Paradise in a Bottle

There's nothing better than the smell of "summer". Whether it be that gorgeous smell of coconut or the sweet smell of freesia or honeysuckle. Whatever your "summer" fix is for the winter blahs, perhaps dabble in True Blue Spa's "Glow & Steady" a daily moisturizer, SPF 15 and gradual self tanner. Smells AMAZING! I usually start with L'Oreal's Sublime spray on self tanner, and maintain with Glow and Steady. The colour is a deep bronze, never orange.

Other self tanners have that awful DHA smell, but this product reminds me of the beach. The scent lasts on your skin all day, and also has a lot of moisturizer in it to keep your skin hydrated. I noticed with a lot of self tanners, especially in the winter, really contributes to dry skin.

Glow and Steady Daily Moisturizer and Gradual Self Tanner SPF for Body has been endorsed and recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.  This is a great product for using all year long and safe.  It can be purchased online or in store from Bath & Body Works.  

Tips to Applying a Gorgeous Self Tan:

1.  Skin Preparation - If you have dry skin--and most of us do when it comes to arms and legs--start prepping a few days before applying the tanning product. Moisturize two to three times a day, especially right after bathing. Use a gentle exfoliant all over three days beforehand as well as the day of applying self-tanner (beforehand). Also, apply a thick salve-like cream to especially dry parts like elbows, knees and hands and let it soak in to soften skin. Self-tanner will "grab" on especially dry areas and look unnatural, so get those areas softened before proceeding.
2. Before Applying - Test the self-tanner on an inconspicuous part of your body (like the inner elbow) before slathering it on all over. I know you never test, even though you are always warned you that you must, but trust me on this one. Self-tanner doesn't wash off easily at all. Testing will save you from having an hilarious story that you won't find funny.
3. Start with clean dry skin - Give yourself a few minutes if you've just bathed to ensure that your skin is completely dry. Do not apply any lotion/moisturizer, you might get uneven patches that will be hard to correct. Also, with dry, unmoisturized skin, it will be easier for you to tell if you've missed a spot.
4. Work Quickly - Whether it's spray, cream or gel, the key is to work quickly and evenly. Cover a single area all at once. If you're doing a leg, don't do the lower leg, then the knee and then the thigh; do the entire leg at once. Use enough self-tanner so that you can get the whole leg at once, working quickly. (It's good to practice with lotion a few days before, just so that you're used to quick, all over coverage.) And work evenly. I've found that downward, fanning strokes worked best for even coverage.
5. Go lightly on knees, ankles, elbows and chest
   These are the areas that typically have dry skin patches, so just barely brush over them. You can always apply more if you want.
6. Wash hands often. If you're doing your whole body so that you won't have tan lines, wash the palms of your hands at least once during the application. This stuff works fast. Your palms will have the most exposure, which is another reason to work quickly. And absolutely wash your hands when you're finished. You want colour on the top of your hands, but you don't want your cuticles and palms to look like you've been playing in wood stain. Rub your hands with soap, and rinse both top and bottom of hands, and use a fingernail brush lightly on their cuticles (if you have a fingernail brush that is).
7. Don't touch anything! The instructions on some of these products state that you can dress immediately or within 30 minutes of application, but most suggest waiting one to two hours. I usually wait around 10 minutes depending on the product. If you feel "dry" then you probably are. Otherwise paint your nails, fix your hair, and let at least an hour go by before putting something on. And don't sit on any white sheets or furniture (just sit on a dark-colored towel).
8. Don't Shower! Ever again. Just kidding. But wait at least three hours before swimming or showering.

Maintenance Your tan will last a long time if you continue to use the product. It will start to fade once you discontinue use (obviously). You don't have to wait for your entire tan to be gone before reapplying. When you first begin to notice that your color is fading, go ahead and reapply. Reapplying will also give you a better idea of how dark you can go.

True Blue Spa products are available in the states at Bath & Body Works. 

MAC SUNDRESSING

Wow, how can you tell summer is here? Considering my apartment's temperature wouldn't go down under 75 degrees, and the duvet is officially off the bed, and I'm going bare legged to work, I would say, yessss! Finally!

So, with that said, and you can tell from my recent posts, that I am completely infatuated in looking tanned. I love wearing white and bright colours this time of year to even heighten the "illusion" in looking darker than I really am.

Last summer, I bought 2 bottles of the MAC SUNDRESSING. It's an amazing product. Better than the Smashbox Body Lights Bronzer

It's a soft mousse formula, that dispenses onto the skin via a pump. DO NOT be afraid of this product. It actually looks like chocolate syrup when it comes out of the pump, but it blends so nicely, and it smells delightful! You can use this everywhere! Spreads easily over face, legs, arms, shoulders and décolletage and it's water resistant. It's wonderful for those nights out when you are wearing a skirt or shorts and you want your legs to look really dark. Don't bother wearing this product when it's extremely humid. It will pill off and make you look like you have DIRT on your skin! HA!

Available in 4 shades. Medium, Medium Dark, Dark and Deep Dark (best one). About $22.00 for the bottle at MAC.

Aveeno Continuous Radiance

I really enjoy Aveeno's Continuous Radiance lotion. The formula combines natural soy with a subtle color enhancer to help even out skin tone and texture while gradually deepening skin's natural color, for visibly healthy and natural-looking skin that's not orange or streaky. The exclusive formula also helps smooth out skin's imperfections -- bringing out skin's natural radiance.

I've tried a lot of moisturizing "gradual" skin enhancers, but I've found that they are really smelly, greasy, or you have to wait too long to see the colour. I've used the lotion for 3 days now and noticed the colour is nice golden brown. I use it on my face too.

It's a wonderful moisturizer for morning and before bed. I am fair-skinned, but I tried this in "Medium" instead of fair. At $8.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart or any drugstore, I think that is fairly priced compared to similar products. The product just looks like any other Aveeno lotion and is not in any special "tanner" location.

The creamy white lotion goes on smoothly and blends quickly. The colour is quite good, similar to the other "daily radiance lotions" I've tried but maybe a tad more brown/realistic on me (instead of orange or yellow-toned like some). It seemed to develop rather quickly and without any obvious streaks or blotches. I've been using self-tanners over a decade now and I must say that the daily lotions are perfect for a slight tan without a lot of mistakes and hassle, and they are also good if you are just starting to try self-tanning.

Let me know what you think?

Self Tanner for Men? Of Course!

Nivea for Men, has released Summer Look Moisturizer. Daily moisturizing care for facial skin, that gradually builds a natural looking summer tan, matching to your natural skin tone. Formulated with Nivea's CARE PRO TEC: the professional care technology that immediately activates and supports the natural functions of men’s skin.

Appearance Enhancing Facial Care
Effective moisturising formula with Hydra-Tan complex, Vitamin E, Provitamin B5 & UV Filters (SPF 8)
-Acts with skin’s own amino proteins to produce a even, streak free tan.
-Moisturizes and hydrates immediately.
-Protects skin against harmful sun damage and everyday environmental factors.

Results -Healthy & natural looking summer tan in 3 days.
-Moisturized, smooth and supple skin.

Skin compatibility dermatologically approved. Available at Shoppers. Not sure how much it is, but I would guess it's no more than $20.00.

Tanning Bed in a Tube?

Well, there is... sort of! A safe tanning bed. Introducing Too Faced's Tanning Bed in a Tube.
"Tanning Bed in a Tube" is an instant gel bronzer, with a gradual self-tanner built right in.

While, I'm a big fan of spray self tanners, this one is a gel, and I found the texture and the application very easy, and no streaks, which is OBVIOUSLY important!

Too Faced's Tanning Bed in a Tube is $22.50 at Sephora. I spent only 10 minutes at Sephora yesterday, however I managed to also check out the rest of the Too Faced Summer Line. Stay tuned!

Did I mention how much I loved summer and being tanned??? (Artifically of course, when I can.)