Body
October 3, 2009
Posted by marta
I must admit that I need my vitamin D. And I don’t mean popping a capsule, I mean copping some rays. For sun worshipers, a French brand called Future Face that has come up with something very intriguing. Oxelio is a carrot-based topical gel that protects from the sun’s rays by boosting the skin’s natural immunity while accelerating a tan. At the same time, it is supposed to supplement any SPFs you have applied. I was greatly interested by the whole idea of Oxelio. It’s not that I actively set out to get a tan, but I enjoy the sun, spend a lot of time outside and remain somewhat skeptical about sunscreen safety (indeed a new report from a UK scientist says that sunscreens don’t prevent skin cancer). Read more...
September 9, 2009
Posted by copley
Summer may have been officially snuffed out, but there is no reason for your sun-kissed glow to meet the same fate. With the right sunless tanner, you’ll look healthy, feel confident, conceal complexion inconsistencies, and may even soak up skin-conditioning and antioxidant benefits if the formula is smart. A bonus of achieving a head-to-toe tan is cursorily camouflaging cellulite (not that you have any, but you know, just in case). After scouring the self-tanning universe for something that meets our lofty criteria, we’ve settled on five products to represent the very best in the category, based on formula, fragrance, and performance. From Aviva Organics’ mostly organic Face and Body Creme to Xen-Tan’s paraben-free Transform Gradual Self Tan, the ingredients are overall outstanding and the experience of using these products is surprisingly pleasant. Click on the images below for full details of each product.
Related Posts: Read more...
June 8, 2009
Posted by Kate
Reviewed by Kate
In case you missed my April 20th post on the science and history of self-tanners, and my quest to find “stink-free” self tanning products that don’t dry my skin or turn it orange, here is the Cliff Note version of that earlier review.
Self-tanners don’t actually tan your skin, they contain a substance (often a derivative of vegetables and/or sugars) which simply (and safely) turns the top layer of skin a “tan” color. The substance, Dehydroxyaceatone (DHA) is what also typically gives most self-tanning products an unpleasant “burned/acrid” odor, which some manufacturers try to address with a “cover-up” scent which typically makes things worse. Another challenge in discovering a great self tanner is to find one that provides believable color across a variety of body parts…. tough to do because of the variation in skin thickness (which affects color outcome) between shins, thighs, faces, etc, plus the great variety in natural skin tones: pale white to deep olive. Lastly, finding a self tanner which includes an effective and appropriate moisturizer is important, because mixing DHA and certain moisturizing”oils” (mineral oil included) changes the PH and the color… an unpleasant surprise for anyone who naively applied their self tanner under or over another moisturizing cream containing oils. Read more...
April 20, 2009
Posted by Kate
Reviewed by Kate
What do pigs, humans, and certain types of sharks have in common? It seems we are the only species who have the ability to tan, when our skin is exposed to direct sunlight.
Truth in Aging has recently published a half-dozen reviews of sunless tanners, and for good reason. It is spring time, and while most enlightened people are now avoiding OVER exposure, most of us also want to avoid the snow-white look winter imparts on bare legs and arms. So now my quest has turned to finding the perfect sunless tanner and to understanding what pitfalls I should avoid along the way. And when I mention pitfalls, the scent and color aren’t all you should be thinking about. Read more...
March 20, 2009
Posted by Reader
Posted by Chris
I’m always on a quest for new products, especially sunscreen and self-tanning products, that have the least amount of chemicals as possible. So, I was excited to try a self-tanner that has mostly natural ingredients and has eliminated most of the additives usually found in self-tanners. Truth be told, there aren’t many “natural” self-tanners available.
The product I tried was a pearly/clear gel, which had a light, fluid consistency that made spreading the product quick and easy. The fragrance was a little strong on application but faded pretty quickly. What I really liked was the fact that there didn’t seem to be the “tanning skin smell” that typically accompanies self-tanners. That being said, I could easily apply the product on a Saturday morning and go about my day without people giving me strange looks. Read more...
