Bronzing with Benefits.

If you are a self-tanning worshiper such as myself, you may look for a self-tanner that had benefits beyond the beautiful bronzing.

One brand that I recently found that has a few different types of beneficial products in their self-tanning line up is St. Ives.  The line is called Healthy Brilliance. In the line are four products.

Brighten & Glow
This should be use prior to the actual bronzing products. This is made with natural sugar crystals to exfoliate while the added natural ingredients, including olive oil ester, leave your skin smooth, bright and glowing readying for your self-tanning product.

Firm & Glow
Using caffeine and ginseng, this moisturizer goes beyond a sun-touched glow to help naturally tighten and tone your skin.

Renew & Glow
With age-defying green tea and anti-oxidants, this body moisturizer helps you achieve a sun-touched glow and helps to reveal younger, healthier looking skin.

Protect & Glow
This is a body moisturizer with an SPF that helps protect your skin against harmful UV rays while it gently gets your glow on. And with the natural Shea butter, your skin feels softer and smoother as you use it.

I just started to use the Firm & Glow lotion to get my legs beautifully bronzed, and so far so good. The color is nice, and gradual. It has taken just about a week to get my legs where I feel they look nice and golden. Not too tan, but more naturally bronzed for Spring. 

You can buy St. Ives Healthy Brilliance products online at drugstore.com, while it can also be found at mass merchandisers nationwide.

Self-Tanning Do's & Dont's.

I received some great self-tanning tips from New York City's SAVA Spas' owner Joanna Czech. This celebrated esthetician offers her self tanning Do's and Don'ts to achieve the perfect tan - the safe way!  

Now, the Kardashian Sisters are always glowing and you know you want to look like that too.

DO
- Exfoliate Entire Body First concentrating on ankles, toes, fingers, elbows & knees
      Czech recommends: Nuxe Foaming Scrub
- Dry off completely
- Apply a small amount of product to avoid streaking. (Better to reapply than to over apply)
     Czech recommends: Lancome Flash Bronzer for the Body and Babor Self Tanning Lotion for the Body
- After applying to the sensitive areas (ankles, toes, fingers etc…), lightly brush over with a towel to remove excess product.
 - For the face, use a self tanner that is made for the face (Face products tend to have a lighter texture than ones for the body)
     Czech recommends: Babor Self Tanning Cream for the Face
- Wear loose, dark clothing afterwards

***Incase you mess up, have a tint remover for hair accessible (you can purchase in a beauty
supply store), they work well for quick removal
***If tanning for a certain event (ie. wedding, vacation, etc.), plan your tanning schedule
backwards from that date to be sure your sun-kissed look will be perfected in time!

DON’T
- Don’t wait for the day before a big event to try self tanning. Each person reacts differently and turns a different color
- Avoid exfoliating with scrubs that contain essential oils as they may leave a film on skin.
- Don’t mix lotion with your self-tanner
- Don’t forget your ears
- Don’t exfoliate for 1 week after applying
- Don’t workout the day of application
- Don’t shower 6-8 hours after applying 

SAVA Spa regularly treats celebrities like Kyra Sedgwick, Uma Thurman, Sting, and more. SAVA Spa is located at 211 Pinehurst Ave.  New York, New York. If you are in the city or visiting soon and want to make a Spa visit part of your trip, call 212-543-0008 to book one of the fabulous treatments they offer.

Welcoming Warm May!

Am I not the only one to wonder when we are going to have a significant warm up here in the Northeast?  We were teased with it a few weeks ago, but I need it now. The warm weather. Like everyday now. Please!?!

When the sun did shine down upon us and make us feel and warm and Spring-y, I started to get my glow on. Now, I am in full tanning mode. Oops, I just caught myself. That is my full self-tanning mode.

On my face, I am still using the Jergens Natural Glow FACE most days, and I still mix it up with the Bare Bronze Daily Glow Facial Moisturizer down my neck and onto my chest.

For my body, I have been testing out all sorts of new self-tanners, while still relying on old favorites as well. I have the most quirky mix of self-tanners, and the weirdest of routines. But they are working for me. I am taking notice as to which ones leave me darker, which ones need less product, the ones that last longer, the ones that smell the best/worst, and so on.  And before you ask, I am going to give you the scoop on each and every one. I just can't do it now, all at once. It would take f-o-r-e-v-e-r!

So...yes, I am teasing you a bit now. But I have so much more to cover for Mother's Day and still the latest beauty finds that I need to fit in for the Spring/Summer before they are over! ;) But I do plan to highlight a new one at least once or twice a week. And, this could go on well into the Summer, unless hubby notices that I am purchasing yet more self-tanner to try!!!

I would also love it for you all to get involved. Please share you self-tanner stories about product hits or misses too, in the comments.

Happy May!