Photos: Xiaohan Shen for Vogue.com.au | Words: Anni Hall
Tanners take note, this summer it’s all about one special new product.
Forget St. Tropez (the place and the product), the next big thing in self-tanning has arrived on this beauty editor’s desk. A luxe cream that smells of bungalows and bikinis, it’s with great excitement that I introduce the must-have Summer Natural Gradual Tan from Beauty Department by Nadine Monley.
A beautiful consistency with the uplifting scents of Ylang Ylang and coconut oil, simply slather over limbs and expect a light, golden hue 2-3 hours later. Packed with organic ingredients and essential oils, Summer uses naturally-derived tanning agents – so no PEGs, parabens and propylene glycol (just trust us, they’re not good). Summer not only gives you a glowing tan, but thanks to the inclusion of Vitamin E and certified organic shea butter, it gives you great skin too.
The creator of Summer and the woman responsible for the unbelievably bodacious, bronzed bodies at Bec & Bridge’s show this year, Nadine Monley shares her top skin tips.
We all know exfoliation is the key to a great fake tan, how do you exfoliate?
I think the best time to exfoliate is in the shower when the skin is warm and I do this once a week. I love using a mitt in the shower and I also use a beautiful product from Chanel. I then use a product called Goe Oil after as it absorbs quickly into my skin.
What’s the best way to apply your product Summer?
Summer can be applied at anytime, that is the beauty of the product because absorbs very quickly into the skin. For me, I love to apply it just after a shower when the skin is warm. After you use it you can get dressed a few minutes later and just wait for the colour to develop.
Can you use Summer on your face?
Summer is gentle enough to use on the face to give you that extra glow. You only have to use a little product and I would apply it after your daily moisturiser.
Why is it important to you to not include any nasties in your products?
When I first set out to do a product I wanted to keep it as natural as possible. Remember what goes on you skin is usually absorbed by your skin into the bloodstream, so using ingredients that are more natural are a better alternative.
For more on Nadine’s work as a hair & makeup artist and her products check out her site Beauty Department.