Posts tagged Clarins
Second Day of Style – Get a Holiday Glow
Dec 22nd
Are you vacationing in Bali this holiday season? Me either. However, if you’d like to fool people into thinking you just got back from an exotic location, or if you just want a little extra color, stay tuned. Today is the second day of style, and it’s all about completing your look by achieving the perfect faux-glow…just in time to take on every end of the year event you’ve got scheduled.
The safest option for tanning is always UV-free, whether it’s a spray, lotion or just an excessive amount of bronzer. (Think you can’t bronzer your entire body? Think again.) If you have the time and the resources, getting a custom airbrush tan is the best way to achieve a flawless glow. This can take a little research, and if you can’t find the right airbrush place, a spray-tanning booth works great too. Before any appointment, make sure to exfoliate and moisturize with a water-based lotion for the best results. I have found that if I have an event, it’s best to get an airbrush tan two days prior or go to a spray tan booth 24 hours before the event.
There’s always the do-it-at-home option, which wins the most convenient category. If you’ve never done it before, it might be a little much to use a self-tanner right away. You can start slow with a gradual tanning lotion, I like L’Oreal Sublime Glow, and go with a shade category slightly darker than your natural color. So if you have fair skin, go with the Medium skin tone option for a better result.
If you’re ready for self-tanner, cream is the way to go over mousse, which can leave you with very little color. I like Clarins Delicious Self Tanning Cream since the bronzing agent in it allows you to see where you’ve already applied it. I’ve found that applying it in straight lines – rather than a circular motion – creates a more even application. You can also try an at-home spray, which usually works best on isolated body parts like your legs unless you happen to have a steady hand and a lot of practice. Sephora has great options for you brave tanners, and enough choices to match any desired skin tone. If you have a willing friend, he or she can be your best secret weapon when spraying yourself, making sure that it’s applied evenly. With the right product, this can also be a great last-minute option. I’ve seen Sally Hansen’s Perfect Legs work a miracle at the eleventh hour, since it’s an instant spray and not one that you have to let sink in.
If you don’t want to deal with sprays or lotions, there are little things you can do to flatter any complexion. Wearing navy or purple hues will complement a fairer skin tone, while sporting something in an orchid shade will actually give you a slightly tanner appearance. You can also apply a subtle amount of bronzer for just a little color boost to your face and shoulders. Take any bronzing brush, blow off any excess bronzer, then sweep it across your face in what I like to call a 3-pattern. Start in the middle of your forehead, and sweep the brush over your brow bone and to your temple, creating a “3” shape over the side of your face. Repeat on the other side and you will look naturally sun-kissed just in time for your event arrival.
Just like the perfect blow-out (which is another post coming soon), a tan is just another finishing touch on top of your perfect party outfit. Let us know what your faux-glow secret is on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/staconsignment) or sound-off on Twitter (@STAconsignment). Until tomorrow, party fashioniSTAs!
~Ashley, FashioniSTA
Get That Summer Glow, No Sun Required!
Jul 23rd
You don't need UV rays to get a tan like this
As the palest person this side of Iceland, I have become an expert at sunless tanning. If you are like me and your skin will never bronze past an unflattering shade of red, sunless tanning products are going to be your new best friends this summer. From a subtle glow to an all-around tan, there are a multitude of methods you can take to make sure that your faux glow is fabulous (and non-orange).
If you are a tanning newbie, don’t fear. I was once fair and unaware 24/7 (instead of just the days I’m lazy and put zero effort into not looking like a member of the undead). My advice would be to go all out your first time to see if you like yourself with a tan, which I’m willing to bet money that you will be. The safest bet to your first tan is with a custom airbrush, which generally runs between $25 and $65. Not every tanning salon does this, so call in advance to ask about their services. Airbrushing is not the same as a spray tan booth. This is when a trained professional takes an airbrush machine and sprays it on you. This is the first class version of tanning. The most expensive option, but it is definitely worth it, especially for a special event. The professional will talk you through the process and make sure that your tan is even and natural looking. If you get lucky, the airbrusher might also spray your tan on to contour your abs or make your legs look thinner. So count the extra cost of the airbrush against the money you’ll be saving on dieting.
Another option is a Mystic Tan booth, which generally costs $20-$30 a session. Instead of a person airbrushing you, you will stand in a booth while it mists you with tanner. On your first time, one of the tanning salon employees will walk you through the process, but the most important thing to remember is the barrier cream lesson. The salon will provide you with a thick lotion – known as a barrier cream – that you will put on your hands, feet and nails to prevent them from tanning. Apply thickly to your nails and palms, and then put a thin layer on the back of your hands and on your heels (or any other dry area, such as your elbows or knees).
Clarins "Delicious" Tanning Cream
If leaving your house isn’t high on your priority list – and with the multiple heat waves, I don’t blame you – there are great at home options as well. The best one, in my humble and sun-kissed opinion, is Clarins “Delicious” Self Tanning Cream. It has a small amount of bronzer in the cream which allows you to apply it more evenly because you can actually see where you have already applied. Tanning gels and mousses usually go on clear, which makes it difficult to apply evenly. There are also drugstore brands that you can use, just make sure you rub them in completely in a circular motion to ensure a no streak tan. Also, after any of these products, you need to scrub the palms of your hands with a wet washcloth so you don’t look like you were finger-painting with just the orange paint.
After any sunless tanning, you need to wait for the tanner to sink in. This will generally take around 6 hours, but I leave it on overnight for the best and most even tan. The most important steps in any sunless tanning method: exfoliate and moisturize. Before any sunless tanning, exfoliate your entire body and apply a water-based moisturizer where needed. Once you shower, moisturize religiously, it will extend the life of your tan significantly. At any tanning salon, you can buy a lotion designed to help you maintain your tan. This lotion is the best option for maximum results, but any moisturizer will do.
Finally, if going gradual is your M.O., you can always go with a lotion that offers a hint of self tanner. Word to the wise: choose a lotion for skin one shade darker than your natural color. For example, although you might be considered “Fair,” go for the “Medium” lotion. It won’t look unnatural and your glow will be a little more noticeable. You will still have to apply once or twice a day for a continuous period of time to maintain a subtle glow, but with a lighter shade you might not even notice a difference. I also like to use L’Oreal’s gradual lotion because it has a hint of sparkle in it, but maybe you’re not as drawn to glitter as I am, in which case any drugstore brand – like Neutrogena – is a great pick. For a quick fix on your arms or legs, apply an airbrush tanner like from Sally Hansen, it’s a great pick when you’re in a rush.
Remember, nothing completes a summer outfit like a summer tan!
~Ashley, fashioniSTA, Second Time Around