We’d normally encourage wearing SPF 30 and advise fervently against baking in the heat for hours on end… but you’re not a turkey.

Add an extra dose of laughter to your festive meal of gratitude with these 5 simple steps, and have a sexy turkey time!

1. Size up your bird and become a swim wear designer. Using a scissor, cut aluminum foil in the shape of a bikini. Channel Rosa Cha for a couture-key.

2. “Dress” your turkey by smoothing the aluminum foil on flat.

3. Season with your favorite Thanksgiving herbs and spices and be heavy on this one ingredient: paprika. That’s the tanning oil. Pat on the “oil” and all the herbs, and make sure none gets under the bikini.

4. Bake in the oven as usual until half-done. Take her out, strip her down like a Greek in Saint Tropez, and shove her back in the oven nude for the rest of the cooking time.

5. Don’t tell your guests a thing! Watch their faces as you unveil your masterpiece, and ask the question every host and hostess across America will ask at that very same moment: “So… who wants a breast?”

Happy Thanksgiving! Whether you’re spending it with a large family, a few friends, or you’re grabbing a turkey sandwich at the deli in between work shifts, always remember to appreciate what you’ve got, know that the best is yet to come… and laugh as much as possible.

Play it smart in the sun!

The cast of the reality show Jersey Shore popularized the motto “gym, tan, laundry” (GTL for those in the know).  While the show places an importance on looking your best (or something like that), the emphasis on tanning can be a dangerous message. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health says that ultraviolet radiation, used in indoor tanning, is a proven human carcinogen. Nearly 30 million people tan indoors every year and they can receive as much as 12 times the annual UVA dose compared to regular sun exposure. In recognition of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, this May it’s time to make some changes. If you are tanorexic, make it a point to learn preventative measures against the sun while visiting the spa.

“As a melanoma survivor, I can personally attest to the importance of regular screenings and arming yourself with the tools offered at spas to protect yourself,” said ISPA President Lynne McNees. “It’s particularly important for teens to hear about the harmful effects of the sun at an early age, and the spa is the perfect place for them to learn how to properly care for their skin.”

Indoor tanning isn’t the only danger; too much time at the beach, pool or anywhere outdoors can lead to dangerous results. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually making it the most common form of cancer in the U.S. Even more disparaging news – up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun. It’s time to be proactive about sun protection, and now more than ever, spas are making it their responsibility to help you with products and treatments aimed to prevent and repair sun damage.

“Skin Cancer Awareness Month is a great opportunity for everyone to think about their skin and how to protect it,” said Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at the Mayo Clinic and ISPA’s Medical Advisor. “It’s especially important if you have increased risk factors for skin cancer such as fair skin, a history of sunburns or lots of moles.”

Are you addicted to being tan? You’re not alone, but it doesn’t make it any safer. If you’re going using a a tanning lotion like Maui Babe, always make sure you use SPF protection too. Try Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion with SPF 15 or higher—it’s a dermatologist-recommended, all natural, hydrating sunblock that does the job well. It kept my skin safe for ten straight days in Hawaii over the holidays, and I recommend if if you are looking for a reliable, nice-smelling sunblock that wont clog your pores. Akina Salon & Spa recommends BioElements for the best skin protection.

How did you weigh in? Last night on Facebook we asked what you do to protect your skin; read below for some inspiring stories warnings from your fellow Facebookers who’ve been there. Share your tips and stories in the comments—no matter what it is, May is the month to let others benefit from what you have to say about sun protection!

Image courtesy of kailanibeach.com

Last night at Hearst’s Real Beauty launch party in New York City, the REAL beauty who stood out most was undoubtedly the guest of honor Katharine McPhee, 25, who’s blossomed beautifully (and recently, blonde-ly!) since her debut on American Idol Season 5.

She appeared angelic with her new platinum blonde ‘do, a 3.1 Phillip Lim Resort 2010 white lace dress, knit ribbed white tights, and perfectly porcelain pale skin.

After wowing the small, pampered crowd with a couple songs from her new album, Unbroken, I had a moment to chat with her and ask the question on everyone’s lips: “Your skin is absolutely flawless! How do you do it?”

Take note: a creamy complexion like this takes no small commitment.

Katharine McPhee’s Top 5 Skincare Secrets:

• She gets a facial every 6 weeks from her Dermatologist Ava Shamban in Los Angeles She says, “If you don’t go every 6 weeks, things build up in your skin that you can never get rid of.”

• On a daily basis, she washes with Murad, her favorite brand of skincare.

• She also uses various products from her favorite professional skincare line, AVA-MD, created by Dr. Shamban.

• It takes more than just morning and night cleansing: she wipes her face down 3 or 4 times a day with a Glycolic cleansing pad.

• Skin protection is paramount. Katharine wears SPF 30 every single day, no matter the season. “You absolutely must!” she advised me. “You can’t take any chances when it comes to your skin.”

Tell us… how much effort do you put into your skincare regimen? Would it be worth it to you to take a time-out 4 times a day to cleanse and rework your face… if you could have skin like Katharine McPhee’s?

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Griffin/Hearst Digital Media

You could be using sunscreen wrong!

Spa Week Daily loves learning and sharing all the best products, treatments, news and information that the beauty/skincare industry has to offer. This morning we sent Spa Week staffers Samantha and Kaitlin to meet renowned dermatologist and host of DermTV Dr. Neal Schultz, who shared his very best expert tips on how to take care of your skin… turns out it’s all in the details. Just when you thought you had it down! (Scroll down for video.)

Dr. Neal Schultz’s 5 Skincare Rules:

1. For beautiful, healthy looking skin, you must be using the 3 key products.
- Antioxidants
- Sunscreen
- Exfoliates

2. Use sunscreen… and use it the correct way.
a. Always put it on before any other product; sunscreens are tested as the first product put on the skin so if you put other products on before the sunscreen, the SPF efficacy decreases.
b. Make sure your sunscreen contains UVA protection.

3. When using multiple skincare products make sure to layer properly.
Put lighter materials on before the heavier materials, so they can absorb properly

4. Know your skin type.
Most women don’t know their skin type and are using the wrong products. Learn what type of skin you have and make sure to use products properly. Ask a professional (or at least read the box!) if you’re not sure.

5. Make sure you are treating sun damage and wrinkles starting in your 20s.
Most sun damage has happened by the time you are 25, start treating it early by following rule #1 while you are in your 20s– it is never too early to treat sun damage and wrinkles.

Want to learn more about Dr. Schultz’s theories on skincare and how to treat different skin issues? Check out DermTV.com where Dr. Schultz hosts daily dermatology sessions, it’s like having a personal dermatologist in your home. He covers topics from breaking news in dermatology to preventing and repairing sun damage.

Start here, with this segment of Dr. Shultz’s Skincare Tips for Dry and Itchy Wintertime Skin:

Little luxuries are all around us if you know where to look – be it a bright red lipstick that makes you feel like a movie star on a Monday morning, a mini-facial that makes you glow inside and out, or a book that takes you to the other side of the world. These tiny everyday gems are anxiously waiting to be discovered by you and wrapped with a bow, and each chapter of the LLGG seeks to deliver a new morsel of inspiration to you and your holiday season. Fancy shmancy is out; it’s those legendary “small packages” that hold the key to a perfect season of giving.

The sun, the rain, the snow, the cold… no matter how much you may love any of these elements, there’s an inevitable, almost instinctual need to shield against them. Give protection with the utmost style and panache.

1. Sky Umbrella by Tibor Kalman, available at the momastore.org – $48

It’s always sunny in Philadelphia, but if you’re from elsewhere, protect them from the rain with a cheerful haven of cloudy blue skies.

2. Faux Fur Leopard Jacket by alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet, available at www.aliceandolivia.com – $385

It’s okay to fake it. Faux fur is having a big season, and this A+O one just happens to one of the cutest. Warm, fuzzy and fierce… protect from the chilly weather and any fashion faux-pas. 

3. Montecarlo Dog Coat, available at puppy-clothes.com – $28

Fido needs protection from the elements AND a holiday present too. This is a darling little jacket… I’m just hoping that’s faux-fur otherwise there are some serious off-kilter moral compasses at the puppy store.

*If you go beyond the puppy coat and get someone a pet this season, please FIRST be sure they 100% want it and are ready for it. Let’s keep the number of animals being given to shelters this February lower that ever before.

4. Love/Hate Convertible Chain Sunglasses, available at amorir.bigcartel.com – $250

There are no words to describe my obsession with these sunglasses. Googoogaga. If nobody gets these for me this holiday, I might have to listen to the website which commands: “just buy them and get it over with.”

5. Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 8-Ply, available at shopknitch.com – $42.50

A beautiful scarf-, hat- or blanket-to-be. A luxurious gift for a knitter or crocheter, and an inspirational gift for someone you think needs a little more relaxation time. Even though I never quite made use of my yarn ball and knitting starter kit from the Spring ’09 Ports gift bag… it still made an adorable gift.

6. Pom-pom slouch hat, available at ae.com – $29.50

Pom-pom overload in the chicest way possible. If you think they can keep a white hat relatively clean, they make the perfect accessory to a snowy day.

7. High-lasting SPF 50+ Sun Block by Laneige, available at yesstyle.com – $30

Remind them how important their skin is by investing in a top-of-the-line sunscreen with an over-the-top SPF factor.

8. Rouge Volupte Provocative Pink No. 10 by Yves Saint Laurent, available at saks.com – $34

As you may have noticed… I consider bright YSL lipstick a good friend of mine. What’s more, it has SPF to protect them too. Give six months of a beautiful, vibrant, haute couture smile.

You can’t protect from all everything– if the sun has gotten to their skin or they are one of those people whose joints get sore on a rainy day, give a gift to ease or protect against any further damage or discomfort. The spa is an invaluable source of health and wellness. Treat someone to a $100 SPA WEEK® Gift Card, on sale for just $80 this holiday season. They’re redeemable nationwide for massages, facials, acupuncture, haircuts, pedicures, med spa treatments and more. It’s also great protection against getting someone upset over an unwanted ball of yarn.