Your Best Summer Accessory
/
The summer is almost here. Nothing makes a sun dress or a pair of shorts look better than a golden bronze tan. But too much sun exposure can lead to skin cancer and prematurely age our skin. Luckily there are several ways to get that bronzed look without damaging our skin with UV rays. Today on Bridge Street I shared with Sistina few of my favorite ways to do that. Click on the photo above to watch the show.
Whatever you call it- spray tans, sunless tans, fake tans- the main ingredient in sunless tanning products is DHA which interacts with the amino acids in our skin to turn it a brown tan color. It’s approved by the FDA and approved by the AMA, American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation. Over the years the products have been perfected so good quality products will not turn your skin orange like they used to.
Now on today’s show, I didn’t have time to get into details about the services we discussed, so I’ll do it here and I’ll talk about my experience too. I just want to say that I am NOT a dermatologist or a skin care professional. My clients and friends will ask for my opinion on products like these and so I am happy to share them here and on Bridge Street. I know there are tons of great products out there so share them in the comments below because I love to learn more about other options.
The best way to get a perfect spray tan is to go to a professional who an airbrush your tan on. These are two I like:
Aubrey James at Lashes, Locks and Lips will apply the airbrush tan to you in a private room. I went to her to get my tan before the Boeheim Ball event and I felt like a million bucks. She’s extremely professional and it takes less than 5 minutes and then you are dry and ready to go out. The formula she uses is from South Seas which is natural and organic. (It’s the same product they use on dancing with the stars and the Kardashians.) You can visit her website lasheslockslips.com and text her to schedule an appointment at her Dewitt location. If you have a wedding party she can also travel to you.
Reena Elizabeth Mobile Spray Tanning comes to you. She just needs an electrical outlet and a room to set up a tent where she does the spraying, so a living room, basement, garage or pretty much anywhere. She uses a natural formula that she personalizes for you. It’s free of parabens, gluten, sulfate, nut allergens and is 100% vegan. One application is $40 and the entire process takes about 15 minutes. Now I haven’t used Reena’s services yet but she has a good reputation and I love the convenience of her mobile service so I can work it into my busy schedule. Her website is reenaelizabeth.com and on Facebook.
Now if you want a fast spray tan without making an appointment you should try Zoom Tan. There are many locations in the Syracuse area and you can just walk in. The all natural solution takes about 2 1/2 minutes to apply and lasts 5-10 days according to their website. They have a new open air booth so it blows you dry and you don’t have to worry about holding your breath like you used to years ago. The technology they use has changed a lot since I used it many years ago so I asked a friend of mine who has gone several times before special events what she thought. She says that as a working mom she loves the convenience and they often offer special deals and pricing. However she says that the color is not as reliable as when she gets it done by a professional with the airbrush service. Since you can drop in any time and they have so many locations, it’s definitely a convenient option that I would definitely try. Visit zoomtan.com for locations and information.
Do it yourself- become a pro! The more you practice applying it yourself the easier it gets. It’s a real treat to go get it done professionally but for every day I do not have the time, or the budget, to go every week all summer long. So I like to do it myself and here are a few tips I have found work best for me:
Exfoliate your skin with a washcloth or similar
Your skin should be clean but I like to add a little moisturizer to areas that tend to be dry and get darker such as knees, feet, and elbows. Some people like to use Vaseline to protect their hairline and eyebrows.
Apply the product and make sure you don’t miss any spots- start from the face and work down the body.
WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY. The palms of our hands don’t tan, but they will if you don’t wash the product off.
Most products need 8-10 hours to really work so it’s best to sleep with it on and wash it off in the morning.
I’ll apply about once a week, but I like to use a self tanning moisturizer every few days to keep my color on my legs fresh. In the summer I am outside a lot with my kids and I run outdoors so my face and arms get some good color. My legs are usually neglected so it’s really easy to apply a product like Jergens Natural Glow moisturizer because it gradually darkens your skin and is colorless.
And remember that self tanner does not protect your skin from harmful UV rays, so always use sunscreen when you are out. I am fair and have sensitive skin so I like to use Cerave Facial Lotion and Face Sunscreen because it uses a physical blocker, InvisibleZinc, to block UV rays. I wear a moisturizer with SPF year round but in the summer I like to use one with SPF 30 or higher on my face, neck and body. Don’t forget to apply to your ears and tops of your feet too. Your dermatologist can make some good recommendations too.
What sunless products and services do you love? Are you using sunscreen and if so, which is your favorite and why? I’d love to hear from you so comment below or email me at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com.