Category Archives: Beauty

Aug24

August Finishes

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August Finishes

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! I hope everyone is having a fantastic week so far. Sorry that I haven’t posted a lot this week. With classes starting this upcoming Monday, I’ve been super busy making all of the final preparations so this fall semester can be a good one! Although I have been a busy gal this month, that didn’t stop me from using up some wonderful products so take a look at my empties for the month of August:

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Would I Use It Again?

  • Bath & Body Works Country Apple body mist: YES
  • St. Ives Apricot Cleanser: YES
  • Michael Design Works Into The Woods lotion: YES
  • TopCare Eye Makeup Remover: YES
  • The Body Shop Vineyard Peach body butter: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Mist: Country Apple is my all time favorite Bath & Body Works scent so of course I would use this again! I better have every intention of using it again considering I have eight more of the mists in my hoard! I love all things apple scented and this crisp and bright body mist is just perfect. It took me about six months to finish this spray and I used it multiple times per day.

St. Ives Cleanser: Out of all of the St. Ives products in the world, their Apricot Cleanser is my favorite. I could use this every single day and not get sick of it. The scent is just delicious and the texture of this product is wonderful. It is the perfect amount of creamy and gritty so it scrubs away all of your imperfections without leaving your skin feeling raw or dried out. My skin felt so fresh, clean, and rejuvenated after using this cleanser and I wish I still had more of it! It took me about five weeks to finish this product.

MDW Lotion: My boyfriend got me this lotion for Christmas and I have to admit, I wasn’t a fan at first. If any of you are familiar with The Body Shop’s Absinthe line, then that is exactly what this lotion smells like. Unfortunately…I hated the Absinthe line! However, I began using the lotion and eventually the scent grew on me. Not only that, but it absorbed so nicely and left my skin feeling so good that I was legitimately disappointed when I finished it. The packaging is so precious that I didn’t want to part with it, so I filled it with hand soap so I can continue to admire it! It took me about three weeks to finish this lotion.

TopCare Makeup Remover: This eye makeup remover is one of my old faithful products. It is fragrance free – which is important to me. AND it’s effective – which is even more important to me! This makeup remover has been part of my daily beauty routine for the past four to five months and not a day went by where it didn’t do its job well.

TBS Body Butter: Vineyard Peach is one of my absolute favorite TBS scents. To make this sweet scent even better, I got it for a steal at TJMaxx for six bucks as opposed to the usual twenty-one! Everyone knows that TBS body butter is the best so I won’t go into detail about how amazing it is. Rather, I will say that body butter is the literal best thing that you can give to your legs after you shaved. Vineyard Peach kept my legs prickle free for the better part of a week and that’s seriously amazing! It took me about three weeks to finish this product and I miss it every day!

August left me with a fabulous list of finishes because I loved all of my empties and would definitely use every single one of them again! Each product worked extremely well and I thoroughly enjoyed using all of them. This has been my best month for finishes in a long time and I’m happy that I got a lot of bang for my buck with each of my empties!

So there you have it, my August Finishes! What products have you used up this month? Has anyone used any of my August empties before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug9

Sephora Surprise

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Sephora Surprise

Hey everyone and happy Tuesday! Last week, my sister and I had a wonderful shopping trip to a nearby mall to get her some cute new outfits for her weekend trip to Chicago. We spent all evening in and out of different stores trying on and modeling new clothes, shoes, and accessories. Our final stop during our shopping outing was Sephora so Kristen could pick up “one thing”. Yeah, right. We spent at least forty-five minutes in the makeup emporium swatching everything from lipsticks and blushes to eyeshadows and foundations. Kristen ended up with a great makeup haul and also surprised me with a gorgeous Clinique treat. Take a look:

Once upon a time four or so years ago, my sister and I took a trip to Chicago. During one of our outings, we went shopping at the Watergate Mall (or whatever it’s called) which is eight stories high (or however many). Our first stop in the mall was at the MAC counter where I found an absolutely beautiful lavender colored blush. I was in love and it quickly became one of my makeup favorites.

I vowed to myself that as soon as I was out of the blush, I would purchase it again. I had every intention of doing so but unfortunately, when that day came, the MAC counter at my mall did not carry the shade. I was crushed. Since then, I have searched high and low for a similar shade but nothing, NOTHING could compare to the MAC blush that I loved so very much. Lucky for me, this all changed last week at Sephora…

I’ll be honest with you guys, I’m really not a big makeup girl. I literally wear the same makeup look every day and I don’t plan on changing it any time soon. My sister, on the other hand, is the polar opposite. She could spend an entire day in Sephora if she could. This is why I answered her testimony of only needing one thing there with an eyeroll because I knew that we would be there for a while.

The beauty must have that Kristen needed was a new blush from Clinique that was called “Melon Pop”. It was a beautiful peachy pink color that was going to look fantastic on her. I wasn’t very interested in any of the high end makeup that I was surrounded by, until I decided to further inspect Clinique’s new blush collection. That’s when I locked eyes on the shade called “Pansy Pop” and a montage of all the good times that I had with my MAC blush flashed before my eyes.

Kristen urged me to have one of the makeup pros that was working apply it for me but I knew that if I were to try it, I would buy it. Normally, I would be fine with this, but I have a hefty stack of textbooks that need purchased for the upcoming fall semester and those aren’t cheap! It made the twenty-two dollar a pop price for the blush seem ridiculous. As I was having a mental debate in my mind of whether to try it on or not, Kristen basically said that if I don’t, she will.

Within seconds, there was an employee, applying the blush… my blush to the apples of my sister’s cheeks. I caved instantly, and asked the worker to do mine next. The blush was divine. It layered perfectly on top of the pink blush that I was already wearing and created the most lovely field of flowers color on top of my pride and joy…my pasty pale skin. 😉

Of course, I wanted the blush badly, but I told my sister and the worker that I would think about it. All the while, I knew darn well that I should not be buying a twenty-two dollar blush at this time. I then made the solemn swear to myself that when I receive my next paycheck, I would come back for it and treat myself. The blush was not brought up for the rest of our Sephora excursion and I was glad because it hurt too much to think about it.

We finished our browsing around the store just at closing time and as far as I knew, Kristen left with two new lipsticks and the “Melon Pop” blush. As we began our walk through the mall to get to my car, Kristen told me, “by the way, I got that blush for you” and my jaw dropped. Instantly, “you really didn’t need to do that” came out of my mouth. She then answered with, “well, I knew you weren’t going to buy it for yourself” and left it at that.

Kristen seriously knows me so well because she was right. Even though I promised myself that I would get the blush soon, the chances of me following through with that were slim to none. I was so blown away by her generosity to her little sister and it just confirmed what I already know – that she is truly the best sister on the planet. Our trip to Sephora felt like I was reliving our time at the MAC counter in Chicago all of those years ago and it was so special to me to reminisce on those memories as well as make a new one.

We are still talking about how much fun we had during our most recent outing and it makes me feel good that she enjoys her time with me just as much as I do with her. Here’s to a great time and the best sisterhood a gal could ask for. I love you, Kristen! Thanks again! ❤

So there you have it, my Sephora Surprise compliments of my fabulous sister! What is your favorite item to splurge on at Sephora? What is one of your most loved makeup products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: For lots of fun beauty posts, check out my MyLikes page! 🙂

Aug8

Bath & Body Works August Freebie

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Bath & Body Works August Freebie

Hey everyone and happy Monday! So I know I just recently wrote about my July Bath & Body Works Freebie but they have been hooking it up with their coupons lately so I already got to cash in on two free products for the month of August. I received another free full sized item coupon as well as a free travel sized product and I was eager to put them to good use! Take a look at my freebie picks for this month and then let’s discuss:

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As you guys already know, Love & Sunshine is one of my B&BW favorites. Since I have wrote about it so frequently before, I don’t plan on saying anything else about it other than that it’s fabulous! Instead, I’m here today to talk about the deliciousness that is their Summer Marshmallow scent from their Beach Nights collection. I decided on this scent on a whim and I am so glad I did because I am simply gaga over it.

While browsing the beautiful, newly remodeled B&BW in my area, I thought I knew what I wanted for my free full sized item. I planned on going for their Limoncello lotion because last month I was debating on getting it but settled for a full sized Pretty As A Peach cream instead. I had the bottle of Limoncello lotion in hand and decided to spend a few more minutes perusing the store to get an idea of what scent I want for next month’s freebie.

This is when I stumbled on the Summer Marshmallow fragrance. As soon as I read the label, I immediately thought to myself, “ew”. I hate marshmallows so I made the assumption that this lotion was going to smell nasty. WRONG. I took one whiff of Summer Marshmallow and instantly put the Limoncello lotion back to its proper place on the shelf. This. Lotion. Smelled. AMAZING!

The Summer Marshmallow cream smelled nothing like the sugary scent that I had in mind, thank god! This lotion smelled like toasted vanilla, the salty ocean breeze, and a campfire that is lightly smoldering after a huge bonfire. All you had to do was take one sniff of the fragrance and you could tell exactly what they were trying to do with this scent. B&BW created the aroma of an ideal Beach Night in a bottle. A night under the stars, with a warm and gooey s’more in hand, and the ocean waves lapping in the distance. It is just perfect.

Normally, I never go for a scent like what I described (even though I made it sound delicious!) because I am such a lover of fruity fragrances. But obviously, B&BW’s Summer Marshmallow is the exception. I one hundred and fifty percent recommend this fragrance to everyone. If you are in need of ideas for future presents, I suggest making a gift basket with this Bath & Body Works fragrance along with all of the fixings to make a fresh batch of s’mores.

You can shop the Beach Nights collection in stores and online, just make sure to include your email address so you can snag Bath & Body Works freebie coupons, too! What is your favorite B&BW scent? What is your must have summer fragrance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Pretty please check out my MyLikes page and help me get paid! THANKS. 🙂

Jul30

July Finishes

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July Finishes

Hello everyone and happy weekend! The month of July has been an uber busy one and it left me with only two measly finishes. Although I only got through two products this month, I was happy because they were both fantastic. Take a look at my empties and then let’s discuss:

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Would I Use It Again?

  • Softsoap Citrus Splash & Berry Fusion shower gel: YES
  • VU Skin System Hydrating Body Lotion: YES

Why/Why Not?

Softsoap Shower Gel: I absolutely freaking LOVED this body wash. Softsoap gels always lather really well which is something that I like a lot. But, most importantly, the Citrus Splash & Berry Fusion scent was to die for. It seriously smelled like blue raspberry lemonade and it was the best scent to wake up to every morning. Sadly, I finished this body wash within a month because I used it as bubble bath soap and may or may not have put an obnoxious amount in the tub each time. -_-

VU Lotion: This lotion was SO NICE!! My mom and I actually got this for free with a purchase of a VU skin care product months ago and I was happy to finally get around to using it. The lotion is so light that it absorbs almost instantly and it left my skin feeling so fresh and velvety smooth. The best part about this lotion, though, was that it was unscented and the actual product stayed true to that. I cannot tell you the amount of times that a fragrance free product that I have tried has a scent to it. It was really refreshing to use a lotion that stayed true to its claim and left my skin feeling beautiful, to boot! I finished this lotion in about two weeks.

I am so pleased with my small but mighty list of July empties. Both products were successful because 1) I enjoyed using them. And 2) I would definitely use them again!

So there you have it, my July Finishes! What products have you guys finished up this month? What beauty or skin care product do you need to restock? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul29

Six Common Skin Care Mistakes to Avoid

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Six Common Skin Care Mistakes to Avoid

Hi everyone and welcome to a fantastic article from Fix Your Skin that teaches you some major skin care no nos. Take a look and then be sure to check out Fix Your Skin’s website for even more beauty and skin care tips of the trade:

Six Common Skin Care Mistakes to Avoid:

Taking care of your skin is hard. Like a cranky baby that constantly demands attention, you need to put all your time and effort into getting results. All of this is totally worth it, though, when you end up with glowing skin that ages well. However, some women may not get the desired results and find it tough to maintain healthy and beautiful skin all year round.

No doubt, everybody likes and wants to have beautiful skin. It has always been the main indicator of your inner health. Youthful and glowing skin indicates vitality and good health. However, people commit various mistakes thinking that they are following the best skin care techniques asnd they end up with all sorts of skin problems.

Below are the skin care mistakes you might be making which needs to be corrected before extensive damage occurs:

1) Not Paying Attention To Ingredients

To get an accurate idea of what components are present in the product, check the back of the box where the list of ingredients is displayed. Nowadays, people are aware that silicones and parabens are bad for the skin while hyaluronic acid and ceramides are good. However, don’t just scan the list for bad or good ingredients to Fix Your Skin. You need to take note of the order in which the ingredients are displayed.

Sometimes pharmaceutical firms may overload the ingredient list with fillers. So, some of the beneficial vitamins may get buried at the bottom. Keep in mind that fillers are like empty vitamins. Make sure you are looking for products that are rich in natural oils, healthy antioxidants, and vitamins.

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2) Avoiding Sunscreen

One of the biggest mistakes people make while going out in the sun is skipping sunscreen protection. Yikes! As stated by various dermatologists, the primary cause of premature aging of the skin is exposure to the harsh UV rays of the sun sans sunscreen. Make sure to apply the sunscreen lotion on exposed parts like hands, face, legs, and neck 15-20 minutes before you leave home. Go for a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or more.

3) Not Cleaning your Makeup Tools

One of the major reasons why you should not leave your makeup brushes unclean is that you are subjecting your skin to dirt, bacteria and other kinds of irritants. These can cause rosacea, acne, and even eczema. So, the smart thing to do is to wash your brushes every week with a soft sulfate-free cleanser.

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4) Smoking

According to various skin experts, smoking is one of the habits that you need to stay away from and it is one of the major skincare mistakes to avoid. The ill consequences of smoking are well documented in the media, and everyone is aware of them. The immediate effect of smoking is that it leads to dehydration of the skin and early aging. It dries the skin and absorbs all of the nutrients. So, in no time, skin becomes saggy, pale, and wrinkles start to appear.

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5) Not Drinking Enough Water

One of the most common skincare mistakes many people make is not drinking enough water. Frankly, it is the easiest and most important thing that you need to do every day. Did you know that water is one of the best moisturizers that you can give to your skin? If you don’t drink enough water, your skin will become dehydrated and blotchy. Various doctors and health experts agree that it is important to have at least 6-8 glasses of water each day. Consuming a lot of water will make your skin glow as it helps in flushing out harmful toxins from the body and keeps skin hydrated from the inside.

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6) Avoiding Fruits And Vegetables And Going For Junk Food

Fruits and veggies are the richest sources of minerals, vitamins, and various other antioxidants. They help in maintaining the elasticity of the skin and also in keeping it healthy. You need to include them in your diet as recent studies have shown that carotenoids present in fruits assist in improving skin tone. Doctors and skin experts feel that junk food not only has harmful effects on your waistline but also on the skin. The biggest cause of breakouts is junk food like white bread, soft drinks, fried snacks, and pizzas. They produce oil and clog pores, thereby impacting the health of the skin.

Final Verdict:

Trying to avoid these common skincare mistakes and having healthy skin can be a huge challenge. Your day-to-day duties for your family, friends, work, and other events are bound to come in between your skin care routine. It might not always seem like the right thing to do but you have to put yourself first. Taking care of yourself is just as important as caring for others. By avoiding the skin care mistakes mentioned in this article, you can get vibrant, glowing skin and can become healthier overall, too.

I want to thank the Fix Your Skin team so much for providing such a fantastic article and graphics for lifewithlilred! What are some of your skin care secrets for healthy skin? What is one of your must have skin care products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

 

Jul22

Bath & Body Works July Freebie

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Bath & Body Works July Freebie

Hey everyone and TGIF! This month’s Bath & Body Works Freebie was a good one because the coupon was for a full sized product! This was very exciting for me because 1) Who doesn’t love free? And 2) A full sized product means lots of choices to pick from. I went with their Pretty as a Peach body cream which was a thirteen dollar value that I didn’t pay a penny for. Check out the adorable packaging for my new lotion steal and let’s discuss:

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My favorite fragrance when it comes to perfume is anything apple scented. However, my favorite scent when it comes to bath and body care is, hands down, peach! I live for the Vineyard Peach body butter from The Body Shop (In fact, I’m using it right now!), so when I saw a peach scent from B&BW that I didn’t even know existed, I was stoked. What I really like about peach scented products is that it’s the perfect combination of a sweet and fruity fragrance. Peach scented anything walks the fine line between too sweet for my preference and just right and I friggen love it for that.

Bath & Body Works’ Pretty as a Peach scent is dangerously close to crossing the line to something that I don’t care for. However, this was redeemed by the fact that Pretty as a Peach is a really unique take on a peach scented product. Instead of being solely peach scented, Pretty as a Peach has a lot of really interesting fruit and floral undertones. These include vanilla orchid, apple blossom, and jasmine.

Normally, I despise really floral-y fragrances. I like scents that are tart and have a little bit of bite to them so I am kind of shocked that I like my new lotion as much as I do because the floral undertones in it are really evident. I still really like the scent despite this because it smells like total and one hundred percent summer. It will be really nice to break this lotion out on a cold fall or winter day and be reminded of sweet summertime thanks to the juicy peach and fresh floral combination that is Pretty as a Peach.

If you are a fan of sweet, fruity, floral, or all three fragrances, then I definitely recommend this B&BW scent. Pretty as a Peach is a light and lovely fragrance that will keep you in a summertime spirit all year long. You can shop on Bath & Body Works’ website to check out Pretty as a Peach and all of their other fun and fabulous products!

So there you have it, my Bath & Body Works July Freebie! What is your favorite B&BW scent? What is your go to summer fragrance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul16

Adore Me Inspired Lingerie Flat Lay

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Adore Me Inspired Lingerie Flat Lay

Hi everyone and happy weekend! I hope all of you had a great week and are ready for some fun or R&R – I know I am! If there’s one thing that a Lil Red loves, it’s lingerie. There is nothing better than sporting a sexy little outfit or a hoodie and a pair of sweats and knowing that you have something pretty on underneath. If you are like me and are always looking for the best looks for an amazing deal then you have got to check out the selection of bras and panties that Adore Me has to offer. Their lingerie is seriously gorgeous and they also have a beautiful selection of plus sizes to choose from, too.

After treating yourself to a new set of lingerie from Adore Me, make sure you check out their Pinterest page and give them a follow! Now, on to my Adore Me Inspired Lingerie Flat Lay:

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My lingerie flat lay was inspired by my days when I work on my summer classes from home. My homework days are filled with reading about everything from Shakespeare to Psychology so there are a few essentials that are a must to make the day not completely miserable:

  1. COFFEE, coffee, and did I say coffee?
  2. An adorable bra and panty.
  3. My new glasses.

Okay, so coffee is self explanatory but what about the glasses and lingerie? I’m so glad you asked! When I work from home, I would never be caught dead in anything but a pair of sweats and my boyfriend’s hoodie. My homework days are a no makeup and no contacts day, as well…Hence my new specs! Because I am rocking a look that I do not feel my best in, a pretty set of lingerie is a friendly reminder that I’m still a stunner and a sass machine. Cute bras and underoos on my “bumming it” days is my way of keeping my self-esteem at a perfect ten even when I look like I just rolled out of bed!

So there you have it, my Adore Me Inspired Lingerie Flat Lay! Once again, please make sure to check out the Adore Me Pinterest page and do some shopping on the links provided above! When it comes to lingerie are you a mixer or a matcher? Do you have a bra or panty that you consider “lucky”? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul4

Monday Update: June Finishes Edition

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Monday Update: June Finishes Edition

Hello everyone and happy Monday! With July now upon us, it’s time to talk about the beauty product empties that I had for the month of June! I was able to complete some products that I liked a lot and others that kind of sucked which balanced out to a great month for beauty product finishes. Take a look at my June Finishes:

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Would I Use It Again?

Why/Why Not?

Suave Body Wash: I absolutely love the scent of this shower gel. It’s floral-y and bright without being too overpowering and it lathers so well. It is the perfect fragrance to wake up to in the morning and I think it’s an overall excellent value. It took me about a month and a half to finish it.

Tone Body Wash: I would use this body wash again solely for the fact that it was only two dollars at my local discount store. The scent was very citrus-y which I liked but it didn’t lather anywhere near as well as the Suave body wash, for example. It took me about a month and a half to finish it.

Olay Cleanser: I would absolutely one hundred and fifty percent use this amazing cleanser again! Olay’s Bead Me Up cleanser has been hands down one of the best beauty products that I’ve used in months. You can read about it further by clicking the link that takes you to my review about it but just know that I enjoyed every single day of using it. It took me over four months to finish it, too – talk about a great value!

TBS Skin Boost: This product is one of my tried and true old faithfuls so of course I would use it again! Now if only the price for it would dwindle down some! It took me about three months to finish.

Nourish Organic Cleanser: I would never ever EVER use this cleanser again. You can read more about it in my review which I provided the link to but this was easily the worst beauty product that I have ever used. You could not pay me to ever use it again. It took me about two and a half months to finish this cleanser and every day that I used it was absolutely miserable.

VS Lotion: I liked the Deep Berry scent of this Victoria’s Secret lotion a lot, however, there was nothing special about the product and I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy it again. I finished this lotion in four uses.

Overall, June was a good month for finishes. I was left with only two products that I wouldn’t use again so I would definitely call that a success! I am also so happy that June was the month that I could finally finish the Nourish Organic cleanser. Yuck. -_-

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: June Finishes Edition! What beauty products did you have empties for this past month? What skin or body care products are you using now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun25

Summer Glow Self Tanning Tips

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Summer Glow Self Tanning Tips

Hi everyone and welcome to a guest post here on lifewithlilred by my friend, Bob Gorman. Bob is a fantastic freelance writer who offered to give my readers the 411 on how to achieve the perfect DIY tan sans the sun. “Why is Sarah posting about tanning? She’s the most pasty pale person I know.” Yeah, yeah – I get it. BUT, just because I avoid getting tan at all costs doesn’t mean that I don’t believe in doing it safely for people who are into that! So take a look at these Self Tanning Tips to help you bronze goddesses achieve that perfect Summer Glow:

Summer Glow Self Tanning Tips:

Self-tanning is a great way to get that beautiful bronze glow. You’ll look like you just came back from a tropical vacation, even if you’re not able to take off work for as long as you’d like. Self-tanning can also even your skin tone and make you look a little more youthful, which is always a plus.

Tanning has a number of cultural implications, and society has viewed tanning in various ways throughout the years. In the Middle Ages, a tan was a sign of poverty, since people with sun-kissed skin were likely outside performing manual labor for extended hours. As time progressed, tanned skin was an indication of being well-traveled and spending time on luxurious beaches or yachts. However, there are still some areas of the world, such as China and India, where light skin is generally preferred. People often use skin lightening products to preserve a fair complexion or to significantly lighten their skin. In the United States and Europe, however, tanned skin is seen as healthy and more attractive. Australians prefer a tanned complexion as well, but use indoor tanning services often, which increases the risk of melanoma.

Self-tanning can be a safe and effective way to get the bronze glow you want. You won’t have to spend extended amounts of time in the sun, which reduces your risk of UVA and UVB overexposure. DIY tanning also eliminates your need for visiting the tanning booth and putting your skin in direct contact with artificial UV lighting.

Here are some tips to keep in mind during the self-tanning process:

Prep Your Skin: You should use a gentle exfoliator on your skin before applying self-tanner. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells to reveal your true complexion. Exfoliation will also help the self-tanner to go on smoothly, and prevents the tanner from settling on various parts of your skin and creating dark spots. Just make sure the exfoliator you’re using doesn’t contain oil, because the tanner can leave streaks. It’s also a good idea to wax or shave your legs and arms or touch up your hair color before you self-tan. Shaving cream, waxes and hair dyes can remove self-tanner or decrease the effects of the tanner, so be sure to take care of all your other beauty treatments first.

Use Skin Softener: If you’re showering before applying the self-tanner, be sure to use a cleanser that contains Vitamins A or E to thoroughly moisturize the skin. You should also wait 5-10 minutes after getting out of the shower to ensure that your skin is completely dry before you apply the tanner. Apply a lightweight moisturizer to your face if you’re putting tanner there, and use a lotion that contains shea or cocoa butter on the rest of your body to prep your skin for the tanner.

Select the Right Product: Be sure to choose a self-tanner that matches your actual skin tone. Don’t select a product based on your desired result. A tanner that matches your complexion will give you the healthy, natural glow that you want. If you have olive skin tones, use a dark tanner, and choose a light or medium tanner if your complexion is fair. If you choose a gradual self-tanner, it may take up to four applications for you to get the sun-kissed look you want. There are separate tanning products for face and body, so select a gentle formula for your face to reduce the chances of skin irritation.

Apply the Tanner Properly: Apply your self-tanner from the bottom up to make sure it sets on your skin evenly. This also lessens the chances that you’ll forget the hard to reach places on your body. Mousses are easy to apply, but spray self-tanner is ideal if you have a hard time reaching places like the backs of your knees or the small of your back. Start from your ankles and work your way up to your shoulders and neck.

Once you get to your face, use a self-tanner that is formulated for facial skin. While you shouldn’t use too much tanner on any part of your body, you should be especially careful not to overdo it on the self-tanner when it comes to your face. Too much tanner could give you an orange appearance.

It may take a little practice to get your self-tanner just the way you want it. However, after an application or two, you’ll be looking your best this summer, whether you’re heading to the beach or staying indoors.

^^^ Thank you so much to Bob for creating such an informative and excellent article for my readers! If you are interested in contacting Mr. Gorman, you can reach him at: bob.gorman@go8.com.au!