Style File: Iman

I love her brown drape dress, but I'm more interested in stealing her genes and beauty routine. She's 54 and looks AMAZING!!!!!!! She's set to co-host "The Fashion Show" on Bravo with Isaac Mizrahi. Bye-Bye Kelly Rowland....

Back in 2009, she shared with Allure Magazine one of her beauty secrets...SPF 50 sunscreen..told you so :)

"Patricia Wexler is my dermatologist, and 10 years ago, she told me to start wearing SPF 50 sunscreen on my face every day. At first I balked—I said, 'I have dark skin—I don't need that high of an SPF every day!' But I took her advice, and I'm convinced that's why my skin has stayed in such good condition. Women with dark skin often think they don't need to wear sunscreen, but everyone needs it—it has literally saved my skin."

Wellness Wednesday: Do I Really Need Sunscreen????

This weekend I went to the pool. The sun was so hot, it started to mess with my mind. At one point I thought I saw a mirage of Aiden from SATC. I had on a baseball cap, sunglasses, and SPF 50 on my face. As an adult, I've had to educate myself on the effects of sun exposure. Growing up, the winter was my concern. Cold weather and wind meant extremely dry and ashy skin.

The skin of African-Americans has been calculated to be the equivalent of a SPF 13 sunscreen. While African American women are 20 times less likely to have melanoma due to the extra melanin in our skin, it can be more deadly. Melanoma is normally diagnosed at a later stage of the disease, which unfortunately results in a much lower survival rate.

I don't count on my skin tone or genes alone to protect me from the effects of the sun. Since I'm most concerned about my face, my daily routine includes Eucerin Face Lotion SPF 30 in the summer, and Cetaphil SPF 15 in the winter. I also use MAC Mineralize Foundation SPF 15, and when I'm at the pool or beach, I use MAC Primer SPF 50.

Remember......the sun still has aging effects!!!!!! So regardless of your skin tone, SUNSCREEN IS A MUST!!!!! So lather up!!!!!