Summer is in full swing and last weekend spent an afternoon at Jordanelle reservoir with some good friends.  While donning a borrowed incredibly high-cut black bathing suit, my pal Rai commented that my legs were so white they almost appeared blue.

Blue Rai?  Seriously?!  Geez, by trying to protect my skin from sun damage, I end up taking on the look of the Cullens.

And unfortunately I cannot allow myself to bake in the sun, mainly because I want to avoid skin cancer risks, but also because I would just burn and freckle.  Such sad circumstances warrant a great sunless tanner. (more…)

After skimming through my newly received Summer 2008 “Calendar Girls” Sephora catalog, I noticed on the back cover a blurb about Sephora’s 2008 Sun Safety Kit.

What really grabbed my attention is that this kit contains some of my favorite new skincare finds:

• Cosmedicine’s Medi-Matte Oil-Control Lotion
• Tarte’s 24/7 Lip Sheer
• Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Moisturizer
• Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer with SPF 15

Yes, these are all just trial-sized items, but between all 11 products in this kit, you will probably have enough products to get through the summer with them!

*Sephora is also donating $21.55 from each sale to the Skin Cancer Foundation.  Another fringe benefit for doing something good for your skin!

As Mo pointed out, warmer weather brings about new skin challenges.  Many of us are looking for a safer, effective, fool-proof way to get a little color and moisture on our skin. 

From my experience, there isn’t exactly any one sunless tanning product that is 100% fool-proof.  However using a sunless tanner while following Bionic Beauty’s tips for Sunless Tanners will dramatically improve your chances of achieving a beautiful glow!

Here is a new sunless tanning product to consider.

Clinique Touch of Bronze Moisturizing Body Lotion 5 fl. oz. $18.50:

Safe is the new sexy, so find a sunless way to give your skin a natural-looking bronze radiance. This daily body moisturizer with a touch of self-tanner provides an allover, faux glow. Just smooth on this mistake-proof formula to gradually build or maintain even colour. Skin feels soft, looks luminous.

Like I said, nothing is 100% “mistake-proof,” maybe “nearly mistake-proof” is a more accurate description.  Clinique’s Touch of Bronze when applied using Bionic Beauty’s tips, is a very natural looking, moisturizing sunless tanner.  If you don’t use her tips, you might notice some blotchy patches around your ankles or knees, so take heed to BB’s advice!  I also like that the Clinique lotion doesn’t have a strong scent and my sensitive skin tolerated it well (even my newly shaved legs)! 

I felt like Clinique’s product works marginally better than my other favorite drug store brand Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer, mainly because it feels slightly more moisturizing and is better suited for sensitive skin.   However, you cannot beat the price (around $7) for Jergen’s product and the fact that you can purchase it at your neighborhood grocery or drug store.

For another great sunless tanner product, check out Mo’s review of Urban Decay’s Santa Tanita Body Bronzer.

Don’t forget to use a SPF while using these sunless tanning products. “Safe is the New Sexy!”