Beauty Feature: Faux Tan, Healthy Skin

North Americans are notorious for believing in "the more tan the better", but at what cost? In places like China or the Philippines it is quite the opposite. Whitening and lightening creams stock their shelves while North Americans are saturated with tanning salons, self-tanners, and bronzers.

Warnings about tanning beds being one of the leading causes of skin cancer have been all a buzz everywhere, especially in the beauty world. It's a scary fact knowing that before the age of 30 our risk of getting skin melanoma increase to 75 %! I think I've used a tanning bed maybe 3 times in my life and only because it was all the rage with my friends back then. I remember not really enjoying the whole process of wiping down the bed, wearing those silly looking eye goggles, stripping down to my underwear, and having the feeling of claustrophobia come over me while my skin baked. Yes, having tan skin instantly was gratifying but definitely not worth skin cancer.

Sun in a healthy way without frying your skin to a leathery golden brown (or in some cases orange). Fake 'n bake is out, but healthy skin is always in! Faux tan with these skin saving products!


Protect your face with a moisturizer that has an SPF. Too much sun on the face will speed up the signs of aging. For the last few months I've been using Lancome's Primordiale Skin Recharge Visible Smoothing Renewing Moisturizer SPF 15 ($78 CDN). I love the soft creamy texture and how fast it absorbs into my skin. It's a perfect day cream that feels light-weight but moisturizing enough for even the driest skin. Designed to give your skin a smoother more radiant finish, my skin is exactly that.

Bronzed skin should never look heavy or flat. Whether it is a powder, gel, or cream, bronzers are a great way to mimic a sun-kissed tan without damaging the skin. Select a bronzer that has a luminous quality to it like Bobbi Brown's Illuminating Bronzing Powder ($40 CDN). I have Bali and it gives me a natural deep golden glow. The formula is ultra-soft, super blendable, and the micro pearls leave skin looking naturally radiant! Apply bronzer to the high points of the face: temples, cheeks, bridge of nose and chin.

Your lips need some sun-loving protection too! I love tinted lip balms that have an SPF because it cuts down on your time and the amount of products you have to carry with you. M.A.C.'s Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm ($17.50 CDN) hydrate, protect and provide a sheer colour to the lips. I have Lilt of Lily (soft creamy pale pink) and Just a Smidge (soft pastel yellow with multi-coloured pearl). Both are very sheer and almost look clear on my lips - I prefer a little more colour but these are great choices for the "no-makeup" makeup look. The texture feels very smooth and my lips feel heavily coated. It's not quite sticky but feels rich on the lips leaving them moisturized for hours! Love the slanted squeeze tube packaging - very portable and easy to apply.

Prep your skin for a self-tanner by exfoliating. The dead, dry skin will be removed, leaving a fresh smooth surface for an even all-over application. Lise Watier's Gommage Bora Bora ($21 CDN) is an exfoliating gel for your face and body! I found this gel to thoroughly but gently exfoliate my skin. I had soft, radiant skin all day long. My favourite part about this product is that I could use it on my face. I find most body scrubs are too harsh for the face area but not this one. No streaky tans with this exfoliator!

Go faux when you want that glow! It's true that some self-tanners are a pain to apply and the results are often a streaky mess (a la Lindsay Lohan!). I'm really enjoying Per-fekt Body Perfection Gel ($48 USD) because the gel is easy to apply and the results are instant - no waiting around until the next day to see the tan! This gel was designed to be the alternative to traditional bronzing self-tanners. It firms, tones, and improves the skin's suppleness and elasticity while giving you that bronzed glow you love. The gel is also transfer-free and water-resistant, the perfect choice for summer activities. I have Exotic and LOVE the deep golden brown glow it gives my skin! The gorgeous shimmer looks especially sexy on my legs! Do wait a few minutes for it to dry before putting on your clothes and wash your hands immediately so they won't stain.

Lather on the sunblock for those outdoor activities. The longer you'll be out in the sun the higher the SPF should be. Neutrogena has a great range of SPF products that go as high as 100! Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 85 contains Helioplex technology which delivers the highest UVA protection. The Dry-touch technology helped quickly absorb into my skin and got rid of excess shine without a chalky-white finish. The sunblock has a light scent and never felt heavy or sticky on my skin.

Do you use tanning beds often? What is your sun protection regime? Makeup Junkie wants to know!