The Beauty of Tinted Moisturizer

A little color goes a long way. Having a golden complexion or simply getting a little color can always be achieved with the help of bronzer and tinted body lotions. Being a fan of 2-in-one products, it comes to no surprise that a tinted moisturizer would be one of them. They’re great at evening out skin tones and providing natural looking coverage. AVEENO’s Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer ($15) is a good choice. It protects against UVA/UVB with an SPF of 30. Positively Radiant is oil-free and hyper allergenic. It’s beneficial for all skin types, sensitive enough to use everyday, and not overbearingly shiny.

AVEENO’S has shown me great results and proved to work just how it says it will. The packaging is perfect to throw in your purse and comes with a top that lock by twisting; preventing it from opening up on its own. The color goes on sheer and the light smell isn’t overpowering at all. Tinted moisturizer can take the place foundation. Most, if not all, of your imperfections get hidden discretely with the tint.

If you’re looking for a moisturizer with more coverage try Hourglass Illusion ($55). It’s liquid based like a foundation making it great for drier skin. With more shades to choose from, you’re able to get one closest to your skin tone. The Hourglass formula is oil-free and has an SPF 15.

Reverse the Damage from the Sun

You might not be able to get rid of sun damage completely, but there are definitely things you can start doing today to get better skin. The UVA and UVB rays from the sun damage your skin in many ways. Constant overexposure to the sun leads to leathery skin now and wrinkles in the future. Even worse, you are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer.

The damaging rays affect your skin by harming it in a way that affects you long term. UVA is the ray you notice when you lay out tanning. You might think that dark glow you got looks gorgeous, but getting a tan means harm has been done to your skin. The UVB is what causes reddening and is the biggest cause of skin cancer. There are times where we just can’t avoid being over exposed to both types of rays. That’s when sunscreen becomes your best friend. Picking the proper sunscreen goes a long way. Start by choosing the right SPF for you. The minimum you should be using is SPF 30. Something higher is reccomended by doctors, especially if you burn easily.

Also, wearing a daily moisturizer with SPF is necessary even if you aren’t planning on being in the sun long. Aveeno has an SPF 30 daily moisturizer foronly $15. Sunscreens have come a long way. There are all kinds and even ones made specifically for different skin types. Also keep in mind what you’ll be doing throughout the day and make it a fun task choosing the right one. If you’re planning a trip to the beach, waterproof sun screen will work to your advantage. A great one to try for daily use is a spray on sunscreen.  It’s a light airy protection and keeps you from getting your hands dirty. Just because you’ve applied sun screen doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Re-applying every other hour is just as important, even if it’s water proof.

Now, say you’ve applied protection and somehow couldn’t avoid the sun and ended up with a sun burn. Some people believe that a sun burn will eventually blend into a nice tan, but the opposite actually happens. Being burned damages the skin and increases your chances of it happening again. If this happens to you, don’t freak out. Soothe your skin immediately by applying aloe to the skin. It cools the skin down and heals it. There are lotions that include aloe in their formula like Keri Basic Essentials ($7.00). Not only does it contain Aloe, but it is also hypoallergenic and fragrance free.

The sun unfortunately leads to uneven skin tone and dark spots. Our skin produces melanin pigment, but constant exposure to the sun make the melanin produce abnormally. The abnormal production of this pigment is what leads to freckles and dark spots.  There are so many easy to use bronzers to help with tan lines and uneven skin tone. Jergens has different types to choose from. You can use their daily bronzing lotion or mouse for gradual color (8.49). Or if you’re looking for speedier results, try their three day bronzer Jergens Express Glow ($8.49). By the second day your skin will be glowing. For the face, applying a tinted moisturizer will not only give you a bronzed complexion but will also blend the uneven skin. Try Clinique’s Moisture Sheer Tint ($27). Exposing your face to the sun can create dark spots. Try limiting and really protecting the spots from getting sun because it will only make them bigger. Running a little low on cash? Before buying a product, try an at-home-remedy. Lemon juice has the power of bleaching out dark spots. Apply it twice a day and you’ll start to notice your spots getting lighter. For quicker results, try a lightening gel or lotion. Murad’s Age Spot and Pigmentation Lightening Gel works wonders ($60).

The sun’s rays have the power of harming not only your skin, but also your hair. It dries it out and quickly fades any color you may have added to it. Throughout the sunny season, trade in your regular shampoo for one that offers protection from the sun like Aveda’s Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser ($20).  Protecting yourself today will keep you healthy tomorrow and reverse the current damages from the sun.

Glow Kardashian Style

Kardashian sisters have just added a new product to their belts. Reality shows, bebe clothing line, diet products, and skin care; how they find the time for it all who know. They are offering a product that promises a glowing sun kissed body like theirs. Kardashian Glamour Tan is available for purchase at Sephora stores and online. It’s a gel based self-tanner that can be used on both the face and body. The self-tanner also works as a moisturizer delivering vitamin D and antioxidants. Another pro is that the formula is stain free and comes in a clear gel. Kardashian sisters promise this is a streak free formula and they swear by it.

I’m all for self tanners and bronzers. They’re a great alternative to tanning beds and exposure from the sun’s harmful rays. As bad as either forms of tanning are, people continue to do so in hopes of achieving a glowing tan. I myself have been guilty of. Finding a bronzer that works for you can save your skin and health and keep you safe from skin cancer. Khloe herself has faced skin cancer three times before, but thankfully was able to defeat it. being as obsessed with bronzer as I am, I’d give any self-tanner a try at least once. Although Kardashian Glamour Tan retails for $34, it has gotten many positive reviews on Sephora’s website.

Get Bronzed at Home

With all of the harmful side effects spoken about tanning beds, the obsession still continues to rise. Tanning salons are growing and finding one nearby is no problem. On my previous post, Beauty vs. Health, I spoke about the fascination with having the perfectly tanned body as well as the damage UV radiation does to your skin. While many are aware of the risks in tanning beds, they aren’t willing to compromise their bronzed complexions. However, you do have other options that can help you achieve the same look.

If you love your weekly trips to the tanning salon, try trading in the bed for a spray tan. The experts do an even job, and your skin won’t be prone to cancer cells. Or you can buy a can of spray tan and do it yourself at home. A more cost efficient option would be to use self tanning lotions. Jergen’s offers all types of self-tanners. They have lotions, 3 day tanners, and mousse. I’m sure you’ll be able to find one that suits your skin type best. I’ve used most of their self tanners and they work really well. They glide on evenly, so you don’t have streaks and they dry within minutes. The lotions and mousse take about a week to start showing darker color. If you’re inpatient like me you can try their three day self tanner. By the second day of using it you’ll see results.
Another great product for those of you who like instant gratification is Bare Escentual’s Faux Tan. This one will cost a little more, but it works instantly. You see the color while you’re applying it, moisturizes the skin and it’s great for sensitive skin as well.

So you’re giving on tanning beds and you don’t want to apply self tanner, but you still want glowing skin? That’s when make-up comes in. Before applying any make-up (if you use any) try a tinted moisturizer. It’ll give you an instant nice glow. When it comes to make-up bronzers do an amazing job. The right bronzer will make you look sun kissed and glowy. My favorite is Bare Escentual’s Warmth. It gives you the perfect, natural looking tanned face.

The next time you’re about to lay in a tanning bed, think of your skin and remember you have options.