A FAN OF LE TAN

By my own product whoring admission I have previously overlooked the Le Tan line of tanning and suncare products in favour of more expensive and celeb endorsed brands (sucker).

After several recommendations from beautiful and sunkissed friends of mine I decided to take the leap and boy oh boy am I eating my words now.

A trip to the supermarket later, I was more than a little apprehensive after purchasing this little gem for a piddly ten dollars.....in my previous fake tan experience a diminutive price tag generally preceded a Day-Glo orange tan.

Cue morning, when I woke with a natural golden brown tan and a new outlook on life.

My pick of the tanning products is the Le Tan Fast Tan Self Tanning Mousse but the whole range is pretty fantastic. The mousse wins top marks because it comes out tinted which makes application super easy, pretty much guarantees a streak free finish, can be used on your face without fear of pimples or oil slicks and earned several compliments on its first outing.

I am now a month into twice weekly applications and the bottle is still half full.. GENIUS!!!! and better value for money than a certain little hot pink tan in a can number..you know who you are.

WHAT I'M USING RIGHT NOW

On my internet travels I've noticed that several other beauty bloggers are doing a "What I'm using right now" post so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and share the inner workings of my bathroom cupboard with you. I am nothing if not original :)

Shampoo:Dove Heat Defense Therapy Shampoo - bought this by default when I went to get the Dove Dry Therapy Shampoo (which won best shampoo for dry hair in the 2009 Australian Beauty Awards) but our poorly stocked backwater supermarket didn't have it, so after much agonizing I went with this and it is actually excellent at injecting some moisture back into my heat fried hair.

Conditioner: Kevin Murphy Staying Alive Leave In Treatment

Treatment: See above...such a wonder product...it's all I need!

Styling products: KMS Flat Out Hot Pressed Spray - a heat protecting spray that straightens out my curls and always makes my blow dry last a day longer and John Frieda Frizz Ease Ultra Strength Serum to tame any frizz that sneaks through my blow dry.

Styling tools: I blow dry with my cheap as chips hair dryer and then finish off with my ancient but trusty GHD's (definitely an upgrade on the cards though!)

Shower Gel: Palmolive Aroma Therapy Anti-Stress Shower Gel (a private joke between me and my partner - we are sleep deprived new parents and thought it might help ease the strain).

Body Scrub: St Ives Moisturizing Body Polish

Body moisturizer: Renui Coconut Oil Frangipani Infusion...this stuff reminds me of long hot summer days and is guaranteed to pull me out of mid-winter fug..

Deodorant: Dove Clear Touch Deodorant

Fake Tan: Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion and Clarins Radiance Plus Self Tanning Cream/Gel for Face
.
Cleanser: Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser and Neutrogena Foaming Cleanser.

Toner: Clinique Clarifying Lotion in #2 (my go to for clear skin....has kept the nasties away for five years and counting.

Facial moisturizer: Loreal Derma-Genesis Pore Minimising Smoother and Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin - I randomly interchange the two.

Exfoliator: Dermalogica Micro-Exfoliant
.
Primer: extremely ashamed to say I'm not currently using one...need to stock up though...they are essential for a lasting base.

Foundation: Mac Face and Body Foundation.

Foundation brush: Mac #187 Duo Fibre Stippling Brush.

Concealer: Lancome Effacernes Liquid Concealer, Loreal Infallible Concealer and Laura Mercier Flawless Fix Pencil
.
Powder: Laura Mercier Mineral Powder in Classic Beige

Blusher: I've been mixing it up between Mac Peachykeen, Nars Blush in Orgasm (both soft peachy pink colours) and Nars The Multiple in Maui(a lovely flushed looking pinky-red).

Bronzer: Not using anything at the moment but gagging to get my hands on Nars Bronzer in Laguna again when time and money allow for it.

Highlighter: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Apricot.

Eyeshadow Base: Have been keeping it simple and dusting Laura Mercier Mineral Powder over eyelids.

Eyeshadows: Knight Divine by Mac when I'm in the mood for a smokey eye.

Eyeliner: The Body Shop Eye definer in Rich Brown and Clinique Liquid Eyeliner in Black.

Curler: Shu Uemura

Mascara: Lancome Virtuose in Black

Lipstick: Mac Slimshine in Rockout

Lipgloss: Mac Plush Glass in Wildly Lush

Nail Colour: Nothing on my hands as my teething mini me tends to bite them any chance he gets and Loreal Mango-Get-Em on my toes.

Perfume: Ralph Lauren Hot for day time and Theirry Mugler Angel for night

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

One of my longest running beauty love affairs is with Clarins Radiance Plus Self Tanning Cream Gel. Technically a facial gradual tanner, it is also a fantastic moisturizer for normal to oily skins.

Its non comedogenic formula means it won't block pores, irritate skin or cause pimples(unlike many facial tanners where you wake up with an unwanted breakout along with your prescribed glow). It creates an even, radiant tan and perks up the most lacklustre of complexions. I have been know to go practically barefaced on lazy days while using this...just add concealer where needed and lashings of mascara for natural Nicole Richie chic.

While it boasts a reasonably hefty price tag, one bottle of this has lasted me over a year of thrice weekly applications- that's what I call value for money and infinitely cheaper than a mid winter trip to Fiji to top up your tan.