Spray Tan Kelly

I had a blast over the weekend “behind the scenes” at the Photo Shoot for my new product line “B.Bronz“. I was fortunate enough to get Alexis Ogando-Galletti of Da’Re Inspired to shoot the gorgeous models that we had to work with on location at The Spa at Hotel Healdsburg and a private residence in Sonoma County.

I played coordinator, while Alexis shot the models which included several Sonoma Tanning Clients, Professional Bodybuilders, and even a former Miss California. The models froze, and so did the photographer, as many of us got up at 6am to get down to the Powder Room. Jenni Huse and DeeAnna Reese did an amazing job on hair and makeup in almost no time at all. Can’t wait to share the rest of the pictures!

Many of our clients either skip or use the wrong type of product during the exfoliation process. Using a water based scrub is the absolute most important part of self tanning. A water-based scrub will remove the dead skin cells that prevent the tan from looking even, and will not create a barrier on the skin. Oil-based scrubs, a common find in our bathroom cabinets, cause a barrier on the skin (from the oil content) and keep the solution from reaching the skin, which is neccessary for it to develop and create a bronzed glow.

All of us try to avoid paying full price for beauty products, we do whatever we can to avoid salon cost….but is it really worth it? I hear horror stories every week from friends and clients that purchase for a discounted price online, some never get the product, and some get the real bottle – but filled with drugstore products. I’m sharing a few of my favorite online shopping sites for beauty products, and some information about discounts and frequent shopping programs that they have that can save us a few dollars!

Dermstore.com is one of my favorite sites, they sell a wide range of well and lesser known products on the website, and include many specials including a free gift of the day! On this site you will find everything for the hair, skin, body, including self tanners, scrubs, and shampoos that you could possibly need. My favorite part is “Find the Expert“, a huge resource for getting recommendations to solving your biggest skin care problems.

Makeup Junkie’s Beware! Glow.com brings you the latest in makeup and color therapy! An ingenious part of their website is the “Trial Offers” which allow you to try the latest in makeup and skin care for 30 days! Shop by concern, item, and check out the natural and organic section of the website.

This year was the first year Sonoma Tanning worked with the Miss Oregon Pageant, an official final to Miss America. Although it’s not as big of a pageant as Miss California, it was still a blast. One of our affiliate tanners, Ali Boussard handled the competition up in Seaside, Oregon and had a blast while we were sweltering away the nights in Fresno.

Stephanie Steers, who originated as Miss Multnohma, will be gracing the stage at Planet Hollywood this coming January and competing with women from all over the United States for the title of Miss America.

Being called a Tan Master, Tan Goddess, and a bunch of other names my clients call me, fits the bill most of the time…however it all goes out the window when I am testing out new products. The Tan Master has turned herself orange in the middle of summer, when wearing shorts would be truly embarrasing and wearing jeans just proves I have really bad fashion sense. So last night the “Tan Master” decided to experiment again…the product up for testing, Diana B. 60 Second Instant Miracle Tan.

The back of the box said “apply with gloves”…who needs gloves, I certainly don’t! So I started to pump “ten pumps” of the “chocolate truffle scented” instant self tanner into my hands…the words “chocolate” should have been a clear warning to me…but I’m blond…so it went in one window and out the other.

After freaking out because my hands were now covered in some seriously black foam, I shrugged it off and applied the product to my legs for sixty seconds. Rolling my eyes at my stupidity and trying to figure out how in the world I was going to explain my hands to people in the morning. After rinsing the product off, I checked out the damage, not to bad but the hands were definitely tanned, not just my hands, but the palms of my hands – not exactly the place you want to be tanned.

I went to grab a bottle of South Seas Uh Oh! and couldn’t find one anywhere, so I prayed and squeezed out some Bora Bora Body Polish…a few rounds of scrubbing my palm’s with that did the trick…tan be gone! The verdict…a nice light tan, and the package recommends doing it again tonight to get the tan even darker…we’ll see if I’m up for that after work.

While perusing the vendor offerings at the International Spa Association’s Knowledge Network in Sonoma yesterday, I got reacquianted with Kaplan MD’s Lip 20 Therapy Treatment. A perfect solution for the dry chapped lips of summer!

This lip treatment is an anti-aging treatment that moisturizes, repairs, protects with SPF, and adds a natural fullness all in one! The product contains Seabuckthorn Berry Extract, Hyaluronic Fillin Spheres, Soy, Grapesid, C10-30, peptides, and marine collagen, along with SPF20. It is paraben free, and does not sting or burn.

With five colors to choose from to add a hint of tint to your face…this amazing treatment can protect your lips all year long!

In my current quest to make my cosmetic life “paraben free“, I found myself buying shaving cream at the grocery store last night. Normally I wouldn’t buy cosmetic products at the grocery store due to the high mark-up, but alas when you need something…you need something. I was comparing prices on shaving creams, and then my sub-conscious said…”hmm are there parabens in that?” So of course I flipped the product and counted three parabens before I put it back on the shelf.

Parabens are synthetically produced preservatives that are found in cosmetic products. You can find them easily on your labels by looking for any of these: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben. Less common parabens include isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, benzylparaben and their sodium salts.

Feeling hopeless, 8pm at night and I needed shaving cream…I scanned the shelves…a cute orange tube practically jumped off the shelf. Alba Organics, I turned the bottle over and scanned the label…no parabens…whew! I was now caught at a crossroads, giving up my foamy, fruity, shaving gel for a cream. Would the results be the same?

Surprisingly yes! You can read more about this product at the Alba Organics Website….and you can find it at most major grocery and retail stores.

I spent the last weekend working with the Miss San Francisco Pageant, this is the second year Sonoma Tanning was a sponsor for the program, and hopefully there are many more to come. We started the weekend off on Saturday, bronzing the girls at the Mark Twain Hotel, who graciously hosted our group for the weekend. I usually stay at the “big box” hotels, and have been frequenting the Marriott chain this year, so it was a fun surprise to stay at an independent hotel. My arrival to the city was eventful, with a protest taking place right smack in front of the hotel…alas me and my “not-so-fun-to-park-in-the-city” SUV took detours around the blocked off roads to find a parking space.

So then I walked a couple of blocks, when I say walked I mean drug along two suitcases filled with equipment and tanning products, a tanning cabana, and a gallon of solution. When I rounded the corner to the Mark Twain Hotel, of course the protest was clear…so back to get my car I went.

The contestants this year for the Miss San Francisco pageant were a blast to work with, and so much fun. Some had their first ever spray tan, and they were guided along by the pageant pros. After tanning, I was invited by the pageant staff to join them for their “pre-pageant dinner”, thirty of us ventured out to Chinatown and had a fabulous dinner to the Far East Restaurant. We had a traditional Chinese banquet complete with all of the favorites and Lobster!

Sunday brought on the pageant, and congratulations to Nicole Honaker, who is our new Miss San Francisco 2010. Nicole is a pageant veteran, and this will be my third year working with her at Miss California….See you in Fresno Nicole!

I got a mystery box in the mail today and to my surprise it was a present from Aisle Style Beauty! This fabulous makeup line was created by bridal hair and makeup artists, Gina Ludwig and Katie Vollmer, veterans in the wedding industry with a combined 26 years experience. These products address the needs and wants of today’s modern bride; high quality makeup in the most beautiful colors and the most long lasting formulations. Their philosophy has always been that “people should notice the bride, not her makeup!” and now, they proudly bring that philosophy and their expertise to you in the comfort of your own home. Their goal at Aisle Style beauty is to assist brides AND bridal beauty professionals with the best makeup and hair products, videos and classes available. Creating picture perfect brides every time!

Gina and Katie have some awesome tips for brides and us self-proclaimed “makeup junkies” on their blog, and some awesome products on their website! Let’s take a peek at what I got in the mail….

Ummm…one word…AMAZING! I just played with the peaches and cream…love it…this powder gives a nice shimmer with a little bit of color!

Next, I pulled out the Love Affair Lip & Cheek Quad…most of these are very heavy, this product is nice and light feels like I have nothing on my skin and lips…yes! The pressed powder blush was just my color, went on nicely and the color is great!

The long lasting lipliner in spice…wasn’t really my color but is a very beautiful bronze! I wish I had nail polish in this color…hint hint!

Last but not least….the definite “MUST HAVE”, a new generation concealer deflects dark shadows while a lightful line diffuser smoothes away the look of fine lines and wrinkles under eyes so you look younger and more refreshed.

Color Tides - Mineral Shimmer Powder

Check out all the new products by Aisle Style Beauty here:

Last fall while I was at the International Spa Association Convention in Austin, TX; I took some time out to check out the newest products from the other companies that were exhibiting there. Rusk launched a new product line for the hair called “Wellness Sensories”. This line is free of sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates and MEA/TEA/DEA.

I personally have made it my goal that by 2011, the cosmetic products I personally use will meet the standards that Rusk sets. Already the tanning products that Sonoma Tanning uses are paraben free.

I was lucky enough to get some samples of these products that contain ingredients from the far-flung corners of the earth, Rusk sources rare oils from the Tahitian tiare flower, the Moroccan argan tree and Ethiopian abyssinica to create the latest addition to the successful, invigorating Sensories™ line of haircare products.

For a limited time you can try several products from this line for free (shipping and handling is $6.95). I would definitely try these products out and request that your stylist stocks them in their salon! Click here for more info!