By Kelli Artherton
Warm weather has made it’s way to the Ozarks. The warm temperatures come with wearing summer dresses, shorts and swimming suits. However, our skin may still be looking like it’s winter. I may be able to help! I have tried a ton of products and wanted to share my favorites!
I am a self tanner girl. I have had been diagnosed twice with Malignant Melanoma so I have to be EXTRA careful when it comes to tanning (click here to read my story). I love to be tan, but don’t want to harm my skin.
I have tried several different self tanners. I started to spray tan eight years ago when I was first diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma. I was skeptical as many of you may be, however, the first time I got a spray tan I was hooked! I didn’t come out looking orange like Ross did during that episode of Friends. I came out looking like I just had a great vacation at the beach!
After years of spray tanning at salons I decided to invest in my own spray tanning machine. I know, you must be thinking that’s out of your price range. However, you may be surprised. If you think about the amount you spend on tanning, or spray tanning and take that amount yearly you have most likely paid for a spray tanning machine at least twice. I did a lot of research before buying my machine, but knew it would be worth it. You can find a spray tanning machine ranging from $200-$600 that are all great.
I suggest looking at Amazon or Ebay to find the best deal. I bought the MaxiMist pro. It came with a tent, which I highly recommend. I also purchase the Norvell tanning solution, which is by far my favorite tanning solution. (click here to see the machine) I buy my solution off of Amazon. You can find it by clicking here. I highly recommend the Venetian or dark solution. Do not be worried by the name dark. I promise you will love it. If you get the light or medium you honestly can’t even tell you have a tan.
Disclaimer. At first you will be dark, because these solutions have a bronzer in them. I recommend tanning at night, then sleep in the solution after letting it dry, then wash off in the morning. In my experience it has showed me the best results.
However, if you want to start with a self tanner lotion here are a few of my favorites. Norvell also has a few self tanner lotions that I really like. Click here to see the list of Norvell tanners. St. Tropez is also another great self tanner, you can find there products here. I also buy the Norvell Tan Exteneding Lotion. Normal lotion will strip your tan faster, this helps maintain the tan keeping it lasting longer.
Even though I spray tan, I still go to the pool in the summer. The key is to keep applying sunscreen so you don’t burn. Burning is what can cause skin cancer. Plus, we are teaching our kiddos how to protect their skin as well.
Now go enjoy summer and show off those tan legs!
Have questions or comments? Email me at Kelli(at)SouthwestMissouriMoms(dot)com.
I love to see photos of beautiful sunsets and the sky alight with sunbeams piercing the clouds. I suppose God gives these beautiful displays all over the world, since He does love everyone! But it seems they are particularly gorgeous in the Ozarks, and I am grateful for opportunities to witness, when “the heavens declare His glory” (Psalm 19:1)
I was reminded of a “Dennis the Menace” cartoon I saw recently. Dennis and his friend are looking at a magnificent sky, and Dennis remarks, “If heaven is that pretty on the bottom, think how it must look on the top!” How true, Dennis…how true. If we are blinded by the small shafts of heaven’s light that we can see from this side, what glory there must be on the other side!
We cannot imagine the unimaginable, since God reserves some surprises to reveal in His own timing. But we can be assured that those who die loving Him, will experience glory beyond imagining, love beyond human reasoning, and peace that “passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). So let the little peeks at heaven, teasing us through the dark clouds of life, be reassurance and hope…that glory beyond our comprehension awaits us on the other side.
Jennifer is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is mom to two grown (twin) sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law and four granddaughters. Her late husband, John, pastored two churches in Barry County, Missouri, and one in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Jennifer serves in teaching, music and lay counseling through her church, Arnhart Baptist Church, Purdy, Missouri. She also enjoys leading retreats and Bible studies for women.
The chamber highlights five Table Rock Lake adventures families can enjoy:
Jun 8-10; Jun 14-17; Jun 21-24
June 9th 10:00-12:00
June 9th 8:00am-2:00pm
June 14th 6:00-9:00pm
June 15th & 16th 7:30pm
June 16th 8:00pm
June 16th
June 18th
June 22nd 7:00pm
June 23rd
June 23rd 11:00pm-4:00pm
June 23rd-24th 11:00am-3:00pm
Jun 28-Jul 3; Jul 5-6
June 29th 8:45-10:00pm
June 29th 7:30pm
