Blend those colors

I started wearing bronzer all over my face a few years ago when I got vigilant about wearing sunscreen on my face.  My bronzer of choice for this is Bare Minerals Warmth or Faux Tan (as I've mentioned here and here.)  I love that they are mineral and don't clog pores, and I can use a tiny bit to give color on my forehead, nose, cheeks and blend into my jaw and neck.

YES, ladies...the neck is generally the lightest part of your upper body!!  I learned this trick when I saw myself in pictures with my lightly faux bronzed face and stark white neck.  It was shocking.  It has since become a pet peeve of mine, and I notice it in my celebrities' photos as well.

If you are a faux bronzer, bronze your neck!

T.J. Maxx

I got a few very fun things from T.J. Maxx the other day. I forced my sickly body out of bed to go to Target for a few trip things. I had seen a mini, dual voltage flat iron in the Maxx a month or so ago, so stopped in.

I got the flat iron for my bangs on my trip. It was only $16 and so awesome that it is dual voltage! We'll see if I actually use it, or just clip them back and wear hats the whole time.

I found my second favorite self tanner that is no longer sold at Sephora, ModelCo Translucent Airbrush Tanner. I used to pay about $25 for it. Well, $7 at the Maxx! I love the smell of it.

Lastly, I got the little blue ruffly clutch on a whim. It was sitting on the end of a row...for $5. It'll be handy in London.

Self Tanners

I found this guide helpful. A few of the products I had never heard of.

Ultimate Self-Tanner Guide

Staple

Every so often, I realize that there are many products I use that I have never written about. I'm not even talking about that random plum eyeshadow or fuscia blush...I mean the staples! What is wrong with me??

So, like I've mentioned before, up until a few years ago, I was incredibly tan. I loved to go to the beach and pool and lay out for HOURS (so did my friends, by the way...you know who you are.)

Here is us circa 2003
And, then, much less tan last summer:


Anyways, about two years ago, I became obsessed (hard to imagine, I know) with making my face look tanner sans sun. I researched the best gel tanners (Benefit Talk to the Tan, Stila) and powder (Guerlain Terracotta.) I finally decided that powder works best for me since I already wear powder makeup. And, since I'm obsessed with not clogging my pores, a mineral would be best and the least flat.

I ended up getting Bare Escentuals Faux Tan and have never looked back. It is a great staple. I use it with my BE Flawless Face brush. It only takes a tiny bit, and I brush it on over the bridge of my nose, a little on my chin, forehead, temples (everywhere the sun hits.) Then, I buff a little more onto the bridge of my nose, and then blend under my jaw since I was told directly under the jaw is the whitest part.

I wear this year round. During the summer, I ramp it up a bit...but I'm a fan of a little faux glow all year long.

Steal

I've already written about my current obsession with Bath & Body Works Wild Honeysuckle scent. I purchased two more products. One, the Eau de Toilette, is a total miss. The scent fades so quickly. The body spray lasts much longer surprisingly.

And the gradual tanner lotion is also a winner. Mostly because it was on sale for half price. It has the perfect amount of shimmer in it and smells a bit like wild honeysuckle. It has the dreaded self tan smell, but I have never found a self tanning product without it...no matter what other fragrances are in it. I used to use Victoria's Secret gradual self tanner and really loved the smell of that. But, at $18 for a smallish pump...I'll pass up on it this winter.

Speaking of winter, I am getting SO excited to bust out some tights when the weather cools off. I'll have to see what colors I can get away with in the bank. Maybe some dark purple ones if I wear a very conservative skirt and blazer...

Favorite Self Tanner

I have gotten a little sun a couple of times this summer, but nothing compared to years past. Last summer, I self tanned religiously. I busted out my Glow Fusion tanner last week and had forgotten what a gorgeous color it turns my skin. Hands down, my favorite self tanner (for torso, as I use a different one on my legs...long story), despite its ridiculously steep price. It retails at $58, but I have always gotten it 20% off through Beauty.com. Still pricey, but it lasts awhile.

It isn't perfect, but comes as close as anything I've tried. It claims to be unscented, but I find that I use it at night, and then shower again in the morning unless I want to smell "tan" the next day. Also, it claims to not rub off on clothes. For the most part this is true, but on whites, I still find a little bit of transfer. Again, though, I haven't found as good of a product as this one. They all smell and transfer off!

I exfoliate in the shower, and use a now-discontinued tanning mitt from the Body Shop to blend it in. The mitt makes it easy to avoid streaks. I have to carefully blend it in the backs of my arms, and any creases.

The payoff is a gorgeous brown color. I use the Medium 02 shade, but it is formulated to react with your own skin color. I know it's still pricey, but I would never pay $30 a pop for a professional spray tan (those are the cheap ones) and this lasts me about a week and a half, WAY longer than any others I've tried.

A convert

Up until a few years ago, I was a sun bunny. I had tan lines nearly year round (thanks to the warm southern CA beach weather) and never seemed to be tan enough. How times have changed!! For a few years, my face has been protected by SPF or hats. I definitely get some sun on my arms and upper body sometimes, but mostly rely on self tanner.

Usually I use BareMinerals Faux Tan powder over my makeup (sweeping across my forehead, nose, cheeks and blending down below my jaw.) And yet, today, I experienced a new product.

I have been reading about the Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Spray. This retails at $57 (ouch!) It has silicone in it and dries to a powder finish. I got my new Sephora catalogue the other day, and took myself to the mall to try the items I had circled.

At first, I sprayed the #2 shade in error. I looked like I had just come back from a year on a deserted island, without sunscreen. Luckily, a kind Sephora employee offered her services and showed me how to lightly spray #1 on. And it was amazing. I looked the tan old me, before I started caring for my skin. Maybe I can find this cheaper on Ebay! What a lot of high maintenance it takes to make me look like the truly low maintenance, younger me. But, I'm older and more responsible now.

I feel too lazy to use my normal camera, so snapped one on my phone, but I don't think you can tell how tan I look. Oh well...