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By Amy Zhang August 3, 2019 in Beauty 4 Comments

Get That Glow: At Home &Spray Tanning Tips for Your Best {Fake} Tan

Get That Glow, Girl standing with tan skin

For the sake of your skin (and your future self), if you’re going to tan, make it sunless with these sunless tanning tips and products. Fake tans have come a long way over the past decade. There’s absolutely no reason to compromise your future skin anymore by laying out in the sun all of the time or even worse – going to a tanning bed. This is one area I wish I had listened to my elders when I was younger, but it’s fine – you live and you learn. I’m a slave to sunscreen, floppy hats, and minimizing my exposure to sun these days. If I really want some color I will opt to sunless tanning – a good spray tan will make you instantly look five pounds lighter!

No time to make it into a salon or don’t have the budget for an at-home tan?
Quality sunless tanning products are also not to be underestimated.

Sunless Tanning Products

To begin my sunless tan tips, there are some really good products you can use at home (I love St. Tropez mousse, Isle of Paradise drops, and Tan Luxe tan solution) – but the easiest of all is a good spray tan. Recently I got an at home spray tan with Vita Liberata and now I’m obsessed. One of my favorite blogs, The Skinny Confidential, got into my head years ago and I’ve never forgotten her words – “If you can’t tone it, tan it.” A spray tan does wonders for your skin’s overall appearance and also makes it look like you’ve been putting extra time in the gym, even if you haven’t.

Here are all the sunless tan tips you need to get the best spray tan possible.

The Spray Tan Tips You Need

For fool-proof, streak-free sunless tans, it might be appropriate to enlist a professional. In Los Angeles, I love Heather Tans and Vita Liberata (they come directly to your home!!). You still have to put in a little effort to ensure you get the best spray tan possible, but it’s very minimal. The entire process is easy and quick -which is why I love it so much!! Here’s what you need to do –

Pre Spray Tanning Tips

+ The night before, exfoliate and shave. Now is the time to use a dry brush! You want to avoid doing this after you get your spray tan, otherwise you will essentially be sloughing off your tan. Ideally, you would do this the day of your tan, but the night before is fine as well. Before the spray tan, you want the smoothest possible base to ensure your tan goes on evenly. Afterwards, be sure to moisturize!!

+ Immediately before the tan, make sure to use barrier cream!! Your technician should have to give you, but you will want to put some on your feet and hands so they don’t turn out orange.

+ Make sure your skin is clean before getting a spray tan. Avoid lotion and makeup! You want a clean surface for the product to stick to.

+ Leave your jewelry at home! You don’t want to be wearing any when you get your spray tan.

+ If you’re leaving the house to get a spray tan, wear dark and loose-fitting clothing (you’ll appreciate this afterward when you are especially conscious of rubbing your new tan on anything white or light colored!). For shoes, wear flip flops or rubber slides.

The Spray Tan Process

+ Ask for some light contouring – a really good spray tan will accent and hide the appropriate areas!

+ Every spray tan formula is different. Be sure to ask your technician how long to keep the formula on before showering. For at least the next 4-8 hours, avoid sweating and showering. Some formulas continue to darken over 8+ hours, so how dark you want your spray tan to become will also impact how long to keep the initial formula on.

+ Wear what you feel comfortable in. Everyone is different! Your technician will typically tell you how to stand and adjust to make sure every part of your body is covered evenly.

After Spray Tan Tips

+ Wear loose fitting clothing after spray tanning. The formula should dry quickly but you do want to avoid it rubbing off. Tight or white clothes are a major no no. This is the time to whip out old t shirts and sweatpants.

+ If you’re going to bed, I would recommend laying down sheets you don’t mind getting dirty or sleeping on a towel. For this reason, I recommend getting spray tans at night – that way you can change into loose clothes, sleep, and wake up and rinse.

+ Don’t shower or workout for the next 24 hours. You don’t want your tan to streak or wash off early. Also avoid applying makeup if possible. Again, you] want to prolong your tan as long as possible.

+ Apply moisturizer on your entire body every day. You don’t want dry skin flaking off as this will make your tan look splotchy and uneven. This will keep your tan looking even and fresh as long as possible. Using a light at home tanning formula can also help prolong your color and cover up any streaks if they come up.

More Sunless Tanning Tips

+ To prolong your spray tan, moisturize and avoid over-exfoliating or washing off your tan. A good spray tan will fade evenly over the next week or two.

Are you a fan of spray tans? What has your experience been like? xx

dress: reformation | bag: box of style | sunglasses: raen | shoes: similar

You might also like, At Home Self Tanning Tips and Best Affordable Brands for Summer Style.

By Amy Zhang July 8, 2019 in Beauty, Lifestyle 2 Comments

Worth the Hype? Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask Review

As a longtime fan and follower of Marianna Hewitt, I was super stoked when she launched her skincare line “Summer Fridays” – simple, clean beauty that promised glowing skin and natural ingredients. Oh, and can we take a second to talk about how cute the name and branding is?! Of course, anytime a product is launched by an influencer or on social media, it’s natural to be slightly skeptical. I knew I wanted to try this mask out for myself and see if it was more than just an Instagrammable brand and packaging.

My Honest Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask Review

This mask promises to be a powerful skincare tool – on the website, the product description reads:

You don’t have to be a jetsetter to have that lag.

Upgrade your skin to a business-class complexion—no matter what time your red-eye gets in, or what time your head hits the pillow. This uber-dewy, hydrating mask soothes thirsty, stressed-out skin by steeping cells in a nourishing mix of vitamins, ceramides, antioxidants and gently exfoliating extracts. Skin looks instantly renewed, radiant and ready for anything!

Non-comedogenic, no phthalates, surfactants, petrolatums, BHT, BHA, or silicones

It’s vegan, paraben free, sulfate free, does not contain any synthetic dyes or fragrances, and is not tested on animals.

“Jet Lag” Mask Ingredients

The primary ingredients in the mask are chestnut extract, vitamin C, and niacinamide. These ingredients claim to polish and exfoliate dead skin, brighten skin tone, and improve skin tone and fine lines.

Overall, I love how natural the ingredients are. My skin also tends to be on the drier side, so I love anything that promises hydration and moisturizing benefits.

As far as the benefits of the mask go, it’s exactly what I was looking for in terms of a moisturizing and overnight mask. I also travel often (and frequently take red eyes!), so an easy to pack mask that I can wear on long haul flights is also important to keep my skin healthy and glowing.

How to Use

I’ve worn this as an overnight mask (applied a thin layer before bed and rinsed my face in the morning) and loved how plump and dewy my skin looks and feels in the morning. I’ve also used it as a deep moisturizing mask after an exfoliating mask – I have Summer Fridays “Overtime” mask as well, which they suggest to use before Jet Lag. I also love my weekly date with Drunk Elephant’s Baby Facial, which leaves my skin incredibly thirsty – Jet Lag is the perfect follow up!

I also like it as an extra layer of hydration to plump up the skin before makeup application. The website suggests using as a primer (avoiding the area around the eyes) before foundation, and it definitely helps create a smoother canvas if you are doing your makeup.

The tube is also easy to use and transport, and fits easily in my toiletry bag for when I travel. It works perfectly for what it’s named after!

Results

Overall, I loved this mask. It works well on flights (short or long haul) and I love waking up to soft, glowing skin. But I do want to say, I don’t think this mask is for everyone. I’ve read my fair share of mixed reviews online, so I was initially hesitant to try it out for myself. And at almost $50, it definitely isn’t the most affordable mask out there. However, I do recommend this mask for drier skin types that could use the extra hydration. If your skin breaks out easily, you may want to avoid.

Personally, I found “Overtime” to be a little too harsh for my skin, but Jet Lag was a welcome addition to my skincare routine. I’ll be bringing this on all LAX – NYC red eyes from now on.

Have you tried any of Summer Friday’s products? Do you have any favorite sleep masks?

If you like this Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask review, also, check out Bali Body Review, An Honest Glossier Review and I Tried Rent the Runway Unlimited. Here’s My Honest, Unbiased Review.

By Amy Zhang July 7, 2019 in Beauty 2 Comments

Color Camp

I’m all about simplifying my beauty routine. I like to keep things relatively low maintenance and minimal. But one thing I cannot give up is a good manicure. I feel like having well groomed nails makes you look instantly more put together. As far as where to go for a manicure, I have my favorites in Los Angeles. When I really want to spice up my manicure, I go to Color Camp.

It seems like these days everyone is trying to do a million things at once – but there’s something to be said for sticking to one thing and doing it well. That’s where Color Camp comes into play. It’s not your typical mom and pop nail salon – it’s a place where you go to get your nails done if you’re serious about nail art and design.

Think of Color Camp as a “Drybar for nails”

Color Camp is currently in Los Angeles only. They only do one thing (manicures) and they do them extremely well. I’ve only gone for gel manicures, but their regular polish manicures are worth the wait and advance reservation as well. My gel nails easily lasted 3 weeks and still looked brand new (with the exception of my nail growth). Sorry ladies, they don’t do acrylics – natural nails only!

The first thing you notice when you walk in is the magnetic wall of nail polish colors. They have every color you can imagine, as well as suggestions for nail art. If you don’t like one of their seasonal designs, that’s ok too. Bring in a photo of a design and chances are one of their nail artists will be able to recreate it for you. Think foil, delicate designs, prints, dried flowers, etc.

Where Color Camp really shines is their nail art on gel manicures.

If you have to remove gel, they steam the gel off, which is much less harsh on your nails. Afterwards, the polish is meticulously applied. The type of gel polish and the way they apply it makes the gel incredibly durable and long lasting. On top of that, I swear it helps your nails grow (and they never break!). I always go for the Super Gel, which is $10 extra and worth the splurge. I swear it makes your nails grow like crazy and keeps them healthy, even if you’re a gel manicure addict like me.

They have a menu of nail art – including a constantly changing seasonal menu.

Nail art ranges from $1-5 per nail. I always get so many compliments on my nails when I come here.

Currently Color Camp only has one location in Los Angeles – but I hear they’re expanding! Make sure you book your appointments in advance – they book up and cancellations are rare. If you want a fun manicure that lasts, I highly recommend Color Camp. Perfect for those days when you just want to treat yourself! xx

Color Camp – 7607 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

For more beauty, see what happened when I removed my eyelash extensions & why you should brush your lips.

By Amy Zhang June 10, 2019 in Beauty, Lifestyle, Wellness 3 Comments

Winding Down & Beauty Sleep – My Nightly Routine with OLLY

Winding Down & Beauty Sleep - My Nightly Routine | by The Luxi Look

Today’s post is all about a subject that is very, very important to me, and is written in partnership with OLLY. As always, all opinions are my own. The topic of today: SLEEP! I’ve written about sleep before and why it’s so important for you. Long story short, it impacts and improves pretty much every area in our lives – mental, physical, emotional. It’s called “beauty sleep” for a reason! When you sleep enough you are restoring your body and giving it the energy it needs to function at its best.

Sleep repairs your body from workouts, improves your skin and appearance, helps maintain your appetite and weight, improves our brain function and concentration, and enhances your mood… I could go on and on about sleep. The problem is, getting enough sleep is something I struggle with at times. Between work and travel I don’t always get the recommended 7-8 hours. Truthfully I often only get 5 or 6 hours of sleep a night – which is a terrible habit and something I do not recommend!

With that said, I have started implementing a nighttime routine to force myself to be more conscious of how I spend my evenings and prepare for bedtime. Here’s what it entails:

My Nightly Routine

+ Eliminate Devices

It’s easy to lay in bed, scrolling through your Instagram feed and getting sucked into the rabbit hole that is social media. If you struggle with getting enough sleep, eliminating devices at least one hour before you go to bed is a must. It helps your mind begin to unwind and settle down – if you have thoughts racing through your head all night it is much harder to fall asleep!

+ Skincare Routine

For me, having a set skincare routine is incredibly therapeutic and calming. I love going through the process of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing before bed. A few times a week I will try a new mask as well.

+ Read

Instead of being on my laptop or phone before bed, I have been reaching for a book. I’m still trying to reach my goal of reading 30 books by the end of the year (!!) and I have found that reading is more enjoyable and helps me fall asleep faster.

+ Journal

Getting into the habit of journaling is still new to me. I don’t always know what to write about, but even 5 or 10 minutes help me feel more centered. Also, knowing I will have something to look back on and reflect in a few years is incredibly motivating!

+ OLLY – Beauty Sleep

The very last thing I do before bed is take an OLLY gummy. Melatonin affects everyone differently, but I found these gummies to be more gentle than others I have tried. It helps me fall asleep (and stay asleep), but I don’t have crazy dreams or wake up groggy the way I do after other supplements I’ve tried.

How do you get ready for sleep? xx

By Amy Zhang April 29, 2019 in Beauty 1 Comment

What I Want From the Sephora Sale

Twice a year, Sephora holds a massive sale on everything on its site. If you’re strategic about when you make your purchases, you can get all of your beauty needs at a discount during these sales. I always make a point to stock up on the essentials during the sale, and will usually pick up a couple new items as well that I’ve had my eye on. If you’re VIB Rouge, you get 20% off of everything on the site. VIB members get 15% off, and Beauty Insiders (all you have to do is make an account!) get 10% off.

Here’s what I have in my cart for when the sale goes live (since I’m VIB, I get access from May 2 – May 6).

[ Click on the items in the image below to shop directly ]

What I want from Sephora Sale

+ Biossane Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

This has been on my to purchase list for skincare for quite some time, I’ll definitely be picking this up during the sale and will report back on how it is!

+ Erno Laszlo Sleep Mask

My girlfriends rave about this sleep mask but I couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger due to the price, but it’s in my shopping cart!

+ Supergoop Daily Moisturizer

I received a sample of this a few months ago and love this for an easy, everyday moisturizer. I like to keep some in my suitcase for when I travel.

+ Drunk Elephant Marula Oil

One of my favorite skincare products that I cannot live without. I highly recommend stocking up on Drunk Elephant in general during the sale – every product I’ve tried from them has worked so well on my skin. You’re limited to only 3 Drunk Elephant products during the sale (that’s how popular they are!) so either stock up on your go-tos or do some research on a new product you’ve been looking to try.

Beauty