Gianna's POV
Every girl wants a glowing tan, especially in the summer. For me, this is physically impossible. I am naturally pale. Personally though, I’ve come to embrace my ghost-like complexion and permanently freckled face (I had sun poisoning on a family vacation to the Bahamas and came home looking like a red raccoon…the burn faded, but the freckles remained). So now, I have learned how to fight the rays.
Gianna's Anti-Sun Tips:
1. I never leave the house without applying StarFlower Essentials Sea Flower SPF 15 Nutrient/Intensive Moisturizer. It’s organic and is great for acne prone skin!
2. For days by the pool, I use Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Suncreen Fluid by La Roche-Posay. It is very light, and will never cause breakouts like most sunscreen.
3. You will never find me on the beach without a hat on! I definitely do not want more freckles, so I shade my face from the sun. My favorite hat is my white Vineyard Vines baseball hat!
4. People always forget about protecting their lips! Using a lip balm with SPF is extremely important, and your lips will thank you after a long day in the sun! A personal favorite of mine in Sun Bum Mango with SPF 30!
5. Finding a bathing suit that doesn’t make me look even paler is a challenge! It’s all about the right shade that works for your skin tone! A gorgeous royal blue works great for me!
6. Sunglasses! Ashley and I agree that not having our sunglasses is the worst! My go-to sunnies are a pair of aviators by Juicy Couture…Ashley’s are her original tortoise Wayfarer Ray Bans! They are both fashion forward and practical to keep the sun out of your sight! Ashley would also tell you to get polarized lenses…she has blue eyes, and still has to squint in regular shades.
Ashley’s POV
I love the sun, and the sun hates me. After many years in this dysfunctional and abusive relationship, I’M DONE! Unfortunately, it only took countless burns, having questionable sun spots cut out of my skin, and my dermatologist practically yelling at me to get to this point. Getting burned is the worst thing that you can do to your skin. Not to mention the sun causes wrinkles, and the lighter you are the older you will look. Age happens, don’t expedite the process.
I definitely am more cognizant of protecting my skin now, but unlike Gianna, I HATE being pale. I have finally learned how to avoid the burn and the murderous UVA/UVB rays and still achieve that island tan.
Ashley's Anti-Sun Tips:
7. I never leave the house without my Estee Lauder DayWear moisturizer. Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, SPF 25 is on my face. It’s so refreshing, I feel like my skin is drinking water when I apply it.
8. Spray tans have changed my life. They’ve been around long enough that you are rarely at risk of coming out looking like an oompa loompa (read salon reviews though before scheduling your spray just in case). The good ones should cost anywhere from $35-$55; the ones on the higher end of the spectrum use an expedited solution (meaning you only have to wait 3 hours before showering instead of 6-8). Spray tans are excellent for events and vacations! It’s glorious to be tan on the beach without leaving the shade of your umbrella.
9. Make sure you test out a spray tan salon before any significant event. The last thing you want is to come out looking like Anne Hathaway in Bride Wars.
10. Watch your face as you wait for the tan to set, especially if you get one that requires more than 3 hours. If you have to wait 8 hours, and you look like that Tan Mom woman by hour 2, wash your face.
11. When I don’t have an event or an excuse to get a spray tan, I use self tanner. My favorite is Clarins Delicious Self Tanning Cream. You can use it on both your face and body.
12. Exfoliate as much as you can before getting sprayed and before using self tanner. Once the tan starts to fade, start to exfoliate again. A bad spray tan fade could make you look like you have a rare and unfortunate skin condition. Your friends will laugh, you will join them....and then get another spray tan.