The sun hates me. On beach trips, I have been known to get sunburned faster than my palest porcelain-skinned friends, even while wearing SPF 30. I wear long sleeved shirts in 90 degree heat. I even burn through the car windshield on short drives to the grocery store. As a result of this (combined with my extreme fear of photo-aging and cancers caused by sun damage) I have become a bronzer addict. Yes, I was born caramel-colored, but I still like to add a sunkissed glow to my skin. Summer is coming to a close, and although I hardly got any direct rays, you would never know that from looking at me.
NARS Illuminators arrived just in time for summer. Illuminators are available in some of the same favorite colors as the iconic Nars Multiples. Instead of a solid stick, they are in the form of a versatile multi-use, silky gel. If you like to create your own custom look by sheering out your foundation, this subtle shimmer mixes beautifully with everything. Illuminators can be used over makeup as a highlighter or to alone add a glow to the face and decollettage. The four shades include bronze Laguna and pearly Copacabana, as well as the more well-known Orgasm and Super Orgasm colors.
Of course there WAS a Nars Body Illuminator in the deep bronze Laguna. It was one of those legendary "get it while you can" kind of deals... only available at certain stores, and only in limited quantities. How can you create something so incredible, but not make enough of it for all of us to enjoy??? Grrrr...
This summer I also fell in love with the Lorac TANtalizer Award Show Glow. The body bronzer mousse contains caffeine and other ingredients to firm the skin, helping to minimize the appearance of cellulite on your arms and legs. It comes in one pearlized copper shade that is universally flattering. The scent definitely lingers, so if you are not a fan of citrus/vanilla blends, you will probably want to skip this one. It's great for a quick fix, so apply some to your legs when you want to wear a fabulous skirt without the hassle of hosiery.
For long lasting results, go with a great self tanner for face and body. I have long been a fan of St Tropez tanning mousse, but this summer I gave Xen-Tan lotion a try. It blended nicely and didn't streak. The drying time is just a little bit longer than that of the St Tropez mousse, but still shorter than most self tanners. It gives gradual, buildable color that looks more natural brown than oompa-loompa orange. The scent is definitely more pleasant than St Tropez, but I felt that I didn't see as rich of a color as I'm used to getting out of a self tanner. You can actually skip the rubber gloves and just use your bare hands. As long as you wash them immediately, your palms will not be stained.
If you want to keep your summer color all year long, look for these products at Nordstrom, Ulta, or Blue Mercury.
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