Happy SUN-day!

Another Sunday in Summer. Another day to try out a few SUN-free tanning products, perhaps?  Yes, my obsession with self-tanning continues.

I tried two new self-tanners this week.

The first was Kiehl's Sun Free Self Tanning Formula ($22.50). This formula is a very lightweight lotion that dries awesomely quick. The cream is enriched with goodies such as Apricot Oil, Cocoa Butter, and Vitamin E. The goodies help it smooth on evenly so it is very easy to spread and rub in. You just have to do it pretty fast, as it does dry fast, like I said before. And it has a nice, clean cucumberish fresh scent. My color really started to develop in just over an hour, as I noticed my face getting slightly golden.

Next I tried Bath and Body Works Solar Power All-Angle Professional Airbrush Tan (regularly $15 on sale for $9). As my latest obsession is with these airbrush tanning formulas that can be easily sprayed in any direction, I had been eyeing this for some time. When sprayed, you are immediately surrounded in the nicest orange-vanilla scent - yum. You can see exactly where the formula is sprayed, as it goes on very wet. Unfortunately, you stay wet for a good ten or so minutes (did I spray too much?) and have to wait to dress until it is fully dry. The color developed slowly over about four hours, but the color was a nice rich golden one.

Summer's Best!

Lest we not forget that it is still Summer. With all of the info I have been reading about what is hot for the Fall, I remind myself - it's August and it's 90 something degrees. And I am tan (mostly from my love of self-tanning) and want to stay that way!

So, here are my favorite products I have been using this Summer.
 
To keep my face feeling moisturized and looking tan while at the pool or beach, I have been using XEN-TAN Face ($22). It is a facial self-tanner with a daily dose of treatment. The Face lotion contains Vitamin E for awesome antioxidant benefits while the blend of gentle fruit acids smooth my delicate facial skin. And the instant olive based color looks perfect when applied - and it helps make sure that I didn't miss any spots as well.

To keep my Summer body smooth and moisturized, I recently discovered Cake Beauty's Desserted Island Creamy Body Buffer ($24). This wonderful smelling (like vanilla frosting with a hint of coconut cream - yum!) cream is mixed with some of the world's finest ingredients: Apricot Seeds, Jojoba Beads, and Shea Butter. The Apricot Beads are finely ground and are used an a natural exfoliant, while the pink Jojoba Infused Beads use Jojoba Oil to gently moisturize and exfoliate, and the rich Shea Butter is added for it's regenerative emollient and protectant properties. While the directions say to use it 2 - 3 times a week, I am addicted, and use it in my shower daily.

While on the subject of my body, I hate to admit it, but I do miss a spot in my self-tanning ritual now and then. To remedy this, I turn to Benefit's Jiffy Tan ($24). Jiffy Tan is NOT a self-tanner, it is a tinted body lotion - think of it as a body bronzer, that instantly evens out self-tanning mishaps, or leaves pale white skin tan in  - you guessed it - a jiffy! I use this on my legs daily. It evens everything out and give them the darker color I crave. And it lasts, only coming off with a few minutes of scrubbing gently with soap (for this I suggest their Wonder Mitt). And be sure to wash you hands well after using too.

As far as makeup goes, I use different products for day and evening. 

During the day, I keep a minimalist approach in the high heat. Tarte's Rock Royalty Palette  ($30) does my entire face. The palette includes a mineral powder bronzer, which I apply first, over my forehead, chin, cheeks and nose, then a bit swept across my eyelids. Then I apply the powder blush on the apples of my cheeks and blend over my eyelids too. Then I take the gold high lighter and apply that on my brow bone. Whoola! Now a quick lip is easy with Benefit's Color Plump ($20) in Yoo Hoo, a perfect natural honey color. And the extra little plumping you get from this pencil (yes, plump from a pencil) is a great bonus - it makes my lips look a bit fuller and healthy! And eyes are simply complete with a quick mascara application. I am really liking Bobbi Brown's No Smudge Mascara ($20) in black for a natural look - with the benefit of it not running or smearing from the heat and humidity.

In the evening, when I am apt to wear more makeup, I have been using a few products faithfully, while mixing in color now and then. As I use no foundation in the Summer, I start out using XEN-TAN's Perfect Bronze  ($28) powder bronzer to enhance my natural (self) tan. It is silky smooth (never cakey or dry looking) and is best applied naturally where the sun would tan you more: swept over the forehead, then down over the nose and chin, then swept from side to side over the very tops or the cheeks and across the nose again.  I simply top this off with a light dusting of MAC's Studio Fix ($24) in NC40, my perfect Summer tan shade, to set it while it helps even things out just a bit more. On my eyes I vary the colors by outfit or event, and I have been using a lot of Bourjois, especially their new Intensely Luminous Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow ($13.50). They have long wearability, and the light reflecting pigments really catch the light at night. Parme Electro, a beautiful violet and Rose Disjoncte, a real pure pink are my favorites. Eyeliner is a must for me at night, and I have been picking shades from my Smashbox Cream Eyeliner Palette ($32). They are full of pigment, and the cream formula makes application a cinch and they last all through the night.  To top off my eye look, I am loving DuWop's Lash Lacquer ($18) in Carbon Black. It is a two step product, making it easy to first add long and thick lashes before using the second coat to top the lashes with an orange oil that adds gloss and makes the lashes waterproof. For the lips, I am a gloss queen in the summer. Lipstick need not apply!!! My favorites are MAC's Tinted Lipglass and Ligelee ($14) in various shades, Estee Lauder's High Gloss ($16) in Honey, Flamingo, and Bronze, and my newest favorite YSL's Golden Gloss ($25.50) in Simply Gold and Golden Pink. YSL is a bit expensive for a gloss, but these glosses actually contain real 24K gold in them - and they are about the most beautiful glosses with any hint of gold I have ever used.

Please do not forget that Summer is still here, and keep using your Summer's Best!

A GlowFusion Alternative.

If you have been searching for GlowFusion reviews, you have come to the right place. We have more than a handful of reviews from real people, and you can read all about them here: A Beauty Breakthrough  

Not having the best experience with GlowFusion myself, I thought I would recommend my GlowFusion Alternative.

ModelCo Tan Airbrush In A Can  is my alternative of choice.  With a 360-degree nozzle spraying the finest of mist to cover every body area evenly, this self-tanner is the closest to GlowFusion - but with better results, for me anyway.

The Coverage: Great! The mist sprays out very fine, and if you take your time and spray slowly, you get very even coverage. I recommend buying the tinted version first to get a feel of how the spray works. Areas like the back of arms and legs, even the neck are easy to reach with this spray. I like this best for my neck, back, chest and arms. Hands are a breeze with this formula. All you do is keep your fingers closed tightly to avoid staining the palms, and spray lightly a bit further from your hands than you would normally spray your body, and you get a very light coverage. With you hands, remember that less is more!

The Smell: Very slight. When initially spraying the formula, you smell a scent of cocoa butter in the air. It is very light and fresh. The smell of DHA is ever so faint, and really doesn't appear until the color is fully developed in 3 - 4 hours.

Drying Time: Fast! If sprayed correctly, this self-tanner dries within 2 - 3 minutes. If you are spraying so much that you see your body wet, you are spraying too much.

Staining: The translucent formula does not stain or transfer anywhere. You can dress as soon as you are dry or slip right into white sheets and not worry. The original formula that leaves color when sprayed, will leave a residue on everything it touches as you spray. I spray it in an area of my basement with old sheets on the floor. Do not spray this version in the bathroom as you will notice a build-up of colored dust that is a real pain to clean. When using the colored formula, wait a good 15 - 20 minutes before dressing or slipping between the sheets.

Lasting Time: 5 - 7 days! REALLY, I spray myself with this once a week. Sometimes I will apply it after 5 days if I want to darken up a little more, but plan on a full body spray at least once a week.

Price: ModelCo Tan Airbrush In A Can comes in three sizes, 1.7 oz (good for 1 - 2 complete body sprays) for $7, 5.3 oz for $28, or 7.8 oz for $36.  ModelCo Tan Translucent Airbrush In A Can  comes in just one 5.3 oz size for $28.