3 posts tagged "Coppertone"
Fêting America (And Summer) With Aveeno
In addition to celebrating our nation’s birthday, this weekend’s three straight days of blue skies, warm temperatures, and no humidity meant that a little sun worshipping was in order. I beach in South Jersey, so I braved the traffic on the Garden State late Thursday night with the promise of the first real summer weekend in my heart and a collection of different sunscreens in my bag, in case the favorable Weather.com forecast was in fact true (its thunderstorm predictions for Sunday were a little off, which worked to my advantage). I’ve been pretty devoted to Coppertone’s Water Babies lotion, since, well, I was in fact a baby, but I felt compelled to try a more adult mode of application this time around, i.e., aerosol sprays. The winner from the mélange of UV protectors I toted to Margate City was Aveeno’s new Positively Ageless Sunblock Spray SPF 50, which has such a dry, non-greasy finish it felt as if I was wearing nothing at all, although my distinctly unburnt skin suggests otherwise. It’s waterproof and boasts a unique distribution system that sprays at any angle—even upside down! The hypoallergenic formula also comes equipped with Aveeno’s Natural Shiitake Complex, which harnesses extracts from the tasty mushrooms known for their youth-enhancing effects. Essentially, you’re preventing future sun damage while treating any damage that’s already been done. The bottle is a bit small for a liberal applicator like me, but at $11 a pop, it’s affordable enough that I can rationalize buying a few more for what I’m hoping will be many more beach days to come.
Scott Barnes Talks Body Bling
The fact that Jennifer Lopez ascribes to the gospel of La Mer for her perfectly smooth, radiant skin is fairly common knowledge, although her signature bronzed glow has little to do with the miracle cream. Chalk that up to the self-described “King of Bling” makeup artist Scott Barnes, who has been tending to the singer-turned-actress’ honey-gold complexion since Jenny from the Block became J. Lo. We caught up with Barnes on the set of Lopez’s new flick, The Back-Up Plan (a romantic comedy about a woman who chooses artificial insemination after tiring of the search for Mr. Right—very new millennium), to talk bronzer for summer and beyond.
What’s your advice for steering clear of that unfortunate orange aftereffect that some bronzers can leave behind?
My tip is don’t go too dark. I’ve crossed the line myself but it’s all about knowing when to say I’ve gone too far. People have called me “a man to glow with” because my whole thing is that bronzer should radiate, and to get that result the key is moisture.
So would you recommend cream-based bronzers over powder then?
Liquid bronzers, like my Body Bling, work well to this end, and I just repackaged my cult favorite in a squeeze tube that should be out by the end of the month.
What about application techniques? Is there one right way to apply product for the perfect sun-kissed glow?
In general, I try to abide by a less-is-more mentality: You can always layer more on but it’s harder to take it off. It’s really all in the approach, though. I always see women applying powders and bronzers starting next to their nose. But the trick is to work from the outside of the face inward, rather than the other way around. This creates a halo effect and leaves a diamond shape of light in the center so your face appears a little more open. This will hide double chins and give you a visible bone structure so you don’t wind up looking old. Also, use a bronzing brush to blend allover rather than applying product directly to problem areas like crow’s feet and laugh lines. And don’t forget to do your neck and décolletage.
Do you believe that well-applied bronzer can substitute for an actual tan?
Yes! I’m a firm believer in faking it till you make it. I lost my 30-year-old brother to melanoma so I don’t go into the sun anymore and prefer to make products that simulate a natural tan without the health risks from a day spent in the sun.
You must have a good sun care regimen then. Can you share?
Coppertone Sport is actually my favorite sun protection product and it’s at the drugstore—so it’s cheap! The aerosol spray-on version is great because it actually gives you a gorgeous shine. Plus, you can put it on top of your bronzer and it actually seals it!
What about off-season bronzing? Any tips for keeping your complexion warm in the wintertime?
While terracotta bronzing colors are better in the summer because you’re actually spending time in the sun so their reddish brown hues are believable, golden yellow bronzers are better in wintertime, as they tend to be a better complement to sallow, sun-deprived skin. If you’re fair-skinned, pressed powders designed for ethnic skin are the business for winter, like those in Iman’s cosmetics range. They tend to have a lot of gold in them but because they’re all matte finish, you don’t wind up too sparkly.
Aveda Reserves A Spot in Your Beach Bag
In an effort to escape April’s unseasonably cold, rainy temperatures, I took a quick jaunt to warmer Caribbean climes. To prevent the chain of events that typically accompanies my tropical vacations—i.e., sunscreen negligence that segues into debilitating burns and minimized beach time—I was more diligent than ever before, slathering on layer after layer of Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen, an old stand-by. Except on my head, which was carelessly left exposed to the sun’s evil wrath for much of the trip. Needless to say, my ebony winter dye job turned slightly more red—as did my part, which became even less attractive when the peeling kicked in (ew). The whole ordeal could’ve been prevented had I filled up a few travel-size bottles with Aveda’s new Sun Care System, a 16-hour UV defense and recovery line that includes a spray-on Hair Veil, a one-step Hair and Body Cleanser, and an After-Sun Hair Masque. The three-part plan protects, cleanses, and restores the hair and scalp from the damaging effects of sun, salt, and chlorine using natural ingredients, so you get results without all the harsh chemicals often found in similar products. Wintergreen and cinnamon bark oils apparently make for good UVA/UVB inhibitors; morikue protein helps strengthen brittle, sun-exposed hair; and an antioxidant blend made with green tea extract, organic sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E helps defend against free radicals. I have less exotic plans on the South Jersey shore this summer; Hair Veil in tow, I’ll have the chance to redeem myself.