The Beauty Agenda

Sexy Spring

Written by Patricia Lee

Q: I noticed that the new makeup looks for spring emphasize the appearance of fresh, glowing, clean skin. The cold winter weather left my skin a bit flaky and dull. How can I get rid of my skinšs dull-looking appearance?

A: With winter weather, cold, dry air attacks skin and can leave it dry, dehydrated, and desperately needing hydration and/or moisture. At times, even much needed moisture can't curtail the dull-looking skin winter leaves behind. To battle blah-looking skin, one may wish to try a gentle exfoliating scrub, such as Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub, which helps to slough away skin dulling cells. Containing pineapple and papaya, these earthly enzymes naturally nix those trying dead skin cells. Another amazing alternative offered at drug and department stores are at home microdermabrasion kits, such as Neutrogena's Advanced Solutions At Home MicroDermabrasion Kit. Though a bit more potent, these must-have miracle workers exfoliate the dead surface skin cells, promote cell renewal, and leave skin softer and more rejuvenated. Follow up with the appropriate moisturizer or hydrator to maintain your skin's suppleness. With fresher looking skin, you are ready to welcome spring.

Q: With cute, flirty tops, dresses, and skirts this spring, I'd like to have tanned skin instead of my otherwise fair complexion. Any suggestions?

A: Nothing says spring or summer like sun kissed skin, but with the adverse effects of excessive UV exposure from the sun and sun booths, such as premature aging and cancer risks, it proves most prudent to seek sunless tanning products to achieve that spring and summer glow. With scores of sunless tanning methods and products saturating the market, finding one that provides a nice, non-orangey color can be cumbersome. Spray tans, such as Magic or Mystic Tan, serve as a simple, speedy solution to achieving bronzed skin. Entering an enclosed room with a single booth, one carefully applies a barrier cream to areas one doesnšt want tan. One can also lightly apply a bit of cream to areas that tend to be drier, like elbows, knees, ankles and such. Prepped and primed, simply step into the room, striking specific poses of instruction. Two important tips for spray tanners: towel dry well and wear looser fitting garments with flip flops/sandals. Within an hour, one will witness bronzed skin; the color deepens after about six hours, at which point one can shower. For those on a budget, aerosol sprays are available, ranging from Magic Tan's Aerosol Self-Tanning Spray, ModelCo Tan Airbrush in a Can, or Sephora's SuperStars Super Sheen Bronzing Mist to Almay's Sunless Tanning Mist, L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Spray or Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs. Then, there are the lotions and creams, such as Neutrogena's Build a Tan and Fake Bake Self-Tanning Sheer Chocolate Mousse, which one slathers on to achieve that sexy, sun-kissed glow. Before bronzing your entire body, put a bit of the bronzing product on a patch of skin, waiting 24 hours post application for any allergic reaction(s). To ensure an even hue, exfoliate the areas you wish to tan in the shower, doing away with any dryness or drabby, dead cells. Since our skin sheds scads of dead skin cells every day, the beautiful bronzed color you achieve will naturally fade.

Q: I'm in my late twenties and am curious about anti-aging foundations. I have a few fine lines and am wondering if I should opt for this sort of product. Any suggestions?

A: For the past few years, to cater to a demographic of women who worry about or want to ward off the visible signs of aging, cosmetic companies have ingeniously created a flood of anti-aging foundations to supplement creams, lotions, or treatments one may use. Containing such ingredients as antioxidants, botanicals, vitamins, and secret concoctions, these makeup miracles can do anything from hydrating, smoothing, and/or lifting to protecting, stimulating, and/or improving skin, resulting in a younger, healthier looking complexion. A few noteworthy ones include Lancôme's Renergie Lift Makeup with SPF 20, which protects from the unforgiving rays of the sun, moisturizes, and lifts, using Vitamin E and their special Micro-Lift Technology; and Avonšs Beyond Color Radiant Lifting Foundation with SPF 12, which offers toning, firming, and lifting benefits via their Vita-Color Complex and Skin Lift Technology. The Skin Lift Technology, a fascinating feature of Avonšs foundation, packs a 3D polymer, providing an invisible mesh to tighten and lift skin.

<<Back to Columns