Posts Tagged ‘self-tanning’

Bronzing with St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse

Spring is here and we’ve had a few sunny days already! You know what that means… almost time to bring out the shorts, tanks, and flip-flops again. Hooray! But before I rearrange my wardrobe, I need to get a bit of colour on my skin. I definitely steer clear of the tanning salons as I don’t want to cause any damage or unnecessary aging to my skin. Did you know that tanning bed rays are just as harmful to your skin as the sun?

St-Tropez sunless tanning products

I’ve tried all different self-tanners and the one that I’ve fallen in love with is the St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse. Its streak-free formula and easy application gives me natural-looking colour with no odor. With most self-tanners, you apply the product then wait for about 6-8 hours for the color to develop. One thing I like about St. Tropez bronzing mousse is that it gives you an instant bronze because of the dark color so you don’t have to wait the 6-8 hours to see your tan! This is great if you are looking pasty and you need to put on a swimming suit or shorts. You apply the product and that’s it; you’re ready to go! If you’re going out at night and want some instant color on your legs it gives you instant color, but also develops more long-lasting color over the next few hours.

St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse

Here are some tips on application:

1. Exfoliate your skin first to smooth and remove dead skin cells for even colour distribution.
I recommend Eminence Pear & Green Apple Sugar Scrub…It smells fantastic!

2. If your skin is dry or has dry areas you may apply an oil-free moisturizer

3. Using the St. Tropez Application Mitt, quickly apply mousse all over body using a buffing movement. Go sparingly over elbows, knees, and feet.

4. Product may also be applied to face using a small amount and applying right into hair line. Don’t forget the ears and neck.

5. Let product penetrate for a few minutes before you put on loose-fitting, dark-coloured clothes.

6. After a few hours your color will have developed and you can just shower off the tracer colour

7. If you would like a deeper tan – just re-apply!

Eminence Pear & Green Apple Sugar Scrub

To maintain your tan be sure to keep your skin hydrated and don’t exfoliate until you are ready to re-apply. An instant bronze without the wait…I love it!

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog! Feel free to leave your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

Self Tanning Tips and How to Avoid Common Mistakes

Self tanning products give you color without any risk of UV exposure, and can also be applied at any time convenient to you. Radiating yourself under a hot summer sun is no longer considered a beauty treatment. You can “get a tan” before bed without fear of developing skin cancer.

Self tanning products use the active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA) to color the upper layer of your skin, the epidermis. When the DHA reaches the epidermal skin cells, it attaches itself to amino acids to produce a brown pigment known as melanoidin, resulting in a nice tan. But because the epidermal cells are dead, we constantly shed them – so your sunless tan will last for a few days.

There are a wide variety of sunless tanning products out there, each with its own color shade and method of application, so you will be able to find the color you want, and will also be able to pick the application method that best suits you, whether you want to “spray on” your tan or rub it in. Today’s formulas are light-years ahead of those bizarre orange concoctions of decades past. A great sunless tan can be indistinguishable from the real thing; the key is a good product and a skillful application.

We compiled some self tanning tips for you on how to avoid common mistakes:

What you may need

• a place to take a shower or bath
• exfoliating loofah, body mitt, body scrub or lotion
• skin moisturizing lotion
• self tanner (spray or lotion)
• sink to wash your hands frequently or alternatively surgical gloves
• Cotton balls or a cosmetic sponge
• a band or clip to keep hair off of your face
• a fingernail scrub brush.
• If you are going to apply self tanner to your back, make sure you have a sponge paintbrush with a long handle or a friend handy (wink, wink) who can follow your directions.
• You may also want a loose outfit, such as a light robe, to wear while the self tanner is drying.
• Optional for quick fixes: hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice or baking soda

Choose your shade. You want something that will compliment your natural skin tone. If you have blinding white skin, start with a product labeled light. You may be able to work your way up to a medium over time. With today’s natural looking products it’s kind of hard to go wrong, but if you apply deepest darkest glow to porcelain skin, you can still turn yourself into “the joke of the day” with your co-workers. Products marked deep or dark look best on people who have naturally dark complexions and tan very easily.

Here’s some recommended products at Spa Boutique:

• For porcelain skin tone - ST. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan Mousse (gradual tan that you can build up) & Application Mitt
• For mid Ranged skin tone – ST. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse & Application Mitt
• For darker tones - ST. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse (re-apply the following day to deepen your color) & Application Mitt

Exfoliate. You’re supposed to exfoliate and moisturize before using a self-tanner, but most people don’t do that until right before they apply the product.  Prepare your skin by exfoliating every morning in the shower a few days before you apply self-tanner. Sunless tanners work by coloring the dead surface layers of your skin. So, the faster the dead skin cells flake off the faster you lose your tan. Dry rough areas also tend to absorb more tanner and become too dark. If you don’t exfoliate, you’ll end up with some really dark areas and some areas where the color is peeling off. The overall effect is splotchy one.

Exfoliate with a body scrub, loofah, body brush, or glove. Pay special attention to rough areas like knees, elbows, ankles, and the tops of your feet. Don’t get carried away though, you want to have some skin left when you’re done! Shaving also exfoliates, so it’s OK to do that a day ahead of time too. (Exception: Don’t shave your legs if you have sensitive skin because the tanning lotion can cause a reaction. )

Dry off. After bathing and exfoliating, allow yourself and the room to dry off. If you are applying the self tanner in the bathroom, you do not want the room to be steamy. Nor should the room be so warm that you’re sweating because it can result in streaks.

Avoid the dreaded bronze palms. Follow one of these two tips or your hideous glowing copper hands will scream to the world that you have a fake tan.

1. Wear gloves. Someplace on your bottle of tanner it will tell you to wash your hands when you’re done. If you wait until you’re done to wash your hands you’ll never get the stuff off. Spare yourself the trauma and pick up a box of latex gloves at any drugstore. Get the kind without powder (usually surgical gloves). (Powdered ones will leave a little bumpy, streaky powder trail through your tan.) Use a cosmetic sponge (normally used for foundation) to put self-tanner on the back of the hands to the top of the fingers.
   OR
2. Even better – use an application tool like the St.Tropez Application Mitt which allows an even application and clean hands!

Avoid streaking. When applying the tanner, work slowly and rub the product in completely. Apply the self-tanner using long sweeping movements, and then go over the area again with wide circular movements. In other words, if you apply self-tanner in streaks, you’ll get just that: a stripy, very unnatural looking tan.

If you’re prone to streaks, we recommends using a lotion (instead of quick-drying foam), which will give you more time to smooth out uneven areas. Next, use a light moisturizer on extra dry areas, like knees and elbows (dry skin tends to absorb more self-tanner which can lead to an uneven, patchy result). Fortunately, many self-tanners are now tinted so you can see exactly where you’re applying them-and spots you might have inadvertently missed.

Legs first. Do one whole leg at a time. Remember that knees and feet tend to be dry areas that can grab too much color. If you’re paranoid about blotches apply a little bit of regular lotion to these areas before you start. If you don’t want freakish spotted toes, don’t apply tanner directly to the tops of your feet. Carefully blend some down from your legs for a more subtle effect.

Work your way up. Do your torso, neck and face next. If you’re using a spray and you’re fairly flexible you can reach the middle of your back without help. If you’re using lotion and you’re stiff as a board, find an assistant to help you with your back. You may also be able to pull it off using a sponge on a stick.

Dry skin techniques . When applying the tanner, you’ll get the most natural look if you dilute the self-tanner with an equal amount of moisturizer before applying it to your feet, ankles, elbows and knees, as well as to the inside of your arms and under your chin.

Treat your face differently. Use a special self-tanning formula for the face. These formulas contain less oil than the body formulas thereby decreasing the chance of clogged pores and breakouts. This probably goes without saying, but don’t spray yourself in the face. Put some tanner in the palms of your hands, rub your hands together and then apply it to your face. Be sure to blend it into your hairline and into your jaw and neck area. You don’t want to get any in your eyes, but you do want to carefully blend around them to avoid a masked raccoon effect. If you have short hair, don’t forget your ears.

The secret arm technique. If you look at somebody with a natural tan, the tops of their arms are usually slightly darker than the underside because of the increased sun exposure. To mimic this effect with you self tan. Apply the tanner to the top of your arm only and carefully blend it all the way around. Blend it really, really well. Then pull your gloves off, pat your hands dry, and put a little tanner on a cotton ball. Apply a light coat to the backs of both hands first. Then do the backs of your fingers, looking out for the knuckles, which don’t need very much color. When there’s not much left on the cotton ball and it’s almost dry, blend it around and between your fingers, and don’t forget your thumb and the underside of your wrist.

Quick fixes. Expert correction tips If you’ve got stripes but are still on the pale side, try evening out the area with a tinted moisturizer or  a bronzer, like Jane Iredales So-bronze Safe Tan

If your streaks, tan lines or blotches are too dark to cover, we recommend lightening them by wiping the entire area with a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice or a baking soda solution.  Alternatively you can get a self tan remover like St.Tropez Self Tan Remover.

Some final reminders. Once you’ve applied your tan, you need to allow it to completely dry. Some spray tans dry in just a few minutes, while lotions may take 20 minutes or more. Either way, you need to wait at least an hour before swimming, sweating, or wearing tight clothing. Any of the above can streak and ruin a new tan.

To maintain your results longer, moisturize your skin about eight hours after applying the tanner. Rule of thumb: Once your tan is set, keep yourself well moisturized!

If you want to go darker, you can repeat the process the day after you tan. Go easy on the exfoliation the second time around so that you don’t remove your first layer. The longer it takes the skin to flake off, the longer your tan will last. Most bottled tans begin to fade after a few days. You’ll need to reapply once or twice a week to keep your color.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

How to Have a Healthy Glowing Goddess Tan

We are exposed to more ultraviolet (UV) rays because the protective layer of ozone around the earth has become thinner due to the effects of pollution and chemicals.

Freckles, age spots, spider veins on the face, rough and leathery skin, fine wrinkles, a blotchy complexion, actinic keratoses (thick wart-like, rough, reddish patches of skin), and skin cancer can all be traced to sun exposure. Self-tanning products are the healthy alternative to get a tanned look without any of the effects of the sun and have not been shown to pose a health risk. (Source: Canadian Cancer Society website) Self-tanners contain dyes that are absorbed by the topmost layer of skin and interact with it to create a bronzed appearance.

So grab the sunscreen, fight the sun’s anti-aging rays and apply a healthy sun-kissed glow!

Are you a newbie to self-tanning products or want to make your self-tan look more natural and even? The following are some tips for to get you on your way to a healthy sun-kissed glow:

1. Have patience, self-tanning takes time. Keep in mind that it is faster than the sun and you will have no risk of wrinkles, skin cancer or sunburn! Apply sunless tanners in the evening before you go to bed and you’ll wake up a glowing goddess. After applying your self-tanner wait about 15 minutes before getting dressed – maybe multi-task and finish folding the laundry in your birthday suit!

2. Exfoliate while in shower or bath. With a washcloth, exfoliating brush or any professional body scrub. Spend extra attention to your knees, ankles, feet, elbows, and neck to avoid the “streaky effect”. This allows the self-tanner to be applied in a uniform manner. Self-tanners grab on to dry surface skin cells. Dry your body completely after showering. Excess water and sweating may cause streaking. If you are applying to the face and neck area, exfoliate with a gentle face exfoliant.

3. Moisturize lightly. Apply a very thin layer of a light, oil-free body moisturizer or face moisturizer, as your self-tanner will glide on better.  If you use a good quality body or face lotion, you will only need a little. Make sure your skin absorbs the moisturizer before applying the self-tanner.

4. Apply self-tanners to a section of your body at a time. Be careful and make sure you apply evenly all over your body.

Tips for Body Contouring, Firming and Detoxing

Get Bikini-Ready: Body Contouring, Firming and Detoxing – Your Home Care Program and What to Watch for in Professional Products.

Practice the basics of exfoliation, hydration, detoxing and safe tanning with your contouring and/or firming cream you will be on your way to a firmer and sexier toned skin!

Why is your skin sagging, dull, not firm and looking dimpled? Over time when you age, your skin looses it’s elasticity, inherits an uneven skin tone and texture, has excess fluid retention from poor circulation, loses nutrients, and is prone to dehydration. A common problem is cellulite – it occurs when connective tissues under the skin drag down on fat. This causes the skin to bulge and warp, creating a dimpled appearance on thighs, stomach, and buttocks.

Body firming & contouring creams are highly advertised in drug stores and frequently over-promised as the ”all-in-one wonder cream”. The consumer may not see the results that the one product promised and will be very disappointed in the end.

Why didn’t it work for me, you ask? It is important to incorporate more than one product in your regimen and choose your product brand wisely. It should have a proven track record with regards to results. You must also be consistent with your product usage. Use products that are from a professional skin care line (usually found in day spas). Professional skin care lines invest a fair bit into research and development and will show results if used in conjunction with a proper skin care regimen.

To optimize your body firming and contouring program, it is highly recommended to commit to a daily or weekly regimen with a mix of body skin care products that are complimentary. They will work together to tighten your loose skin, regenerate your skin cells, activate the circulation and get rid of the toxins. Each product will contain a variety of active ingredients and specific benefits. In a nutshell, if you practice the basics of exfoliation, hydration, detoxing and safe tanning with your contouring and/or firming cream you will be on your way to a firmer and sexier toned skin!

Here are some tips on what to look for in body products:

Exfoliation Body Products
These products usually have regeneration properties – helps your skin produce new skin cells and increases your circulation. Exfoliation eliminates dead skin and imbedded impurities. It will uncover a soft supple skin. It is recommended to exfoliate daily while you are in the shower (some products are 2x/week). Look for products with active ingredients like: Natural Marine Elements, Seaweed, Essential oils, Pure Carrier Oils, and Sea Salt. Products with exfoliating properties can be in the form of scrubs, soaps, or gels.
Recommended product: Beauty through Balance by Ancient Secrets: Green Tea Seaweed Salt Glow

Hydration Body Products

Preserve, protect and renew your skin with hydration products. This is especially important as we age. Our body will require nutrients and more hydration. If our skin is not kept moisturized, it will not preserve well and will lack firmness over time. Look for products with Anti-oxidants, Natural Emollients, Shea Butter, Plant Extracts, Vitamins C, E and A. Use daily after exfoliating to lock in the moisture and your skin will absorb the nutrients. Recommended product: Beauty Through Balance by Ancient Secrets: Seaweed Body Butter

Detoxing Bath Products

Certain bath products can help with contouring and firming. They usually re-balance your body. They can eliminate water in body tissues; draw out elements that your body needs to relax. Some seaweed-based products are so effective that you have to relax and take it easy afterwards – you may feel faint because it is working so hard detoxing! Look for products that have natural ingredients such as Marine Elements, Sea Salt and Essential Oils with specific benefits. Thyme and Ylang-Ylang oils have detoxifying effects and regenerate cells. Rosemary and Sage oils metabolize fats and stimulate drainage.
Recommended product: Beauty Through Balance by Ancient Secrets: Pacific Seaweed Soak/Concentrate
Contouring Body Products
Has slimming performances. Reduces the appearance of excess weight, slows down the appearance of fat reoccurrence and helps diminish the appearance of cellulite (the orange peel effect). Look for products that have Caffeine. Caffeine drains the water from the fat cells in your body giving you a more slimming appearance.  Recommended products: Golden Moor Silhouette Cream and Golden Moor Svelte Cream with the Golden Moor Scorpion Brush

1. Firming Body Products
   Hydrates your skin, becomes firmer and youthful over time. Some will have toning properties for specific areas like a bust gel or a stretch mark reduction cream that is formulated to regenerate cells responsible for restructuring the connective tissue and prevents new stretch marks. Body firming creams contain a variety of active ingredients. Some contain Seaweed Elements, Soya Peptides, Vegetable Extracts, African Kigelia, Asian Pennywort, Dried Ginkgo Biloba extract, Dried Sweet Clover Extract, and Grape Seed.
   Recommended product: Yonka Cream 55 Body Contouring Cream: Creme 55
2. Safe Tanning Products
   Can make your skin look firmer, more toned and give you a healthy glow. Self-tanning products don’t age your skin nor lessen your skin’s elasticity vs. the sun. Gives you an instant healthy glow. It is best to use self-tanning products after exfoliating to get a perfect smooth tan. The active ingredient in most sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is the only color additive approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in sunless tanning products. The FDA considers DHA safe when applied to your skin. You may have seen ads for sunless tanning pills, but these products are unsafe and aren’t approved by the FDA.  Recommended product: Yonka Self-Tanning Lotion for face and body: Auto-Bronzant
3. Sun Protection Products
   Minimizes the damage caused by the UV rays and sunbathing. When the UV rays harm skin over time, it can be prone to hyperpigmentation (age spots) and dehydration. Dehydration can lead to a loss of skins elasticity and faster aging – leaving your skin to sag and loosen. Look for products that have both UVA and UVB protection. Some sun protection products will have advanced benefits such as anti-oxidants that can actually slow down the aging process.  Recommended product: Yonka Sun Screen Spray SPF 20: Spray Ecran Solaire

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

Tips for Applying Self Tanner at Home

Self-tanning products contain D.H.A. or dihydroxyacetone derived from the oxidation of glycerol. When D.H.A. comes into contact with the air and the skin, it reacts with certain free amino acids present on the surface of the stratum corneum.

This chemical reaction causes pigmentation of the skin. Only the dead cells of the stratum corneum are affected by the pigmentation. In fact, D.H.A. does not penetrate beyond the outermost layers of the stratum corneum.

Pigmentation of the skin varies according to the concentration of D.H.A., the individual in question and skin tone.

D.H.A. does not lead to the formation of blackheads, but if your skin is asphyxiated, the self tanner will color existing blackheads. It amasses in clusters of keratinized cells, hence the appearance of dark brown streaks.

To obtain an even tan, you should exfoliate and moisturize your skin.

When exfoliating your skin, you should concentrate on “key” areas: the knees, ankles and elbows. On the face, the wings of the nose have a tendency to stain.

Mix a small amount of self tanner with your moisturizing cream or lotion in the palm of your hand. This will give a more even application and a much better end result.

On the face, massage in using small circular movements. Avoid the eyebrows and hairline, which retain color more easily. Wipe with a slightly damp piece of cotton wool immediately after any accidental application of product to these areas. Smooth over the wings of the nose, the chin and the forehead. Do not forget the ears, the neck or the contour of the lips.

On the body, apply the self tanner in long sculpting strokes. Start with the feet, moving up to the arms. If you are using a spray such as ST. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Spray, stand in your bath. This will be easier to clean. Smooth over the elbows, knees and heels. After you have finished applying the product, wash your hands thoroughly and scrub your nails. Carefully cleanse only the palm of your hand with a make-up removal wipe if you want to keep the backs of your hands tanned.

To maintain your tan, repeat the application once or twice a week.

You must not…

• Apply a self-tanning product to damp skin
• Cleanse your face with an alcohol-based make-up remover. In any event, avoid using soap, which destabilizes the self tanner. Use a pH neutral cleanser instead.
• Exfoliate your skin within 3 days of applying self tanner
• Apply self tanner before doing sports
• Get dressed immediately after applying the product. Wait a few minutes, then wear dark, loose-fitting clothing.
• Sunbathe without sun protection.

Self tanner is not a sunscreen. It does not serve to filter U.V.A. and U.V.B. rays. So, when you are going out to enjoy the  sun, remember to protect your skin by using sun protection products suited to your skin type.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog.  As special offer just for being a follower of our blog enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!