Bronzing with Benefits.

If you are a self-tanning worshiper such as myself, you may look for a self-tanner that had benefits beyond the beautiful bronzing.

One brand that I recently found that has a few different types of beneficial products in their self-tanning line up is St. Ives.  The line is called Healthy Brilliance. In the line are four products.

Brighten & Glow
This should be use prior to the actual bronzing products. This is made with natural sugar crystals to exfoliate while the added natural ingredients, including olive oil ester, leave your skin smooth, bright and glowing readying for your self-tanning product.

Firm & Glow
Using caffeine and ginseng, this moisturizer goes beyond a sun-touched glow to help naturally tighten and tone your skin.

Renew & Glow
With age-defying green tea and anti-oxidants, this body moisturizer helps you achieve a sun-touched glow and helps to reveal younger, healthier looking skin.

Protect & Glow
This is a body moisturizer with an SPF that helps protect your skin against harmful UV rays while it gently gets your glow on. And with the natural Shea butter, your skin feels softer and smoother as you use it.

I just started to use the Firm & Glow lotion to get my legs beautifully bronzed, and so far so good. The color is nice, and gradual. It has taken just about a week to get my legs where I feel they look nice and golden. Not too tan, but more naturally bronzed for Spring. 

You can buy St. Ives Healthy Brilliance products online at drugstore.com, while it can also be found at mass merchandisers nationwide.

Probably the Best Gift You Can Give.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness month. It is time we recognized the fact that every 67 minutes someone dies from melanoma - the deadliest type of skin cancer.

Olay has teamed up with the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery to bring more awareness to this very serious cancer. Visit their website, and to get the facts and set yourself up for a free screening. It is the best gift we can give ourselves, don't you agree?

Self-Tanning Do's & Dont's.

I received some great self-tanning tips from New York City's SAVA Spas' owner Joanna Czech. This celebrated esthetician offers her self tanning Do's and Don'ts to achieve the perfect tan - the safe way!  

Now, the Kardashian Sisters are always glowing and you know you want to look like that too.

DO
- Exfoliate Entire Body First concentrating on ankles, toes, fingers, elbows & knees
      Czech recommends: Nuxe Foaming Scrub
- Dry off completely
- Apply a small amount of product to avoid streaking. (Better to reapply than to over apply)
     Czech recommends: Lancome Flash Bronzer for the Body and Babor Self Tanning Lotion for the Body
- After applying to the sensitive areas (ankles, toes, fingers etc…), lightly brush over with a towel to remove excess product.
 - For the face, use a self tanner that is made for the face (Face products tend to have a lighter texture than ones for the body)
     Czech recommends: Babor Self Tanning Cream for the Face
- Wear loose, dark clothing afterwards

***Incase you mess up, have a tint remover for hair accessible (you can purchase in a beauty
supply store), they work well for quick removal
***If tanning for a certain event (ie. wedding, vacation, etc.), plan your tanning schedule
backwards from that date to be sure your sun-kissed look will be perfected in time!

DON’T
- Don’t wait for the day before a big event to try self tanning. Each person reacts differently and turns a different color
- Avoid exfoliating with scrubs that contain essential oils as they may leave a film on skin.
- Don’t mix lotion with your self-tanner
- Don’t forget your ears
- Don’t exfoliate for 1 week after applying
- Don’t workout the day of application
- Don’t shower 6-8 hours after applying 

SAVA Spa regularly treats celebrities like Kyra Sedgwick, Uma Thurman, Sting, and more. SAVA Spa is located at 211 Pinehurst Ave.  New York, New York. If you are in the city or visiting soon and want to make a Spa visit part of your trip, call 212-543-0008 to book one of the fabulous treatments they offer.