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I do love to have a good tan – tan fat looks better than white fat, right! But, things have changed for me over the years. I wear liberal amount of SPF everyday and I do not tan anymore. I enjoy a good book at the beach with an umbrella and hat to give me some protection.
According the Paula Begoun, co-author of Don’t Go To the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 7th Edition by Paula Begoun and Bryan Barron [Publisher: Beginning Press] [www.cosmeticscop.com]), here is what you need to know about tanning and the sun:
First, as you know there is NO such thing as a safe tan, whether it is from the sun or a tanning booth. Even if you tan slowly without burning, the damage is hazardous to the health of your skin. As a general rule it is best to apply sunscreen at least 15 to 20 minutes before sun exposure. This gives the sunscreen time to absorb and to spread over and into the skin.
How to calculate how long you can stay in the sun, the formula is this:
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How many minutes you would normally be in the sun before you get pink? Take the number of minutes and multiply it by the SPF that you would wear.
(10 mins x 15 SPF = 150 mins, or 2-1/2 hours)
UVB radiation is the sun’s burning ray and has an immediate, harmful impact on skin. Damage from UVB rays takes place within the very first minute (yes, 60 seconds) of walking outside!
I cannot tell you how many times I have tried a self-tanner – with so much optimism and then indignity. I swear I have used every self tanner on the market, including the popular Jergens Natural Glow in Light, Medium and Dark tones. I used the Jergens color light on my legs (never on my face because I am sure I would break out; I am too sensitive). I won’t lie, this product is GREAT for the price, but it’s the smell that gets me. I just can’t handle the smell! I always said that if I can smell the product on me than so can everyone else! I would mix it with some of my regular lotion, but to no avail.
Having a nice sun-kissed glow is something that really can change your outlook – kind of like having a really ‘good hair day’, but it can be costly. So, for those of you who have given up on the sun (for obvious reasons), here are the BEST self-tanners from Paula Begoun. You can read her full reviews in her book Don’t Go To the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 7th Edition by Paula Begoun and Bryan Barron [Publisher: Beginning Press] [www.cosmeticscop.com]).
The BEST Self-Tanners (I did not include the very good tanners):
>Almay “Sunless Tanning Gel for Body” $9.99
>Almay “Sunless Tanning Gel for Face” $9.99
>Clinque “Self-Sun Body Quick Bronze” $18.50
>Clinque “Self-Sun Face Quick Bronze” 18.50
>Estee Lauder “Body Performance Naturally Radiant Moisturizer” $35.00
>Estee Lauder “Go Bronze Plus Tinted Self-Tanner for Face” $22.50
>Estee Lauder “Sunless SuperTan, for Face” $22.50
>Lancome “Flash Bronzer Tinted Self-Tanning Moisturizing Mousse $29.50
>Paula’s Choice “Almost the Real Thing Self-Tanning Gel, for All Skin Types” $12.95
>Sonia Kashuk “Bronze Sunless Tanner” $14.99
How did Paula pick the best ones?
I’m off to Charleston this weekend for a girlfriend’s bachelorette party! There are 10 of us going – it should be a good time. I’ll post some pictures when I get back.
Well, weekends are sometimes crazy, but this past one needs a DO-OVER. Since I was gone the entire first week of September I couldn’t take any more time off – specially Friday, 9/14/07. Lee had his annual Construction Conference and this year it was at Isle of Palms near Charleston, South Carolina. Lee drove down Thursday night and I drove down Friday night after work. I made good time but once on the Island, I had no idea where to go – the lighting and directions on the Island leave a lot to be desired.
Our Villa was decent – I was expecting a little more but I didn’t realize the Villa’s are owned by individuals so the decor and furniture was pretty cheesy. It was 1 bed/1 bath on 2 levels. The bathroom was upstairs with the bedroom. The TV did not work upstairs nor did the DVD player work downstairs. The bed was a double (that was hard to get comfortable) too. The best part of the trip was that apparently the front desk checked Lee out of his room and re-booked our room to a fraternity (we think). At 1:00 am, we hear someone in our suite and low and behold, we were right. They proceeded to come into the suite and up the stairs — good thing we were dressed! It was such a mess and to top it off, the resort did nothing to compensate us. A few “sorry about that” was all we got.
We were ready to come home — we need to have a do over on that trip.
