Going for the bronze

So, you’ve got your bikinis ready, your beach gowns (yes, beach gowns: Bury those P.E. shorts and rancid sarongs) and maybe you even have your summer fling booked already. However, you might be forgetting to consider the most important thing when it comes to being the bitch of the beach.

If you long to come home as tanned as a red carpet A-lister and not as red and brittle as a day-old suckling pig, know that it’s all in the batter.

Grabbing any old lotion is the doing of a rookie without a future, which is precisely what you are not. Dousing yourself in beer is plain old farce. Any beach bunny worth her ears knows that the right potion will keep that tan of hers longer than that below-sea-level-IQ’d summer fling she chose to bring along.

When it comes to tanning, I’m proud to say that I have it down pat. Though I try to keep it to a minimum ever since I saw how the sun damaged my skin under a UV light a couple of years ago, I can’t help but bask in some of the season’s flirtatious rays. During the off season, I like applying a non-greasy sunless tanner. Many, I realize, fear this because when they first came out in the market, they were indeed nasty. Gooey, thick formulas that smelled like vinegar and forced you to stay in a certain position for 20 minutes in the buff. The result was a streaky and tangerine nightmare, very Charlize Theron Oscar 2004. The use of these sunless tanners is a great way for you to glow during the drearier months or for hitting the beach this Easter and not looking like a polvoron.

These days, being a daily user of the stuff, I have tried many brands since I found that using only one kind over and over again keeps your skin from reacting with the dye. The newer formulas dry real fast and deliver streakless golden tans that keep me happily addicted. One to try is Phytomer’s BronzInstant Instant Self-Tanning Spray for face and body. It’s a great product especially if you are in a hurry, since it’s quick-dry.

Shiseido’s Brilliant Bronze Self-Tanning gel is also great for those on the go. The advantage of a gel is its cooling formula and like a spray it dries easily and evenly. For drier skin like mine, Shiseido’s Brilliant Bronze Self-Tanning Emulsion is wonderful since the rule of thumb for applying sunless tanners is to apply it on bare skin. Meaning no lotions or oils. The lotion base of the product allows me to moisturize and tan at the same time.

Before self-tanning or actual tanning, it’s always wise to exfoliate. The dead skin cells keep the tan from staying on your skin longer and makes it look patchy and dull. I’m currently in love with Shiseido’s best-selling wonder line called Body Creator. The moment you use the Aromatic Salt Scrub, Aromatic Sculpting Gel or the newly released Aromatic Firming Cream, your skin feels as refreshed as a chilled glass of lemonade on a hot, sweltering day. However, the refreshing tingle is just a minor plus to what the products can do for a beach-ready body. Everyone is gaga over this line right now because its potent mix of grapefruit, caffeine and spices like pepper, fennel and tarragon keeps beach bodies tight, toned and unbelievably smooth. It’s one of those products that is B.S.-free! It reduces the appearance of cellulite and saddlebags that luxuriant lifestyles and unfortunate genes deliver.

Okay, so now it’s the real deal: sun time. You’re faux tanned and exfoliated to perfection. You’re catching stares from the right eyeballs. The goal here is to look fabulous throughout the summer months without shedding skin like a snake (yuck!) and being as supple as a freshly cut tulip.

There is nothing like the art of restraint. Some eager beavers who hit the beach hurriedly put on an SPF-nothing oil and bake like spring chickens on the sand. I admit this was me before until I burnt myself silly one day and missed the rest of the week at the beach to tend to my tender skin.

It’s always wise to start high – a high SPF, I mean. As your skin browns, the natural protectors of your skin kick in and keep it from burning easily. Meanwhile, don’t confuse that fake tan with a real tan and think that your skin can hack the harsh rays with minimum protection. Starting with an SPF 30 is great, especially in the first few days when your skin is especially vulnerable to burns.

Phytomer’s OgenAge Protective Anti-Aging Cream SPF 30 for the body and Ogenage Protective Anti -Aging Cellular Cream SPF 30 for the face is especially good for sensitive, fair skin. Shiseido’s Gentle Sun Protection Lotion in SPF 30 is also great for delicate skin, so gentle you can even use it on children. You will get color even if you use a high SPF, contrary to the popular belief that SPF 30 will leave you looking very kabuki. You just won’t burn, which makes the whole experience perfect.

Now, say you’re looking for serious protection and something, hmm, a bit lighter. A non-greasy formula such as Shiseido’s Refreshing Sun Protection Spray SPF 16 is wonderful. Don’t be fooled by the light, watery texture. It’s solidly water-resistant and it protects hair as well. It cools the body when you spray it on, making it as indulgent as a noontime daiquiri.

Phytomer’s BodyDeclic Protective Contouring in SPF 15 does double duty, toning skin and protecting it from harsh rays. I’ve gotten into the habit of using nothing lower than SPF 15 when it comes to bouncing around on the beach. With all the carcinogenic elements in the sun’s rays, you really need protection. Remember, the more you get burned, the more chances you have of developing skin cancer. If that doesn’t scare you, look at Brigitte Bardot today. That should be enough.

Now for what I like to call the after-sun desserts. There’s a myriad of products that you can use to enhance your tan après lounge. Phytomer’s botanical Instant Repair is a soothing and moisturizing after-sun product that helps seal in color. To enhance that glow for those champagne-soaked nights out in Carita Paris‚ Fluide de Beauté 14 Paillete is spiked with loads of golden powdery bits in a lightly scented oil that moisturizes as it turns up the wattage. It’s also light on the grease factor so you won’t have to worry about stains. For the face, instead of using foundation which can be cakey in the sultry season, pat on some Color Skin Enhancer from By Terry, a new ultra-luxurious brand that follows the school of classical Parisian beauty using only the highest-quality ingredients. The product comes in a greaseless cream that blends in like second skin. It imparts a glorious hint of color, giving you a warmth that seems to come from within.

Try Honey Pink or Caramel to enhance your sunny glow. Fleurs IceReflet Fresh Pearlescent Complexion stick is another wonder product that gives the cheeks, eyes and lips a luminescent glow. The icy touch of the products instantly revitalizes the senses and its creamy gel texture is eminently blendable. Even at night when minimal makeup is recommended, this product should cover all bases when it comes to touching up color and playing with texture.

So, with all the new toys this summer, there’s no excuse for fishbelly-white skin or sun burnout.

All products are exclusively distributed by Luxasia and are available at the Beauty Hub at 6750 Ayala Avenue, Makati.