01 Dec 2010
Tried and Tested; Rockstar Tan
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Let's face it, this time of year nobody expects you to have a healthy natural summer glow. But there's just nothing worse than pulling on that little black dress for your Christmas do' when your poor Irish arms and legs are paler than that snow outside! So we have two options - take a winter sun break which none of us can afford, or take a walk down Fake Street. I for one will be taking myself up on the second - healthier and cheaper - option; I will be faking it.
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with fake tans. I love the glow it gives my skin and I feel more confident in anything I wear when my skin isn't too pale. But once it starts to wear off it looks patchy and clogs up my skin which can cause me to break out. So when I heard about the newest range of sunless tanning products- Rockstar Tan, I figured I had nothing to lose! And well, so far it rocks.
Not only is Rockstar tan free from animal-testing but has been created using natural Eco-certified organic ingredients as well as skin-nurturing properties. The self-tanning products are sensitive enough to be used on both face and body and all products are non-comedogenic and paraben free. i.e. they don't block pores (leaving us pimple free!) and are free from unnecessary chemicals.
‘Access All Areas' is a self-tan spray which is perfect for those of us who like to avoid the lovely ‘oompa loompa' look as it adjusts according to your skin type. With an instant colour after application, it makes it possible to fix any streaks before they begin to develop.
The ‘Groupie' self-tan mousse also adjusted to my skin tone and gave me a slightly lighter tan than the spray. I built it up over a few days and for the first time ever, it still looked fresh and natural even with a few layers! Again the bronze colour appeared instantly when I first put it on so I could spot any mistakes ahead of time and it gradually deepened over the next few hours.
Both products have Aloe Vera in purified water as well as vitamin C and Green Tea extracts which allow for gradual, even fading, saving me from that dirty dehydrated skin look that most fake tans leave you with. And although I still believe every fake tan has a tell-tale smell attached to it, Rockstar Tan's blend of Raspberry and Almond essences do a pretty good job of disguising it!
The ‘Exposure' barrier cream is to be used in particularly delicate areas such as your elbows or knees (and in my case, my hands) and it prevents over-exposure of tan on dry or troublesome areas. Applying it means that only a certain amount of colour will develop on that particular area of your body, resulting in a more realistic colour! At €24.99 it might seem expensive to buy on it's own but considering the little amount you need to use at any one time, it's not only long lasting but saves a lot of time cursing yourself afterwards too! It's also the first time a product like this has been available for retail, so now you can get the ‘salon' look at home.
One of my favourites from the range is ‘Entourage', the gradual self-tan. Whether you use it to maintain a tan you already have, or use it daily to reach your favourite golden colour, the coconut-lime fragranced body moisturizer has just a hint of organic sunless colour and uses a mixture of almond, olive, avocado and hemp seed oil for skin moisture retention. Over a period of just a few days the tan gradually developed just like a natural tan would and didn't wash away too quickly either!
Other products in the range includes the Rockstar Tan tanning mitt - a must for more even coverage, and ‘Rehab', a tan stain remover which contains natural lemon juice and aloe vera gel for the odd occasion we do accidentally over-dose on the tanning bottles. It contains micro-beads that buff away the unwanted colour and lemon juice - a natural stain remover. But since I was using the tanning mitt and the barrier cream I didn't find I needed to use the remover even once.
With its organic and animal-testing free ingredients, its natural healthy-glow results, two highly regarded beauty awards under its belt and its prudent prices, it ticks all of my boxes when it comes to self-tan and will definitely be making an appearance in my Christmas make-up kit this year!
Natalie is a journalist and writer who has produced articles for Irish bridal title Confetti and fashion magazine Prudence among a host of other titles. Whilst working with Confetti she travelled to the Maldives to write a honeymoon feature for the Spring 2010 issue. She has an honours degree in Journalism and French and has lived and studied in Paris the fashion capital of the world, making her an ideal beauty & fashion blogger for OnOffer.ie.
So if you want beauty & fashion tips, travel advice, or just want Natalie's insight check out her website www.natalieburke.com for loads more articles, tips and fashion secrets.
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