Do You Ever Fake It?

Summer is in full swing and that means hours spent having fun in the sun. But before you bask, be sure to slather on the sunscreen. Reapply it liberally and often. By now, we all know that there is no such thing as a sun-kissed glow. The sun packs a one-two punch. No kisses there. Love the look of a tan and want to capture the sun? Well then, fake it with self-tanners. Drugstore, supermarket and beauty supply store shelves are stocked with dozens of self-tanners and cosmetics that impart a beautiful bronze. Here, some of my favorites:

The Bronzy Babe line of cosmetics from Fake Bake are designed to enhance their line of self-tanners. Some of the products in the line include: 

Tinted Full Body Glow: Use it from head to toe for a soft, all-over bronzy glow. Retail: $16.95.

Just Peachy Blush: This blusher compliments all complexions with a subtle, warm glow. Bonus: special light reflectors aid in giving a youthful appearance to the skin. Retail: $9.95

Beachy Babe Lip Gloss: Tinted with the color of sand, Beachy Babe lip gloss is perfect for a day in the sun and has the subtle scent of a tropical island. Retail: $11.95

Jergens^® Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer is a nourishing way to achieve a soft, radiant glow without subjecting your skin to sun damage. It creates natural-looking color in just one week. Infused with Vitamin E, it offers broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and is available in two shades, for fair to medium and medium to tan skin, Jergens^® Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer was awarded The Skin Cancer Foundation “Daily Use” Seal for its superior performance. Good to know. You can pick up Jergens products at drugstores nationwide but here’s the website for more info: http://www.jergens.com

Gold-N-SPF from Jill Stack Naturals is a brand new herbal vegan sunscreen made with sensitive skin in mind. It contains lavender oil, aloe vera gel and Vitamin E – but its most distinctive ingredient is gold. You read that correctly. Jill Stack Naturals includes gold water for its healing properties. (Gold water is being used increasingly more in medicines to patch damaged burns, blood vessels, nerves, bones and membranes while leaving all healthy cells unharmed.) Gold-N-SPF is great for individuals with sensitive skin and can be used as an everyday moisturizer to promote hydration and anti-aging. The Gold-N-SPF products can be purchased from the Jill Stack Naturals website, http://www.jillstacknaturals.com.

Flatter your faux tan with new summer makeup colors from Merle Norman’s Summer 2012 collection:

The Merle Norman Summer Color Collection features two Limited Edition Eyecolor Quads. The Nautical & Nice palette includes natural shadows (Barefoot and Truffle), and a nautical shade (Look Both Waves) that pair perfectly with a deep blue cream liner (In The Navy) to accentuate the eye. The Wooded Bliss palette marries earthy tones with dashes of shimmer for the perfect summer eye.  Featuring woody hues (Shorley and Espresso) and a greenery-inspired shade (Play Thyme), the earth tone eye look is completed with a deep brown cream liner (Teak).

Lasting Cheek Color ($16) features limited edition Peach to the Choir with just the right hint of shimmer, to add just the perfect touch of color.

Merle Norman‘s Bronzing Powder Collection features new shades Pool Side and Beach Side, which contain super-micronized pigments that work with the topology of the skin to deliver 3D color results for a healthy, natural glow. Infused with Apple Extract Complex and Revidrate™, this hydrating, oil-free formula allows for an effortless blend and boost of color for all skin types. To use, lightly dust over the face or for a deeper color, apply more intensely.  SRP: $20

All of the above are available at local Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios – to find a studio close to you, visit http://www.merlenorman.com

It’s important to keep lips moisturized during the summer.  Clark’s Botanicals Ultra Rich Lip Tints ($19) are available in six different shades and each contains a hydrating formula of natural moisturizers including Shea Butter, Aloe Leaf Extract, Jojoba and Sweet Almond Oil, plus Marine Collagen Microspheres that act like miniature water reservoirs.

Want to skip the color but still keep lips moist? Try Clark’s Botanicals Ultra Rich Lip Balm ($19) with the same hydrating punch as the Tints.

If you should get a sunburn – and doctors consider ANY tan a sunburn – reach for Clark’s Botanicals Soothing Herbal Face Wash ($45).  Packed with Jasmine Absolute extract, this non-foaming formula features Vitamin E, Lavender and Aloe to calm skin and replenish moisture. It’s also great for removing make-up and impurities. Here’s the website: http://www.clarksbotanicals.com/

CeraVe® Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM with SPF 30 defends your skin against harmful UV exposure and keeps it looking healthy.  CeraVe® AM is a daily-use, non-comedogenic facial moisturizer that helps to restore and maintain the skin barrier. In addition, it protects the skin with ingredients like micronized zinc oxide, which deflects the sun’s UVA (aging) rays, and homosalate, octinoxate and octocrylene, which defend against UVB (burning) rays, providing broad spectrum protection whether you’re walking in the park or sitting by a sunny window.

CeraVe® Foaming Facial Cleanser gently removes dirt and oil from your face, leaving it clean, not stripped.  While CeraVe® Foaming Facial Cleanser is busy removing unwanted impurities from your skin, it’s also replenishing the ingredients it needs to feel soft and smooth and look its best; ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and phytosphingosine. These ingredients, also present in CeraVe® Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM, work to nourish and replenish the skin and help lock in moisture, so it doesn’t feel tight or dry.

Both CeraVe® Foaming Facial Cleanser and CeraVe® Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM are fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and non-irritating and all CeraVe® products are dermatologist recommended. Here’s the website info: http://cerave.com