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Get the Glow Back

After flicking through some old pictures from last year on the boy’s phone the other day, including many screengrabbed FaceTime shots of me pulling the most hideous of faces from our long distance days that he keeps stored for black mailing purposes, I came to a conclusion. I look a little better with a pinch of sunkissed colour in my cheeks. Well all over actually. I’ve toned down my tanning activities over the past months, one – through laziness and two – due to the purchase of cream bed sheets (why did I ever think that was a good idea!). But with the official arrival of spring and promise of some sun in the near future (maybe?), I’m prepping to uncover my limbs for the first time this year and reclaim my glow…

Faux tanning aside, a good makeup base always manages to eek out that radiance. My ‘Luminous Skin Lineup’ video gives a pretty comprehensive list of my everyday glow-getters, but there’s two new additions that have been added into rotation. Tom Ford’s Illuminating Primer* has had me sitting in front of a mirror in broad daylight, inspecting my face in a variety of angles and giving an approving nod. Sheeny without looking shinny, paired with a satin finished base just peeking out underneath – it’s dewy skin (pricey) perfection. To top up your tan pre-primer, I’ve been reaching for my latest purchase, Chantecaille’s Radiance Gel Bronzer. Heads up: this stuff is dark. The tiniest of tiny amounts, blended all over the face ramps up the glow and pretty much negates the need for foundation. I’ve been pairing with concealer, mascara and racing out the door with a piece of toast in hand, how cliché. Could a new favourite be in the works here?

Onto body, now I remember my Rimmel Sun Shimmer filled Uni days very well. Always the dark version, layered on heavily for any night out – I’d do my mates back and she did mine. If ever a drink was spilled, we’d come to each others rescue patting away to save us from streaky legs as our tan washed down into our tottering high heels. Well this problem’s solved with Rimmel’s Water Reistant Sun Shimmerphew. I now plump for the Light Matte version, a more daytime friendly shade that blends in nicely for an instant tint if you’ve been slacking on the tanning front. Talking of tanning, you know the Xen-Tan Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe reigns supreme in my eyes, long-lasting with only a once a week dose needed. However my scraggy old bottle is in no fit state to be photographed right now, so I’m backing my second favourite Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel*. It’s a clear coloured formula with no colour guide so is best suited to those a little handy with a tanning mitt, but with not a hint of orange and a colour that hangs around for a good four days before reapplication is needed, it’s a safe choice for the second spot. For a face faux glow, you know what I’m going to say here – Clarins Light Bronze Self Tanning; the only gradual tanner for the face that I’ve found to be non-greasy and gradual. I soak in a cotton pad every other night in the evening, sweep over as the last step in my routine and wake up looking that little more sunkissed. Score.

So I’m back in the the swing of my tanning ways; prepare for some tan hand mishaps and muddied sheets. Oh joy.

*PR Sample

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