"Thanks, I was in St. Tropez"

Sun Series Part 3: Faking It

What you have all been waiting for...my tanning secrets.

Here's me on day ONE of my beach vacation.  How did I get so faux-tan before vacay?  Not a spray tan or tanning beds...

I really would not have much color if it weren't for self-tanner (somehow missed the dark German gene that my dad's family has and got my mom's Swedish genes instead).  And know that we all know how important SPF is (my new fave SPF summer discovery: lightweight Kiehl's Super Fluid UV Guard), and how good self-tanners have gotten, there's really no point in killing more skin cells for a tan that will fade in five days.

I wish I had enough money to invest because I surely would have invested in St. Tropez.  I've been using it for about three years now but it seems like it has finally reached the "tipping point."  People always ask where I went last weekend because I look "so tan."  I joke and say and I went to St. Tropez.

I recommend St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Lotion for body.  I've used their gradual lotion as well but prefer a darker color (I think it's more about preference).  They also have some fun new SKUs including an instant face cream that I just discovered.

I also like Sevin Nyne (yes, Lindsay Lohan's self-tanning brand).  I had someone at Sephora recommend it to me, and it smells really nice.  I use the tanning mist for my face - I spray a tiny bit in my hand and then put it on my face, after I've moisturized.

Here I am again looking nice and golden during winter in Chicago:

Which brings me to...how to tan and make it look natural.  Don't be a victim of orange ankles and scary hands.  Always exfoliate, so you don't get that dead skin buildup (I love this loofah), and put lotion on before applying tanner to body and face.  I have been using Shikai body lotion for over ten years and I still think it's the best (found at Whole Foods, Gardenia and Cucumber scents are my fave).  If you do get funny spots, a good toner, alcohol, or makeup remover should take it off.

And for gosh sake's...always smell a self-tanner before buying it (should you stray from my recs).  You can always sniff the person out who is wearing bad self-tanner.

Photo: Inspiration from Isla Bastimientos (Panama)

Vitamins!

Prior to business school, I was only sick once in six years!  Then business school hit and now I get sick all the time (chalk it up to living in a dungeon-like building with the same incestuous group of students, never getting enough sleep and being stressed out 24/7).

I eat a very balanced diet 92.9% of the time but for the thousands (okay, millions) out there who love their fast food, sugary snacks, highly processed carbs and sodas, I highly recommend the following vitamin regime (and even if you are super healthy, you can never get enough vitamins):

#1: My dear friend, who just graduated from UCLA med school, recommended that all women in their 20s take Vitamin D, Calcium and Iron.

#2: For my hair and skin, I love Fish Oil.  I used to have a recurring dry skin patch that I just couldn't get rid of, no matter how many prescription creams I tried, and it cleared up as soon as I started taking fish oil (I had the recurring skin condition for about six years before that!)

#3 For my digestive health, I recommend Probiotics.  My mom's doctor recommended this brand.

#4 Multi-vitamin.  Need I say more?

#5 I throw a Green Tea vitamin in there because I need the energy, and I've read that you can lose 5 lbs/yr if you drink a cup of green tea a day (all other variables controlled for...like moving to carb heaven Midwest from salad loving West Coast).  Still TBD on whether that works.

Sun Series Part 2: Prevention

In case you've been living under a rock...

SUNSCREEN, people.  <3  Part 2: Prevention.

I love Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Sunblock for my face, and Coopertone's Oil Free Sunscreen for my body.

Because I love a good tan, stay tuned for everything you would ever want to know about self-tanner.

Here's a fun slide show from the Mayo Clinic, just in case you need another reason to slather up.

Sun Series Part 1: Correction

All About Oils, Serums and Softeners!

As we gear up for summer, it's important to think about three things: correction, prevention and faking it (by that I mean, faking your tan).  Here is Part 1: Correction.

These light liquids - known as oils, serums and softeners- have taken over the market.  They've been some of the most ground-breaking beauty technology advancements in the last year or two.  And yes, they really do work!  I first started looking into them when I wanted something to fade my freckles and reverse sun spots from my years of worshipping the California sun.  (see below and after pics at bottom)  For ideal application, put on first (before any other creams) so that your pores can soak in the serum.  You can use morning and night, but I mostly use just at night.

I first tried Clinique's popular Even Better Clinical Spot Corrector and I didn't notice that much of a difference, to be honest.  I know Marie Claire rated it Top 25, but I wanted something stronger (I do love the advertising campaign for this, however!)  It wasn't until I went to my dermatologist about it that I was turned on to the magic of Vitamin C.

I swear by Ole Henriksen Truth Serum (can be found here at Sephora) for Vitamin C power.  You can see that almost 400 users have rated it Five Stars!  This stuff is great for lightening sun spots.  I also really love Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution (the most efficacious of major beauty brands).

For recovery, I love Lancome's new Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector, which is a general corrector that helps rejuvenate skin and can be worn both night and day.  The technology is as innovative and advanced as you can get in the beauty world.

Oils are the new thing in beauty.  I know my first reaction was to balk at putting an oil on my face but don't be scared - Europeans have been using oils forever and it's just now catching on in the states.  Think of how good fish oils and olive oil are for your skin.

If you really want to be aggressive, you can get a prescription of Hydroquinone USP, 4% (skin bleaching cream) but it can only be used one or two times a week otherwise it can make your skin peel (and your skin will burn much easier if you forget to put sunscreen on).

Finally, for general protection against the elements (anti-wrinkle and softening), I love to pat on Shiseido's Benefiance WrinkleResist 24 Balancing Softener, which was recommended to me by a Nordstrom makeup artist.  Since I'm now living in the Midwest, I need to fight off the brutal Lake Michigan winds  that make my skin much dryer.

Now for the grand reveal: 

Before was taken around 2008 when I was still worshipping the sun (i.e. no hat and only using SPF 15 on my face).  After is from just a few months ago.  Hopefully you can tell the difference, especially in my forehead!  Click to see enlarged version.

Let's Start with the Basics: Good Skin Care.

Why Suffer?

To get good skin, everyone knows that water, avoiding soda, and taking your vitamins are a must.  The real reason why I have great skin?  Because I'm a major proponent of preemptive care!

My whole life, I've had people tell me I have great skin and that I [said with a hint of annoyance] "never get" acne.  My first secret is that when I got my first blemish in sixth grade, I rushed straight to the dermatologist for treatment.  This was probably one of the first warning flags that my mom saw, telling her she was raising a perfectionist (I prefer "strong attention to detail").  Since then, I've tried relatively mild topical and oral solutions, but post-college, I didn't want to be committed to putting unnatural things into my body.

For day-in, day-out use, I swear by:

Neutrogena's Complete Acne Therapy System (Three step skin care process).  Be careful with colored towels and sheets, because it will bleach them.  I always use white sheets and towels for this reason (the night cream has a little bit of Benzoyl Peroxide in it).

Here's my skin sans makeup - On a safari in Africa, nonetheless!  Definitely no concealer.

However, I usually swap out the Neutrogena daily moisturizer for Shiseido's The Skincare Day Moisture Protection SPF 15, because I find it less greasy.

I also alternate face washes with good ole St. Ives.  I love St. Ives Apricot Scrub, as well as their Green Tea Scrub.  I usually use my Clarisonic Mia face brush in the morning with a St. Ives face wash, and save Neutrogena for the evening.

For on the spot treatment, I recommend Clean & Clear's Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment.

For a gentler treatment system (no Benzoyl Peroxide), I also love La Roche Posay's skin treatment system: Effaclar Purifying Foam Gel and Effaclar K Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment.

More on vitamins and nighttime skin regime later.  This covers your basic foundation for good skin.  Your best face forward is always a clear face!  You should be confident enough in your skin to not need to wear foundation to the gym.

Welcome Beauty Lovers!

My inaugural blog: I generally think blogs can be pretty self-involved...

However, I repeatedly have my friends and family ask me for my favorite brand of lotion, perfume, mascara, you name it.  So I thought YOU, my dear readers, might want to know as well.  When I find something I like, I stick to it.  I'm a stickler for quality.  If only I had a dime for every recommendation I've ever made - I would have kept my beloved Bain de Soleil lotion from being discontinued!

A little about me...I grew up in beautiful Napa Valley, where I cultivated my taste for the hedonistic lifestyle and oh yes, food and wine.  I then chose to expand my narrow world view by going to U.C. Berkeley, where I learned what "keeping up with the Joneses" meant in my lovely, albeit semi-shallow sorority.  And I also learned to not give bums money (I prefer giving monthly to the Humane Society).  I then moved to San Francisco, where I worked for a major retailer for four years.  I learned to never buy anything full price; I also refined my taste for cashmere, sensible ballet flats, and the value of "investment" pieces.

After shopping too much and not saving enough, I then decided to take out massive amounts of student debt to attend Kellogg School of Management in Chicago-land.  I generally dislike the hearty food and lack of mountains, but find the people to be really nice and am hoping that by affixing "M.B.A." to the end of my signature, I'll make a good ROI on my investment.  This summer I'm headed to NYC to try my hand in the beauty biz, where I'll be marketing for a luxury beauty brand.*

My new favorite word (thanks Operations professor) is "Kaizen," which means continuous improvement in Japanese.  I think there is always room for improvement - intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and since this IS a beauty blog, physically too!

P.S.  There I am as a two year old - with the blonde hair that I've been striving for ever since :)

*This blog reflects my opinions and preferences, and those alone.