Wednesday 16 April 2014

Golden skin days

It's that lovely time of year when many of us stow away our winter clothes and take out the spring and summer items that have been hybernating over winter. As nice as that is, it means that I can no longer hide away my very winter pale, in fact almost blue toned skin under layers of clothes and cosy jumpers, but since it's not quite warm enough yet to don a bikini and catch some sun rays there's only one thing for it - self tanning, something I never do and just thinking about it makes me pale even more with dread. I am a complete dummy when it comes to self tanning and the few times I've dabbled with it I've more often than not ended up looking like an orange zebra. For me to get a streak free, golden glowing natural looking color I need fool proof products and I think I have at long last finally found them.

When it comes to self tanning for the face Clarins has a great selection of products and it was with high expectations that I decided to try the Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning for face and decolleté (£19) since the tag line reads "A dream come true for novices or those with fair skin". It's an ultra light, almost water like colorless lotion that comes in a plastic bottle and you apply it by applying a little bit onto a cotton pad and then quickly wipe the cotton pad all over your face. The lotion feels cool and refreshing on the skin, and with ingredients like Aloe Vera and Vitamin E you also add moisture and nourishment for a lovely soft skin and unlike most self tanning products it has a lovely fresh and delicate feminine scent that reminds me of Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely. The lotion dries immediately without making the skin feel oily or sticky and there's no transfer onto clothes or bedding, so if you apply this in the morning you can go straight ahead and do your makeup on top of it and over the next few hours you'll see the color appearing. I prefer to apply the lotion in the evening, having exfoliated and moisturised and when I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror I have a nice natural and radiant glow. You can apply as many coats as you like for a deeper color, but personally I think that one coat is more than enough for a subtle but noticeable tan. On me the color lasts about 4 days before it's time to it up again which is pretty long lasting, although of course that will depend on how often you wash your face etc. This is a wonderful, easy to use product that gives a nice glow and I can see myself becoming a bit of a tanorexic - it's THAT good.
Especially in the summer I like to enhance whatever little color I have by using a bronzer, and one of my favorites is the cheap as chips MUA Bronzer (£1) in shade 1. It's a nice and light powder bronzer with a very subtle gold shimmer which looks beautiful when the sun catches it. What I like about this shade is that it's a muted natural color without any orange that makes it perfect for sculpting of the cheekbones and to add glow to the areas of your face that the sun would naturally hit, using the Real Techniques Retractable Bronzer Brush (£13.99). What first attracted me to this brush was the fact that it's retractable and as such I thought it would be perfect to have in the hand bag, but what I didn't realise was how big it would be. The packaging is quite chunky and for some reason I thought it would come with a twist up function, but it doesn't - instead there is a retractable metallic sleeve to help gather the hairs before putting the cap back on. Not quite what I would call retractable brush, but aside from that it's a generous, wide and soft brush which is still firm enough for a smooth and even product application. This works amazing if you want to add bronzer all over your face for a nice glow but if it's precision sculpting or just the hollows of your cheek that you are working on, for me this brush is almost too big and it could even double up as a powder brush.

A self tanning gem that I discovered last year when Him Indoors unexpectedly brought it home (probably His subtle way of telling me that I'm ridiculously pale...) is Caudalie's Divine Legs (£26). It's a wonderful nourishing moisturising lotion with a luxurious, silky texture that gives an instant tan that you can easily wash off with water. The formula is tinted and it comes in a generous glass bottle with a practical pump. Because the lotion is tinted, you can see where you've already applied it, making it very easy to get a streak free finish and it dries instantly. I think Divine Legs gives the best results if you've done a body scrub and used another oil free moisturiser before applying it, for a lovely even golden tan that has a lovely glow to it. I used to be a self tan skeptic but with lovely, sweet smelling and easy to use products like these at hand, I am ready to swap the era of pale winter complexion for golden skin days.

54 comments:

  1. I'm terrible at self-tanning and never really reach for those products but this Clarins Liquid seems to be so easy to use that I'm tempted to give it a go!
    http://mummysbeautycorner.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. It's the easiest product I've ever used, and one coat is more than enough for a natural golden tone :o). Xx

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  2. Oh god, I really should start thinking about tanning, especially as I am so pale, I'm practically blue! I never tan naturally and I swear I even had problems getting fake tan to develop when I was younger and desperate to be brown! I like the sound of the instant wash off one although I'd still probably mess it up :) xxx
    La Lingua : Food, Life, Love, Travel, Friends, Italy

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    1. I know how you feel - I'm always skeptical and careful with what I try since I hate that orange zebra look :o). Xx

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  3. Replies
    1. Me too, their facial oils are amazing :o). Xx

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  4. Love the MUA bronzer x
    http://whattaylorbuys.blogspot.co.uk/

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  5. Love the sound of the MUA bronzer, never come across that before! Such a great price too, I really love that brand x

    Claire | AgentSmyth

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    1. I don't think it gets any better than this for £1 :o). Xx

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  6. Awww - thank you very much :o). Xx

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  7. I saw the Clarins product the other day and was very curious to know more about it. Like you, I'm a little scared of tanning products, particularly when it comes to the face. Thanks, I may definitely give it a go now. x
    Deborah
    moonstoneandmay.blogspot.co.uk

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    Replies
    1. It's so easy to apply and the scent is beautiful :o). Xx

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  8. perfect time for this to go up!, the sun is making me so excited for the up coming summer months!
    lovely post!

    www.chlotalks.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Me too - I can't wait to enjoy long warm summer days :o). Xx

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  9. i officially started the self-tanning this weekend!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL - it's official Spring is here :o). Xx

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  10. Oh yes my legs are ghostly pale too. I should try Divine Legs but it's so cold over here right now that I can't go bare-legged anyway!! Now I need to get my hands on the bronzer and brush. I always wanted to try these two brands :)

    xx Mira

    www.glamdevils.com

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    Replies
    1. RT brushes are always lovely and this is nice and wide, but almost too wide for sculpting :o). Xx

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  11. Bring on the Bronzer!!

    http://www.cindyslittleblackbook.com

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    Replies
    1. Definitely - the more the better :o). Xx

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  12. I have some Clarins make up and I like it a lot!!! ! Today NEW POST

    http://themaiddiction.wordpress.com/
    themaiddiction.wordpress.com

    Xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a definitely a lovely brand :o). Xx

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  13. I am so pale and really need some color for this spring/summer. I will have to look into that Clarins Gradual tanner.

    katespitz.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so easy to use and with surprisingly long lasting wear :o). Xx

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  14. I'm in the tanning mood! I'm really loving the palmers gradual tan and also the natural collection bronzer!

    Laura

    maquillagemagic.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Palmer's sound like a nice option, and that way you can build until you get the shade you want too :o). Xx

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  15. I LOVE the Clarins face tanner, one of my holy grail products! xx

    LauraThinksAbout

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    Replies
    1. I think this will quickly become that for me too :o). Xx

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  16. Loved your blog. Would you
    like to follow each other via GFC & Bloglovin?

    X
    http://subhamrai.blogspot.in/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a million - follow you now. :o) Xx

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  17. I should try self tanning for real because my skin doesn't get tanned during summer and you know what, it doesn't even burn! It's crazy and weird. :) xx



    www.searchingforlbd.com

    www.searchingforlbd.com

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    1. :o) - always something, but these would definitely give you a lovely golden color :o). Xx

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  18. I'm so ready for summer!!!! I love bronzer!! Great post!

    http://www.lonestarstuffbeauty.com/

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  19. Replies
    1. Hope it's inspired you to try one of these products :o). Xx

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  20. I just started using self tanner this morning! Here's hoping it works! I will have to remember these products when I run out of what I just bought!
    www.amemoryofus.blogspot.com

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    1. Hope it turns out lovely and golden :o). Xx

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  21. ah definitely have to look out for osme of these products, i'm so pale haha!
    www.marylee31.blogspot.com
    x

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    1. These are great and I highly recommend them :o). Xx

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  22. I love slight bronzers in the summer (especially when I don't leave the office all day :x )
    lexi // thelittlebrunette

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    1. Oh definitely - office blue isn't quite as chic in the summer :o). Xx

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  23. I have never used any self tan! Caudalie Divine Legs is about the only thing I have tried that is in the "family," although I know it is nothing as hardcore as most self tan. I do have some NUXE ones lying around here though. I should man up and give them a go some day! My legs are pretty scandalously pale for the moment!

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    1. I can't see myself doing sprays and whatever other products there are but these are easy enough even for me to use :o). Xx

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  24. Dying to try the Caudalie out - you are clearly onto a winner with your boyfriend if he brings home treats like that out of the blue! xx

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    1. Oh, both the self tanner and the husband are keepers ;o). Xx

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  25. Oh I really want to try the Caudalie and Clarins one. They've been on my "to try" list forever!

    find me on 9outoften.com

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