The Slow and Steady Way to Self Tan from St. Tropez.

While sometimes I want to get my self-tan on in a few hours, unless I am perfect at applying, mistakes happen. Less often are mistakes from gradual tanners. Now, I am talking gradual in, building a natural looking self-tan in a few days - not a few weeks. After four days of using the new Gradual Self-Tanners from St. Tropez, I can clearly say that going slow and steady is the answer to a perfectly natural looking faux-tan, with no noticeable mistakes (or self-tanner smell!).

The St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tanners are made to work like most gradual self-tanners, as you apply them daily, just like a moisturizer. What I especially like more about this line though, is that these self-tanners with the St. Tropez innovative Aromaguard™ fragrance technology that eliminates the tell-tale self tan aroma by a minimum of 70%.

The St. Tropez line of gradual tanners include:

• Everyday Body - $30.00 Available in Light/Medium or Medium/Dark
• Everyday Face - $25.00 Available in Light/Medium or Medium/Dark
• Everyday Mousse -$30.00 Available in one shade
• Everyday Spray - $35.00 Available in one shade
• Everyday Perfect Legs -$30.00 Available in one shade, but has an instant bronzer in it for an immediate glow 

All of the Everyday Gradual Self-Tanners are sold online at sttropeztan.com, Blue Mercury, BlueMercury.com, Sephora and Sephora.com and select luxury spas around the country, including Canyon Ranch (Tucson, AZ and Lenox, MA), Bacara Resort and Spa (Santa Barbara), Spa at The Crescent (Dallas, TX) and Kate Somerville (Los Angeles, CA).

*Press sample(s) of the product(s) featured was provided by brand or brand representative for editorial consideration.

Celebrate World Ocean's Day with Depth and Win the Full Line!

Officially recognized by the UN in 2008, but unofficially celebrated since 1992, World Oceans Day allows us the opportunity to delight in our world ocean and explore our personal connections to the sea. I cannot think of a more better time for us all to get involved. In light of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which might soon reach the Atlantic Ocean, doing all we can to preserve our waters is now more important than ever.

Some companies are supporting World Oceans Day with products, such as La Mer is with their special edition in blue, and another fine company, Depth. Depth, a hair and skincare company, realizes the importance of the ocean and its inhabitants, especially as their company was founded by a marine biologist that uses sea-based ingredients to clean, nourish and refresh skin and hair.  So, to commemorate and honor World Oceans Day, Depth will donate $1 from each unit of it's line sold from June 8^th through June 15^th to the National Audubon Society for Gulf oil spill recovery.

The Depth collection consists of shampoos, conditioners, hand soaps, body wash, hand and body lotions, and shave creams in four exclusive scents: Mangrove Citrus, Sea Berry, Orange Blossom and Bay Coconut.

Hair Care
Infused with a unique blend of sea botanicals, certified organic aloe vera and natural emollients, Depth Shampoos and Conditioners are ultra-hydrating, refreshing, and moisturizing. All hair care items are $9.99 each.

• Refresh Daily Shampoo – For all hair types. Keeps hair soft, healthy and nourished with a nutrient-rich blend of vitamins and sea botanicals
• Drench Hydrating Shampoo – For dry and damaged hair: Gentle cleansers work to nourish and restore essential moisture, ideal for color treated hair
• Immerse Daily Conditioner – For all hair types. Nutrient-rich to maintain healthy, beautiful hair without weighing it down
• Submerse Deep Conditioner – For dry and damaged hair. This creamy conditioner provides deep nourishment and ultra-hydration for extra healthy hair

Hand Soaps & Body Washes
Luxurious, refreshing and extra-gentle, Depth Hand Soaps and Body Washes are enriched with ultra-hydrating sea botanicals and organic aloe vera to naturally cleanse, moisturize and soothe the skin.  The Hand Soaps are $7.99 each while the Body Washes are $9.99 each.

Hand & Body Lotions
Lightweight and quick absorbing, Depth Hand & Body Lotions are enriched with ultra-hydrating sea botanicals and organic aloe vera to moisturize, soothe and nourish the skin.  The Hand and Body Lotions retail for $9.99 each.

Shave Creams
As smooth and silky as algae, Depth Shave Creams are enriched with hydrating sea botanicals and natural emollients to provide an effortless glide for a soft, comfortable shave, while an abundance of organic aloe vera moisturizes and nourishes the skin. The shave creams are $6.99 each.

Depth products are sold exclusively at Whole Foods. To learn more about the products and read the story behind the brand, please visit their site at DepthBody.com.

One lucky Beautiful Makeup Search reader will win the entire line of Depth products. To enter, all you have to do is a leave a comment on this post, telling me why the ocean is important to you.

Please note that this is not a judged contest, one winner will be selected randomly from all correctly submitted entries. The random comment will be chosen after 11:59 PM EST on June 15th, 2010, when the contest closes. Be sure to leave an e-mail address where specified in the comment form (only I will see this), as you will have just 72 hours from being notified to respond in order to claim your prize. Open to US residents only, aged 18 years and older. Only one entry per e-mail address please.

*Prize donated by brand or brand representative, exclusively for this giveaway. We would like to thank them for their sponsorship and support of this giveaway.

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Collection Just Got Better!

All of the sinks in my home are coupled with an Anti-Bacterial Soap from Bath & Body Works. I love the way they work to keep germs at bay while gently cleaning hands and keeping them soft and freshly scented. I was thrilled to hear that there is a new line of Anti-Bacterial products available now and these are even better than the original.

You see, the new products contain a new odor-eliminating technology, infused with fresh fragrance and the anti-bacterial protection I have come to know and love. This new line of super odor defenders are perfect for getting those harsh smells off the hands. You know the ones that linger when cooking with onions and garlic, just for an example. The new Fresh Source line get rid of the foul odors and keep hands smelling great, all while protecting hands from germs while replenishing them with moisturizing honey, coconut milk, and olive fruit extracts.  

I have been using the Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap and Moisturizing Hand Lotion with Fresh Source Technology, both in Pure Vanilla. It has got to be my favorite scent yet. They are at my kitchen sink and will be for a long time to come.

Each of the following odor-fighting, germ-killing essentials is available in Sunburst Tangerine, Crisp Cucumber, and Pure Vanilla fragrances:

Anti-Bacterial Gentle Foaming Hand Soap: Specially designed to fight germs and eliminate odors for healthy, clean hands in the kitchen, this gentle yet powerful formula kills common kitchen bacteria with trusted anti-bacterial agents while Fresh Source odor eliminators get rid of lingering cooking smells. An exclusive blend of moisturizing coconut milk and olive fruit extracts helps to nourish and soften skin, while mango fruit extract leaves hands gently cleansed and conditioned.

Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap: Get a powerful deep clean in the kitchen with this bacteria-fighting formula. Developed with Fresh Source and potent germ-killers, the deep cleansing soap employs exfoliating microspheres and cleansing bamboo extract for smooth, soft, ultra-clean hands. A moisturizing blend of honey, coconut milk and olive fruit extracts nourishes and softens. 

Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel Sanitizer: While powerful anti-bacterial agents combat germs and Fresh Source eliminates odors, moisturizing Tahitian Palm Milk leaves hands feeling clean and conditioned with this waterless gel sanitizer.

Moisturizing Hand Lotion: Developed to eliminate odors while nourishing kitchen-worn hands, this hydrating formula includes Vitamin E, Macadamia Oil, Oat, Apple and Grape Seed extracts to condition and soften. Fresh Source gets rid of lingering cooking smells as the formula moisturizes, leaving hands hydrated and freshly scented.

Each new Anti-Bacterial product is available right now at all Bath & Body Works stores and online for $5.00 Look out for limited sales on them though as well. Right now they are on sale for 4 items for $15 or 6 for $20. I can't think of a better reason to try them now than that!

*Press samples of some of the products featured were provided by brand or brand representative for editorial consideration.