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Sun Kissed Skin Care

Last night I was woken by the most frantically fraught phone call from none other than She She Me. The dear girl is a bit dramatic at times, but I hardly knew what to make of this! She had completely lost it. Through the hysterical crying and gasping I was able to understand just these words: “puppy”, “sickies” and “fave Pradas.” Clearly, not a good combination. Since I could not decipher another recognizable word through the sobbing/raging/confused mess of a phone call, I just listened, murmuring the occasional, "Oh, you poor dear" and "Oh, that's just awful" till she had calmed to the point of muffled hiccups and sniffles. I then convinced her to brew a nice cup of herbal tea and sink into a hot bubble bath and let it work it's magic. A good night's rest (if even possible in her condition) and all would look more rosy in the morning, when we would discuss this over brunch at her favorite little bistro café.

Girls, I dare say She She did not rest a wink. She stumbled in, bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, rosy-nosed from crying and with her hair all pokey-up on top (she should have used her tamz!) And even though she had on the new Bermudas and prissy cami from our most recent retail therapy session, something about her ensemble wasn't quite right. And she didn't have tiny puppy Zac with her! This was extremely odd, since she takes the fluffy little pooch absolutely everywhere—to the spa, to work, grocery shopping—you name it, little Zac is there. I mean, every employee at the bistro knows the tiny tail-wagger by name! (as in Zac Posen? Hello?) They even have a little jar behind the counter filled with special “doggy greens” just for She She's pup. Okay, so you can sense my confusion. As it turns out, tiny puppy did in fact have a bit of a tummy ache last night, and somehow he got “the sickies,” as She She calls them. The sickies turned up in She She's favorite (read: only) Pradas as “icky poopies.” Yes, dear She She was horrified. Simply horrified. As was I to see that she was in fact WEARING THEM!

I leapt from the table and ripped those repulsive beasts from her feet in what has to be the fastest maneuver of my life. Immediately, the sobbing and raging resumed. I could see that the other customers were about to stone (well, scone—we were at a bistro after all) She She, so I took her by the wrist and dragged her around the corner, where I immediately tossed the icky-poopied-Prada's into the tallest dumpster I could find (thanking my lucky stars that Shopgirl was many states away and could not possibly pull another of her dumpster diving stunts). I then used my considerable powers of persuasion on She She and brought her directly to a nearby shoe boutique where I purchased her a darling pair of summer-worthy sandals, entirely icky-poopy-free (as temporary fashion triage—She She can replace the Pradas when finances allow). I also bought myself a pair of equally funky summer wedges as a Saved-Another-She She-Day reward.

Now that you are aware of my special powers to cure the seemingly incurable, I can get to the point of this little missive: sunless tanning. You see, after I purchased my lovely new shoes, which happen to coordinate nicely with my favorite new trinket (an eight-month anniversary gift from hubby, the brilliant man), I noticed just how pale and pasty I looked. Now I realize and fully accept the fact that my ultra fair skin is au naturale, but that doesn't mean other people know that; other people simply assume I keep myself hidden away in a dark office somewhere, only emerging once the sun has set. Not wanting to be mistaken for an out-of-work vampire, I decided it was high time for a bit of a pre-summer suntan, thanks to the women of science (they must be women, to have developed such brilliance) who have created line after line of fabulous sunless tanning products.

Sunless tanning lotions:

Sunless tanning lotions are fabulous because they are simple to use and generally inexpensive. As I can't possibly list them all—nor should I attempt to do so—I will list my tried-and-true-lotions as well as my friends-recommend-them-lotions.

• Tried-and-true: I love Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer for two reasons: one, it is available in three shades and two, it brings in sun-kissed color very gradually. Oh, there's a third reason: I can buy it almost anywhere I go. Another fave of mine is Aveeno Active Naturals Continuous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion. Not quite as gradual as the Jergens moisturizer but also available for different skin tones, I love this lotion because it smells fantastically fresh. (Plus, it looks great on my counter all matched up with my Aveeno face wash.) One more is Olay Touch of Sun, another gradually color enhancer with moisturizer that is great for year round use.
• Friends-recommend-them: Coppertone Oil Free Sunless Tanning Lotion is supposed to be great as it is tinted, unlike the aforementioned. The tint allows you to see where you have applied the lotion and then disappears after even application. It's non-greasy and dries quickly so you aren't left standing in the altogether for hours on end. I've also heard good things about Clinique Body Self-Tanning Lotion, which also comes in an easy to apply mist, which dries quickly and lasts for days. Oh, and Clarins Self-Tanning Milk (I consider the readers of Allure my friends). It even goes one step further with SPF 6 included—you are attempting to avoid sun damage, so why not go that extra mile?

Miscellaneous and ingenious tanning products & methods:

• Tantowel Self-Tan Towelettes. These towels can be used on the face or the body and show color in only 3 hours. All you do is wipe it over your skin! Can a self-tanner get any more convenient? Haven't tried them, but would love to get my hands on some.
• Neutrogena makes a Pre-Sunless Scrub. Use it in the shower to exfoliate your skin and prep for an even, streakless sunless tan.
• Neutrogena MicroMist Tanning applies like an airbrush spray for hands-free application.  The mist is so light and fine, and the coverage so even, there's no need to rub.  One-touch continuous spray works at any angle to tan hard-to-reach places - even your back.  Goes on fast and dries in less than 5 minutes, so you can shower, dress and go.
• Peter Thomas Roth Natural Looking Self Tanner. This fragrance-free greaseless lotion gives a natural looking tan in just a few hours, as well as providing a soothing moisturizer.
• St. Tropez Self Tan Remover Packets . For those of you girls who end up with tanned palms!

Well girls, no excuses now! I know my freshly "tanned" gams will set off my lovely new capris to perfection, not to mention how fetching a new halter top will be!

Enjoy this gorgeous spring, girls! Keep your skin young and beautiful by using alternative methods to tanning beds and sun bathing (you'll be ever so grateful when people start asking if you and your much younger sister are twins!)

xoxo,

Girly

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