Sun-Kissed and Beautiful: Who could ask for anything more!

In an effort to avoid skin cancer, but still not be that girl at the beach who is blinding everyone with their skin, I'm embarking on a little tanning experiment this season. Faux tanning that is. Yes, that's right, I'm going to use self-tanners of all forms. I swear that they are better than they used to be, and rather than streaky orange, you actually look tan (so I hear). Get your cringes out now, because here's where it gets exciting.

I happen to be allergic to self tanners. I'm not talking slight irritation. I'm talking, last time I did a full-body self tan, I broke out in full-body hives to match accompanied by burning itchy eyes that only susided with a healthy dose of benadryl. And, no, it wasn't the self-tanner I used. A friend had used it, and things turned out just fine.

To add to that, I have been graced with Polish ancestry, and the lily white skin to match. This gives me a high risk for skin cancer when exposing myself to UV rays. Until I discovered tanning beds in high school, I don't think I had every been tan. I have two skin colors, white and red, pale and burnt. Granted, by the end of each summer, I have managed to get a slight golden tint, but I have never been by any means nearing brown or bronzed. Even with tanning booths, I barely got to what most people call normal. Yet, tanning beds changed my skin. They allowed me to change to slightly tan after a burn instead of going back to white. However, they also gave me the starts of pre-mature wrinkles, and a 75% increased chance of someday having melanoma.

That said, now that I've wised up to the risks of tanning beds, I swore them off. I'd rather brave a few hives than cancer. I figure the only way to find out which self tanning products my body can handle is to try em out. I'm a reformed tanner, but I will not be caught in a bikini with no color anytime soon. The first on my list is the one pictured above, Nivea Sun-Kissed Beautiful legs. It promises a decreased need to shave (not really sure how it plans to accomplish that), along with a gradual natural looking color. I figured it was best to start out with a low dose of tanning agent and hopefully avoid the hives. All I have to say is so far, so good. Though it does have an unsavory tanning cream odor, if you put it on before bed it's not so bad. My legs are looking tanner without a sign of streaking. I'm on day 2 of application, and there's not a hive in sight.

Now, what to do about the rest of my body....

Lash Extension: The 3 Competitors

So, there have been a lot of recent mascaras claiming to make your eyelashes thicker and longer.  I have sampled three of the main competitors in the race and I will tell you the best in the bunch.

There is Shu Uemura Fiber Extension.  As far as I can tell, this one is the pioneer of mascara that claims to extend your lashes with little pieces of fibers that cling to the lash like individual false lashes, extending them past their typical length.  It is good stuff, but has a little bit of a greasy feel that leaves your lashes, although longer, a little limp and unable to hold a curl.

Then there is Fiberwig mascara, the knock off, which clamps on a little extra lash in much the same manner with one application.    This is by far the best lengthening and thickening mascara.  It is like falsies without the tedious application process.

Then there is the latest: L'Oreal Beauty Tubes, which is supposed to surround your eyelash with a thick tube of faux lash, making your normal fringe more lush and strong.  It's good in theory, but tends to clump and leave extreme gunky residue in the sink.  L'Oreal says that no eye makeup remover is necessary, but it will leave large black chunks in your sink with much scrubbing and not simply warm water removal. 

Shu Uemura comes off easy, but doesn't give results.  Fiberwig comes off easy and has much the same effect as the beauty tubes, making it the winner of this three way test.

Chinatown's Hidden Gem

If you're looking for a cheap and WONDERFUL wash, hair cut, and dry, check out D + W Salon in Chinatown.  It's at 107 East Broadway.  In this little beauty wonderland, you get all of the above and a 15 minute head massage during your wash for only 20 bucks!!  

One caveat: unless you speak Mandarin, ask for Eric.  He is just the right combo of chatty, and quiet, and his long flowing locks make you trust him with your hair.  Also, he doubles as a tattoo artist in case you want to get inked up after your blow out.

In short, the whole experience was fabulous, and it's the best cut I've had in a while.  I would recommend him to everyone.

Drugged Out Lashes

In the process of creating new pharmaceuticals to treat emerging or previously untreatable ailments, often new and highly beneficial side effects are found.  Not to the tune of those constantly annoying tv commercials listing possibly rectal bleeding, cramping, loss of vision......but side effects that can treat another previously untreatable condition.  For example, Viagra was first intended to lower blood pressure and was used as a cardiovascular drug.  It's "exciting" abilities were simply a pleasant surprise during drug trials.  Additionally, Minoxidil, a common drug used for hair re-growth, was pioneered to treat high blood pressure, and by coincidence, left it's users with a much fuller, longer, head of hair.  Even Botox wasn't originally intended to smooth the forehead wrinkles of the upper crust, but to still spastic eye lids.

Recently, another pleasant side effect of a common drug has been discovered to solve the beauty woes of your average lady.  The drug Lumigan, typically used to treat glaucoma, has been found to make eye lashes grow longer, darker, and generally more lush.  It has been conveniently repackaged, and renamed by drug company Allergan as Latisse, and is now available to be prescribed by dermatologists to clinically enhance your batting beauties.  All it takes is a nightly application of the gel to lashes, and within 4 weeks lashes should begin to grow longer and darker.  It is not a permanent fix, however, once you stop using Latisse, your lashes will recede to their previous length and pigment.  

I first came across this story in Marie Claire magazine, and wasn't sure whether I should be thrilled or appalled.  I mean, finally, I could have those dazzling long lashes I have always wanted?!  I mean what difference is it really applying gel in the evening or 3 swipes of my favorite mascara every morning?  This could totally revolutionize the make up industry and make mascara obsolete! Could this be the answer to all the prayers of my fellow fair headed sisters, eye lashes that can be seen without any make up?  

But then came a wave of doubts.  I can't lie, it kind of freaks me out that a medication used to treat such a serious illness such as glaucoma could now be marketed for such a superficial purpose.  And, with it's recent approval for such use, how can we be sure that there will be no damaging side effects down the line?  I mean, what if one day we do, heaven forbid, come down with glaucoma and have been using Latisse for years, will our exposure to the drug limit its effectiveness to treat an actual sight-threatening illness, or will we not care since our overly long eyelashes have been obscuring our sight for decades anyway?  Why are we so obsessed with having long lashes anyways?

Marie Claire cites that lashes are a symbol of youth and fertility, and lists a long timeline of the beauties through history who have achieved notoriety for their lashes i.e. Cleopatra, Twiggy, and J Lo. Yet, I think these gutsy women went down in history for a little more than fluttering lashes.  And can't we get lash extensions installed without the risk of clinically messing with our genes?  Or at the very least, just pick up a pair of falsies at the drug store?  

Who wears Short Shorts?

Essie has long been my favorite kind of nail polish . Not only does their nail polish go on more smoothly and bubble free than other brands, but they have a range of colors to fulfill any girls dreams (and match her wardrobe). They have about 20 different shades of red alone, and cute names for the colors to boot. And they always have the latest shade that you see in magazines before anyone else, like last summer's lemon yellow (Shorty Pants) and Rhianna green.

I came across my latest favorite in Ricky's. It's from neon collection, and its called Short Shorts.