Self tanners have come such a long way from when they first hit the scene (no more of that “fake tan” smell, orange hue, streaks, or spots!). There are so many great products on the market now, whether self tanners, gradual tanners, or bronzers.

A self tanner will give you that sunkissed color without being exposed to the sun. Its main ingredient is DHA (dihydroxyacetone), which reacts to your amino acids, giving you a golden glow in 3-4 hours that will last about 5-7 days. Just don’t shower or sweat for about four hours to give the self tanner time to develop.

Gradual tanners give you a golden glow after a few days of use – you’ll be your darkest after about four days, and you’ll maintain the color as long as you continue using them daily.

Bronzers are mainly makeup lotions or powders – they provide immediate color and wash off in the shower. Just be careful if you’re wearing tight or light clothing – the bronzer might rub off and stain.

I prefer using self tanners over spray tanning for a few reasons. One, because I like to be golden all the time and I can maintain my tan more easily at home day after day. It’s also much more cost effective to do it on your own – it’s about $25+ for one spray tan that will last 5-7 days, or you can purchase one of the products I mentioned for $30-35 and you will get about 5-8 applications out of them. If you’re tanning for a special occasion and not comfortable or patient doing it yourself, then the spray tan might be for you.

My top 3 products:
St. Tropez Self Tanner (lotion)
Dior Self Tanner (gel)
Tan Towel

St. Tropez has a light floral smell – not that “fake tan” smell. Just put it on (with gloves), let it develop for four hours (or overnight – what I do) and shower in the morning for a gorgeous glow. Things to note: When you put the lotion on, wear gloves. You will look streaky when you’re finished, but the excess product will wash off when you shower – it will also rub off on your clothes, so don’t wear white. This product takes more work than the others, but it does give the most color.

Dior is much easier – it’s better if you need color quick and you’re on the go. All you need is 20 minutes to let it dry before you put clothes on.

The tan towel is super easy to apply as well. You might smell a slight “tanning smell” when you first apply it.

Make sure you exfoliate and shave before your first application for an even tan – especially with self tanners. And wash your hands when you’re done applying – tan palms are not a good look for anyone. And don’t forget to accessorize and bring out your tan even more with pastel and neon nail polishes and coral and hot pink lipsticks (totally in for summer).

[Swimsuit shown in image from Badgley Mischka. Boutique opens Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 11AM.]

BY MAKEUP ARTIST AND KEEP ME BLUSHING BLOGGER SAMANTHA MICHELLE

We’re in denial about any shreds of winter left. Full speed to spring, please. Bright colors! Lighter fabrics! We even spotted a pair of bright pink wedges in our midst today.

With Smashbox Cosmetics on our horizon, we turned to Keep Me Blushing blogger, Samantha Michelle, to enlighten us on the color of 2011: sweet, pretty honeysuckle – a mouth-watering, reddish-pink hue. Check out her tips, then let us know if you’ll be up for a little (or a lot) for spring.

I love the color of 2011. It’s happy, warm, and beautiful, and looks great on just about anyone. It’s easy to add this color into your wardrobe and accessories, but don’t forget your makeup bag! Some of you may think this honeysuckle is too bright to wear on your face, but when done correctly it looks so great – especially for spring/summer.

The easiest way to add this color is with nail polish. It looks fresh on fingers and toes – especially on the beach.

Lipstick and lip stain in honeysuckle is so chic. Although this color is bright, it’s absolutely do-able. For long-lasting lip color, fill your lips with the same-color lip liner, then apply lipstick. If this feels a little too bold, a lip stain is a safe alternative.

When wearing honeysuckle on your lips, keep the rest of your face simple. Use foundation and concealer on any problem areas like your eyes, nose, and any blemishes. Bronze all over (Hint: to contour your face, use bronzer on the sides of your nose and under your cheek bones). Use highlighter on your cheek bones, bridge of your nose, arch of your brow, and the corner of your eyes – skip the blush. For your eyes, try a shimmer shadow from your lash line to your eyebrow, and for a nighttime look add black liner to your lash line and the rim of your eyes, then finish with black mascara.

For honeysuckle cheeks, I suggest a cream blush right on the apples of your cheeks and pulled upwards towards your hairline. Set with the same color powder blush. Use lightly and blend. To avoid looking too harsh, skip colored lipstick and opt for nude or a clear gloss. You can do a smokey eye or a natural eye with honeysuckle cheeks. If you want a smokey eye I would do a slate grey instead of purples, greens, or navy.

Have fun with honeysuckle and don’t be intimidated by it. It’s a perfect shock of color for spring days and nights.