Thursday, June 26, 2008

I Want to Shimmer not Glow

It’s summer. The capris and shorts are out and so are the lily white legs. I prefer to have legs that shimmer instead of faux glow, but finding a product that doesn’t ‘tan’ your skin is nearly impossible. Some of us just can’t use bronzing products. No matter how expense, technologically advanced or tested a self tanner is, we still end up streaked, orange, stinky and with major transfer problems (especially when wearing white).
When the weather started to warm up I pulled out my bottle of Jergens Shimmer lotion and decided I better buy a new one as this one had been opened for the past two summers and was smelling a bit “off”. Little did I know the quest I would end up on. I scoured store shelves for weeks but everyone, including Jergens, only makes self tanning lotion this time of year (possibly any time of year as I also checked out websites to no avail).
I came across an ad for Burt’s Bees Radiant Body Lotion with Royal Jelly in Allure. So when a colleague of mine headed to the States, I gave her the ad to take with her and asked her to pick me up a tube if she saw it anywhere. It looks shimmery when coming out of the tube but isn’t as impressive once on the skin.
So I went looking again. This time I found Bonne Belle Gel Bronzer in Luminous Glow. Not a bronzer/self tanner but a shimmer gel for light coloured skin. Once again very impressive coming out of the tube not so impressive on. If you decide to give this one a try I would suggest using a make-up sponge or brush to apply it or you will end up with more shimmer on your palms then anywhere else.
Needless to say, I’m still looking for the perfect product to replace my Jergens Shimmer lotion.
For something more glitter and less shimmer there’s Lise Watier Glitter Gel for face and body (Étoiles de Mer being my fave) and MAC Iridescent Powder in Silver Dusk. I like this one because the more you perspire, the better it clings to your body so it's perfect for hot, steamy summer nights. For glimmer on the lids but no glitter in the eyes try MAC Liquidlast Liner (their Electrolady is a true purple).