Best Self-Tanners and Tips For a Sun-kissed Glow

We all know that the best tan is a safe tan, and that means a sunless tan.  Streaks, stinky products, and stains on everything from clothes to sheets can be avoided if you choose the right self-tanners and use them properly.  The new formulas come in mousse, oils, sprays, gels, and creams, and give a believable glow that suggests you spent spring break under the sun somewhere warm.  So no matter your comfort level there is a product for you.  Many of the new products don’t have the distinctive smell of older self-tanners, which for many was a major turnoff.  DHA (dihydroxyacetone) derived from glycerin increases the melanoidins in skin turning them a brown tone, hence a tanned look, and is responsible for the unpleasant smell associated with these products. The new formulations have ingredients to actually block the nose from detecting the odor, while others mask it with pleasant smelling scents.  If you have been hesitant to really embrace a faux-glow I’ve got the tips to achieving a gorgeous tan for face and body that will have everyone wondering where you spent your holiday weekend:

Face:

Start with a clean, bare face, using a formula specifically designed for the face.  Begin by applying the product to the parts of the face that the sun hits: the forehead, along the top of the nose, the tip of the chin, and the apples of your cheeks.  Use sparingly over the top lip to avoid creating a shadowed area that will look like a mustache.  Blend with your fingertips or blender sponge upwards and outwards towards the edge of the face.  Extra tip: if you have blonde or grey hair, apply a bit of moisturizer with the self-tanner along the hairline to avoid staining the hair.  Moisturize and use sunscreen twenty minutes after application and before makeup. Use a glow product along the highlights of your face to enhance the tan: along the bridge of the nose, top of the cheekbones, chin, and brow bones right above the brows.  

Body:

Exfoliate the day before self tanning to prep the skin.  Don’t wax within 24 hours to allow the follicles to relax.  Moisturize ankles, knees and elbows well for a few days prior to applying self tanner if they are rough as smooth skin absorbs product more evenly.  Use a mitt for even product distribution and to prevent streaks and hand stains. Sprays are a great way to reach areas like the back and behind the knees.  Extra tip:  start at the ankles and feet and work upwards to avoid creasing your skin during the application process, and leave your arms until last. 

*** All products available at Sephora.com

Self-tanning basics:

Exfoliate gently the day before self-tanning so the skin is not rough or raw, allowing for a smoother application.

Allow the self-tanner to completely dry before getting dressed or jumping into bed.

Moisturize well to maintain skin condition to extend the length of the tan.

Wash your hands thoroughly after applying self tanning products so it doesn’t settle into your cuticles or palms.  

Self tanners do NOT offer any sun protection so always apply an SPF over it.

Self-tanning is much less intimidating than it used to be, and the new products mean we don’t need to be a beauty pro to achieve an amazing bonzed goddess look, so glow on! 

                                                               XOXO Shelley

#newselftanners #bestselftanners #howtouseselftanners #selftanningtips #selftannersforface #selftannersforbody #nostreakselftanners  #facethis.blogspot.com #ShelleyGoodstein

“Cica”: The Hero Ingredient in Skincare Breakthroughs

“Cica”, the nickname for Centella Asiatica, is a leaf from wetlands in Asia used for centuries in ancient Chinese medicine to soothe, heal, and repair wounds, burns, and skin conditions.  It’s also known as “tiger grass” as tigers rub themselves in the grass to heal battle wounds. The leaf’s water content contains anti-microbial properties that treat infection and speed the skins’ recovery.  But that’s just the beginning of it’s amazing benefits.  Clinical studies have confirmed the efficacy of cica in medical skin healing, so it makes sense that such a beneficial, natural, and gentle ingredient is beginning to appear in mainstream skincare products.  

K-Beauty has championed cica for several years now, and finally the rest of the world is catching up, as brands create formulations that are hypoallergenic and completely safe for all skin types, backed up with clinical research.  It makes sense as we learn that many of our skin issues are a result of over-exfoliation, pollution, too many unnatural chemicals routinely aggressing our skin, stripping away the micro-biome, our skin’s own natural protective barrier, and excessive use of acids to force our skin into recovery mode in hopes of revealing younger, healthier layers.  Basically, all the things that brands have told us would give us a glowing, youthful complexion.  In a major back step, brands are now promoting natural, more gentle products formulated to protect and heal the skin, often using age-old wisdom and ingredients.  Cica has proven in clinical studies to be completely safe for use on babies, the most sensitive skin types of all, meaning that no matter how touchy your own skin is, cica can help and definitely won’t hurt. 

Cica products are now available to treat acne and breakouts, inflammation, dryness, and fine lines.  It hydrates, brightens the complexion, evens tone, protects against the effects of pollution, and stimulates collagen production and cell growth.  How it works:  Cica contains vitamins, amino acids, phytochemicals, and betacarotene which are antioxidants that help heal the skin, returning it to a healthy state, while providing intense hydration that plumps skin, nourishing the micro-biome without damaging it.  If skin is fed what it needs to behave like young skin, it will glow, be more firm, have a more even tone, be thicker, resist the formation of wrinkles and lines, won’t show signs of stress from pollutants, and heal redness and irritation.  Instead of brutalizing our skin into doing what we want it to do, why wouldn’t we give our skin exactly what it needs to recover and rejuvenate?  Cica might just be the “wonder ingredient” in skincare breakthroughs.  If nature can make a tiger rub on Centella asiatica leaves to heal it’s wounds then why wouldn’t we want to try to benefit from its healing properties ourselves?  

                                               XOXO Shelley

#cicabalm #cicainskincare #skincarebreakthroughs #K-beauty # centellaasiatica #newskincaretreatments #naturalskincare #tigergrass #skincareforsensitiveskin #facethis.blogspot.com #ShelleyGoodstein 

Summer's Best Beach-Bound Fashion Accessories

Summer is just around the corner - really it is - and shopping for the season doesn’t feel quite as overly-optimistic as it has for the last month.  I am plotting my summer getaway, booking tickets, and already anticipating all the style looks I want to bring with me.  I don’t know about you but I want the perfect look for each location, and not just for photo ops, but to step out of my everyday life into full on jet-setter mode.  This year I intend to feel the sand in my toes, the sun and salt on my skin, and the wind in my hair, and having the perfect beach tote and accessories is a must.  And I don’t want to destroy my summer shopping budget in the process.  I need a beach look that give a style upgrade, rather than tossing a bunch of pieces together that have nothing to do with each other, and that won’t break the bank.  This year’s top three beach style trends are minimal neutrals, ombre shades grounded with blacks, and holographic pastels, all of which means I’ll be leaving my canvas and bamboo beach bags with mismatched accessories at the back of my closet.  

Minimal Neutrals: think nude leathers, straw sunhat, Turkish towel, and gold aviators mixed with skin tone-flattering gold and whites for palette cleansing chic. 

Tote:  Rafaella Tote Bag in Sand  $88.00 at Anthropologie

Sunscreen: Amorepacific Sun Protection Mist Broad Spectrum SPF 30  $32.00 at Sephora

Sunglasses:  Bonnie Clyde Polarized Aviator Sunglasses  $84.00  at Nordstrom

Hat:  Palm Straw Hat by San Diego Hat  $76.00 at Nordstrom

Towel:  Herringbone Turkish towel in Desert Sand  $28.00 at Olive and Linen 

Ombre:  sunset shades mixed with black are exotic and graphic, and are more fashion-forward than trendy.

Sandals:  Melissa Beach Shine Slides in Rose Gold  $85.00 at ShopBop

Sunglasses:  Seafolly Curl Curl Sunglasses  $59.00 at Nordstrom

Tote:  Think Rolyn Editor Tote  $148.00 at ShopBop

Swimsuit:  La Blanca V-Plunge CrossBack One-Piece  $129.00 at Victoria’s Secret 

Sunscreen:  Moroccanoil Sun Lotion SPF 50  $32.00 at Sephora

Holographic Pastels:  airy pastels that are more high-tech than saccharin-sweet elevate and lighten and brighten.

Swimsuit:  Recycled Capsule Collection Tie dye Swimsuit  $39.90 at Zara

Tote:  Jen Tote in Hologram by Studio 33  $68.00 at Nordstrom

Sunglasses:  Leith Translucent Sunglasses  $19.00 at Nordstrom

Sunscreen:  Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30  $34.00 at Sephora

Camera:  SunnyLife Underwater Camera  $20.00 at ShopBop

                                                                XOXO  Shelley

#bestbeachtotes2019  #vacationstyle2019  #bestbeachstyle  #summergetawaystyle  #travelwardrobe  #summershopping  #facethis.blogspot.com  #ShelleyGoodstein 

Palette-Cleansing Neutrals: A Fresh Take on Spring

The new nude palette takes a natural spin giving skin a sunset glow that lifts us right out of winter and gives us a much-needed complexion pick-me-up. If the weather won't give me sunshine and warm breezes then I will heat things up on my own. The new way to wear neutrals is a far cry from "nude".  It’s not about contouring or defining, but blending and blurring earth tones to create a warm, sheer, sophisticated look that works for every occasion from work, to weekend, to special occasions and is one of those "can't go wrong" palettes.  Easy to apply and even easier to wear.  

Look for desert-colored shades that aren’t muddy or flat, that have undertones of rose, peach, or gold, depending on your own skin color.  Products that glimmer or highlight are perfect for night looks or vacation and can be layered over daytime shades of matte golds, plums, or chocolate. Skip lip and eye liners and create depth by blending.  Keep the lips a warm neutral rather than a nude so they don’t disappear.  Groom the brows, wear a defining mascara, blend mocha, taupe, and copper shades on the eyes. 

I've been shopping and trying out all the new products, and these are my top choices that I will use all spring and summer, day to night, work to vacation, to create this year’s most versatile makeup looks. 

                                                                  XOXO Shelley

#newneutralmakeup #newnudemakeup #springbeauty #summerbeauty #springmakeuplooks #bestnewmakeupproducts #howtodothe newneutralmakeup #facethis.blogspot.com. #ShelleyGoodstein

The Easy 90’s Styles That Are Perfect For Today:

It’s a fashion flashback that part of me really doesn’t mind at all: the 90’s are having a trending moment and some of my favorite and most comfortable pieces are right on trend this year.  (Side note:  I can’t really wrap my head around the thought I am old enough to see my younger-year’s style revived, but that’s just me.)  Who can forget Kate Moss in a slip dress? Or the Friends cast wearing jean jackets?  Angelina Joli in tank tops and cargos?  Drew Barrymore in floral mini dresses?  I never gave up my love of bias cut dresses, slip on pool slides, and the perfect black knapsack, and actually neither did the fashion world as a whole.  Those 90’s staples have become classics and are timeless now.  

Laid-back style that was sexy at the same time meant that nearly everything in your wardrobe could be intermixed and worn together to create different looks.  Nothing felt forced or looked like it was trying really hard to make a style statement.  Models today have pounced on the 90’s style for castings, and designers have picked up their street style and made up-to-date versions, adapting them for today.  In the 90’s we wore biker shorts anywhere and everywhere, and that was before the athleisure trend.  Today’s versions are just as sporty, pairing up with everything from tailored blazers, to crop tops, to oversized t-shirts.  I will wear them to the gym swapping them out for short shorts or leggings.  I will live in cargos, scrappy tank tops and pool slides all spring with a jean jacket thrown on top.  For summer I will cool down with floral mini dresses, warp midi skirts with spaghetti strap tank tops, and slip dresses for both day and night.  And my new hats for the season will be various bucket hats, giving the straw fedoras and Panama hats of so many seasons now a much needed break.  And they are packable! Love. 

I’ve done the research for you so you can get shopping yourself.  Summer style simplified, comfort guaranteed:

Bitten Dress by Reformation $198.00 at reformation.com

Top Cycling Shorts $15.00 at Topshop.com

Zara ZW Premium Cargo Pants $49.50 at Zara.com

Levi's Ex-Boyfriend Denim Trucker Jacket $89.50 at Urbanoutfitters.com

Slim Perfect tank Top with Built-In Bra $22.50 at JCrew.com

Concord Floral Mini Dress $198.00 at Refomration.com

Floral Patterned Wrap-Front Skirt $34.99 at HM.com

Mali & Lili Vegan Leather Mini Backpack $56.00 at Nordstrom.com

Hat Attack Perfect Bucket Hat $55.00 at ShopBop.com

Adidas Adilette Slide Sandal $45.00 at Nordstrom.com

XOXO Shelley

#90’sstyleflashback #90’sstylefor2019 #slipdresses #cargopants #summer2019style #whattobuynow #90’strendinfashion #facethisblogspot.com #ShelleyGoodstein 

Face and Body Misting: Treat or Treatment? Both!

Remember when we first started seeing people spritzing their face with plain water mists on warm days? It seemed over-the-top and and a bit obsessive, and like an extra beauty step that offered basically nothing except offer a moment of freshness. And in fact they were drying their skin out and leaving it without a protective barrier of moisturizer.  Mists today are so much more than plain water and offer skincare benefits on the fly.  There are as many reasons to mist as their are products to address various needs, so it’s time to take another look:  

FACE MIST BENEFITS:   Use as a toner before moisturizing to calm and prep the skin.  Mist for a smoothing layer before applying makeup.  Revive and refresh makeup midday with a blending sponge.  Mist for a quick application of extra moisturizer or sunscreen post-workout.  Use mid or post flight to hydrate parched skin from air travel.  NOTE: Mists that are meant to “set” makeup contain ingredients that bind the makeup to the skin, not allowing it to properly breathe so it can irritate the skin or cause breakouts, not to mention creating a makeup finish that is mask-like - NOT a good look.  

KEY INGREDIENTS:   Just like your favorite cleansers, toners and moisturizers, look for mists that contain hyaluronic acid which is a humectant and can hold 1000 times its weight in water, plumping and helping the skin retain an optimum moisture level.  Ultra-hydrated skin is healthier, glows, is more youthful, and less likely to show signs of stress resulting in irritation, dryness, and wrinkles.  Hyaluronic acid  is a powerhouse and should be a key ingredient in your skincare routine. Mists infused with mineral oils help smooth the skin, lock in moisture, and improve the look of makeup applied over it.   Rosewater, cucumber, aloe, and green tea mists have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing irritation and redness.  

BODY MIST BENEFITS:   Apart from giving a refreshing boost, body mists offer a lot of skincare perks.  Body spritzers offer great hydration that can lock in moisturizers. Mists can give skin a sheen or glow, or create an even-toned bronze look.  Mist mid-day or post-workout with a lighter version of your favorite fragrance in mist-form without perfume-overloading.  Use at bedtime to help you fall asleep. 

KEY INGREDIENTS:   Wake up: look for mists with citrus and florals to refresh and invigorate, both the skin and the senses.  Escape: tropical scents like coconut and vanilla channel a warm, sexy beach vacation.  Sleep: lavender soothes and aids in getting restful sleep.

  

I stash mists at my desk, in my gym bag, keep a mini-spritzer in my handbag, and have more than a couple on my vanity, and while it does feel a bit indulgent I love giving my skin an extra does of hydration to keep me looking and feeling fresh on the fly mid-day.  One step to glowing, hydrated, and refreshed skin is a good deal in my book. 

                                                                XOXO Shelley

#facemists #doyouneedafacemist  #benefitsoffacemists #newfacemists #bodymists #newbeautyproducts #gymbagbeautyproducts #bodycareproducts2019 #facethis.blogspot.com #ShelleyGoodstein