JCrew Pumps + The Vanity: VersaSpa Giveaway.

Most of the time, it’s about the shoes for me. A great pair of pumps in a store window can haunt me for months, tempting me until the perfect sale + coupon code email offer come through and push me to pull the fashion trigger.

That’s exactly what happened with these JCrew pumps. Tie-dye, printed block heel, and on sale? Yes, yes, and yes. (PS sizes are limited at JCrew, but find ’em full price and in more sizes here.) Cuffed denim and a peek-a-boo lace white tank were all I needed to put together a look for brunch with the blogger girls.

I’m going to be rocking these pumps until fall, at least. The print combo is just too good!

The Vanity: VersaSpa Giveaway.

Confession: I’m a cheater.

A few of you have emailed/commented on my tan in previous posts; perhaps you think I’m just naturally a bit darker complected. Nope. I’m a tan fraud; a faker. I’m actually pretty pale. And freckled, even.

I used to tan in UV beds back in the day (the days of homecomings, proms, and the like), but now get a spray tan twice a week. It’s a win/win: I get the tan I want, without the UV exposure.

Spray tans work like this: a chemical called dihydroxyacentone (or DHA) is misted onto the skin. This is the solution that delivers the tan, and is usually a 4-pass process: front, back, left side, and right side. I tan in a VersaSpa booth, which mists a PH-balancing chemical onto the skin first and readies the skin for the bronzing solution, the DHA spray that delivers the tan, and then a hydrating solution post-DHA to moisturize.

In a few hours (usually 6-8), the tan is fully developed and it’s time to rinse off the over spray. When you step out of the shower, you’re left with a healthy glow that typically lasts 3-4 days on most people.

DHA has been labeled safe by the FDA as a topical treatment. This means it’s safe when applied to the skin. However, you want to minimize inhaling/ingesting DHA as it’s sprayed. Spray booths have gotten much better in recent years about reducing the amount of product sprayed in order to achieve results, which means less DHA in the air to inhale/ingest. But feel free to use protective measures to eliminate ingestion such as: protective eyewear, nose filters, lip balm, and the use of disposable undergarments.

This has been my go-to regime for several years now, and during that time I’ve picked up some key spray tanning tips:

• Take a shower right before your spray tanning session. Exfoliate, especially on rougher areas like elbows, hands, feet, and knees. No lotion post-shower! You want a clean canvas so the spray tan adheres evenly.
• Wear dark, loose-fitting clothing. Post-tan, you’re going to be a bit tacky/sticky for an hour or so. Loose clothing is more comfortable. (The thought of wearing jeans after a spray tan sesh makes me cringe.) The DHA will transfer a bit onto your clothes, so darker pieces work better. (However, the DHA is water soluble, so it will wash out.) I keep a stack of old, black gym clothes at the ready for spray tan purposes.
• The barrier/blending cream is your friend. This is lotion you apply to your nail beds (fingers and toes!), bottoms of your feet, palms, and any other area you want to keep from soaking up that DHA. DHA will turn your palms and cuticles brown, so don’t be afraid to go heavy on the barrier/blending cream.
• Close your eyes + hold your breath during the spray. Obviously you can’t hold your breath from start to finish, but holding it during the active spray periods (usually only a few seconds) will help minimize inhalation.
• Baby wipes for the win! Most salons provide baby wipes to wipe the lotion off after you tan. Use these! Go slow and be careful as you do this; you don’t want to end up with weird white patches where you’ve accidentally wiped off the DHA. Areas you also want to hit with the baby wipe: in the webs of the fingers and toes, over the lips, and inside the ears.
• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. In the days following your spray tan, apply moisturizer often to extend the life of your tan.
• Exfoliate when things go awry. If you have a weird patch or you notice your tan is starting to flake (this naturally occurs as the tan fades), a little light exfoliation can buff things out + blur the edges.

Now that you’ve got the download on spray tanning, how about you enter for a chance to win a spray tan experience of your own? I’ve teamed up with the kids at VersaSpa to offer the chance to win a free spray tanning session at a VersaSpa salon in your area (US residents only). Enter now: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up with More Pieces of Me + On the Daily Express, Join The Gossip + I Have A Degree In This, Pink Sole + Cha Cha The Fashion Genius, Style Elixir, The Glossy Blonde, Rhea Et Cetera + Eat, Drink and Be Mary, I Do DeClaire + Laugh Anyway, Sew Crafty Angel, Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Life’s a Party Dress Like It, Get Your Pretty On, and The Pleated Poppy.

 *VersaSpa sponsored the spray tan giveaway; thoughts and opinions are my own.