A Safe Summer Glow

Warm weather, spring and summer are right around the corner and that usually means it’s time to break out the shorts, dresses, tanks and tees! While some of you simply can’t be bothered, this girl likes a nice tan to go along with all these summer styles. I’m proud to be an Irish girl but with that comes my fair skin. While I embrace this in the winter, I like to faux glow my way through the long, hot summer days. Now that we’re living in Las Vegas, my skin is desperate for hydrating and moisturizing lotions. I swear by, and I mean SWEAR BY, Cetaphil products. They are formulated for even the most sensitive of skin and I literally carry the lotion in my purse during the day. Below is a list of my 6 go-to products for summer. Take a closer look with the links below!

One of the main things I want to point out here is that my routine is very budget friendly! A little goes a long way with all of these products which gives you more bang for your buck. I’m sure there are some really expensive and amazing products out there that will also do great things for your skin but I’ve yet to open that Pandora’s Box. If it isn’t broke, why fix it? These 6 things work well and I’ll continue to use them until something starts to fail me. (Listed below in clockwise order.)

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Cetaphil Restoraderm Lotion
Clinique Self Sun
Almay Smart Shade Anti Aging (This also contains a built in SPF!)
Physicians Formula Multi Shade Bronzer
Physicians Formula Multi Shade Blush

I have a few self tanning product favorites listed below to share that are worth your time to check out! I promise it’s better than the dreaded tanning bed (no!!) or lying out in the sun for hours. This past year my skin went on the fritz (more on that another day…) and I had to completely revamp my routine. I think my body is finally working through this little hiccup and my hormones are relaxing. Let’s just say I dealt with a little skin mishap I came to term, “eye-mageddon” and I still have nightmares about this whole ordeal.

While I’ve been using Clinique Self Sun lately for it’s strong reputation with hypoallergenic products, I’m also going to list my top 3 self tanners that I’ve had success with in the past:

Sun Laboratories and YouTube Video Tutorial
Fake Bake and YouTube Video Tutorial
St. Tropez and YouTube Video Tutorial

Make sure you exfoliate well before applying anything and use the product sparingly around the knees, ankles, elbows, and your face. Use a little bit of lotion in those places that the tanner will be extreme to help even it out. Exfoliate well and always shave first so when the tan starts to fade, it’s subtle and not as blotchy. I actually use the Clinique self sun that is designated for the face as it’s not quite as dark and it’s a more sensitive formula. I also use cotton balls to apply the product to both my hands and feet so it’s even. I know for some novice faux tanners this may seem like it takes a lot of work but honestly, it takes me about 15 minutes from start to finish and I do it about an hour before bed. I sleep in long sleeves and pants and when I wake up, I shower and am ready to go. Beware, if you use a product with a built in bronzer and you use it before bed time, don’t stress when you wake up looking…well…overly tan or streaky. That’s the bronzer and will wash right off in the shower leaving the tan underneath looking fabulous. Keep your faux glow looking new longer by using a good moisturizer everyday to keep your skin from drying out. It’s all so easy and no harmful rays are involved.

Take care of your skin! It’s like an elephant in that it never forgets. I have sunburns that still haunt me… Even though I use a sunless tanner, I still always wear sunscreen when I’m out for long periods of time and as I mentioned above, my make up has a built in SPF. You should definitely make sunscreen a part of your morning routine!

If you love a product, please leave me a link in the comments below! I’m always up for sharing great finds or trying new things! Also, free to leave me any questions if you’d like more information! I would be happy to help!

Stay safe, friends!