Get Your Glow On: Faux Riviera Tan

Voda Swim String Bikini & Freewaters Sandals

Somewhere Warm & Sunny: Warm weather is on the way! I know I keep telling myself that because really one day it will be true. When that hot weather shows up, I don't want to show my pasty winter-white legs and arms! Here are some runway tips and tricks to go from blah to bronzed instantly. My simple steps to a Faux Riviera Tan:

First Get A Close Shave
If you like the Venus razor you will LOVE these Women's Five Blades by 800 Razors. These are amazing with no nicks or burns under the arms or the bikini area. The multi bladed head tilts to caress every crevice and the 360 lubricating soapy bars keep it smooth. These even come with a burn free guarantee.

800 Razor trumps Venus!

Next Exfoliate
I like to use my Clarisonic Plus daily in the shower for extra clean & gently exfoliated skin. Before I hop in the shower I do a quick dry brushing with a soft Boar Bristle body brush. To do a deep exfoliation try using Tree Nut's Olive & Shea Butter Sugar Body Scrub. Another good scrub is by Mio - Double Buff Dual Action Enzyme Exfoliator. Pay special attention to elbows and knees as they tend to be rougher and will absorb color more quickly than other body parts.  

Mio Double Buff and Tree Nut Sugar Body Scrubs

Moisturize & Firm
Right out of the shower, first apply a good cellulite cream like this Cellulite Firming Complex by TriLASTIN or Embryolisse 365 Cream Body Firming Treatment. The warm water and exfoliation will ensure maximum absorption of these products.

Time to Glow:  I've looked at quite a few self tanners and by far the best color you can get is with an airbrush. Once only available in a salon, now if you have even a basic airbrush compressor, you can do it at home. Otherwise get a pair of rubber gloves and a can of Quick Tan by Body Drench. This gives you a rich, instant tan that darkens over 3 days and lasts for almost a week. Spray it on and rub it in. Let it dry thoroughly before getting dressed. If you want a bit of EXTRA glow, add a layer of Hard Candy's Glow All the Way self tanner. It's infused with 24K gold and looks incredible in sunlight.

Firm and Glow essentials!

Full Body Glow
Just remember to really glow all the way! Do your arms and legs and all other areas of exposed skin. Don't forget to use a bit of bronzer on your face and neck to match up your look.

Glow from head to toe this spring!

Products featured in this article c/o these respective companies:

VodaSwim.com
Freewaters.com
800razors.com
EmbryolisseUSA.com
HardCandy.com
TreeNut.com
BodyDrench.com
Mioskincare.com
TriLASTIN.com
 

Resort Fashions Newport Mansions - LBD Goes from Beach to Evening

PHOTO: The Breakers, the grandest of the Newport Mansions

The Breakers, Newport RI One of the things I really enjoy about traveling in New England is the easy, yet elegant style you'll see from Nantucket Island, Mass. to Newport Rhode Island. When I took the tour of The Breakers which was the Vanderbilt summer cottage, there was the Cliff Walk and many other seaside attractions. Newport also has a vibrant nightlife as it is home to the Newport Jazz Festival each year. So how about a dress that can go from the shore to a night out at a posh dinner club?  Here you go!

Horny Toad's Metamorphose Dress can be worn so many ways.

Daytime
Hand Bag: Handwoven Pewter Sand Dollar Bag from NewportStyle.net, the Newport Mansions Stores.  This bag is somewhere between a tote and a Nantucket basket purse. Handwoven of natural Ata grass, it is a work of art but the leather straps and sturdy construction only underscore its beauty.

Shoes: Earthies Vista Leather Wedges in Alpaca The woven leather picks up on the handcrafting of the Pewter Sand Dollar Bag and these shoes go from the Mansion Tour to the shore. Comfortable yet pretty they remind me of a similar design by Diane Von Furstenberg this season.

Nightlife 
Really, this is what that special little black dress is for. You can dress it up or down. When you are traveling, you'll appreciate having it along because you will have worn it to the beach and now it's time to make dinner plans.

Necklace: Green Quartz from Club Monaco, 5th Ave. Bag by Betsy Johnson. Raynia Pumps by Earthies available at Nordstrom.com.

Your Evening Look

Lips
Here you need to go bold or go home! Classic RED lipstick adds a touch of elegance to your evening look so try a sheer moist orange-red like this one from Clinique in 06 Red Red Red. It is long lasting and enriched with olive fruit and aloe.

Add a bright, bold lip, lots of golden glow and some serious fragrance.

Skin
This dress shows a lot of skin so make it count.  Hard Candy's Glow All the Way in Tropical Tan is an instant bronze and gradual self tanner with 24 karat gold! You get a good 2.7 oz tube so go for it.

Fragrance
The evening won't be complete without applying a little perfume to your pulse points. As the nightlife heats up, it will continue to mix with your chemistry for a lasting scent. Lancome's Hypnose and Salvatore Ferragamo's F for Fascinating are two of my favorites.

Black Sequined Lip purse by Betsy Johnson

My Evening Makeup:

Kett FIXX Creme Foundation is waterproof and stays on all day without blotting or retouching.
Kett Hydro Foundation & Blush applied through an airbrush
Purely Cosmetics Diamond Perfect Finishing Powder (infused with pure diamonds!)
Lips: Clinique Long Last Lipstick in 06 Red Red Red
Eyes: Sephora Waterproof Liner in Navy Blue




Dress, shoes and Woven Handbag c/o Horny Toad, Earthies and NewportStyle.net respectively.