Good times and tan lines: Five products you need for getting bronzed this August long

Title I hate to go there but summer is halfway over.

One of my favourite long weekends is now upon us and I’ll be heading out to Gimli, Manitoba (courtesy of Ford Canada and the new 2016 Ford Escape… but more on that later..) to take in one of the last long weekends of the season.

Since it’ll be nice this weekend I’m going to take full advantage of tanning time and try to get as much sun as I possibly can. With increased sun exposure though comes the need to be skin smart. That means lots of sunscreen, after-care products, and even self tanner (for those of us who don’t tan well, #fakeittilyoumakeit).

Although I haven’t had much opportunity to get out into the sun’s rays this year, I have collected lots of products that will be perfect for this long weekend coming up.

Cool Down products

Sun Bum Cool Down Hydrating After Sun Lotion

I’ve talked about their sunscreen a lot (it smells like coconuts, yum!) but Sun Bum also has an amazing after-sun lotion as well. Ever get too much sun? Then this stuff is perfect for you! Not only can the sun cause damage to your skin, but you’ll need to replenish some moisture after you’re done taking in rays. Cool Down is enriched with soothing aloe and vitamin E, providing hydration to restore the skin’s natural moisture balance. It absorbs fairly quickly and feels amazing once it’s on.

Vichy Ideal Soleil Double Usage After-Sun Care

This guy is another after-sun product that is used in the shower. It soothes skin after exposure to the sun, nourishes up to 48 hours, and extends your tan. You can either apply it once you get out of the water or in your shower during your beach rinse off.

Green Beaver Adult Sunscreen SPF 40

Although we may be protecting our skin from the sun with more major brand sunscreens, we could potentially be harming our skin with parabens often found in the product. Green Beaver is a Canadian certified organic line that offers up SPF 40 with natural and gluten-free ingredients, meaning that you are completely covered by the sun’s rays, as well as any toxins that could be ingested in your skin.  You can find it at London Drugs and natural food stores.

Tanning

Skinceuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50

They say you should wear sunscreen on your face everyday, never mind just the days you’ll be exposed in the sun.  Get easy sun coverage with this matte-finish product which doubles as a makeup primer.  Available in one shade (it’s formulated with translucent colour spheres to provide a universal tint for all skin tones), it also repels oil to minimize sebum appearance and goes on as a weightless mousse drying to a powder finish. I’ve been wearing this all summer as my primer.

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse and Body Blur Instant HD Skin Finish

I’ve talked about this stuff a lot, but if you’re looking an amazing self-tanner, then check out this one from Vita Liberata.  I don’t tan well in general, so I’ll usually slather myself in this stuff and just fake it. I love the mousse formula on this, just make sure you apply it with a glove for a flawless look (sold separately). Get an amazing tan after just one application.

Also new this season is the Body Blur Instant HD Skin Finish, which contains BB properties to minimize blemishes, cover imperfections, and smooth skin appearance while reflecting light for a photo-ready skin finish. In addition to smoothing out any imperfections, this also adds a tint to your skin so it’s an instant self tanner.  You can use it all over your body and then rinse it off after in the shower.  This is quite pricey at C$50, and I will say that it rivals the Sally Hansen Airbrush legs, so if you are interested in trying this out but don’t want to pay the steep price tag, give that one a shot. Sally Hansen also offers their formula in a cream version as well.

My number-one tip for sun exposure? Remember, we may not think it will do much damage once we’re younger, but the sun can reek havoc on our health and our skin once we’re older. Stay covered up and be safe!

Have an amazing August long!

Also, don’t forget to enter my Genuine Health giveaway, I’m giving away a tub of their new fermented Greek yogurt proteins+ powder and bars!

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