Don’t know about you guys, but my summer and winter skin couldn’t be any more different! Dry, sallow, dull-looking would be the best words to describe what happens to my skin during winter, and that dewy, glowy complexion I tend to have during summer suddenly takes a bit of work to achieve! Yet, if like me, you are not ready to settle for that tired-looking complexion, putting in that extra work can make the world of difference. So, I though I’d take this opportunity to share a few favorite tips, tricks and products to get back to that luminous, glowy skin!
BODY EXFOLIATION: The most important trick to getting a beautiful, even-looking tan is having a good foundation to apply the tanning product on. Exfoliating is an absolute must in this case because it gets rid of dead skin cells that tanning products tend to cling to, which can leave you with an uneven-looking color. Another reason why exfoliating is a must is because it makes your tan last much longer. Committing to this step is absolutely essential! Though I must admit I change my body scrubs fairly regularly, the one I’m am using and loving at this point is LaLicious Extraordinary Whipped Sugar Scrub. Love it because it makes my skin feel super soft and smells absolutely amazing!
FACE EXFOLIATION: Just as it is important to exfoliate the body, it is important to exfoliate the face for all the same reasons. My favorite products to use to exfoliate my face and prepare it for tanning are Sisley Buff and Wash Facial Gel and James Read Tan Perfecting Enzyme Peel Mask. Together, they really get rid of the dead skin cells, old tan, and smooth out the skin preparing it for the tan application.
BODY TAN APPLICATION: I think I’ve tried every self-tanning product out there! No, honestly! Some were complete disasters, others were ok, but it wasn’t until I tried James Read self tanners that I was really, truly smitten! Best color ( and by that I mean most natural looking one ) without a doubt, they do not stain your clothes or sheets, and they do not have that “tanning product” smell you typically get. The application is super easy too—I just apply the product with my hands, no brushes or application gloves are necessary. Most of the time I use James Read Sleep Mask Tan and when my skin gets particularly dry, as it often happens in the winter, I switch James Read Coconut Melting Tanning Balm Face & Body.
FACE TAN APPLICATION: Once again, I love to use James Read products. Aside from the benefits I mentioned above, I absolutely love that the products don’t cause any break outs. I had always been hesitant to apply self tanners on my face because so many clog up your pores and break you out, so I was happy to find the products that didn’t do that. I like to use the James Read Sleep Mask Tan Face overnight and Tantour Sculpting Duo as my bronzer on the daily basis. It’s a bronzer that also acts as a self tanner! So after a few days of using it, I noticed a “natural” contour appearing—perfect for the no-makeup days! I like to apply the mask with my hands and the bronzer with an angled brush.
BODY GLOW: Personally, I love using a moisturizer that gives me a subtle glow and makes my skin look just a little more luminous. My favorite one to use is the This Works Perfect Legs Skin Miracle. I use it on my legs and arms ( I know it’s designed specifically for legs, but honestly it works pretty much anywhere ), and it really brings out the tan and gives my skin that dewy look I love. What I like about this particular one is the fact that it creates a very subtle, lit-from-within” glow, I call it “the way my skin looks after a good vacation glow”, not the shimmery, shiny kind of look.
FACE GLOW: To lay down the base for a glowy skin, I start with the Sisley Instant Eclat Instant Glow Primer. It gives me that “glow from within” look I really like and my foundation goes perfectly over it. As far as highlighters go, I like a few. I like the Marc Jacobs Beauty Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator applied on my cheekbones as well as collar bone and high points on my shoulders. It’s a beautiful highlight, and I love the compact design that I can take with me anywhere for a quick and easy touch up. My favorite powder highlighters are Edward Bess Meta Powder and Guerlain Météorites Pearls. I sometimes use them on their own or to set a cream based highlighter (using a cream based highlighter and setting it with the powder one really intensifies the highlight).
I hope this post answers your questions and as always, please feel free to ask me questions in the comments. I’ll be happy to answer!