Tarte Rainforest Glow Maracuja Waterproof Body Bronzer — Cover Skin As You Dare To Bare It!
Even with August chugging along, reminding us that summer’s end is drawing near, many of us look a bit pastier than we’d anticipated, our lack of sun-kissed skin the result of jam-packed work schedules, uncooperative weather forecasts, family obligations, or just an overall shortage of beach time. But, whatever your degree of pallor, there’s no concealing those legs and arms in this stifling humidity and scorching heat — if anything, in order to feel comfortable, you’re likely to reach for the shortest skirt and the skimpiest top you can unearth in your closet. Your best option: attempting to create a faux glow with a tinted moisturizer or shimmering lotion. Luckily, options have been increasing over the past two years, with body makeup emerging as a novel and promising beauty category. Unlike self-tanners containing DHA, which recent studies suggest could have such harmful side effects as DNA damage (eek!), body makeup offerings are meant to provide temporary coverage, functioning as a foundation of sorts and, ideally, covering up any spider veins, blotches, scars, burns, ingrown hairs, and bumps while also coating the skin with a believable amount of shimmer.
Eco-friendly, botanical-based cosmetics brand Tarte Cosmetics mastered this feat with its Tarte Rainforest Glow Maracuja Waterproof Body Bronzer ($34 at QVC.com). In addition to natural pigments, this body bronzer is formulated with maracuja oil, which is rife with essential fatty acids (linoleic acid, which maintains the integrity of the skin, protecting it from excess water loss and suppressing skin inflammations, accounts for 77% of its EFA content) and vitamin C, so that it moisturizes, soothes, softens, and tightens the skin while offering a medium amount of coverage.
When you first squeeze the cream out of the tube, you might find it a bit too thick and balmy — and, admittedly, you’ll need to put some elbow grease into the process of applying the cream onto skin and blending it in seamlessly — but, once you wait 1-2 minutes for it to settle into place, you’ll be amazed at how natural the coverage appears. Your skin will endure a Christina-Hendricks-to-Eva-Longoria transformation, and yet the golden bronze color is perfectly believable, nothing like the Jersey Shore-ish messes we’ve come to associate with the term “tanning.” And, since it’s buildable, you can tailor your glow to your heart’s content.
The one caveat: while the Tarte Rainforest Glow is billed as being waterproof, it can transfer onto clothes a bit, so I’d advise avoiding white or cream garments (along with anything that requires dry cleaning only). That being said, even when you perspire (which is unavoidable in this heat), the color won’t streak down your leg (cue the footage of Christina Aguilera’s bronzer trickling down her calf as she performed “At Last” at the singer’s funeral), leading to a Bronzergate scandal of your very own.Sure, if you pat your legs or arms repeatedly, you might notice some of the color adhering to the palms of your hand but, for the most part, the Tarte Rainforest Glow stays in place, making it an excellent body makeup alternative.
The kicker: unlike self-tanners which, even when “safe” and DHA-free require some degree of commitment in terms of their longevity on the kin, the Tarte Rainforest Glow Maracuja Waterproof Body Bronzer washes right off with soap and water. In other words: you can apply to your thighs, legs, arms, and back, before donning that sexy mini dress with the risqué cut-outs, then come home, shower, and put on your PJ’s. Sweet!
