I'm Glowing! Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer (review)

Yes, I already know that was a fairly cheesy tie-in. But I really am glowing. I have a nice long weekend coming up. A nice long weekend with super fun plans! With super fun people! My glow comes from happiness and anticipation.

Of course, this glow is only visible on my smiling face. No matter how happy I am; my ghostly legs refuse to glow naturally. They are the palest white no matter what. Unless…they get a little help from the drugstore. The drugstore and the folks at Jergens.

Jergens® natural glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer

Blurb: New! Revitalizing! Gradually creates natural-looking color. Antioxidant and Vitamin E formula keeps skin looking healthy & glowing twice as long. Moisturize into an invigorated glow. Jergens® natural glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer delivers fabulous natural-looking color gradually that lasts twice as long as the leading lotion sunless tanner and infuses your skin with a blend of effective moisturizers, antioxidants and Vitamin E to keep it looking healthy.

I just got a chance to test this out, and it's a winner! It's designed especially for fair/medium and medium/tan skin; so it's perfect for people like me. As soon as the weather gets warm, I take out my sandals and put anything resembling hosiery away – which renders my untanned legs visible to the general public.

This tanner/moisturizer works and it's super budget friendly. I used it daily and it gradually built up a nice, healthy glow. And it combines the natural-looking color with a great moisturizer. For best results, you'll need to do the usual self-tanning things: make sure to shower, shave and exfoliate before applying, rub it in evenly, go easy on the knees and ankles, and be sure to wash your hands when you're finished. I did this and got great results - soft skin right away, and nice color in only 4 days.

If you want to know more about the Natural Glow line, check out the website (there's even a Glow Advisor to help you find products). You should also take a look at the Promotions page for samples, coupons, events and tips. You can find Jergens at grocery stores, drugstores and a whole slew of online retailers.

Happy Tuesday!
.

35% Off On the Xen-Tan Collection on April 8 (and a chance to win)

I'm ready for short dresses and sandals, but I don't think my ghostly-pale legs are yet. Need help too? I just got some info about a great promotion on April 8. Start reading…

Xen-Tan Premium Sunless Tan

It’s time to break out the floral miniskirts and cut out bikinis! Get your skin ready for the season where we bare it all with Xen-Tan Premium Sunless Tan. On April 8th, Xen-Tan will be offering consumers 35% off the entire line of products this one day only. And that’s not all! Become a fan on Facebook and enter to win your chance to covet one of five blinged out Perfect Bronze compacts celebs like Leighton Meister, Ashley Tisdale and Tori Spelling recently received. Contest will close May 1st, just in time for a last minute Mother’s Day gift!

For the 35% discount, visit www.Xen-Tan.com and enter code “xentansweeps” at check out.

Become a fan on Facebook here http://bit.ly/aRNrZA for your chance to win a blingin’ bronzer!

Celebs who were gifted with Xen-Tan’s Swarovski-encrusted Perfect Bronze compact:

AnnaLynne McCord Ashley Olsen Ashley Tisdale Blake Lively Britney Spears Carrie Underwood Christina Aguilera Cindy Crawford Fergi Giuliana Rancic Jessica Alba Kelly Ripa Khloe Kardashian Kourtney Kardashian Kim Kardashian Lady Gaga Leighton Meester Mary Kate Olsen Michelle Trachtenberg Nicole Richie Rachel Bilson Rachel Zoe Samantha Harris Scarlett Johansson Taylor Swift Tori Spelling Vanessa Hudgens Victoria Beckham Jessica Simpson Mariah Carey
.

My Goodness – More Goodness! Diana B. Self Tanner (review)

Last month, I reviewed some innovative bath and body products from Diana B. Beauty, and today I'm reviewing Diana B.'s 60 Second Instant Miracle Tan.

Blurb: This totally unique product is designed to make you naturally tan in one minute. Scented with chocolate truffle, using DHA in combination with breakthrough technology produces water activated sugar protein based foam that creates a beautiful sunless tan. Aloe Vera based formula, safe for all skin types, may be used daily.

I was dying to try this! In April, it was featured in O Magazine and InStyle; and I've been reading about it all over the place. Since I don't go out in the sun, I'm always up for anything that might lend a bit of color to my pale, pale legs. This self-tanner had me intrigued because it's so different – it's water-activated. That's right, folks – you use it in the shower on wet skin. Cool!

According to the folks at Diana B., this product is ideally made for people with pale skin (or in my case, flourescent). It gives a soft, golden glow without looking orangey or fake.

This is applied by wetting your skin, stepping away from the shower stream and smoothing the foam from neck to tops of feet (it's not recommended for the face). Use the gloves that come with the tanner. (Oh and FYI, put the gloves on before getting your hands wet – I kind of forgot and had to start over…duh.) After smoothing, remove the gloves and rub arms/legs with the backs of your hands. Wait 60 seconds and rinse (I actually waited a little longer). There are great directions on the can too (in case my explanation is confusing).

After the first application, I got a very subtle golden glow. I applied it another 2 days in a row and ended up with a very nice golden color. I need to stress that this is a subtle tan – you will not look like Malibu Barbie. But you will end up with very pretty natural-looking color. I tried it all over, and found that it worked especially well on my legs (which is a first).

Extra Info: Do all the regular things before starting (cleanse, exfoliate, etc.). Also, be sure to rinse really well. I was a little haphazard the first time and ended up getting tanner on one of my towels (thankfully it comes out in the wash with a little Oxyclean). The mousse is a very dark brown, but it didn't leave any residue in my shower or on my shower curtain.

And my legs no longer glow in the dark!

Check out their website and have a look at all the other goodies (skin care, bath & body, candles…). You can buy their products at sites like beauty.com, SkinStore.com and b~glowing.com.
.

Avon Skin So Soft Satin Glow (review)

I fully realize that I’m a zealot when it comes to sun protection. Probably because I’m such a recent convert. Growing up in Southern California, I had a year-round tan which I managed to boost every summer by laying out in the sun with a layer of baby oil (I know – yikes). When I lived in San Francisco, it was much colder, so my sunbathing stopped. But I still didn't think I needed sunscreen, because I didn’t burn. I didn’t even own sunscreen (again – yikes). But I found there are other "things" to worry about besides sunburn. After seeing the beginnings of brown spots on my cheeks (YIKES), I finally got all gung ho about SPF and have remained gung ho ever since.

Truthfully, I think my skin looks nice without a tan – with one exception. My impossibly ghost-white, glow-in-the-dark legs. Not only are they several shades whiter than the rest of my body, they also have some faint scars from past clumsiness. And because I wear sandals, the tops of my feet tend to be slightly darker. Weird.

I’ve been looking for something that would give a little bit of color to my legs without lots of hassle and/or expense. And among some Avon products I received a while back was yet another fine surprise: Avon SKIN SO SOFT Satin Glow Continuous Mist Airbrush Spray.

Blurb: A flawless, sunkissed glow...in just 4 days! Get a natural summer glow! 360° aerosol delivers a quick-drying mist for all over coverage—even hard-to-reach areas.

This met my needs perfectly. It’s a fine spray mist that is extremely easy to apply. It also dries very quickly (about 30 seconds). It takes a few hours for the color to show up fully, so resist the urge to overspray. I used it over 4 days and the color deepened gradually just as promised. No streaks and the shade was a very believable brown. I have it in “fair” - it also comes in “medium” (but not in “ghostly-white”). Be sure to follow the directions and use on clean, exfoliated skin (do not use after shaving). And, as with other self-tanners, be sparing around ankles, knees and elbows. I'm really happy that I can easily get natural looking color where I desperately need it.

FYI: right now, there is a bath and body sale on the Avon website (buy 1, get one for 99¢).

.