Fun in the Sun (Or shade)

The Knocked-Up Knockout: Fun in the Sun (or Shade)
Hannah Claire Shapiro

“Summer’s in the air, every time I look around..”. My current mental soundtrack keeps skipping to this classic each time I step outdoors, or look outside to my veranda and pool deck. I know the weather in Blighty is far from perfect right now but you can at least, I’m sure, appreciate how strange it must be to live in almost-constant sunshine when you hail from the country everyone thinks of as grey. Oh, and wet. It also gives me ample opportunity to test out all the fab sun products on the market these days, to share my faves with you in time for your summer hols. From fake tans to sun-tan lotions and aftersuns, I’ve got your skin covered.

FAKING IT
There are so many fantastic fake tan solutions available to us these days and it is difficult to assess from the bottles alone, which are the products best suited to you. Here are a few of my personal faves.

>> Top Five Cosmetics

Hoola, £22.50, Benefit. This bronzing powder even warms up my dull complexion. I use it all over my face and décolletage. This is my “can’t-live-without” product for sun-kissed looks!

2. Dallas, £22.50, Benefit. I apply this to my cheeks, post-Hoola, for an enviable sun-kissed glow. The pinky hues in Dallas make this a great blush-alternative on top of bronzer to avoid that flat-face look.

3. 10, £22.50, Benefit. For a subtler bronzed look on top of regular face makeup, you must, must, must try this genius product. It is so darned simple to use and results are nothing short of amazing, as you bronze and highlight in one, quick sweep of the brush. All you have to do? Follow the enclosed instructions.

Star Bronzer, £24, Lancôme. For a quick, need-to-get-out-the-door-in-two-minutes instant fix, you cannot beat this product. Use the sponge to sweep this all over your face as you would any pressed powder (don’t forget to blend once you get in the car!), and you have instant glow. Ta-dah!

5. Powder bronzer (Park Avenue Princess), $28 , Tartecosmetics.com. This is a great compact to keep in your handbag. It is a universal bronze—it works on pasty-old-me and my South Beach sun-kissed pals—that instantly livens up that mid-afternoon dullness us Mummies know far too well so that we are perked up and pretty by the time dear hubby arrives home.

>> Top Five Lotions & Potions

Jiffy Tan, £17.50, Benefit. This lotion is GENIUS. I rarely have the time for traditional fake tanning but you can slap this on in, well, a jiffy, and the perfect results are fool-proof.

Flash Bronzer, £19.50, Lancôme. Whether you opt to use this formula for just your face, or all over, and no matter which consistency (gel, mousse, cream) you choose, the Lancome Flash Bronzer fake-tanning range is consistently fantastic.

Whipped Bronze Mousse, £20, St. Tropez. There’s a reason why fashion-and-beauty-know-it-all, Victoria Beckham, is still such a die-hard fan of St. Tropez tans despite a bevy of competitors on the market. All their products, when used correctly, achieve the desired results. (Don’t forget your gloves, which are sold separately.) My personal all-time, home-use fave is the whipped mousse, though you can’t beat the look you’ll get if you have the tan applied professionally.

Sun Free Self-Tanning Formula, $22.50, Kiehls.com. This self-tanner is so gentle, it can be used on all skin types—wonderful for the sensitive likes of me. The cream is so easy to apply and guarantees an even application with results you can see in just one hour. What’s more, the folks at Kiehls guarantee their products are not tested on animals so you can use this one with a clear conscience.

Sunburst Beaded Bronzing Facial Moisturiser, $28, Tartecosmetics.com. This moisturizer-meets-bronzer is another brilliant instant fix! The bronzing beads in the moisturiser burst on contact with skin, delivering an instant, water-resistant glow. The best part—the lotion has skincare benefits: Vitamins A & E help condition skin and fight free radicals while silicone polymer & cellulose help absorb excess oils to keep you relatively shine-free in the heat. What more could a girl want?!

FUN IN THE SUN (THE REAL McCOY!)

Before we begin, here’s the essential low-down on sunbathing.

Firstly, and most importantly, the SPF factor does not inhibit your ability to tan. This is merely a numeric indication of how much longer you can stay in the sun without burning. For example, if you would usually begin to burn after 30 minutes in intense sunlight, then with SPF 15 lotion, you will be able to, theoretically, stay in the sun for 450 minutes, or seven and a half hours. However, this does not indicate durability of the lotion and most lotions should be reapplied every hour and a half or so, or once you begin to see a change in skin colour.

Secondly, it is important to bear in mind that when you are sitting in direct sunlight with your sunnies on, you are less likely to see if you are beginning to resemble a lobster rather than a bronzed sun goddess. The easiest way to check up is to find a spot of shade and press your skin, if the pressure point stays white for a while it means you are burning and it’s time to head home and out of the sun for that day.

Thirdly, it goes without saying that if you are pregnant, you should avoid long periods of time in direct sunlight. Instead, enjoy the sun under the shade of a tree or beach umbrella. But still be sure to lotion up with adequate SPF.

And lastly, after a day in the sun, be sure to apply a rich moisturiser all over post-shower to replenish your skin and quench its thirst. As you are dehydrating your skin by sitting in the sun, it is therefore also advisable to avoid post-sunbathing soaks in the tub.

>>Top Five Sun-Tan Lotions

Vital Sun protection SPF 30, $18.50, Kiehls.com. This is my all-time must-have sun-tan lotion. It is so gentle that you can use it on both yourself and baby, which also means it is safe to use while pregnant. It is lightweight, non greasy, non sticky and doesn’t sting your eyes once you begin to schvitz. What more could you want?!

Ultra-Hydrating Sun Protector for Face SPF 20, $28, avanceskincare.com. This is a great everyday sun tan lotion that it is great to get into the habit of applying daily, as it works under your regular moisturiser and makeup. It is my Summer 2007—and year round—essential.

Oil-free Sun Block for Body SPF 30, $32, avanceskincare.com. Avancé is known for their curative and corrective skincare products so my interest was immediately piqued by their new sun-care range, which is formulated to boost cell regeneration as they are infused with an abundance of antioxidants, from Vitamin E to green tea.

Sun Cream for Sensitive Areas, $10 , Mustela. This is a fantastic sun block for babies and children when you are heading down to the beach or the pool, as it provides lengthy coverage in even the most intense sunlight. Even my very delicate bundle, who is prone to exzema, doesn’t complain when I rub this lotion into his skin pre-pool time. It is available in the US, France, Spain and Portugal so stock up while on your hols!

Sun Control Stick SPF 30, £12.50 , Clarins. You mustn’t forget your eyes and lips—avoidable lines and wrinkles are a no-no. I keep one of these handy, new Clarins’ sticks in my bag at all times and use it underneath my lipstick or as a lip-gloss. When sun-gazing, it is ideal for using around your eyes, ears and nose, as well as on your lips.

>> Summer Must-Have

Before you head on your holiday destination of choice this year, be sure to pick yourself up a Juicy Couture Beach Survival Kit ($75). It is my new summer must-have for trips to the ocean. Each kit comes in an acrylic, drawstring bag (choose pink or yellow), and includes a heart-shaped mirror, canvas sunscreen bag, swimsuit bag, canvas water bottle bag, and a clear plastic pillow to rest your weary head upon. In short, everything the style maven that you are needs to stay chic, comfy and organized during a day at the beach. Just add towel, book and cozzy, and go! Those Juicy Girls think of everything!