Bronzed and Beautiful
With lighter evenings and warmer weather comes lightweight Summer clothes. That usually means short sleeves, shorts and just a whole lot more skin exposure. Whilst I'm not saying pale isn't beautiful I know most of my ladies prefer a little colour when the skin comes out.
So, what are the options?
Self-tan - so much better for you than too much sun exposure. And self tan formulas are improving all the time now. Take time to prepare your skin for best results - exfoliate, and then moisturise any dry areas - elbows, knees, ankles and possibly feet and hands too. Both feet and hands have a tendency to "grab" colour, so moisturiser helps to reduce that. Apply the tan evenly using a mitt that is designed specifically for it - most of the leading manufacturers offer them.
What brands do I recommend?
Well, there are loads but Isle of Paradise, which comes in light, medium and dark and various formulas. Vita Liberata - again they have a selection of shades and formulas, but the Body Blur is great for an instant hit of wash off colour. I've heard good things about Amanda Harrington, but it is pricey. And then there's the brands who have been around for a long time such as St Tropez and Bondi Sands.
Tinted moisturiser - while self tan formulas have improved no end, and there are plenty of options for the face, sometimes you might want just a little colour as part of a natural makeup look. A tinted moisturiser is a great way to give you that colour - keeping it light and fresh, and giving that boost of moisture we so often need as we mature.
Recommendations?
Renowned makeup artist Lisa Eldridge loves Max Factor Miracle Second Skin - it's actually marketed as a foundation, but it is very light weight with quite sheer coverage more like a tinted moisturiser. Meanwhile the YouTube makeup community are totally raving about NYX Bare with Me Tinted Skin Veil - available in 12 shades and only £10. Got to be worth a try - right?
Bronzer - another great option is bronzer - which can be used on your face and body. Having said that, I'd recommend keeping bronzer to neck, shoulders and décolletage - it's not the best choice for large areas like legs. Don't forget that it will rub off quite easily too, so think about light clothing.
Bronzer tends to deepen with the warmth of your skin, so if you don't normally use it, I suggest starting with a little bit, allow it to warm, then add a touch more if you want a bit more colour. Apply bronzer where you would normally naturally tan - cheeks, down the centre of your nose, temples and a little on your chin - don't put it all over your face at the same intensity or you could end up looking like you've got too enthusiastic!
Ones to try:
Too Faced Soleil Matt Bronzer - ideal for very pale skins
Marc Jacobs O! Mega Bronze Perfect Tan Bronzer - this is the one JLo often uses, and you know, if it's good for her...