AYU Celerity Sunless Tan...

I mentioned a few weeks ago in my review of the Vino Bronzing Mist that AYU had a couple of new products. Today, I'll be reviewing the other new product, Celerity Sunless Tan.

What's special about this product? Well, it contains rapid DHA, which develops more quickly (as you might have guessed from the name), so you only leave the product on for 2-4 hours, depending upon the depth of color you want.

This could be a great thing for someone like me who has with issues with sunless tanners containing dark colorguides (CG). In my case, the dark CG stains my skin & contributes to uneven fading. One way I have dealt with that issue is to shower the product off 4-6 hours after applying. Unfortunately, one of the "side effects" of doing that is sometimes, my tan will be lighter than I would like. So it stands to reason if the DHA is more rapidly absorbed, I should be able to obtain a darker final color while still showering early enough to prevent staining from the CG.

From the AYU website: "Our rapid tan will not dry out skin as it contains moisturizers and vitamins. Celerity Tan is a synergy of ingredients blended together which helps DHA to develop faster, also Rapid DHA that is a blend of DHA +Troxerutin helps a quick boost of color."

From the label: "Celerity Sunless Tan is formulated with rapid DHA which works faster and provides a smooth and even skin tone. Also provides anti-inflammatory and anti-aging  properties, along with eco-certifed DHA and a proprietary blend of ingredients that help to achieve a gorgeous tan in half the time. Instant bronzer helps with a beautiful application and black walnut leaf extract insures the dark tone to the tan color, so if you only have two, three, or four hours of waiting time and need to shower before you head out the door this is your product. By leaving it on for a 2, 3, or 4 hour time period it will develop the equivalent strength of a 6%, 8%, or 10% concentration of DHA accordingly."

Key ingredients:
Rapid DHA (DHA + Troxerutin)
Eco-certified DHA
Black walnut leaf extract
Green tea extract
Palmitoyl tripeptide-5
Algae extract
Panthenol (B5)
Hyaluronic acid

Consistency & appearance: 
This has a thinner consistency than the Vino Bronzing Mist. It's very easy to spray out of a fine-mist spray bottle. The color is a very dark neutral brown.

About my skin type & tanning: I am a Type I/II (I almost always burn, but I can get a very slight tan with a lot of patience.) I'm Casper-the-Friendly-Ghost white, with dark blonde hair and blue/green/gray eyes. My skin is pretty sensitive, so I have to be careful with certain ingredients - especially fragrance. When sunless tanning, my skin is atypical of a Type I/II in that I need at least 7.5-8% DHA to get decent color. Anything less than that usually gives me translucent color that tends to look orangish. I don't do well with drugstore products, and I prefer airbrush tanning solutions (ABS) to any other type of sunless tanner. Products with a dark CG can cause fading issues for me, so I usually counteract that by showering after 4-6 hours. This allows me to absorb the DHA without any staining from the CG.

Skin prep: I showered using Ulta's 3-in-1 Shower Smoothie (in Cocolada) and lightweight nylon exfoliating gloves (there are different types - these are very lightweight & minimally abrasive). After showering, I used Ulta's Shower Smoothie Hand & Body Cream (in Cocolada - and this is more like a thick lotion than a cream - it absorbs completely without any greasiness) to prep the areas that I know tend to "grab" the color - elbows, knees, ankles.

Application:  After the lotion was absorbed, I began applying the AYU solution to one area at a time. I dampened the microfiber pad with a bit of water, then sprayed the solution onto the pad. I started with my left lower leg - skimming the pad over the surface of the skin - being careful not to apply too much pressure. I covered all areas evenly, but did not rub or blend too much. I continued with my left upper leg, then my right leg, arms, stomach, & chest. Gus helped me with my back. The consistency of this product allowed me to apply rather heavily, so I didn't need a second coat. Standing in front of a fan, I was completely dry within 2-3 minutes. For my feet, I put a pea-sized dollop of the Ulta lotion in my palm, added 3-4 sprays of the tanning solution - rubbed my hands together carefully to mix - applied to my left foot & repeated for the right foot. I carefully scrubbed my palms with soap & water to remove any traces of the tanner.

Next, I wiped my elbows, knees, & ankles with a damp washcloth to remove some of the tanning solution (since I know these areas tend to develop darker than the rest of my body). For my hands, I put a pea-sized dollop of the Ulta lotion in my palm, added 3-4 sprays of the tanning solution, and rubbed my hands together carefully to mix - then applied as if I was putting lotion all over my hands. When finished, I wiped my palms, nails & cuticles with a damp washcloth.

After 4 hours, I showered off all of the tanning solution, then applied Ulta lotion all over.

Results from first application: My final color (after 24 hours) was nice (and definitely darker than usual), but I was able to see some staining from the dark CG. After a couple of days, I had lizard skin. This wasn't the usual issue I have with dark CGs & my mature skin - this was real lizard skin from too much DHA & too dark of a CG. (I don't know why I didn't think to take a picture of the lizards so you could see!) I'll try again & leave on for less time.

Results from second application: I prepped & applied the usual way, but this time I only left the solution on for 3 hours before showering. The color was a bit lighter, but there seemed to be less staining from the CG. After a few days, I looked like I had lizard skin again, but it wasn't as bad. I'll try again using less solution.

Results from third application: This time, I let the color fade for almost a week so that i would be able to remove most of the uneven areas. Then I prepped & applied as usual, but this time, I used less solution (probably about an ounce total), and I only left it on for about 3 hours. Eureka!! I think this is the winning combo!! Nice color & no lizards with fading!

Notes:

• I love that this product is fragrance-free & fast-drying! And I think I like it better than the Vino Bronzing Mist!
• I love that I only need to use an ounce & leave on for 3 hours to get the same level of color that normally requires 2 oz. and 6 hours. So yes, it's more expensive, but I use less!
• My color did continue to develop for 18-24 hours.
• I received this complimentary product from AYU, but I was not asked to do a review in exchange for it.
• I received no compensation for reviewing this product.
• I also intend to try this product using the MaxiMist HVLP to apply. When I do, I will add an update & pictures.
  

Product info:
4 oz. - $10.50

8 oz. - $29.25

Other sizes also available: 32 oz., 1/2 gallon, 1 gallon

Repurchase? Yes!

Kardashian Glamour Tan

I purchased this product from Ulta several months ago, and then I forgot that I had it! LOL! I found it a couple of weeks ago & decided to give it a try.

Kardashian Glamour Tan is a clear self-tanning gel. I typically don't do well with this type of product - the color & fading are poor for me. But I decided to try it because it would be nice to have something like this for travel or for times when I don't want to mess with a colorguide.

Description from Ulta.com:

This moisturizing formula is packed with protective antioxidants and vitamins C, D and E. It's the only self-tanner containing imudulin, a key ingredient that is designed to stimulate vitamin D synthesis, which can aid in lessening the look of lines and wrinkles. Glamour Tan's unique clear formula is non-streaking and non-staining. It instantly absorbs in your skin and within 24 hours of application, you'll notice an even, golden, fabulous tan.

Ingredients:
Water, Methylpropanediol, Dihydroxyacetone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloydimethyl taurate copolymer, Lactic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Succinate (Vitamin E), Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Urea, Trehalose, Polyquaternium -51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) Glutamylamidoethyl imidazole Fragrance.

Consistency & appearance: This product is a clear, thin, runny gel that can be kind of messy because it tends to run out of the container too quickly. I think a pump bottle would be much better. The label says that the product contains fragrance, but it must be very minimal because I didn't detect any scent.

About my skin type & tanning: I am a Type I/II (I almost always burn, but I can get a very slight tan with a lot of patience.) I'm Casper-the-Friendly-Ghost white, with dark blonde hair and blue/green/gray eyes. My skin is pretty sensitive, so I have to be careful with certain ingredients - especially fragrance. When sunless tanning, my skin is atypical of a Type I/II in that I need at least 7.5-8% DHA to get decent color. Anything less than that usually gives me translucent color that tends to look orangish. I don't do well with drugstore products, and I prefer airbrush tanning solutions (ABS) to any other type of sunless tanner. Products with a dark CG can cause fading issues for me, so I usually counteract that by showering after 4-6 hours. This allows me to absorb the DHA without any staining from the CG.

Skin prep: I showered using Ulta's 3-in-1 Shower Smoothie (in Cocolada) and lightweight nylon exfoliating gloves (there are different types - these are very lightweight & minimally abrasive). After showering, I used Ulta's Shower Smoothie Hand & Body Cream (in Cocolada - and this is more like a thick lotion than a cream - it absorbs completely without any greasiness) to prep the areas that I know tend to "grab" the color - elbows, knees, ankles.

Application: First application was to a 3-4" circular area on my stomach (which typically takes color very well). After 24 hrs. - no color. None. Zip. Nada. So I applied again to the same spot. After another 24 hrs., I could just barely see a color change, but it was negligible. I was pretty discouraged since I spent $20 for the product.

A week or so later, I decided to give the product a try for my hands & feet. I did my usual routine for hands & feet - lotion to the areas that tend to grab color, then the sunless tanning product after the lotion was absorbed. I carefully scrubbed my palms after applying to my feet, then tanned my hands. (I used about a quarter-sized amount for each foot and a nickel-sized amount for both hands.) I used a damp washcloth to wipe my palms & cuticles, as well as any areas that I know tend to grab color. After a couple of hours, I applied lotion all over my hands & feet, and wiped my palms & the areas that tend to grab color with a dry paper towel.

This time the final color wasn't bad. It was light, but I would rather have my hands & feet a little lighter anyway. I can always add bronzer if needed, but I like a light base color. Color doesn't usually last long on my hands & feet - and I'm okay with that as long as what's left can be removed fairly easily when I'm ready to start over. The Kardashian Glamour Tan color seems to last about 3-4 days, which is a day or two longer than usual. I do find that I have to scrub a bit more to remove the remaining "splotches" before re-tanning, but I am able to remove the color so that the new tan is even.

(this is an old picture just to show you how pale I am without any sunless tanner)

This product is available from ulta.com - a 6 oz tube is $19.99.

Repurchase? I haven't decided yet. I will probably have a better idea once I've used the entire tube.

(I know I had some other comments, but somehow part of the post went missing once I posted it on the blog. If I remember, I'll make updates!)

AYU Vino Bronzing Mist 8%

AYU has been in the sunless tanning business for many years, but they have a couple of new products available this year. One of those is the Vino Bronzing Mist (available in 8%, 10%, & 12%), which is the product I'm reviewing today.

This product was made to be applied with an airbrush or HVLP machine - but those of you who are familiar with sunless.com are aware that there are ways to apply this type of product without any fancy equipment or a partner. For this test, I used a microfiber car pad for application and put the solution in a 2 oz. spray bottle.

From the label:
Look good and feel better with unique Vino Bronzing mist to create the just-off-the-beach look, and feel better by knowing that it is made with locally grown Muscadine grape skin extract, Muscadine grape juice, & Grape seed oil. Developed for luxurious sunless tanning that achieves the most natural-looking tan even on the most fair skin. Quick drying, no stickiness and no developing odor and, most of all, receive all the benefits from our Grape escape treatment with Muscadine grapes which are naturally rich in antioxidants, vitamins, & polyphenols.

Key ingredients:
Muscadine Grape Skin Extract
Muscadine Grape Juice
Grape Seed Oil
Hyaluronic Acid
Eco-certified DHA
Panthenol (B5)
Green Tea
Red Wine Powder
Vitamin E

SD-Alcohol free, paraben free, formaldehyde free, phthalate free, vegan

_____

How many sunless tanning products have I tried that claim to be quick drying, non-sticky, and fragrance-free/no developing odor? So, so many. How many of those actually live up to those claims? I can count them on one hand and have fingers left over. But for me, this one lives up to all of it's claims. It dries completely within just a couple of minutes - with no residual stickiness. Not even in the bends of your elbows or knees!! Not even in 90 degree weather with a lot of humidity. No fragrance and no developing odor (athough the developing odor is usually related to individual body chemistry, so your results may vary)!! And you know how sometimes your skin will have that tight feeling the day after tanning? Not with this product! My skin felt soooo soft & smooth. Love it!

Consistency & appearance: This product has a slightly thickened consistency. It reminds me of the consistency of heavy whipping cream. It has a very dark colorguide (CG) that is espresso/purple - very neutral. According to Vibha at AYU, there is actually very little FD&C dye in the product - the dark tint comes from the dark color of the grape extract. It's very easy to apply - and dries extremely quickly, especially when you consider that this is a thicker product.

About my skin type & tanning: I am a Type I/II (I almost always burn, but I can get a very slight tan with a lot of patience.) I'm Casper-the-Friendly-Ghost white, with dark blonde hair and blue/green/gray eyes. My skin is pretty sensitive, so I have to be careful with certain ingredients - especially fragrance. When sunless tanning, my skin is atypical of a Type I/II in that I need at least 7.5-8% DHA to get decent color. Anything less than that usually gives me translucent color that tends to look orangish. I don't do well with drugstore products, and I prefer airbrush tanning solutions (ABS) to any other type of sunless tanner. Products with a dark CG can cause fading issues for me, so I usually counteract that by showering after 4-6 hours. This allows me to absorb the DHA without any staining from the CG.

(This is an old picture of my natural skin color vs. one coat of SUN UD. Yes, there is a bit of glare in the photo, but I assure you, my natural color really is that white-blue.)

Skin prep: I showered using Ulta's 3-in-1 Shower Smoothie (in Cocolada) and lightweight nylon exfoliating gloves (there are different types - these are very lightweight & minimally abrasive). After showering, I used Ulta's Shower Smoothie Hand & Body Cream (in Cocolada - and this is more like a thick lotion than a cream - it absorbs completely without any greasiness) to prep the areas that I know tend to "grab" the color - elbows, knees, ankles.

Application: After the lotion was absorbed, I began applying the AYU solution to one area at a time. I dampened the microfiber pad with a bit of water, then sprayed the solution onto the pad. I started with my left lower leg - skimming the pad over the surface of the skin - being careful not to apply too much pressure. I covered all areas evenly, but did not rub or blend too much. I continued with my left upper leg, then my right leg, arms, stomach, & chest. Gus helped me with my back. By the time I was finished with this, my legs were dry, so I started all over again, applying a second coat. For my feet, I put a pea-sized dollop of the Ulta lotion in my palm, added 5-6 sprays of the tanning solution - rubbed my hands together carefully to mix - applied to my left foot & repeated for the right foot. I carefully scrubbed my palms with soap & water to remove any traces of the tanner.

Next, I wiped my elbows, knees, & ankles with a damp washcloth to remove some of the tanning solution (since I know these areas tend to develop darker than the rest of my body). For my hands, I put a pea-sized dollop of the Ulta lotion in my palm, added 6-7 sprays of the tanning solution, and rubbed my hands together carefully to mix - then applied as if I was putting lotion all over my hands. When finished, I wiped my palms, nails & cuticles with a damp washcloth.

After an hour or two, I applied more lotion to my elbows, knees, ankles, feet, & hands - then wiped my palms with a dry paper towel.

After 4-6 hours, I showered off all of the tanning solution, then applied Ulta lotion all over.

My final color (after 24 hours) was nice, but I was able to see some staining from the dark CG. After a couple of days, I looked like I had lizard skin - but I didn't. This is what happens to me when I use a product with a dark CG. Because I have mature skin, it's not completely smooth. The CG tends to get down into those little "crevices" in the skin (that are not otherwise noticeable) - then when the surface skin starts to fade, the color stays dark in those "crevices", and it makes it look "scaly". This is not an issue related to just this product, but to every product with a dark CG used on my skin.

 

(Please note the differences in the color. This is what the differences in lighting, cameras, & monitors produce. So you may not even be perceiving the color as it actually looked in real life. In reality, the color wasn't quite as dark as the first pictures, nor was it as light as the last picture. Keep this in mind when viewing tans online or in photos.)

I was determined to find a way to make this product work for me - because I like the color a lot and love the way it makes my skin feel. So I decided to try tweaking the application routine. (This is important!!! If a product doesn't work for you, it's not necessarily the product's fault - you may just need to tweak your application method!) This time, I prepped & applied the same way as before, but after 2 hours, I applied the Ulta lotion all over - essentially "diluting" the CG on my skin, without removing the product. (Note: if you do this, you will need to carefully scrub your palms to avoid staining. They will look purple/brown!)  I also used Kardashian Glamour Tan on my hands & feet instead of the VBM. (I'll do a review on that soon.) Then after 4 hours, I showered everything off and applied more lotion.

After 18 hours, the color was really nice - a little lighter than usual, but really nice. And there was no visible staining from the colorguide. Even a couple of days later, it looked good. I lightly exfoliated & reapplied on Day 3 - with the same great results.

 
Notes:

• I purchased this product myself & was not asked to do a review by AYU.
• I received no compensation for reviewing this product.
• This product was an 8% solution, and I usually use a 10% solution - so I expected my color to be a bit lighter than usual. I do have some 10% here that I will be trying soon.
• I also intend to try this product using the MaxiMist HVLP to apply. When I do, I will add an update & pictures.
  

Product info:
4 oz. (available in 8%, 10%, 12%) - $6.50

8 oz.
8% - $20.92
10% - $21.86
12% -$24.00

Other sizes also available: 32 oz., 1/2 gallon, 1 gallon

Repurchase? Yes!

Facial Sunscreen Reviews, Part 1

I promised I would review the facial moisturizers with SPF (and one sunless tanning product) that came in the Sun Safety kit I got from Sephora, so here it is!! I've tried all but 2 of the products, so the final two will be in a separate post.

Smashbox Photo Finish UVA/UVB spf 15 w/ Dermaxyl Complex
Pros: easy to apply, absorbs quickly, essentially fragrance-free, gives skin a flawless finish
Cons: as with the original Photo Finish, this product makes my face an absolute oilslick within a couple of hours, price
Repurchase? No, no, no. I can't tolerate an oilslick on my face.
Price: $42 for 1 oz.
Ingredients: Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate) 7.5%, Octisalate (Ethylhexyl Salicylate) 5%, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Ethyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, C 12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tribehenin, Ceramide 2, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Water (Aqua, Eau), Ethyl Trisiloxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Methicone, Silica, Silica Silylate, Hexylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

Philosophy hope oil-free spf 30
Pros: easy to apply, absorbs quickly & well, just a faint sunscreen odor that dissipates quickly; a slightly thicker lotion/cream that may offer a little more moisture for those who need it
Cons: after a couple of hours, my face was pretty oily - not as much as with the Smashbox, but still oilier than I would like
Repurchase? I would love a product like this for my body but not for my face. They do have a face & body sunscreen w/ spf 30 & antioxidants called "Shelter" - I think I'd like to try that for my body.
Price: $38 for 2 oz. (the price for "Shelter" is $25 for 4 oz.)
Ingredients: Octinoxate (7.5%), Octisalate (3.75%), Oxybenzone (4.0%), Zinc Oxide (4.53%). Inactives: Water (Aqua), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Dimethicone, Behenoxy Dimethicone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Arachidyl Glucoside, Maltodextrin, Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry) Leaf Extract, Arginine, Benzyl Alcohol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid.

DDF Mattifying Oil Control UV Moisturizer spf 15
Pros: applies easily, absorbs quickly & well, very faint sunscreen odor that dissipates in a short time, lightweight lotion with a nice consistency
Cons: my face was really oily after a couple of hours, price
Repurchase? I really wanted to like this one, but because of the oil problem, I wouldn't repurchase. Something like this for the body would be awesome.
Price: $42 for 1.7 oz.
Ingredients: Octisalate 4%, Avobenzone 2%, Octocrylene 1.25%, Enzulizole 1%, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Isopropyl Isostearate, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Propylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Lactic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Silica Dimethicone Silylate, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dimethiconol, Peg-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Peg-4 Laurate, Peg-4 Dilaurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Peg-4, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Trideceth-9, Sodium Benzoate, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Boscia Oil-free Daily Hydration spf 15
Pros: applies easily, very thin, lightweight lotion that absorbs quickly & well, no sunscreen odor, took 3-4 hours for my face to show signs of oiliness
Cons: has a fragrance that reminds me of charcoal or ashes (eventually dissipates, but it makes me want to gag when I first put it on)
Repurchase? I would definitely buy this one if it wasn't for the fragrance. Every Boscia moisturizer I've tried has this odor & I find it pretty offensive. Who wants to smell like an ashtray?
Price: $36 for 1.4 oz.
Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Leaf Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/leaf/stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Bishydroxyethyl Biscetyl Malonamide, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sclerotium Gum, Aluminum Hydroxide, Potassium Phosphate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide.

Supergoop Everyday Face & Body Lotion spf 30
Pros: slightly thicker lotion that is easy to apply, faint sunscreen odor, price
Cons: have to work a bit to get this one rubbed in, takes longer to absorb, made my face pretty oily after a couple of hours
Repurchase? No
Price: $14 for 1.6 oz.
Ingredients: Homosalate (Sunscreen) 10%, Octisalate (Sunscreen) 5%, Avobenzone 3%, Octocrylene 2.8%, Water (Aqua), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer (Waterproofing), Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate (Sunscreen Stabilizer), Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Stearic Acid (Plant Derived), , Phospholipids, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Glyceryl Stearate (Plant Derived), Cetyl Alcohol (Plant Derived), Carbomer, Behenyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Glycerin (Plant Derived), Ethylhexylglycerin (Plant Derived Preservative), Polysilicone-15, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Note: They now have Save Face Serum spf 30 with Uniprotect - it's a lightweight antiaging serum with spf. I would love to try it!! My one concern is whether it would be possible to apply enough of the product to protect without it leaving a weird "film" on the skin (sometimes that makes it hard to apply foundation). $32 for 1.7 oz. - comes in a nifty airless pump bottle.

Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion spf 30 (oil-free)
Pros: easy to apply, absorbs quickly & well, includes anti-aging ingredients, fragrance-free w/ a very, very faint sunscreen odor that dissipates quickly, lightweight lotion with almost a thick mousse-like consistency, cool pump bottle, left my face no more oily than it would normally be after a few hours 
Cons: price
Repurchase: Probably, but I wish it wasn't so expensive!
Price: $42 for 1.7 oz.
Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5.0%, Meradimate 5.0%, Oxybenzone 3.5%, Avobenzone 1.0%, Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Stearic Acid, Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Phospholipids, Ceramide 3, Dimethicone, Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5), Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Allantoin, Cetyl Alcohol, Tetrasodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben.
Note: I really, really, really want to try the PTR Uber-Dry Sunscreen spf 30!! $26 for 4.2 oz. - I may buy this one to take on vacation in October. There is also Ultra Lite Oil-free Sunblock spf 30, $26 for 4 oz. and Un-Wrinkle Makeup-Less Chemical-Free spf 30 Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer, $48 for 1.3 oz. I need to go to Sephora & see if I can get samples!

(picture from sephora.com)

Tan Towel
Pros: very handy, single-use product, citrus-scent
Cons: I had a lot of difficulty getting this product to glide smoothly over my skin - it kept getting "stuck" and my hand would slip off it and I would have to go back & pick it up. It was very annoying & I was afraid that I would get uneven color, so I ended up going over all areas with another sunless tanning product. I later noticed that the product also contains erythrulose (another self-tanning ingredient) in addition to DHA - and erythrulose & I don't get along well. When I use erythrulose, I get funky fading - not good.
Repurchase? I don't think so - although I wish it had worked because it would be great for travel.
Price: $27 (med-dark) for either 5 full-size towelettes or 10 half-size towelettes; $24 (fair-med) for either 5 full-size towelettes or 10 half-size towelettes
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Ethoxydiglycol, Dihydroxyacetone, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Erythrulose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Fragrance (Parfum), Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea
Note: I had a difficult time using the full-size towelette, so I ended up cutting it in half, which made it easier to handle.

Link to Facial Sunscreen Reviews, Part 2

Sun Safety

You guys know I'm a huge believer in sun safety - so I wanted to remind you all to practice "safe sun"!! I recently purchased Sephora's Sun Safety kit, and inside was a little card with The Skin Cancer Foundation's Prevention Guidelines - I thought I'd share them here.

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 am and 4 pm.
• Do not burn.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths. (Use a bronzer or self-tanner as a safe alternative)
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
• Apply 1 oz. (2 TBSP) total of sunscreen to all exposed areas, 30 minutes before going outside. Re-apply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
• Examine your skin from head-to-toe once every month.
• See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

This information was on the back of the card:
Sun is the #1 cause of Skin Aging.

Don't kid yourself - no matter how much you love it, the sun does not always love you back. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, 90 percent of all premature skin aging and skin cancers are caused by sun exposure.

Protect yourself by using an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15 sunscreen or higher year-round, over (or in) your moisturizer in the morning. Use a powder with SPF 15+ to touch up throughout the day and look for products that help protect often missed areas such as the lips. To learn more go to www.skincancer.org.

(above info from Sephora/skincancer.org sun safety pocketguide)

The Sun Safety Kit is pretty cool - and it's a great way to try a lot of different sunscreens, etc. Unfortunately, it's out of stock now, so remember to order early next year! This year's kit contained:
- 0.03 oz Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 25 Mineral Veil
- 0.5 oz Boscia Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15
- 0.5 oz DDF Mattifying Oil Control SPF 15
- 0.7 oz Murad Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30
- 0.5 oz Ole Henriksen Fresh Lips SPF 15
- 0.5 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion SPF 30
- 0.4 oz Philosophy Hope Oil Free SPF 30
- 0.23 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 60 PA +++
- 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 With Dermaxyl Complex
- 0.33 oz Supergoop! Everyday SPF 30+
- 0.4 oz Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Swipe with Zinc for Sensitive Skin
- 0.5 oz TanTowel Plus Self-Tan Towelette For Face & Body
- Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Mini Flawless Application Brush
- Beach Tote

I'm working my way through them & will post reviews when I'm finished. Of the ones I've tried so far, my favorite (for my face) is the Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion. I like the Boscia Oil-free Daily Hydration, too, but it has a slightly funky smell (like ashes/charcoal) and tends to make my face a little greasy after 3-4 hours.

I also got a cool wide-brimmed hat from Kohl's - it was on sale for around $15 and it's packable, which I love.

What are you doing for sun safety?

Is tan prettier?

Do you find people who are tan more attractive? Do you think they look healthier than their pale counterparts?

If you answered yes to one (or both) of those questions, you're not alone, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In a survey of 7100 women and men nationwide, 80 percent said they have concerns about skin cancer; but 72 percent admitted they still find tanned people more attractive, and 66 percent said they think people with a tan look healthier. (read about the study here)

Personally, I think it depends upon the person. There are different shades of pale. Nicole Kidman has that perfect pale porcelain skin that just seems to glow. To me, she looks just as healthy as a tan and glowing Kate Hudson. But then you have my shade of pale. The pale where you can see all of the blue-green veins. The pale that looks sickly and has a bluish tinge. The pale where people constantly ask you if you're ill. In all honesty, a little bit of color does make me look healthier.

But getting a little bit of color doesn't have to be unhealthy. Go sunless, baby!!

I read this article on Glamour.com - and I was impressed to see that in one of their polls, only 16% of respondents planned to use a tanning bed this summer. Of course, they didn't ask how many planned to tan outside...

More articles from Glamour.com:
Still not wearing sunscreen? Look at these photos!
Fake Tan Take Two

What do you think?


Remember - May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Awareness Month!! Practice safe sun and protect your skin!!