ÁMEZING NEWS #19: BRONZING, GLOWING, TANNING, SPF-ING SEASON
To tan or not to tan...the ultimate summer showdown
Yes, there is a healthy way to tan! And there’s some amazing products that will make you feel tan, bronzed, and gorgeous all year long.
“If it doesn’t make me hot or tan, I’m not interested,” said my very dear friend once.
Even though I have a tan all year round, I’m always looking to enhance it. I still think about spray tans OFTEN (I’ve never confessed that out loud), especially during the winter and spring months. Is there a better feeling than being tan and bronzed?
If you saw my latest IG post, that was a little BTS behind a shoot where the entire premise was about being GOLDEN. Although I’m naturally a tan person (thank you ancestors) it took a lot of work to achieve that glow. The incredible makeup artist Casey Gore layered it on— we buffed in a fake tanning spray Bali Body and then added this highly coveted tanning body glow serum called Honey Pineapple by Pink. It supposedly was a must backstage-at the Victoria Secret fashion shows. Casey found it on Ebay. That’s how precious this stuff is. I immediately felt snatched.
Even beauties with the most melanated skin tones feel their facial and bodily architecture accentuated by tanning. I think most people feel better after time spent in the sun (or time achieving a sun-kissed look!)
As a licensed skin care professional, I’m supposed to perpetuate the idea that staying out of the sun will keep you young but the truth is that I don’t really fully believe in this philosophy entirely. The sun is the easiest, most accessible way to work on Vitamin D levels and overall health – period. As you’ve probably heard or read me say before, most Americans are Vitamin D deficient. Get in the sun!
Last November, I got my Vitamin D levels checked and was at 21. Not great. Normal levels for a healthy woman in her 30s are usually between 20 and 40 ng/mL. Technically, I was in the “normal” range, but just barely. And other practitioners consider 30 the lowest in the“normal” range, so I’ve been working on this through supplementation and lifestyle changes. Vitamin D deficiency can impact things like mood, emotional wellness, and hormone levels.
I have been on a hormonal whirlwind this year and firmly believe a huge contributing factor may be my lack of vitamin D, something I did not pay much attention to until very recently. So if you get anything out of this issue, please check your vitamin D levels and figure out ways to get healthy sun. Consider taking a Vitamin D supplement! Your doctor can help direct you in the right direction in terms of dosage (no insurance? the nice wellness ladies at Sprouts or Lassens will do!) I personally like the liquid form plus k2 by Thorne. This is more info about Vitamin D if you want to get into it more deeply!
To tan or not to tan…
Part of my personal conflict as a human and esthetician is that SPF is the number one recommended anti-aging product. And while it’s the most effective one over the course of a lifetime, I feel like the market has made us a little overly fearful of getting sun.
From my time spent living in Paris to my extensive travels throughout Latin America, Europe, and many island nations, it seems that people around the world are not afraid of the sun like we are. I’m not an SPF truther whose going to tell you not to use it, NOT AT ALL. But this does make me think our culture and economy are more invested in avoiding the sun all together than others (although not all…thinking of the extreme lengths some skin-obsessed people in Korea will go to avoid sun exposure all together!) If the sun is so bad, why does it make us feel so good? Tanning=Vitamin D boost= health= longevity= happiness.
Wear your sunscreen! But also figure out how to incorporate Vitamin D into your life in the healthiest way for you!
A supplement that protects against skin cancer?
Again if skin-cancer runs in your family, sun protection should be taken a lot more seriously. Recently my dear friend Rachel texted me asking if I knew about Heliocare. I was excited to learn it’s a dermatologist- backed supplement that can help significantly reduce free radicals when taken in combination with SPF usage. The clinical trials show it reduces the likelihood of skin cancer by 33%! Absolutely huge! If this sounds like something that could be a good fit for you, I encourage you to ask your dermatologist or health care provider about it further.
How do we get healthy sun and is there such a thing as healthy tanning?
I suggest checking the UV INDEX which is a built-in feature in your weather app or widget on any smartphone. This lets you know when peak sun will hit, which can help manage your time and exposure.
Twenty to thirty minutes a day is a wonderful way to sun-surge. Maybe a walk, maybe a backyard stretch, maybe tanning for 20 minutes…these are the simplest, most natural ways of getting sun. I personally suggest everyone does this WITHOUT sunscreen if you are someone that can tolerate it or don’t have sun sensitivity (like susceptible to heat rash for example).
This is a friendly reminder of the SPFs I’ve been loving lately.
If you enjoy laying out in the sun like I do, try rotating per 10 to 15 minutes while being mindful of where the sun is hitting your face. Areas that crave sun are the under arms (great for lymph system), side body (obliques, hips, legs) hip flexors and pubic bones if you're up for getting a little sun where the sun don’t typically shine.
After that first 10-20 minutes of unprotected sun, be sure to slather on an appropriate level of SPF and throw on a hat or visor. Be good about SPF re-application if you’re planning on being in direct sun for more than 2+ hours.
Be careful with the sunscreens you choose
I was on an outdoor set recently and reached for the Ultra Sheer Neutrogena SPF. It must’ve been an old bottle (expired oy) because it absolutely contained oxybenzone, a known hormone disruptor. Yikes. I’m glad to report that I checked the current Neutrogena sheer-touch range and they are now oxybenzone free. Let’s keep our hormones healthy by avoiding ingredients like this, at least when we can.
RETURN OF THE TANNING BED?
Tanning beds are seemingly having a resurgence after Kim Kardashian revealed that she uses the tanning bed as a way to help her psoriasis. Never in a million years would I ever suggest anyone do this! Tanning beds emit more UVA light than UVB light which can lead to sun damage, skin cancer and even tanning addiction (yes, it’s a real thing). I can’t back tanning beds. I suggest an airbrush tan at the popular chain Sugared + Bronzed.
If you have psoriasis, eczema or any inflammatory skin condition, consult your doctor to see what options are best for YOU. Consider laser treatments or phototherapy treatment under the supervision of your doctor or dermatologist. You can ask whether a tanning bed is a good option for you if you really want, but know it is not the only option.
TANNING PRODUCTS FOR FACE AND BODY
I secretly started experimenting in high school. My first was a body tanner by Tarte. It came with a turquoise buffing glove! I wish I could remember the name of the product. Before you start trying out at home treatments, here are my simple tips:
Make sure to exfoliate before application, whether with a physical exfoliant or one of the exfoliating Naturium body washes. This will ensure a smoother, more seamlessly even tan. Try to moisturize daily with a body moisturizer, oil or serum leading up to your tanning. As the tan starts to turn over or peel off, exfoliating with a body glove or mitt should help expedite the removal process. Although a lot of these formulas now fade very naturally. And also don’t wear white and be mindful of your bed sheets – lay down a towel to ensure no transfer. Have fun!
SALTY FACE - I was generously gifted the tanning water and foam and I thoroughly have enjoyed both. I found the foam to be so great for a natural body tan. These formulas are amazing vegan, acne-safe, sulfate free and made in Canada.
COOLA - I’ve had the pleasure of working with Coola before and they gifted me a variety of their tanning products. I love the firming lotion and one of my dearest friends swears by the tan aging face serum.
ST. TROPEZ - This mousse formula disrupted the market and I’ve always been curious to try it. Winner of an Allure beauty award, St. Tropez has been the IT tanning product for years. The line seems user friendly and has expanded in its range.
BALI BODY - This was applied to me on a recent shoot and it looked incredible. Granted I had the help of Casey who made me look airbrushed. Like St. Tropez, they have a wide range of instant and gradual tanning products.
SHIMMERY PRODUCTS
Looking for just a natural shimmer or glow? I recommend the following…
TOM FORD SOLEIL BLANC- A beautiful body oil, wonderful for an event. This product gives the most balanced shimmer. Also a chic gift for a friend!
PATRICK TA MAJOR GLOW BODY OIL - I almost purchased this during a recent Sephora trip. I trust anything Patrick Ta makes and this seems like a delicious product that comes in three shades: Rose, Champagne and Bronze.
NARS MONOI BODY GLOW - I’ve wanted to own this product for years. I often see this in many professional makeup kits. When it comes to NARS, they just never miss.
VOYAGE ET CIE MANOI OIL - This was gifted to me by my dear friend Avva for my birthday and I use it pretty much every day. Manoi (Tahitian scented oil) is such an energetic joy to wear and the golden shimmer is just the cherry on top.
SAIE BEAUTY- Starglow, Sunglow and the upcoming addition to the group Roseglow, which launches July 16th. Primarily used as a face primer and highlighter, I actually like to mix it with my body moisturizer for some shimmer. You can follow the private instagram Club Roseglow for Roseglow launch updates!
NUXE - a Parisian favorite, these shimmery body oils are just absolutely delicious and they smell so lovely. Could even be worn as fragrance.
✨Explore all shimmery and self tanning products here.✨
ESCAPE THE SUN: BRING THE SUN TO YOUR TV
Sometimes it’s just too hot to be outside for real. Here are some things to watch to still feel like you’re on vacation…
A CINDERELLA STORY - features a tanning bed cameo with our queen Jennifer Coolidge. A friend also just reminded me of the infamous tanning bed scene in Final Destination. I never saw any of these movies because I was extremely sheltered from horror films as an only child ha!
ISLAND IN THE SUN - Mary Kate & Ashley classic + Weezer is a big yes.
THE BEACH- My friend Michael played this soundtrack on a roadtrip and I was basically obsessed. Such a good early Leo film.
BLUE CRUSH - BEST MOVIE EVER MADE sorry.
POINTBREAK - Young Keanu and Patrick Swayze is just an irresistible combination.
HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK - Jamaica and Taye Diggs, what else is there!!
WHITE LOTUS - Season 1 and 2! Not sure who hasn’t seen this show, but it never hurts to return to Hawaii or Sicily.
ÁMEZING UPDATES:
See you Mid-July everyone! Stay hydrated and practice safe tanning! I’ll see you bronzed golden angels very soon.
This was such a great read! Thanks bb!