Because El Hub and I are Hawaii-bound in a couple weeks, I busted out the old swimsuit last night and somehow managed to shimmy into it without bursting too many seams (*whew*!).

Of course, I couldn’t resist checking out my bum in the mirror (yes, it was still there)…

And that’s when I noticed just how pale my thighs have gotten. We’re talking five shades lighter than the rest of me.

It gave me an idea.

As someone with a built-in tan, I’ve never had a reason to venture into the world of self-tanners … until now. I’d like to smooth out my skin tone and make everything a similar shade, so I put together some research to aid my cause.

Self-Tanning Resources

• Is Sunless Tanning a Safe Alternative to Sunbathing? This article from the Mayo Clinic offers a good overview of self-tanning, what it is and isn’t, and what to expect.
• Sunless Tanning, Step-By-Step: This thorough tutorial covers all the basics from start to finish.
• How To Remove Self-Tanner Streaks: If things go awry and you end up with tiger stripes, don’t panic! This blog entry describes a solution.
• Which Self-Tanners Work Best? Here’s a handy rundown of 12 popular self-tanners and bronzers.
• How Does Self-Tanning Work? Ever wonder how self-tanners work? Here’s an article that breaks down the science behind ‘em.

5 Self-Tanning Tips

• Shave your legs the day before you self-tan. It will exfoliate the top layer of skin, leaving a healthy new layer ready to tan.
• Exfoliate with a soft cotton washcloth before applying a self-tanning lotion, as rougher nylon and loofah scrubbers can cause streaks.
• If you’re new to self-tanning, skip the sprays. They can be difficult to apply evenly.
• To prevent orange staining of your palms, fingers and fingernails, scrub them with a soapy nail brush (or a Wet Ones wipe) every 5 minutes while you’re self-tanning.
• If you’re using self-tanner on your legs, don’t forget to include your ankles and the tops of your feet.

Jergens Natural Glow Express

Jergens Natural Glow Express ($9) is a favorite among beauty bloggers and magazine editors for its natural tan. It’s supposed to be easy to use, available at drugstores nationwide, and I like the price point, too.

I’m betting a few of you gals are seasoned self-tanners. Do you have any tips?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Can I get a show of hands from the mascara-obsessed girls out there?

(raises hand)

Yep, few things in life bring me as much joy as a true black mascara.

MBB reader Hafsa is looking for mascara recommendations, and I’m hoping we can help her out.

Hi Karen,

I’m an avid reader of your blog and love your reviews. I read your review a while back about Lancome’s Definicils, and I couldn’t agree more — love the gloss, hate the clump.

So that brings me to my question: is there a similar product, either Lancome or another company, that gives that high gloss finish but isn’t clumping? For reference, I have pretty long lashes, so clumping happens pretty easily. Thank you so much. Any advice is appreciated!

What’s up, Hafsa! One of my favorite high gloss mascaras is fairly new. It’s by Clinique and was released this spring. It’s called High Impact Curling Mascara ($14).

It does EVERYTHING — separates, thickens and lengthens — all while delivering loads of rich, glossy color (without the clumping). All that, and it holds a curl like a mo’ fo’!

Gloss is one of the things I look for in a mascara, and High Impact Curling mascara coats lashes with a shiny, almost wet finish. I’ve been using it a ton for the past few months and like it a lot.

You might also try Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Mascara ($20) and Tarte Lights, Camera Lashes ($18). I like both of them, too.

And if you’re looking for a high gloss waterproof mascara, check out Stila Lash Visor ($12.50). I must sound like a broken record recommending it all the time, but I think it’s a fabulous mascara for the price.

Girls, do you have any glossy lash love suggestions for Hafsa? Please share your ideas in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’ve liked having long hair, but I’m *knot* a fan of the extra work. It takes longer to wash, longer to dry, longer to style and longer to color and condition.

Long hair even takes longer to shop for! I spend way more time looking for shampoos and conditioners that not only hydrate but also deal with all of the tangles than I did when my hair was short.

I’ve been using a new line of shampoos and conditioners for color-treated hair for about a week now. It’s called Dualiste, and it’s by Nexxus.

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