To Tan or Not to Tan?

By JackieBelle…

To tan or not to tan?  That is the question- with an easy answer!  Who doesn’t like the look of fresh, glowing face after an afternoon spent out in the sun?  I have always envied those girls who can go out in the sun for a few hours and come back not only unscathed by the sun’s rays, but also glowing in that sun-kissed way that those of us with a Celtic heritage can only dream about!  I’ve been waiting years for “alabaster pale” to become the new “sun-kissed bronze,” and alas, my dreams are partially coming true- it’s finally become fashionable to protect ourselves from the sun!  I used to be the girl at the beach with three layers of sunblock, a towel covering my feet, and a hat big enough to echo my own voice back to me every time I spoke.  Okay, I still am that girl, but people don’t make fun of me as much.  We know so much now about skin cancer and the harmful effects of sun on the skin that it’s become almost passe to be the sun worshipers we once were, but that doesn’t stop us from fancying a nice, healthy-looking tan.  Lucky for us, there are so many products that can help protect us from the sun, combat the effects of sun damage, and give us the glowing tan we love!  Self tanners aren’t streaky and blotchy like they used to be, and sunscreens are no longer the thick, heavy lotions you might remember from your childhood- sun protection and self tanning have actually become fun and fashionable!  Here are few products you might want to throw in your beach bag:
To Protect and Correct
Those of us with special-needs skin will certainly appreciate this:  Control Corrective Skincare Systems heats up the sun care market with several “triple action” sunscreens that provide full-spectrum sun protection while also moisturizing and treating specific skin conditions, replacing as many as three products with one powerful solution.  Just in time for spring and summer, the company offers Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 30, ideal for acne-prone skin; Intensive Skin Lightening Cream SPF 30 for those with uneven or blotchy skin and Aroma Matte Day Cream SPF 30, which includes vitamins targeted to aging skin.  (Note to those of you with aging, acne, or rosacea-prone skin- this might be the just the product you’ve been looking for!  The broad spectrum sunscreens offer protection from both UVA and UVB radiation, and are safe for sensitive skin or those with hyperpigmentation. Retail products sizes are as follows, and professional sizes are also available.
Oil-Free Sunscreen, SPF 30 – Great for all skin types, this unscented, non comedogenic product is oil-free, yet works double duty as a lightweight daily moisturizer.  It is available in a 2.5 ounce bottle; Suggested Retail: $30.
Intensive Skin Lightening Cream SPF 30 – A powerful multi-tasker, this calming botanical-based cream protects and lightens skin for a fairer more event texture and tone, ideal for blotchy, irritated or sensitive skin. It is available in a 2.5 ounce bottle; Suggested Retail: $49
Aroma Matte Day Cream SPF 30 – The lightweight, zinc based cream is absorbable and non greasy, great for all skin types. Japanese green tea plus multi-vitamins including Vitamin C inhibit aging and free radical damage. It is available in a 2.5 ounce bottle; Suggested Retail: $34.
Control Corrective Skincare Systems products are available through skincare professionals.
For more info:  www.Controlcorrective.com
Who’s the Fairest of Them All?
Fake tanning has traditionally been another beauty challenge that us fair-skinned girls have faced- use the wrong product and we end up looking orange, or use the right product without the skill and finesse of a pro, and we end up looking not only orange, but streaky too.  Fair-skined girls, take note:  Fake Bake has a solution!  Fake Bake is best known for fine self-tanning formulas and for catering to all skin tones and types. One of their featured all-new formulas is Fair, Fake Bake’s build your own tan.  Fair is a moisturizing, easy-to-apply, slow building tanner and moisturizer designed for the woman who wants to control the results a bit more.  Fair is wonderful on even the palest of skin tones and builds gradually so the effect is easy to control. It also has Fake Bake’s signature guide color so you can see exactly where it’s going as you apply it, and it smells amazing!  (I once spent an entire day at work with a waft of that weird self-tanning smell lingering around me like dirt lingers around Pigpen.  I can’t recommend it- stick with Fake Bake.)
Fair is available at leading salons nation wide and retails for $29.00.
For more info:  www.FakeBake.com
A Revamped Classic
I love the smell of Coppertone!  I don’t mean I wear it as a perfume or scent my house with it, but in my mind Coppertone is synonymous with “vacation and fun!”  Having said that, I’m not on vacation every day and sometimes I just want sun protection in a little lighter form, and now Coppertone has the perfect thing!  Oil Free Foaming Sunscreen Lotion SPF 75+ and Water Babies® Sunscreen Foaming Lotion SPF 75+ offer strong protection against the sun’s rays in weightless formulas.  The light, moisture-rich foams absorb quickly and offer waterproof sun protection that helps prevent premature skin aging from the sun, and they are the only mass-marktet foaming lotions in the suncare category.  Coppertone proves that sunscreen can be soft and gentle to the skin while still providing powerful, broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays.  Here are a few of their newest offerings:
Coppertone Oil Free:
Coppertone Oil Free Foaming Sunscreen Lotion SPF 75+ offers broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays in a light-as-air form for everyday use to help keep skin looking healthy and beautiful. The hypoallergenic formula comes in a silky-soft application that is fragrance-free and won’t clog pores.
New in Coppertone Sport:
Twenty years after the makers of Coppertone ® created the sport category and launched its iconic high performance sunscreens, the brand’s leadership continues with an extension of its market-leading line – Coppertone Sport® High Performance Sunscreen Lotion SPF 100+.  This waterproof sunscreen is specially formulated for active adults and is ultra sweatproof so it won’t run into eyes and sting.  It also contains antioxidants for extreme conditions.  Extreme conditions that trigger sweating (heat, humidity, vigorous exercise) can make skin more vulnerable to UV damage.  Added antioxidants help replenish skin’s natural defenses.
New in Coppertone ® Water Babies®:
As the No. 1 pediatrician-recommended brand, Coppertone expanded the Water Babies® product line with new products, including:
Coppertone ® Water Babies ® Sunscreen Foaming Lotion SPF 75+ is soft and gentle for babies’ skin. It is non-irritating and offers broad spectrum, waterproof sun protection.
Coppertone ®Water Babies ® Pure & Simple Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 offers tear-free, broad spectrum sun protection in a two-ounce size ideal for the diaper bag. The formula is oil and fragrance-free, and ultra gentle for babies’ delicate skin and eyes.
Brush on Some Sun
Whether you’ve achieved a sun-kissed glow naturally, built one with a self tanner, or religiously remained hidden from the sun, a bronzer is the perfect product to add a finishing touch to your overall healthy, glowing look!  The Body Shop has a product that is fun to apply and great for all skin types- Brush-On Beads!  Brush-On Beads add a touch of radiance to your face, cheeks, and decolletage.  Light-diffusing particles and pearl pigments instantly brighten skin and help reduce the appearance of fine lines, and it’s made Community Trade marula oil from Namibia that leaves skin soft and supple, so it feels great on your skin.  Some tips from the pros at the Body Shop:  Use a scrub, body polish, or body brush to exfoliate your skin.  Removing any dry skin or rough patches is key to achieving a natural-looking glow from self tanners and bronzers.  Also, protect your skin from the sun and use moisturizers to keep it in tip-top shape and to maintain your skin’s radiance!
www.thebodyshop.com