed these explanations because we wanted to rationalize something we couldn't change, because we were powerless to remove wrinkles and hence had to find a way to make their emergence all the more bearable. I suppose these two sides of my psyche are the idealist and the cynic in me duking it out. And, while the sight of elderly folks is beautiful to me, I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't admit that, when it comes to my own self, I have difficulty accepting my growing older (and, much less, the evidence of said phenomenon). So for me, a little Benjamin Button action comes as a welcome relief.

But back to Aloette's time capsule-esque technologies. For added protection from environmental stress factors (and to stabilize collagen production), you can mix the Dual Action Bio C Vitamin C powder with the serum. You can literally pump a dab of serum to the palm of your hands, shake a few of the nano-sized vitamin C particles into it, then rub your hands together to create an even mixture, and smooth onto your face.

At first, I was a little confounded by the whole experience. I found it difficult to shake the vitamin C powder out of its compact pot and, when a few particles did manage to come loose, it didn't seem like quite enough (then again, the instructions merely suggest you shake "a small amount" onto your hands, which is hardly a specific quantification). But I did notice that when I applied the serum onto my face, it almost instantly looked more radiant. The "youthful glow" which so many products claim to deliver is actually attainable with this mixture.

To finish the daily regimen, you should add the Cellular Day Defense Firming Complex with SPF 15, which includes grape, honey and meadow sweet extracts to exfoliate and hydrate the skin, antioxidant-rich pomegranate, grape seed and green tea extracts to nourish it, and vitamins C and E to protect you from the sun's harmful rays. Though slightly sticky, the day cream does provide ample protection from the sun and it smells like citrus, energizing your skin and your spirits for the full day ahead of you.

Aloette Dual Action Bio C Vitamin C powder, $39.95; Aloette Multi-Active Prevention Plus, $49.95; Aloette Cellular Day Defense SPF 15, $59.95. Visit Aloette.com