Hi there, my darlings! It's been kinda quiet around here lately, hasn't it? I've been kinda in my own little world, trying to figure out some important changes in my life. But, things are starting to look up and I sure am glad I still have the rest of August to enjoy the summer! Summers in the US always take me by surprise--not only is it always hotter than I expect but the days are way longer than seems possible. I mean, 9 pm and it's still light out! The good part of these long, hot days is that there's lots more time to show off that summer glow. Now, being Indian by ethnicity. I'm pretty tan all year round and shy away from any extra tanning products. For the most part, that is. Believe it or not, even I need a little help here and there, especially when I want to even my skin tone and create that subtle glowy look. If that sounds intriguing, read on to discover 7 beauty products that make that oh-so-easy!


IN SHOWER:

THE JERGENS® NATURAL GLOW® EXCLUSIVE TANNING COLLECTION :
 

EFFORTLESS, FOOL-PROOF TOOLS TO PRIME, COLOR, AND PRESERVE YOUR FLAWLESS LOOKING TAN


A breakthrough collection of products to create a beautiful, even tan in an instant. For years, you’ve turned to the Jergens® Skincare experts to achieve gradual, natural-looking color that makes you look and feel confident from head to toe. NOW, it’s possible to get our iconic depth of color, even faster for a coveted sunless tan. For the first time, the leadingauthority in natural-looking color introduces an innovative sunless tanner and care regimen that delivers the flawless tan you crave with no wait, plus the same natural-looking color perfectly customized to your skin tone that you expect from Jergens® Skincare. Get same day transformational results with the new Jergens® Natural Glow® Color Primer In-Shower Scrub andJergens® Natural Glow® Instant Sun™ Sunless Tanning Mousse to deliver natural-looking color better and faster while keeping it longer with Jergens® Natural Glow® Tan Extender Daily Moisturizer. These revolutionary tools work together toachieve and maintain your most beautiful tan from start to finish. With an easy three step Prime, Color, and Preserve regimen, it’s simple to prep skin, create captivating color that dries in seconds, and keep it longer, for up to 7 days.



Jergens has an entire line of products that can help you achieve the warm, sun-kissed color that you long for! If you're already darker-skinned like me, don't fret. You can mix and match these products according to your needs and even out your skin tone. At affordable prices, these products are must-haves for Summer!




1. JERGENS® Natural Glow® Color Primer In-Shower Scrub ($8.99): 

Putting sunless tanner on un-exfoliated skin can lead to dreaded streaks, so this unique dual-action formula resurfaces and prepares skin for improved color adhesion right in the shower. Featuring an amino fruit extract complex, this exfoliating primer smoothes rough patches to create a perfectly polished canvas, improving color adhesion, so you can achieve your most beautifully blended color.


A good exfoliating scrub is essential pretty much all year round but particularly in the Summer! Why? Because you can hide those rough patches under layers of sweaters and tights and jackets. But during the Summer, a girl's gotta make sure that she puts her best skin forward. Even if you're not using a sunless tanner, smooth, exfoliated skin is key to achieving that even, natural glow!





2. JERGENS® Natural Glow® Instant Sun™ Sunless Tanning Mousse ($11.99):

Create flawless, natural-looking color instantly with this airy mousse that applies precisely and evenly and dries in just 60 seconds. The proprietary Advanced Color Complex works with your unique skin tone to mimic the same color results you’d get from natural sun, with no orange hues.Available in Light Bronze and Deep Bronze shades to provide a natural-looking option in an instant for every skin tone.


Looking to add a little extra color to winter-pale skin? This light, frothy mousse should get the job done. Personally, I don't use many tanning products but I like this mousse a lot! It helps me even out the skin around my tummy and decolletage, which needs a little extra color when compared to my face or arms. 

Preserve your even, natural-looking color for up to a week with new Tan Extender Daily Moisturizer. Hold onto beautiful, confidence-boosting color two times longer—whether it’s from natural sunlight or sunless tanner—by using Tan Extender daily, in place of your regular moisturizer. With fade-fighting technology, the moisture-infused formula helps skin maintain its flawless glow and delays inevitable color fade.


Jergens makes some fabulous moisturizers! I often use the Ultra Healing lotion to keep those tricky patches of skin soft and smooth all Winter long. Now this new moisturizer has become a Summer fave! Not only does it help me maintain an even skin tone but it's actually a moisturizer that I can regularly use without dying of a heat attack. I get hot and irritated very easily so I prefer light moisturizers that absorb super fast during the hotter months. If you're like me, try this one--you won't be disappointed!





A LITTLE EXTRA TLC:

4. Airbrush Legs® Leg Makeup ($13.99):


A lightweight leg makeup that leaves legs looking smooth and sexy all day long. The formula infused with Palmaria Extract, helps cover imperfections like veins, freckles or bruises and stimulate microcirculation. This long lasting, fast drying formula is transfer and water resistant. The spray-on formula blends seamlessly into skin for gorgeous and flawless legs. It is available in six natural-looking shades with a luminous finish: Fairest Glow, Light Glow, Beige Glow, Medium Glow, Tan Glow, and Deep Glow and is also available in a Lotion form.


Summers are finally when we can all let our legs free! Trapped in tights and jeans and pants all through the colder months, is it any wonder that our legs may need a little bit extra during the Summer months? Mine are usually 2 full shades lighter than the rest of my body!




Along comes Sally Hansen's Airbrush Leg Makeup. Shown below is the shade Medium Glow, a little glow a long way with this baby! So spray lightly, smooth on and your legs will finally be the same shade as the rest of you!




5. YOUNGBLOOD Mineral Illuminating Body Tint ($45.00):


Smooth on with the Liquid Foundation Brush and blend completely. Golden Sun (an illuminating shade with gold flecks) also works on cheekbones, arms, legs and dècolletè for a healthy sheen.

This shimmery, lightweight tint is like a BB cream...for your whole body. Mix in just a little with your moisturizer for a suble, dewy finish or layer on for luminous, glowing skin all night long!




Shown in the shade Golden Sun below, I love the hint of shimmer in this--subtle but gorgeous!




FOR YOUR FACE:

6. REJUVE MD Tinted Anti-aging Sunscreen ($59.00)

The best way to prevent skin's aging is to stop the number one cause of skin damage; sun exposure. Rejuve MD Tinted Anti-Aging Sunscreen is an innovative multi-function sun defense that blocks the damaging UVA and UVB sun rays with full spectrum Zinc Oxide, while restoring skin's youthful radiance with powerful botanicals.
  • -SPF 30 Physical Suncblock
  • -Universal Tint for All Skin Tones
  • -Full Spectrum UVA/UVB Protection
  • -Hypoallergenic and Non-Comedogenic
  • -Blocks Environmental Toxins
If you're going to drop serious change on any beauty product during the Summer, let it be your sunscreen! No matter how hot you get or how busy you are, remember to put that sunscreen on! Your skin will thank you 10 or even a mere 5 years from now. Skin cancer is no joke!




That being said, I'll be the first to admit that I don't always follow my own advice. Because I HATE the feeling of traditional sunscreens which can be sticky and uncomfortable. Add to that, a tinted version which often either looks too orange or too ashy on my complexion, finding one that works for me has been a challenge. Until this one, that is! This sunscreen is so light and goes on silky smooth. As for a color match, take a look for yourself! Isn't it a wonder?!




7. YOUNGBLOOD Lunar Dust ($33.00):

For a subtle effect, dust with Super Powder Brush over bare skin or makeup; blend with body moisturizer for dramatic radiance.

What better time to highlight than the Summer, when the sun just helps bring out all that shimmer and shine?! Mineral powders are the absolute best for highlighting during the hotter months. Creams are too sticky and even pressed powders can be hard to blend when your skin is even the least bit oily or sweaty. But this mineral powder? YES! Super blendable and very comfortable, you can stroke a bit on wherever your heart desires--the apples of your cheeks, your decolletage or right down the bridge of your nose.




Shown below in the shade Dusk, it's a beautiful bronze-gold that would work really well with those Summer tans!




You can go subtle with just one or two swipes (shown on the left) or layer it on for a bolder highlight (shown on the right). Either way, you'll definitely be glowing with this baby this Summer!




So there you have it, my darlings! My picks for that easy Summer Glow!


Have you discovered a new beauty fave you love? Tell me all about it in the comments section below!







****Products were sent to me for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.****



Hi there, my darlings! It's hotter than Sriracha in NYC! I mean, the kind of hot that makes stepping more than 4 ft away from the air-conditioning physically painful. Believe me, I tried. While a girl can cozy up at home and take her time with her beauty rituals in the winter, Summers are all about quick, hassle-free looks. Preferably in bright, bold colors that can distract you from the oppressive heat. Because, if there's anything I love about the Summer, it's the colors! The vibrant neons and the strong shimmers give me an excuse to go out of my apartment, to actually do stuff when the sun is still shining. So, with that thought in mind, I set off to Sally Beauty to curate a selection of readily available, affordable, gorgeous nail polish shades that are perfect for these Summer days...plus a couple of essentials that make at-home manis fun and easy. Scroll on for a little Summer inspiration for your nails!


POLISH HELPER #1: 

Orly Bonder is my go-to basecoat. I've been using this one for years now and it really helps with the ridges on my nails, providing a smoother surface for applying polish. It's slightly sticky and I think that's what's key--it physically adheres to the polish and holds it on to your nail. Plus, it dries super quickly so you're not sitting there for ages waiting for just your basecoat to dry!




1. OPI SPF XXX (Retro Summer 2016 collection)

Described as an orange red, this beauty was my first pick as soon as I walked into Sally Beauty's. It wears peachy-coral on me and is fully, beautifully opaque in 2 easy coats. Although it's pretty shiny on its own, I topped it with OPI Infinite Shine topcoat for that extra bit of shine!








2. OPI Correctamundo (Tru Neon Summer 2016 collection)

Described as a twilight blue, I knew I had to have this rich, vibrant shade! This one has such an unique formula--almost jelly-like application and it dries to a smooth, sexy matte. The swatches below show 3 thin coats. Just perfect for the beach or a summer night out!








3. NINA ULTRA PRO Punki Purple

My very first from this brand, I've obviously been missing out if this gorgeous electric purple is anything to go by! Opaque in 3 thin coats and another perfect matte, this shade of purple is so eye-catching!








4. NINA ULTRA PRO Caribbean Blue

A shimmering, bright blue with a metallic finish, this shade totally lives up to its name! Perfectly opaque in 2 coats, this reminds me of those tropical seas that we all dream of! Not going somewhere tropical this summer? Throw this baby on and you can imagine you're right there on that Caribbean beach!








POLISH PAL #2:

OPI Matte Finish topcoat is the staple matte topcoat in my arsenal--I haven't come across a better matte topcoat yet! I had to throw it on Caribbean Blue and I have to say, WOW! Love the shimmer mattefied!






5. FINGER PAINTS Dye-ing to Know (Spring 2016 collection)

Do you love reds as much as I do? Then you'll love this bright watermelon shade! This juicy red is perfectly opaque in 3 thin coats and dries to a matte finish. Matte not your thing? I topped it with OPI Infinite Shine topcoat on the middle and ring fingers to show you that it's just as gorgeous shiny! Oh and NO WHITE BASE!










6. FINGER PAINTS 50 Shades of Ashley (Project Runway collection with Ashley Tipton)

This one was another I instantly knew I had to have! Just look at that iridescent shimmer! You can layer this sheer lilac shade or just go with 1 thin coat over your favorite creme, like I did over Orly Cashmere Cardigan on the middle and ring fingers. Either way, this one is utterly stunning!










7. CHINA GLAZE Turned Up Turquoise (2008 Ink collection)

This shimmering turquoise matte is a classic and if you don't have it in your stash, you do NEED it! Perfectly opaque in 2 easy coats, this shade just screams SUMMER!








POLISH HELPER #3:

OPI Infinite Shine topcoat is totally new to me and I'm loving the fast drying time as well as the glossy finish. If you don't like all the neon mattes, just throw a thin coat of this topcoat on and you can still enjoy all the Summer neons!






8. ORLY Glowstick (Feel the Vibe collection for Summer 2012)

This one is another classic and while I normally don't DO yellows, this shockingly bright neon yellow just called out to me! A bit streaky at first, this levels out quite nicely by the third coat and it's still just as bright without a white base coat. Neon pedicure anyone?!








9. SALLY GIRL Fiery Fashion (BONUS!)

I found this little gem in the clearance section for under a dollar and had to add it to my stash! This vibrant, neon orange applies like a jelly, is perfectly opaque in 3 thin coats and dries to a semi-matte finish. Love at first sight for me!








So there you have it, my darlings! You can find all these fabulous shades at Sally Beauty, in stores and online HERE


For more summer inspiration, follow Sally Beauty through the social media outlets below to learn more about their latest products :

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Which of my Summer-inspired shades appeal to you most? I'd love to hear from you in the comments section below!









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