Soap Opera Digest
June 15, 1999
Product Queen

Happy summer everyone! June is upon us, and you know what that means: Time to shed that winter skin and go for a natural sun-kissed look that takes hours to achieve.

I like to wear less makeup in the summer to give my skin a break, but unfortunately, I look like the underbelly of a Christmas turkey by January. Since I'm not allowed to lay out in the sun due to several pre-cancerous spots removed last year (I was a surfer chick during my teenage years - who knew the ozone layer would disappear?). I have become a big fan of self-tanners. Girls (and fellas), you only get one layer of skin. Take care of it and stay out of the sun!

Luckily, self-tanners and bronzers have come a long way since your mother's lotions that turned you orange. But you must always exfoliate before self-tanning so that your "tan" will look smooth and glorious. My favorite exfoliaters are Origins True Grit and Salt Rub. If these exfoliators are too pricey, St. Ives makes an exfoliator called Apricot Scrub, which is great, too, and can be found in chain drugstores.

Now, you're ready to go bronze, baby. The best tanner I've tried is made by a company called Sotheys from France. It's pricey, but man, does it give you some color! Neutrogena makes a self-tanning spray that is also fantastic, at less than half the price. If you are turkey-meat white, get the lighter formula. If you have some color or have an olive complexion, use the Neutrogena Deep Glow. My makeup artist Bruce W. Fisher, turned me on to it after I asked him how he managed to look like a gorgeous Ken doll all the time. Always apply this stuff evenly before you go to bed. Important: Wash your hands, or your palms will turn a color not found in nature.

Now, let's look at Product Queen's faves for your face. Origins makes a liquid bronzer called Sunny Disposition, which gives you that just-been-kissed-by-the-sun look. Origins makes a powder bronzer, too, but it's a weird color and looks dirty on your face. Bobbi Brown makes powder-compact face bronzers in three shades that are pretty great; they can be found in Saks and Bloomingdale's. Make sure to use a good blush brush with these powders, and then let it fly.

Remember: Don't give away your power. All that you need is already inside you. See you next month.