BlogHer - Self Tanner Tips and Tricks - Comments

Using it down under...

orlapeters — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:10:34 -0500

Fantastic tips. I may have missed the summer we had here in the UK, but it's definitely advice I'll use as I head to Australia for the next few months. Since they're coming into summer now, it's perfect timing to add these little tidbits of great info to my bag of tricks!

Thanks Susan, much appreciated.

Orla
Product Launch Manager

self-tanning

pinkmnms — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:16:52 -0500

Those are great idea's. I do the self-tanning. I looove the jergens natural glow express. I'll squeeze a little bit into the palm of my hand, but before I rub it on my skin, I will also add Vaseline's Cocoa Butter and mix it in then place it on the skin. It helps it go on better and keep it from looking streaky and splotchy, but natural. More tips? www.youngsinglebroke.blogspot.com

Great Self Tanner

Lauralaw — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:43:52 -0500

I found another self tanner that doesn't smell: Dr. Denese self tanning gel. You can get it on her website at www.drdenese.com or at QVC (qvc.com). It contains peptides and is good for your skin and you only need to use a small amount. I use it on my face and body, and it is the only one that hasn't made my face break out.

I also agree with the post by Patricia Allbee above about getting a little sun. I developed a vitamin D deficiency when I started working from home and rarely went out. Due to medical issues I cannot be in the sun very long, but I do try to get a little and take a vitamin D supplement.

Lastly, if you don't like the goopy lotion sunscreens, Bare Escentuals has come out with a new mineral powder SPF 30 that you can brush on your entire body. It comes in light, medium and dark and I use it every day - love it.

Sunscreen

Sheerilee — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:55:03 -0500

ShalilahThanks for reminding about sunscreen. I've learned my lesson about tanning. It took me three years to lose sunspots one time. Never again.

this year...

Kian Yamaguchi — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:30:18 -0500

I've decided to do the fake tan. I use Arbonne's self-tanner because I sell it and it really works LOL

http://mamafasha.blogspot.com my fabulous must-read blog ;)

http://MKSkinCare.myarbonne.com check out our new line FC5!

"Unprotected sun" is not always a bad thing

allbee — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:28:03 -0500

Being more sunscreen conscious (perhaps even sunscreen hyper) ever since I became a parent, I forget that we all need "un-protected sun" every day. I heard a presentation a few weeks ago from a nutritionist/dietician from Dallas' reknowned Cooper Clinic-- she said there is a Vitamin D deficit in a lot of the U.S. population right now (even though some foods are fortified with it) and if we just got 15 minutes of unprotected sunshine, I think she said 3 times a week, we'd all be better off. Vitamin D is vital to warding off a lot of health problems-- scientists are finding out more and more about its importance, so much so that newspaper articles (and the dietician) recommend that when we have our annual blood screen, we should ask our doctor to check our Vitamin D level. So now I try not to just get my "tan out of a can", and to remember to wait a little while before slathering on the Coppertone when I'm outdoors-- I know I spend most of my days, even beautiful, sunny days, indoors behind my computer (as do many bloggers), so I'm probably one of those deficient in D!

Patricia Allbee, www.uncoolmom.com

Great Suggestions!

selftanningqueen — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:33:38 -0500

Hi Susan!

Great tips! I have been a big supporter of safe sun and UV tanning alternatives for a long time! I created a blog to talk about all the things you mentioned which I think is so important! The more people are educted and realise that there are alternatives out there, the better off we'll all be! Skin cancer is not only happening to fair, lighter completion individuals!

Thanks for posting this!

Happy Glowing!

Self Tanning Queen

"Only she can spot the fake, the bake and the big mistake!"

Self Tanner Tips and Tricks

Susan Wagner — Mon, 18 May 2009 01:09:15 -0500

Summer is officially just days away, which means that it's time to dig out your swimsuit and stock up on sunscreen. Your goal for this summer should be to stay sunburn free -- and also suntan free, because sun exposure is sun exposure, and tanning damages your skin just like burning does. So slather on the SPF 50 and save your skin.

Not a fan of the healthy pale look? Opt for a self-tanner to fake the bake. Star Stevenson at Spendicity has these tips for getting the perfect faux tan:

1. Gently exfoliate your skin. You want a smooth surface for the
tanning agent to adhere to so the application isn’t streaky or patchy.
2. Moisturize your skin before applying self tanner. It will allow for a smoother application.
3. Set aside half an hour or more to apply the self tanner and allow it to dry. Don’t rush the application process otherwise you’ll get streaks and might miss some spots.
4. Tie your hair up or use a shower cap so it doesn’t stick to your skin.
5. Apply self-tanner lightly on areas where your skin is thickest (knees, elbows, knuckles, ankles).
6. Wash your hands immediately after application or save yourself the trouble and wear gloves.

The glove suggestion is brilliant! Thanks, Star!

What's the best self tanner? Well, it would be one that didn't have that distinctive self-tanner smell, right? BeautyDiva at Beauty is Easy has a suggestion:

Most companies have figured out how to make self-tanners streak free and give a natural looking color. But so far, the only company I’ve seen that has gotten rid of the stinky smell is Rodial. Some companies have reduced it and others have covered it up with even stinkier perfumes, but this product really does smell good.

I use a Neutrogena self-tanner, which really does have that self-tanner odor, although it's lighter than other tanning lotions I have tried; I put it on at night and sleep in a pair of ancient yoga pants. Then I can lather up in the morning and wash away the smell. But I would really love the alternative of a self-tanner that maybe smelled good. Or at least didn't smell like self-tanner.

What if you don't want to tan all over, and just want a little color on your face? Grab a bronzer! Marci Robin Zitner at Daily Beauty loves the Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Bronze Brightener, calling it the best bronzer for fair skin:

As soon as I laid eyes on it, I could see this speckled, pressed formula is clearly different from other bronzers. And it turns out, once applied, that the not-too-deep amalgam of glow-growing colors never looks heavy or highly contrasting. My skin simply looks healthier, brighter and warmer.

And -- my favorite part -- it's available in your local drugstore for about $14.00.

What's your secret to faking a summer glow? Or have you just decided to be pale this year?

Susan Wagner writes about style at The Working Closet and about chic suburban living at Friday Playdate.