Sun-Kissed for Summer: Readers' Secrets
What is sexy? It's hard to define because the answers are infinite. In between responses like, "bikinis" and "life guards," for the summer, at least, you are sure to hear this answer pop-up over and over again: "the sun-kissed look." The wording might not always be exactly the same, but "sun-kissed" is the idea. As beautiful and alluring as the summer glow can appear at first, obtaining a true sun-kissed look is damaging over time. A scaly ,sunburned face and body from lying out and dry, damaged hair from bleaching and salon (pricey!) highlights do not make for a pretty sight. More importantly, it's a sign that you're headed down a road of poor health. Concern for our health does not mean, however, that we have to abandon hope. It just means we need to get a little creative and find other ways to get that sun-kissed look. We, at AOL Shopping, reached out to ask you, our readers, if you had any no-fail tricks for achieving a radiant summer glow. Here are a variety of the best product recommendations and most clever suggestions for a sun-kissed body, hair, and face. Think you've got an even better tip? Be sure to share it in our comments section at the end of this article. First, let's kick-off this sun-kissed set with a little known way to "tan" your body...
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Miss "DIY Black Tea Tan"
"Normally my translucent skin doesn't bother me, but sometimes it's nice to spice things up and don a healthy-looking, sunkissed glow. To avoid the orange oompa loompa hue and dreaded streaky skin, I've adopted a more earth-friendly route: black tea. This is undoubtedly one of my favorite do-it-yourself beauty remedies since it creates a faint faux-tan that is super-cheap and easy to accomplish. All you have to do is brew about two cups of black tea -- the stronger, the better. Then, let the tea cool and put it in a plastic spray bottle. After you've dried off from your shower, spray a fine mist of the tea on your skin and let it air dry." Try the black tea tan for under $5
Miss "3-Day Sunless Tan" "Most sunless tanners smell like chemicals or soy, but one scent pleasantly stands out among the rest. Besides the obvious perk of being inexpensive, Jergens Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer smells amazing enough for me to want to wear even if the lotion didn't contain a healthy, natural-looking tan that only takes one to three applications to fully darken to a mid-summer bronze." Get an express tan for under $10
Miss "Sheen" "Sheen spray is a personal favorite that many women may not know about. This particular product is available at many popular retailers and is most often found in ethnic hair care products. Although it is meant for the hair spraying a small amount onto the body, the legs especially, leaves skin almost sparkling. For best results, the skin should be sprayed very lightly, othewise it creates an "oily" appearance. In addition to this, the product helps to smooth and soften skin." Spray on Cantu leg sheen for under $5
Miss "Serious About Shimmer" "My favorite product for faking a nice tan is Nivea Silky Shimmer Lotion. I've been using it since I was in high school, and it's never steered me wrong. You can use it on your legs, shoulders, collarbone, and arms -- it comes in several hues to match your skin tone and give your body a subtle all-over glow. Seriously, skip the tanning booth and invest in these products; your skin will thank you." (Note: it is no longer in stores) Nab this scarce silky shimmer for under $20
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Miss "Produce Highlights"
"Years ago, I discovered a natural way to sun-kiss my normally dirty blond tresses. Not only was it effective, but it was cheap and usually found in my kitchen. Into a small spray bottle, I mixed-together a lemon juice and water concoction and spritzed it onto my wavy locks before I left the house every morning. With this spray bottled filled half with water and half lemon juice, I achieved natural looking sun-kissed highlights. Even now as an adult, I still use this trick. The mixture is easy: add even amounts of each, and shake well before using. Spray a small amount on damp hair and comb through. Be sure not to go overboard when applying, remember a little goes a long way!" When life gives you lemons, give yourself highlights!
Miss "Golden Opportunity" "Having sun-kissed hair is important during the summertime. A good way to look golden without any help from the sun is to add shine and shimmer to hair with Golden Shimmer Gelée Hair Mist by Frederic Fekkai. This subtle mist gives hold and has flecks of gold in it." Wear the gold for under $10
Miss "Sun-In-shine" "Everyone loves a radiant, sun-kissed flow for summer! For lightened, sun-bleached tresses, there is nothing that beats the classic Sun-In spray. It gives me a natural look." Spray-in some sun for under $5
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Miss "Pretty in Coral Pink"
"Achieve a sun-kissed summer face with the colors of the coral reef. It's not easy for a fair skinned brunette to achieve a natural sun-kissed look. The best way I've found to get a natural summer look is to apply coral colored lipstick. Bobbi Brown's Coral Pink is just right: not too dark or heavy. The creamy formula leaves a shine that warms up my ice princess exterior. Glossy, moisturizing lipsticks often pose a problem on windy days. Thankfully, Bobbi Brown's formula isn't a sticky magnet for hair. A swipe of green eyeliner completes my sun-kissed summer look. Well, that and a hefty dose of moisturizing sunblock -- I want to be sun-kissed looking, not sun-parched." Miss "Plan A & B" "If you want just a hint of sun for your face, the easiest thing to do is to apply a foundation just a shade darker than your normal shade, preferably one that offers a shimmer or glow. mark Glow Xpert Face Shimmer by Avon is a tinted lotion that can be added to your existing foundation for a glowing, sun-kissed look that is as simple as applying your base. If you are short on time and feeling a bit pale, keep a medium-peach colored blush on hand for a quick look of sun on your face. After applying your blush as usual, tap any excess blush off the brush and swipe from one cheekbone, across the bridge of your nose and down to the other cheekbone. Be sure to apply sparingly,as you don't want to 'blush-up' your nose." Get a hint of sun with mark shimmer lotion for under $10
Try mark Good Glowing in Sun Love Glo for under $10 Miss "Kissed by the Moon" "Looking tan and summer-ready can be as easy as hinting at the glowing, tanned look. That is exactly what Jane Iredale's Moonglow does. Made with 24-karat gold flakes, this product will make you feel like a golden goddess. It gives a shimmery glow to your cheeks, making you appear to have a naturally sun-kissed look. At about $46, this product lasts literally forever because it is made with natural products, making its shelf-life much longer than its competitors. I have had my Moonglow for years, and still haven't used it all! The best part? This product can be used on the eyes too, so it's a great staple to add to your summer collection. Go with Jane Iredale's Moonglow, and watch the compliments stack up! " Dust yourself with Moonglow for under $50
Miss "Illumination Remix" "I mix a bit of golden highlighter into a tinted moisturizer and apply it with a foundation sponge. A good one to try is Revlon's Age Defying Spa Face Illuminator. This highlighter comes in bare light, gold light and bronze light. Bare light is good for the lightest skin. Gold is good for medium tones and bronze is good for darker skin." Miss "One-Two Punch"
Use bronzers the way the sun naturally works. Using the fullest brush you own, just skim the high parts of your face like the top of your forehead, nose, cheekbones, chin, and collarbone. Layering bronzer over your whole face just flattens it. A great example would be Neutrogena's Custom Glow Blush & Bronzer -- they have great options for any skin tone! Highlight, too! Not your hair, your face! Using only bronzer can dull the skin tone. Use a nude shimmer powder and dust on your cheekbones, eyelids, and even dab on the center of your lips to add dimension. Step one: get the bronze glow for under $15
Step two: get dimension with Benefit High Beam for under $25 |
Apparently, you can now dust on a pre-summer tan, too. The new product hitting the market is called Smart Tan (from the same makers who brought us Smart Cover, concealer to the Hollywood stars). The exciting thing about this newcomer is that it's a brush-on tan that promises to cover all the blemishes, stretch marks, spider veins, birthmarks, tattoos, etc. on our face and bodies! It looks like it's also waterproof, smudge-resistant, and long-lasting. I'd definitely say it's worth looking into! If you're like me and wash and exfoliate your face so often that it leaves your face pale, then this could solve our pale-face problem. Hellooo, total bronzed goddess look!
Now that you've seen what some of our readers suggested for getting that sun-kissed look for summer, we would like to hear from the everybody else! What is your trade secret? What do you do to maintain that marvelously dewy appearance for summer? How else do you sun-kiss? Any horror stories? Spill on all your summer secrets in the comments section down below!
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Comments page 1 of 2
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Tess said 5-31-2010 @9:41AM
Just watch out for the real sun! It can make you look 80 pretty quickly! Http://www.wrinklescareguide.info
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Casey said 5-31-2010 @10:00PM
what is sexy? Some would answer the "sun-kissed look".
replyIn Asia and India, they would answer "milky white skin".
Why is it necessary to strive to look like something you are not??? Who's decided that looking unnaturally tanned is sexy, or that white is beautiful? In reality it's incredibly shallow to buy either tanning or skin whitening creams when there are so many better uses for your money, like donating to charity or reading a book to expand your mind. Now THAT'S sexy.
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sarah said 5-31-2010 @7:48AM
I've used some of these and I didn't like them. After a couple of days it starts to turn to these little grubby balls on your skin in the shower that are hard to wash off.
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Zoe said 5-31-2010 @8:09AM
Loreal Sublime Bronze self tanning towelettes are fabulous! Easy, quick, no streaking. Rub all over after shower and then use the corners for face and neck. I'm average size and one towelette covers all. Wash hands and no stains! Even survives shaving and doesn't have a nasty fade. My friends were in awe of my 'tan'! Best part - less than $11 for 6.
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BC said 5-31-2010 @9:28AM
One thing this article doesn't address is that these self anners have carcinagenic chemicals when used over years, Lavera makes a product which does not. The tan is not orange, it looks real.
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sean said 5-31-2010 @10:45AM
Take walnuts, vitemin E oil and an astrigent, puree, puree and puree more. If you are lucky enough to get ahold of or have held them in hiding since fall walnut husk (the outer shell that covers a walnut when it falls off a tree) are THE BEST use these in place of walnuts. Exfoliate whever you wish to add some tan, dry, take a cheap sponge paint brush a apply quickly and evenly Let completely dry roughly about 10 minutes then rinse. This will tan you and keep for up to 2 MONTHS easy. I have a buddy and we help each other wioth this in hard to get place like the back, makes it much easier to keep it even. This is completely natural and the oil is excellent for the skin and the astrigent helps seal the poors as you apply. Anyone who has ever picked walnuts up for harvesting can testify to the staining ability of this!
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Cheryl Low said 5-31-2010 @10:58AM
I Love the look of summer. There is something so amazing about a summer glow .All the good times aTnd memories from summers past. WhenI want that look i simply use a small amount of eye concilor on my various blemishes blend in well. Then i grab my bronzer and quickly dust with a light coating of bronzing poweder. And Voila! I have a healthy safe tan.
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Natalie said 5-31-2010 @11:57AM
I love Jergen's Natural Glow; have been using it for several years with good results. A friend sells Avon products, so I tried their Skin So Soft Satin Glow and it works just as well as Jergens. Actually Avon's product seems to work faster. Now I use both, depending on who has the better price!
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annie said 5-31-2010 @11:55AM
tinted moisturizer - L'oreal as a base all over my face, then a dusting of powder bronzer - Physicians Formula (the one with sun screen) and a touch of blush on the cheeks and nose. . .looks like I just came in from a day at the beach. ALSO 2 of the 3 have sun screen so I CAN be out and pretty protected.
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Karen said 5-31-2010 @12:06PM
Pur Minerals has a product called Get a Little. This is an award winner as far as self tan products goes. The company has a BOGO next week on the product! No orange just natural looking tan!
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Brenda said 5-31-2010 @8:34PM
Loreal Sublime Bronze is awesome! I use it every year. You have to REALLY be certain that you massage it into your skin to avoid the streaking but it is a beautiful golden glow and not orange-y at all. It takes extra time to do it right but after years of tanning beds I believe'I'm worth it!" lol Also..I avoid the $200 Salon bill for highlights by purchasing Feria Bleach Blonde #205 with Shimmering Lights Oil apply my own! Avoid the all over bleached look by using a" for denture only" toothbrush! It gives you great control and allows you to frame and really do individual strands. I get mega compliments every year! I've never achieved any luck by spraying lemon juice on my hair and I'm a natural dirty blonde. My Mom had skin cancer that metastisized to her bones and she died with Multiple Myeloma. Please use common sense everyone and have a lovely sun kissed summer!
replyHighest Rank
Brenda said 5-31-2010 @12:47PM
To begin...my Mom had skin cancer that metastisized into her bones and she passed away, painfully with Multiple Myeloma. She wasn't a sun worshipper like myself but had to work on the farms as a child growing up in the Great Depression. I've learned sun safety lessons the hard way so please....use caution! I have found that Loreal Sublime Bronzer in dark is amazing. You really have to be certain that it's massaged in very well to avoid streaking. To do my arms, legs, torso, backside, chest and neck takes at least half an hour. Keep rubbing even when you think it's enough! You reward will be worth it. Bronzed without any orange-y-ness! For beautiful highlights to my natural dirty blonde hair I buy Feria Beach Blonde #205 with herbal shimmering lights oil and apply with a for "dentures" toothbrush! It gives me highlights that are spaced beautifully and I can control with exactness where they are placed. I avoid the $200 salon bill and get mega compliments every year. Also...my hair is shiny and soft. It is a bleach but doesn't make my hair break or look brassy or look brassy and dry. For a shimmer on your face I buy Walgreens brand white zinc oxide ($3) and it creates a beautiful shimmer on my face and is 30 spf to boot! A double duty bonus! Have a safe and happy summer everyone!
replyHighest Rank
kathy said 5-31-2010 @12:45PM
L.Johnson,with all do respect,I am a black lady and I LOVE the polished moiserized look,I do not like looking ASHY,and DRY,I also like to add a little sun shimmer on my cheeks,nose,and forhead,this only takes me a second when getting ready for work,I take a lot of pride in the way I like to look and constantly get noticed for it,what is wrong with wanting to look healthy and refreshed?All people,white,purple,black,yellow,should avoid direct sunlight,it is terrible for your skin,it ages a person it drys them out and it is a cause of skin cancer,so what the hell does lotions and makeup have to do with WHITE or POLITICS?YOU MY DEAR ONE ARE A RASIST,now put that in your lunch and eat it(idiot)and I have plenty of friends(all types)just not shallow,and throw the race card,DUCK FOOL!!!LOL
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L.Johnson said 6-05-2010 @5:47PM
Girl you need to wake up
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kathy said 6-06-2010 @12:02PM
Okay,I just woke up sweety,now what should I do?oh yeah I remember,I should run outside and blame a white person.Girl/Boy you need to wake up,but I bet behind all that craziness you are a cutey,have a nice life,smell the flowers not the poop,love
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GlamaMom said 5-31-2010 @12:57PM
Don't forget to protect your hair and scalp! Stylist trick - use HAIR SHADZ from MoniMay.com to cover your roots and provide spf 15 protection from the sun. You can't look sun kissed with roots showing! It's all natural and is the ONLY product that protects your scalp. No more flaky scalp. OH and did I mention it's also a dry shampoo? Color, protection, and shampoo all in 1! Comes in 10 shades. If you don't color try the clear shade - SUN SHADZ.
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Brendjenn said 5-31-2010 @1:10PM
the whole world ENVIES beautiful, flawless white skin. Why mess with it?!?
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B said 5-31-2010 @1:33PM
What is with people who feel the need to be envied? It really isn't ALL about you!
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Jodie said 5-31-2010 @1:12PM
Just a quick FYI about the "Sun-In" product. This is coming from my own personal experience. YES. it does work... very well..BUT as a hair-stylist, this is the WORST thing you can put in your hair IF you are planning on doing anykind of chemical service later, especially if your hair is long. This product does lighten your hair, but it also dimishes your hair structure and has been known to destroy the integrity of your hair. My personal experience was this. I used it all summer and I noticed that my was turning green (I was also in the pool a lot - chlorine(bleach)) anyway, I was using a shampoo that was a green color (the add tint to shampoo - notice shampoo is rarely clear) anyway, my hair was not only grabbing the chlorine from the pool, but also the "artificial dye" from the shampoo. I decided to color my hair (on my own) another BIG mistake... anyway my hair pulled the underlying pigment from the color I choose (ash blond) and my hair was really green... then I decided to perm my hair... well, thats when the whole disaster happened... My hair literally MELTED on the rod... because I had absolutely NO protein or moisture left.. I had to cut my hair very short and recondition the heck out of it. I actually became a hairdresser because of this incident. As a stylist I have seen the same thing happen. Your hair turns to mush and stretches like cotton candy. Your hair won't heal, you HAVE to cut it off.
replySo, as a stylist, i would much rather have someone put a little lemon juice in their hair to lighten it - BUT PLEASE don't use SUN-in or any other peroxide with water product unless you plan on NEVER having chemical services done to your hair. Good luck with your tresses...And let either God and the sun or your favorite stylist give you the locks that you desirel.
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Cyndi said 5-31-2010 @1:24PM
If you want tan legs but not that nasty self tanner smell, Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs is incredible! It sprays out sort of like hairspray, but rubs in quickly and dries in just a few seconds. No smell and beautiful tan legs. Love the stuff!
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