Skip the tanning bed this summer and try something less harmful: self-tanning lotion.
And forget about the mess...Fitness Magazine has five new tanning rules for getting that sunkissed look without the streaks.
1. Start with smooth skin
Buff dry patches in the shower with an exfoliating glove or a non-oil-based scrub (try Bella Bronze Sea Kelp & White Volcanics Scrub, $18, www.bellabronze.com). "Oil leaves a residue that prevents even absorption, no matter how well you blend," says Anna Stankiewicz, a skincare therapist at the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City who specializes in airbrush tanning. After towel-drying, prep drier areas (such as knees, elbows, ankles, and knuckles) with a body moisturizer like The Healing Garden Energy Therapy Antioxidant Body Lotion, $16.75, drugstores. "Parts that don't have many oil glands tend to be dry and grab most of the color," explains Stankiewicz.
2. Touch your toes first
With any self-tanner, it's best to start applying on the lowest body part you want to give a boost of color to. People tend to coat their chest and stomach first, but bending over to do legs and feet after you've done your upper body will create creases, says Stankiewicz.
3. Let it set
"You don't want to wipe away the cream before it has a chance to react with your skin," explains Stankiewicz. You'll need to wait a minimum of 15 minutes before getting dressed -- even if your skin doesn't feel tacky. "The bottom layers may still be drying," notes Stankiewicz. Speed up the process by fanning your body with a hair dryer on the cool setting. For even quicker results, use an aerosol formula instead of a cream. "Sprays have smaller color molecules, so they're absorbed faster," says Cindy Barshop, owner of the Complete Bare spas in New York City and Palm Beach.
4. De-streak
Five minutes after you've applied the product, use a dry loofah or washcloth to gently diffuse the color, especially on your wrists, ankles, and feet and between your fingers. "Your hand can distribute the color unevenly, because it's not a totally smooth surface," explains Stankiewicz. If you already have a splotched area, a gritty exfoliator won't buff away the darker hue because the tanning agent has already soaked into deeper layers of the skin. Instead, try a tanning remover like St. Tropez Self-Tan Remover, $17, www.sephora.com, which can actually break down DHA.
5. Don't linger in the shower
Water will wash off your glow. "Minimize your routine to under 10 minutes and keep the water temperature warm, not hot," says Barshop. Don't shave as often, and skip exfoliating until you're ready to reapply self-tanner. For best stay-smooth results, use a hair-removing cream pre-application, rather than a razor (try Nair Sensitive Formula Gel Cream for Body, $7.99, drugstores). You won't have regrowth for several days.
November 21, 2008
Worldwide Automotive Report
Congress puts aid to big three on hold. What does Roger Penske think about industry help? We talk with him one-on-one. We also tell you why Volkswagen's Diesel Jetta was named "Green Car of The Year."
Mayoral Forum-Part 3 11/20
The Booker T. Washington Association held a Mayoral Forum at the Charles H. Wright Museum Of African American History this afternoon. WWJ's Stephanie Davis moderated.
Mayoral Forum-Part 2 11/20
The Booker T. Washington Association held a Mayoral Forum at the Charles H. Wright Museum Of African American History this afternoon. WWJ's Stephanie Davis moderated.
Mayoral Meeting-Part 1 11/20
The Booker T. Washington Association held a Mayoral Forum at the Charles H. Wright Museum Of African American History this afternoon. WWJ's Stephanie Davis moderated.
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