The brrrrrrr quality of the weather is no excuse to have sickly pale skin. In fact, it’s the best excuse ever to self-tan!
Dera Enochson, Tanning Expert and creator of the Xen-Tan self-tanning collection, shares her tips on creating the perfect, natural looking self-tan -

Gently exfoliate the face by using a scrub or even a cleanser and a washcloth to slough off dead skin cells
Apply face tanner in a circular motion to skin on face and throat. Daily self tan works best on the throat area if you have trouble with self tan blotching.
For blending self tanner into your hairline, …read more

Most people may not realize that SPF is just as important in the winter months as it is in the summer months. Anytime your skin is exposed to the sun (hot or cold) you are at risk for sun damage.
But who wants to slather on tropical scented sunscreen before they put on their snow boots? Not me! So, I put together the following winter SPF fixes for the three areas that are most exposed during the winter months – face, hands and lips.
Here are some winterizing ways to get your SPF during the cold winter …read more

Mystic Tan is the go-to tan, not just in Hollywood, but in the movies! In fact, both Bride Wars and Mall Cop tapped into the leading spray tan provider, with hilarious results.
In Mall Cop, Kevin James gets a thorough tanning on top of his uniform and in Bride Wars?
Let’s just say that Anne Hathaway takes tanning a little too far.
Mystic Tan creator, Ricky Croft, is happy to go over the top on the big screen, but when it comes to real life (as opposed to reel life), he has all the info you’ll need to ensure a worry-free glow …read more

It’s not what you think.
However, my job (woe is me!) is taking me to both southern California and South Beach during the month of January – and despite my exclamations otherwise, pale is NOT the new tan. I must be prepared.
Or at least be able to fake it well.
Whether you are looking for a healthy “Hawaiian” glow all year long or just searching for an ideal solution for fast getaway, Booty Butter Tanning Lotion by Bikini Kitchen is an option you may want to consider.
Booty Butter Tanning Lotion is a browning lotion (no innovation there!), but it contains 100% all-natural …read more

Alas, we all know the dangers of UV now, too bad we didn’t know when we were sunbathing in baby oil with a double album covered in tin foil!
Nothing we can do about that now, but we can prevent further damage by using sunscreen every day and by applying nutrients.
The only problem for us is that after we shower and dry and preen, we really are in no state of mind to apply some industrial grade products.
This is why we love Bethesda Sunscreen Soap. You apply it when you wash in the shower…and  you have just fed your skin with …read more

As the summer comes to an end, and we start thinking about dark cherries, plaid and wool, and less about sun damage, its a great time to remind you to continue incorporating sunscreen into your daily routine.  Combination products are the best, and what I use year round – mineral makeup, moisturizers/primers/body lotions with sunscreen. 

I have found the niftiest thing that I can’t wait to try – soap with a sunscreen.  Bethesda Skincare has come up with Sunscreen Soap – a soap that is chock full of good-for-you stuff, plus leaves behind a thin layer of at least …read more

Did you all see the New York Times article at the end of the week last week about – well – the bridezilla’s from hell?  I don’t know any nicer way to put it, really.  Mercy, is really all I have to say.  If its not bad enough that your bestest friend is making you buy an ugly, expensive dress that you will never wear again, apparently brides all over are demanding that their bridesmaids, mothers, mothers-in-law have botox.  And matching spray tans.  And boob jobs for crying out loud. 
I thank my childhood best friend, Jill Watson, for …read more

This is a guest post from my friend Charu Suri, from ButterflyDiary.com.  Thanks Charu!
There’s little doubt that self-tanners tend to be scrutinized with a particularly powerful magnifying glass.
“Will I end up looking like Charlize Theron when she won her Oscar?”
“How do you know it doesn’t streak?”
“It might have worked for you, but it probably won’t for me.”
We make excuses and send guinea pigs to do the testing before plunking down the coin to buy the product ourselves, and in the end we opt for that monthly tanning booth session.
But fans of Mystic Tan will know that the company …read more

I am mega late on this this year, but I didn’t want too much more time to go by without talking about the 2008 CEW Beauty Awards winners.  These are chosen by executives in the beauty business – editors, owners and every other type of professional you can think of in the biz.  You can be guaranteed that these products are going to be the tops in their categories – and definitely worth a try.  Mass means you can buy the products (mass market) in the drugstores, prestige means that they are available at specialty/department stores and well, they …read more

It is time to announce the winner of the Harper Collins “What’s In My Beauty Bag” contest, but first, lets take a peek at the contenders:
Entry 1:  Moe, who has lots of BIG stuff in her beauty bag!
Entry 2:  Sarah F., who is obviously a fan of the classic Great Lash, and I see a Watkins goodie in there too that I need to try.

Entry 3:  Racquel, who I can see is a MAC girl too! 

Entry 4: Kate, who has sent along 2 pictures – one of her bag contents and the other of her drawer.  I feel …read more