The Best Glow-Getter (For Your Face)

Back in the dead of winter, I wrote about how I was using Vita Liberata’s Self-Tanning Serum to provide a subtle boost of color when my skin was looking late-January drab. However, now that it’s sundress-and-sandal season again, I’m finding the result is too understated. I’m not after a Giorgio Armani tan (although it does look quite chic on him, UV damage be damned), but I would like to appear lightly sun-kissed. So I’ve upgraded to Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster, which I find imparts deeper color, faster.

Clarins’ self-tanner is similar to Vita Liberata in that it is serum-like and can be easily mixed in with your morning moisturizer or sunscreen. You also control the dosage (somewhere between one and three drops), depending on how much color you want, or how deep your skin color is to start. Within a few hours of my day-one dose, my skin is noticeably warmer. After a few days of mixing Clarins in with my Elta M.D., I look like I’ve been spending my weekends Up North (on Lake Michigan, not at Winterfell). Even better, the color never becomes too-too. Unless you applied the entire bottle at one time, I think there’s zero risk of turning Oompa Loompa.

A couple of you (Sarah, Debbie) have recently told me you like Clarins Glow Booster too, citing its natural, but satisfying color—and the fact that it doesn’t make you breakout. The latter part is important, as I too have discovered that many self-tanners are instant acne-ignitors. For my body, I love St Tropez Classic Bronzing Mousse, Tan Towels and Jergens Natural Glow for Wet Skin. But if I use any of these on my face (including the brands’ formulas designed for the face), I breakout within three days. Clarins, however, has kept me in the clear—while it gets me glowing.