Tan Your Face Beautifully

Disclaimer- there is no Jersey Shore-esque orange Oompa Loompa tans in my self tanning world. But, if you like a soft healthy glow that says “I love walks in the sunshine and don’t live in a dark basement” then we’re on the same page. I will devote a few posts to self tanners as there are so many, and, some of us need different formulas for our faces and our bodies. Today, I will share 2 of my favourite facial tanning options. As I have shared often, I have oily acne prone skin that is also over 40 so my skincare and cosmetic options often work for aging AND younger skin. With this in mind, I am not a fan of multi-tasking skincare for the face. I have a moisturizer I love and I have a sunscreen/primer I love . I don’t want extra anything in my self-tanner. Just make me glow, baby, and don’t smell too weird and make me break out. For this reason I really like gel or mousse formulations- easy to apply, sink in quickly and don’t leave me oily…

Lancome Flash Bronzer Gel for Face: This is the one I have been using the longest and always go back to after trying others. One thing to know about this is a little goes a long way. It would be nice if it offered a bit of instant colour so you knew exactly where it was going but once you get the hang of it it is just perfect, it gives the right amount of glow and colour without an orange look. I use a dime sized or smaller amount and carefully blend down my throat and along my hairline. Then, my magic self tanner tip. I use a (dark) face cloth that is damp, and I wipe thoroughly my eyebrows, around my mouth and along my hairline. That is where you may get a bit too dark- these are areas that usually don’t get more tan than the rest of your face and are a dead Can-Tan giveaway if you don’t wipe them clean right away. I like to do this right after washing my face in the morning and give myself around 15-20 minutes before applying make up. I like as little as possible on my skin at  nighttime so I don’t self tan before bed. This one has very little of the weird baking bread smell that is the bane of most self tanners and what little scent it has dissipates quickly.

Clarins Instant Smooth Self Tanning: I received a couple samples of this from my wonderful Shoppers Drug Mart Cosmetic Fairies. Seriously- some of the new giant Shoppers rival Sephora and the SAs there get non stop product knowledge for the latest and greatest stuff. They are an invaluable resource so use them! They also know that if you try you may buy and if you are really interested in something new, they usually have samples. Ask and ye shall receive! I was looking at the Clarins Self Tan line as the wise and beautiful Victoria from EauMG had recommended the Liquid Bronze Self Tanning as one of the best self tanners out there. Online reviews from EVERYWHERE back this claim up. But the Instant Smooth is new and I was keen to try it. Well, I have to say, I love it. Yes it is a bit silicone-y, but a teensy bit goes a long way, it shows a light bronze tone immediately upon application, and the self tanning is so subtle and perfect it is almost goof-proof. Very little scent and instant gratification! I still plan to try the Liquid Self Bronze as I need something for my legs and if it works on face & body then that is a win for me!

I’d be remiss in not mentioning my all time Holy Grail self tanner, St Tropez Mousse. There is nothing better than this, it shows instantly, gives a gorgeous glow, no oil or weird smell and can be used on body and face. My issue is how hard it is to find in Canada. I buy it if I see it in the US but since I have the others in my cabinet I haven’t really bothered looking. Can someone in Ottawa please carry St Tropez???

What are your fave self tanners? Share the wealth!

This is why we wipe around our lips....

And this, Xtina, is NOT a good colour match for you...

Random Beautiful Thoughts

Music ~ As a long time fan of the musical weirdness that was Roxy Music and is Bryan Ferry I was keen to hear Olympia. His latest release features some pretty cool dudes including Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, just to name a few. But it is the spooky & ethereal Brian Eno rejoining that adds that Roxy magic, especially evident on Tender is The Night. I feel like this song is…humid and dense, if that makes sense…

Speaking of a little weirdness (I mean this in the best way) how about a little Jonsi (from Sigur Ros) and the oh so pretty Go, Do

Go sing, too loud

Make your voice break- sing it out

Go scream, do shout

Make an earthquake

.....so pretty, right?

Book ~ Just finished Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom and I loved it. I still love him for his famous Oprah dissing ( I am not a believer in The Church of Oprah) and for the weird Franzenfreude that arose as a result of his great reviews. Sour grapes much? Anyways…his books make me want to have a pencil nearby when I’m reading so I can underline phrases that blow my mind. Sometimes I read them out loud… a few times. Anyone who grew up in the 70s/80s and who had even a modicum of family dysfunction needs to read Jonathan Franzen. The Corrections spoke to my generation and moved me in unexpected ways. Freedom reminded me of how politics were so important to my parents and how they shaped my beliefs. It also reinforced (in my humble opinion) how important it is to take responsibility for your parenting and for your children. There is a weird over-protective/let-kids-make-the-important-choices dichotomy going on these days. Parents who cry “poor me” and act like martyrs while not letting their kids walk anywhere on their own or take responsibility for their bad behavior. It’s like a reversal of what parenting should be….”in my humble opinion”… Freedom is not just about parenting by any chance…but that is one of the things I took away from it.

Food ~ Well, post holidays I am happy to purge my system of chocolate and celebratory dinners with a normal eating routine. It doesn’t take long to feel energized and healthy again when pounds of chocolate, butter and champagne are eliminated (ok…reduced…) from the diet. During these cold days, curries are among my favourite dishes and my Lalah's Curry Powder and Patak's curry paste get a real workout. One of my favourite vegetarian dishes is Spicy Rice and Lentils. It doesn't use curry but has lots of warmth and yumminess and was always a favourite with my daughter and her friends, even when they were young. Hey, it doesn't have to be gross chicken fingers and frozen fries! 

Fashion ~ Ah, let us thank the fashion gods for the big circle scarf, shall we? I have a big thick wooly black one from Urban Outfitters that I have been living in during our cold snap. It’s a scarf, a hat, and a neck warmer. A win for me! Also, Canadian chain Aritzia has a line called TNA that makes super cozy parkas that are lined with a faux fur. Mine is blue grey military style and with the hood up & my circle scarf wrapped around my neck you can colour me cozy. What I want- did anyone else notice Natalie Portman’s character in Black Swan was constantly wearing what looked like cashemere sweatpants and hoodies? All in pale greys, blushes and cream colours! Cozy stuff for lounging around the house are pretty much my favourite items and these look like the ultimate. I can pretend to be a ballerina ;)

this is how I imagine my make up :)

Cosmetic du Jour ~ For some reason I am embracing black eyeliner on my upper and lower waterlines. It looks sexy and smoky, yet subtle and Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof pencil in Black stays put. Loving me some Bobbi Brown right now. Her award winning Long Wear Cream Shadow in Cement is my daily go-to neutral eye shadow these days, and her Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in the pretty and cheery Pale Pink is giving me a blush. Dust it all over with some Illuminating Bronzing Powder in the pale golden bronze colour of Aruba and I look like I am happily surviving winter with a healthy glow.

Perfume du Moment ~  I have been craving warmth and the smells that come when the earth is alive, ie flowers, grass, trees and the way everything smells when the sun shines on it. You know, when it's. Not. Winter. A little spritz of Annick Goutal Songes or Comptoir Sud Pacifique Aloha Tiare gives me a "warm sultry tropical night walking under fragrant flowers" in a bottle and just make me happy. I think it makes people around me happy too, as when I wear either of these I am constantly hearing “Mmmm what are you wearing, you smell so good”. Works for me! A few sprays of Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia at bedtime guarantees sweet dreams. This white floral blend has soft and gentle notes of cardamom that adds a warming element, perfect for a cold and blustery night

Get Beautiful in 15 Minutes or Less....

As much as I love makeup and all things beauty & cosmetic related, I am not into a heavy, made up look. At all. As I get older, the “less is more” theory becomes more relevant. If I have a special night out, I can add a little more drama with a slightly darker eye and some color on my lips, but for my daily Daly (lol) look, I keep it pretty simple. Long wearing is also key for my day-to –day cosmetics; I don’t have the time or desire to tote a large make up bag full of everything I need around in my purse. There is enough in there to sink a ship already…. if you read my Top 5 in my Purse post, you know that I stick to the basics. I also have oily skin so, make up, if not long wearing, tends to slip away and disappear before lunch. The descriptions may seem detailed and long winded, but trust me, get the hang of this routine and you’re out the door in minutes. So here we go. Get ready quickly, and look good all day. …

Tinted Moisturizer

I am not, and have never been, a foundation gal. On the days when I feel a little blotchy or pale, a little TM is all it takes to give my face the dewy look of an 18 year old. LOL, okay, not quite, but you know what I mean. I have two favourites- a high end product and a drugstore product. I love them both and actually alternate depending on my mood. High end- Dermalogica Sheer Tint Moisture spf 15. Incredible, sheer, matte and long lasting, I use the medium tone all year round. Makes me look healthy in the winter, blends with the light tan I inevitably get in the summer. Drugstore- Olay Totally Effects UV Moisturizer + Touch of Foundation . This one is actually fantastic, and it adds a little more moisture to my face in drier weather, ie winter when the central heat sucks every bit of moisture out of everything. I have been an Olay lover for years and this product does not disappoint. The magic Total Effects ingredients have won over users in blind tests involving super high end creams (hello La Mer….) since it was released and the tinted version is fantastic. The anti aging ingredients offer a light exfoliation, which helps keep oil at bay as well as smoothing out wrinkles. Not that I have any…

Concealer

This is a KEY product for me. Probably the one thing I’d use if (HORRORS) I was asked to choose the one thing I could not be without. You can go from tired and old to perky and young in a minute with the right concealer. And the only one, as far as I am concerned, is Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Protective Concealer . This product was recommended to me years ago by a make up artist at a Lancome counter. I went to buy Lancome waterproof mascara as I was going to a wedding (preparing for tears...) and she showed me Effacernes. WOW. This stuff is truly *Holy Grail material and I could never be without it. It is creamy and moisturizing while also having a matte finish. I use it under my eyes and on my eyelids, as it says it’s for under eye area. But I use a brush and lightly dab “spots” (ok, pimples) and very lightly dab it on the sides of my nose. A light dusting of powder on top and it stays put. As we age, that area gets red/darker and you would be shocked at how your face changes when you lighten the sides of your nose. Worth testing first, as a waterproof product may irritate a supersensitive skin. But I guarantee if this works for you, you will never be without it. A huge selection of color choices makes matching your skin tone exactly easy peasey. No more dark circles, the color will not settle into lines and will last for hours.

Bronzer &/or Blush

A touch of color is essential to a complete & healthy look. I don’t always wear both but sometimes a bit of blush and a light dusting of bronzer give me the pick-me-up that I need. You know those days - tired, run down and pale – without a good look and I am a big believer in “live it- be it” so sometimes I hope to psych myself out with a pretend glow. My number one blush is Benefit Benetint which is a liquid tint originally created, according Benefit’s site, “for an exotic dancer in the 1970s”…interesting. It is sheer, easy to apply and the perfect blushing cheek tone that lasts almost all day. I use few drops on my lips too! It also comes in a handy little package paired with lip gloss that is another perfect purse item (now that’s another Top 5 post!). My number one bronzer is the classic Guerlain Terracotta. My beautiful friend Heidi always looks so lovely & effortlessly bronzed- years ago I asked her what she used & she said Terracotta. Perfection! I had used it eons ago and now would never be without it. I use the lightest formula (01, sometimes called Blonde), which is foolproof. The Guerlain or Sephora rep can help you find your perfect shade. Using a nice big poufy brush giving yourself a light , even dusting all over the face can take you from tired to tan in an instant.

Eyeshadow & Primer

I cannot believe there was a time that I ever did not use Urban Decay Potion Primer which is basically the most incredible thing. Ever. It is a neutral coloured eye lid primer, to be used before you apply your eye make up. Using the Original formula, very lightly applied (a little goes a long way and too much is sticky) UDPP will make your eye make up last until you remove it. This could be overnight if you are a bad girl and don’t wash your make up off (like my daughters). Tsk tsk! They have 3 formulas, but the slightly shimmery Champagne toned Sin is a lovely colour on it’s own for pretty natural look. Then I swipe a little taupe eye shadow on my brow bone for depth. My faves are MAC Quarry and Omega- there are swatches on this page…just scroll down on Tempatalia to view. They are my Holy Grail taupe/natural shadows as they perfectly enhance the eye and give your lids some depth, rather than screaming, “Look at me I’m wearing purple and green eye shadow!”

Eyeliner Trick

This is a great little trick to add some depth to your lash line and open your eyes without looking like you are wearing any make up. As a blonde, this is something that really helps but it really works for anyone. Again, my desire to remain relatively low maintenance & my laziness dictates that this be a long wearing look. For this purpose I find the felt tip style is perfect- foolproof and easy to use. My personal favourite is L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner . This stuff lasts until you remove it, comes in an array of colours to suit anyone and the product goes a long way as well. That and it is around $10 at the drugstore- also fabulous. So, my trick. After applying concealer and my primer (UDPP) and letting them set, I apply the liner. I take the tip and gently dot all along my upper lash line- not above the lashes but IN the lash line. And by dot, I mean connect the dots. It may seem a little awkward at first but I can do each eye in around 30 seconds now. I start at the outer corner and work my way in and as I approach the other end of my lid, I make the dots a bit smaller until they disappear/taper off. Give it a minute to dry and you have a lash line that looks defined and subtle. Add a brush of mascara and you look bright eyed and wide-awake. My day-to-day fave color is the brown, which works well with my medium-fair colouring and hazel eyes, but they have a great black that I will use for a more dramatic look. I have even wanted to try the grey, so stay tuned….

Powder:

Everyone has their favourite powder- and it is essential for setting your make up after application. A light dusting of powder on your lashes before mascara will also help it adhere and again improve longevity.  I alternate two formulas. MAC Studio Fix, a matte powder foundation, which offers some extra coverage when I want it. A little goes a long way so a light hand is helpful with this. My day to day powder is Guerlain Meteorites Poudre des Perles I will admit a love and obsession with the Guerlain Meteorites line- very finely milled  and violet scented…. But frankly,  as long as it matches your skin, is finely milled and you apply it with a nice poufy brush (I have many- for powder, blush, bronzer…) then stick with the powder that works for you.

Mascara

Everyone has their favourite mascara…some are high end and some swear by drugstore deals. My personal preference is for lengthening mascara that does not look thick or clumpy and it has to be in a waterproof formula. Non-waterproof ends up as black circles under my eyes in a few hours. Ah that oily skin. And its nice to know I can rub or scratch my eye without making a mess. At any rate, so far I have yet to find a High End mascara that works as well as L’Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara in black. Waterproof formulas tend to dry out a bit quicker than non waterproof versions so I also feel a bit better replacing a $10 mascara more often than, say, a $30 mascara. But in the end, for me, it is about performance and L’Oreal Voluminous lengthens and holds a curl beautifully. Two coats on my top lashes and I’m out the door…

The End

* Holy Grail: A very desired object or outcome that borders on a sacred quest