Glowing, Glowing, Gone out!

 By B. Lee Cash

Glowing skin is gorgeous skin. Since most party dresses, fancy tops and other big-night fashions bare a lot of skin, learning how to make yours radiant is a no-brainer. "When your skin glows, it looks like you're doing everything right," says Melissa Straeter, a Los Angeles-based aesthetician and makeup artist. "Glowing skin says to the world you're eating right, taking your vitamins, working out -- healthy and glamorous -- even if you're getting that glow 100 percent through a product like bronzer or self-tanner." Here are Straeter's best at-home and salon techniques to get your best glow.

Exfoliation
"You definitely want to do a full-body exfoliation before most of these products or procedures," says Straeter. "I like body scrubs that use micro-beads, not harsh or scraping products like apricot scrubs. And choose a product that has other cooling ingredients like cucumber or mint."

Moisturizer
"A great moisturizer is your best friend," says Straeter. "Dry skin is never going to glow." Straeter says everything contributes to dry skin, including weather, heaters and, especially, soap. "Soap really strips skin of its natural oils and dries you out. I suggest you moisturize immediately after stepping out of the shower because warm water opens pores and makes the skin more amenable." The product you use should make a difference right away. "I am a big fan of drug store products, so find a body lotion that makes your skin feel instantly softer. It doesn't have to be the product that gives you the glow you're after -- self-tanner or bronzer might have to do that -- but it will prep the skin and make it smoother and healthier. I like to choose lotions that have 'shimmer' in the name. They really do make a difference in the appearance of your skin."

Body Oil
"For some girls, oil is enough to create that toned-looking skin," says Straeter. "I use oil when I'm running late and don't have time to moisturize, but oil isn't something everyone can use, for example if you're prone to breakouts on your chest, neck or back." Straeter recommends oil for girls with very dry skin, and says to avoid using it on your face to prevent pimples -- it's not called "face" oil!

Self-Tanner
"This is an inexpensive quick fix," says Straeter. "Be sure to shave, exfoliate and moisturize all over. Self-tanner is dye you are applying yourself, and it gets darker in drier parts, like your feet and hands." Straeter says to avoid streaking or orange-soaked areas, simply take your time. "Don't try to cover a lot of area at once. Try to apply in even strokes, moving in the same direction each time, sort of like you're 'petting' the color on to your skin."

Bronzer
"People are always asking me the difference between bronzer and self-tanner, and the simplest way for me to explain it is this: bronzer is like body blush and self-tanner is dye," says Straeter. "I think of bronzers as makeup, so like any makeup you want to choose a color that works with your natural skin tone. Look for a product that has words like 'reflective' or 'translucent' in the name. They are created to reflect light and give an illusion of glowing skin. You can apply this all over or in key spots like on your chest, your shoulders or calves. You can even ask someone to brush some on your back if your dress is back-baring."

Spray Tan
"Celebs like Jennifer Aniston and Lindsay Lohan made this popular, and that's why everyone was so orange for a while," says Straeter. "It's better than being butt-white, and it's never less that $25 and it's definitely a uniformed orange hue. How this works is you go to a salon, get naked, apply 'barrier' cream -- which is really just lotion -- on dry parts like hands and feet, cover your hair, and step into a shower-like stall. Ten seconds of spraying the front, ten on the back, and it's that fast! You're tan and glowing. It lasts between four and six days. I like this if you're in a hurry. It's like the fast-food of tanning."

Airbrush Tan
"In my opinion, this is the best option to achieve perfect, glowing, gorgeous skin," says Straeter. "When you do a spray tan, you're giving up a whole night, but it's worth it. Unlike self-tanner or spray tans, airbrushing is a bronze tan that looks natural and the most like your own pigment, like if you had a month to hang out in Coast Rica. You don't want to exfoliate or shower right beforehand -- that's better for the night before -- because those things might inhibit the color dye. You have to pose in a number of positions to get the color even, so be prepared to feel a little awkward at times, especially when the aesthetician is getting the area around your booty! My clients always hug me after because they just spent a half-hour naked and posing! Then you have to air dry. Once you're dry, the color shouldn't rub off on your clothes. It lasts from four to six days. I recommend not taking long, warm showers if you want your tan to last. The cost is anywhere from $50 to $150, depending on the salon."