Yes, pale and interesting is in but a quick brush of bronzer is almost an essential for Irish skin to give a more alive and less dead vibe to our white complexions.   I’ve been testing out the He-Shi bronzer over the last few weeks.  Being a creature of habit and a user of Egypt Wonder for more years than I care to admit this product review was approached with trepidation.  Obviously the cautious approach meant first trying it on a day when I hadn’t planned on going anywhere!

Fortunately there was no need to dig a whole and hide.  I was really pleasantly surprised at how well this bronzer looked on.  It’s described as ‘mat’ finish but if you look at it in the compact there are a couple of glittery colours in the mix.  Not being a fan of the glitter finish and always opting for  a more natural mat look I was prepared to hate it!  Not so – it does give a mat finish and a really healthy natural glow.  Having fair skin there was only need to apply a couple of strokes of this bronzer to achieve the desired look.  It’s one of those few cosmetic products that would probably suit all colourings and skin types, probably because of the array of shades used to make the compact.

They also suggest you can use this compact as an eye shadow – perhaps if you were desperate (!) and a blusher, agreed it would make a good blusher for contouring the face.  If used just along the cheek bone it would be great for giving more definition and slimming the face.   Favourite part – definitely one for brushing across your chest if wearing a vest tee or low cut top for a really natural tan, which is picked up even better by applying fake tan the day before.

Wow.ie are rating this product and giving it not one but two thumbs up.  Coming from an Irish company that will give you further incentive to try this brand over another.  The He-Shi Multi Fuzion Bronzer has a reasonable RRP of €20.  If I had to nit pick and find something to complain about it would be the design of the compact itself, a little flatter and it would take up less room in your bag!

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Here are some top tanning tips from He-Shi expert Jackie Thompson.

It’s generally the same problems that crop up for people applying fake tan. They complain about their elbows being too dark, their knees being patchy, streaks and the amount of time it takes to actually apply a tan.

So how do you get a golden tan that turns others green?……. Well there are some key things we can all do to help achieve that perfect tan.

1. Preparation

This is the key to a good tan, whether it’s one you are applying yourself or going to a salon to get a spray tan, you must prepare your skin. Exfoliate the day before tanning paying special attention to the elbows, knees, ankles and any areas of dry skin you may have.

2. Application

Read the instructions before you apply your tan. With some tans you need to moisturise before application whereas with others you don’t as this acts as a barrier to the tan. Use a tanning mitt to glide the tan over the skin, and with a good strong bronzer you are guaranteed to see exactly where you are applying the tan. All this means that you have no excuse for any streaks or missed bits. (He-Shi tan dries in minutes so there is no need to wait around for hours before you get dressed)

TOP TIP – Apply some moisturiser to the hands, elbows, knees and ankles after applying the tan to stop them becoming dark and patchy.

3. Maintenance

Moisturise every day to protect the tan and prevent flaking of the skin. This will give you an even wear-off, keep the skin hydrated and it will give you a smoother and softer looking complexion.

After tanning you can swirl a brush all over a bronzer (try Fusion Multi Bronze) and use it either as a blush or as a matte finish bronzer all over the face/body. (You can also use the individual colours in the Fusion Multi bronzer as an eye shadow palette)

The end result will be a perfect, even and natural looking tan! It really is as simple as 3 steps to the perfect tan!

If you fancy giving He-Shi Tanning Products a go you’ll find them at Day Spas and Beauty Salons throughout Ireland. For your nearest stockist log onto www.he-shi.eu.  Let us know if you have used this tan and what you thought.  Wow.ie will be reviewing these products in the coming weeks.  At €45 for the liquid tan (300ml) we are expecting A LOT, €25 for 150ml.  The gradual tan is priced at €20 as is the Multi Fuzion Bronzer.

Yesterday Irish TV presenter (and current squeeze of Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard) Christine Bleakley said she is a big fan of the brand so maybe it’s worth checking this one out.

See our previous posts on how to apply tan moisturisers and our do’s and don’ts for perfect spray tans.

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I don’t know about you but I actually find it quite hard to find a good exfoliator that will not only leave my skin beautifully soft but also take off patchy tan when needed. I have tried and tested SO many different ones and to be honest very little impressed me apart from two! I’ve chosen three to tell you about…

Yes to Carrots – Moisturizing Body Scrub

This body scrub did leave my skin feeling nice and soft but it didn’t make my patchy tan budge an inch! I know it’s only a minor annoyance but I found it very hard to actually squeeze out a substantial amount onto my hand in the shower. It’s a white VERY thick creamy texture and to be honest I felt very few grains in it, so I personally didn’t feel like I could really scrub off those dead skin cells… you know what I mean. I was quite disappointed in this product as they have done a lot of publicity with the Yes to Carrots products and I was dying to try some of them, however one good side to this product is it is Paraben Free (preservatives used in cosmetics).

My rating for this product is 2/5

Clinique – Sparkle Skin, Body Exfoliating Cream

This exfoliating cream was one of my favourites, it leaves you feeling soft, refreshed AND gets rid of patchy tan. So basically it is an all-rounder that does what an exfoliator is meant to do! It has a green hue to it and plenty of small grains to really rub over your skin. After my shower I couldn’t believe how soft my skin felt and it actually had a lovely glow to it also. The only slight fault I had with the cream was it’s smell, but that’s a personal thing, it has a kind of menthol smell to it (as it’s in the ingredients) but it’s easy to squeeze out of the tube as it’s a kind of a gel texture rather than a cream. If you want to get rid of old fake tan or just want to re-buff your skin, give this exfoliator a go and you won’t be disappointed.

My rating for this product is 4/5

Body Shop – Moringa Body Scrub

I’m going to be honest with you I generally don’t shop in The Body Shop, but this Christmas I got a Moringa (yes, that is the correct spelling!) set which contained the Body Scrub. OH MY GOD….. Brilliant… I absolutely love it! It has a smell to die for, really fresh and zingy, it is filled with small grains that you can really rub into your skin. It’s a nice yellow colour and comes in a small round tub which means you can easily dip your fingers in and swoop out as much as you like! When I was out of the shower I smelt gorgeous, felt soft and was glowing…… sorry for blowing my own trumpet a bit! But that’s the effect this scrub will have on you, it will make you feel good about yourself and put a spring in your step.

My rating for this product…. you guessed it 5/5

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Wow! Brown tan is relatively new to the market by comparison to better know brands like Sun FX, but it seems to be growing momentum in the beauty industry which is great as they are an Irish company!  Well, I decided to put Wow! Brown fake tan to the test and here’s how it went.  Firstly it was the medium to dark tan that I tried along with their own mitt which they recommend for application.  I began by exfoliating in the shower then thoroughly drying my skin.  I put on the mitt and applied the product to the ‘velvet side’ of the mitt as instructed.

So began the arduous task of blending the tan, and I mean ARDUOUS! Of all the tans I’ve used over the years this was one of the more difficult tans to apply as it just didn’t seem to blend.  I thought maybe it goes on like the St. Tropez, a little mucky but washes off fine the following day, but luckily I didn’t go with that theory and kept rubbing, blending, wiping, anything to get it to blend!  Finally, almost all of the streaks were blended and I still looked a little patchy but hoped for the best.  It does have the usual fake tan smell but that’s a small price to pay for a healthy glow.

The next morning I showered, pat my skin dry and moisturised.  Anywhere that looked slightly uneven the night before (despite rubbing down to the bone!) still looked that way after showering.  A few days later I decided to give it another chance and mixed the tan with some moisturiser first, the thinking was it may glide on easier – unfortunately it was still as difficult to apply.  The tan did however give a nice golden finish but is it worth the hassle of application? not for me.  It is with no joy that wow.ie would slate it rather than rate it on this occasion.  The product costs €26 and you would be hard pushed to use it more than a couple of times before frustration kicked in.  This tan may work for you, different skin types and all that… let us know if any of you have tried this tan out.  Apparently Britney Spears is a fan!

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The beauty show held at the RDS hasn’t disappointed again this year. It was full of every kind and make of treatment, tan, nail and make-up gadget you can think of. I did almost choke (slight exaggeration) while passing the Infinity spray tan stand, one to note if you too are sensitive to cosmetics!! Available to have done at the show were lash extentions, teeth whitening, spray tans, skin care, body care, nail extentions, foot care, manicures and many more at excellent value or even free of charge!

Dermalogica were face mapping (skin analysis!) anyone interested in having it done (would highly recommend it). You will be given a perscription sheet with your face mapped as to your problem areas and what would be best suited to those areas listed. These girls are the best skin therapists you will ever get to look at your skin, and there’s no charge. Don’t be afraid of the head gear, it’s instead of a facial lamp normally used in a salon. Jessica (top nail care brand), were as always flooded with people looking to buy into their ‘manicurist to the stars’ vibe not to mention their great show price specials. A serious deal was to be had on their varnishes, every colour under the sun plus cute gift sets. See our previous post on nail trends for ’09 to know what to look for!!

All the big names were there, Sun FX, Fake Bake, Dermalogica, Jessica, St. Tropez, Decleor and many more alongside stands selling jewellery, make-up & brushes, candles, various cosmetics and applicators plus handbags starting at €5 upwards to about €40! For trades people you can avail of seminars tomorrow, advice from various exhibitors and get up to date with the latest technology or treat yourself to a new uniform!

They didn’t seem to be too strict on who got in, you just have to fill out a form at the entrance so if you are in the area tomorrow it could be worth a try! If you work in the industry or are studying beauty/health you should definitely try to get in tomorrow before it finishes at 5pm. Wear comfortable shoes and raid the piggy bank

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Ok ladies so I think we can officially give up on EVER getting ANY sunshine here in Ireland. So, unless you have naturally sallow skin and not like myself… with legs a shade lighter than Nicola Roberts, I suggest you give one of these top 3 organic fake tans a go. You could just use one of the usual suspects St Tropez or Lancome etc. but think of it like this, you really should not put something on your body that you would not eat and it’s as simple as that! All you have to do is look at the ingredients and some of those long and scary words are exactly that… “scary” so do your faithful body a favour and check out these friendly fake tans instead of loading your skin with toxic chemicals that will last a lot longer than your beautiful tan!

Lavera Self Tan

Available from www.LoveLula.com
Cost: approx €13.60 and will be about €4 for delivery.

This tan is derived from organic plant extracts, Aloe vera, green tea, Vitamin E, all of which help to smooth, moisturise and firm your skin. This is the first fake tan to be certified 100% natural in accordance with the BDIH and to make it even more impressive the packaging is also recyclable. Lavera Self Tan featured in Marie Claire and was highly recommended in the english natural health and beauty awards 2009. So do I really need to say much more to convince you to give it a go?

Vani T Bronzing Mist

Available from www.thegreenstop.co.uk
Cost: approx €24.00

This tan is an easy to apply spray tan that won’t leave you with patchy ankles. It can go on quite dark so you should just mist over the body if you’re just looking for a light tan. It has a sweet citrus smell and is high in vitamins,anti-oxidants, active ingredients, natural oils and pure botanicals. With all natural and organic ingredients you will not only look good but your skin will thank you for it too.

Marie-Veronique Organics Creme de Soleil Tinted SPF 30 plus

Available from www.puresha.com
Cost: €45 and approx €3 for delivery

This tan is a soft cream that you can be sure all the stars will be blubbering on about in the not so distant future. The Emu oil and pearl powder protects, moisturises and tans all at the same time, it’s light in texture and will leave a natural even looking tan. The great added extra in this cream is the fact that it offers protection across the complete UVB/UVA spectrum. Obviously this one is a little pricey but I’m guessing once you try it you’ll agree it was worth every cent!

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What a great invention these products were for the average joe – moisturised skin and a healthy summer glow all in one! However, what some people don’t realise is that because these products do contain a certain amount of fake tan, your skin has to be prepped the very same way in order to achieve superb results.

I would always use one specially designed for the face as body moisturisers are far too heavy for the face. Wait at least 5 minutes before dressing and there you go! If applying more the next day for a deeper glow, no need to exfoliate in between. I don’t reccomend using more than five days in a row as they can build up quite heavily.

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