Bronze medallists

We check out some of the hottest new ways to get bronzed this season, and shoot them on incredible bronze swimwear from TRIANGL…

We check out some of the hottest new ways to get bronzed this season, and shoot them on incredible bronze swimwear from TRIANGL.

TRIANGL is a fairly new brand to come to my attention – and attention grabbing it is indeed – but it’s absolutely huge in Australia. It’s a Hong Kong-based company, managed and run by Australians, who send out internationally. The swimsuits are all two-piece, string bikini-style, in plain and printed neoprene which you will be more familiar with in wetsuits than in swimsuits. Thread’s pick is the Billy Firefly pictured here, with its bronze bottoms and mesh-covered bikini top. They retail for around $90 and you can buy them online at www.triangl.com.au

First up, bronzing powders…

INIKA Mineral Bronzer is the perfect choice for a bronzed glow if you are looking for a product that’s 100% certified vegan and 100% certified cruelty free. It comes in four shades – so the pale-faces won’t look over-toasted and can you can choose the ight tone to go up one or two shades from your normal summer base skintone. Pictured below is Sunkissed. INIKA Mineral Bronzer retails for $49.99 from selected pharmacies and health food stores nationwide and www.inikacosmetics.co.nz

Protect your eyes properly out in the sun this summer – just do it stylishly, in bronze and tortoiseshell – what a classic combo. Versace tortoiseshell sunglasses from OPSM stores. www.opsm.co.nz

I already knew Osmosis did amazing skincare, so I was delighted to discover their cosmetics line. Osmosis +Colour is a mineral makeup collection with Goji berries contributing amino acids and protein complex. It also contains the vital Vitamins and antioxidants you would know and expect with such a famous skincare brand behind them. This is a makeup line that’s based on science to not just mask defects, but improve skin. Thread also likes they have complete UVA and UVB sun protection using zinc oxide. Part of the line is this Bronzer which comes in two shades: a lighter South Beach, and darker Bora Bora, pictured below. By the way it also has my favourite kabuki brush; firm and it means business! Osmosis +Colour is available at beauty and appearance medicine clinics. See www.osmosisskin.co.nz or phone tollfree 0800 osmosis.

Prettiest compact out this season has to be this Mayan/Aztec imprinted Summer Bronzing compact, from Clarins Splendours collection. I’m not sure if you can set the date by its Mayan calendar while lying on the beach or use it as a sundial to tell the time, but it’s almost as useful as a bronzer. It has flecks of iridescent golden and coppery lights to catch the light and impart skin with a shimmer. The trick is to mix all of the shades on the brush, not on your face, so you get an even glow that looks natural but with a little somethin’-somethin’.

Clarins Limited Edition Splendours Summer Makeup Collection is available from 4th November from Clarins counters and this beautiful bronzer compact will be $67.

Next up…self-tans.

If you choose to tan without harsh chemicals perhaps try out this new organic tanning solution: BROWNALLYEAR. ‘Brown All Year’ self tans are chemical-free and developed by Haliee Wheeler who has spray-tanned over 13,000 people with Brownallyear specialist line, and has created this home line now so you can spray tan at home yourself. It has cute packaging and branding, too. BROWNALLYEAR Instant Tanning Spray is $23.50, Chocolate Tanning Cream is $33.50, and Velvet Blending Glove is $13.50, available from tanning clinics and online at www.brownallyear.com

The biggest problem people have with self tanning at home is the dreaded streak. So if you don’t want to become a streaker yourself, you could try out Garnier’s solution – its new Ambre Solaire self-tanning mousse is specifically targeted at ‘No Streaks’ bronzing. It is $20.49 from supermarkets and pharmacies.

Continuing with the mousse theme, Clarins SPF15 Delectable Self-Tanning Mousse has an amazingly light, whipped cream texture. It contains mirabelle oil to hydrate skin while you’re in the sun, with a sun protection factor of SPF15.

Modelco has these two stunning products out in summery hot Schiaparelli pink and coral orange that have me dreaming for the beach just looking at them. Modelco Body Bronze Dry Touch is a multi-tasker (who doesn’t love that?) which I think of somewhat as a BB cream-for-your-body inasmuch as it’s a moisturiser, a SPF50 sunscreen, and gives you a lovely golden glow. This is just perfect to throw in your holiday packing as it will do three things in one. $43.50 from Farmers, pharmacies and department stores and www.modelcocosmetics.com

Also from Modelco is this three-in-one product – they are pretty handy over at Modelco, I tell you! Daily Face is a mattifying sunscreen, and a lip balm, and a mirror inside the lid. Ingenious. I generally find face sunscreens terrible to put makeup over, so was relieved to find this is a mattifying sunscreen with moisturisers and works as a makeup primer as a base for foundation. It’s a one colour suits all nude beige colour when it comes out that blends in well to a non-greasy finish. $39.95 from Farmers, pharmacies and department stores and www.modelcocosmetics.com

Lastly…sunscreens.

If you do go out in the sun and surf, make sure you’re fully covered – with sunscreen, that is! Surf Lifesaving Sunscreen is a high protection SPF50+ UVA/UVB sunscreen to give the maximum strength protection. It is water-resistant for 4 hours, and is paraben-free. Plus, $1 from every product goes to Surf Lifesaving NZ. Save your skin – and save someone else’s! It is $9.99 for the handy clip bottle, and $12.99 for 100ml tube available at Farmers, pharmacies, and supermarkets.

Tuck these into your beach bag…

The scientific difference behind Neutrogena Beach Defence is Helioplex technology. It delivers broad spectrum protection that’s photostable and reduces the level of free radicals absorbed into skin. Neutrogena Beach Defence Water + sun barrier lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF50 are $24.99 each from pharmacies and supermarkets.

And after any sun exposure, soothe skin with Clarins After Sun Gel Ultra-Soothing. It rehydrates skin and helps your tan last longer, with self-tanning ingredients. Best yet – it works on suntans, spray tans and self-tans to refreh and hydrate skin.

Swimsuits by TRIANGL. Also in Minnesota Marle, in grey marle with black stretch trim, pictured below on a beach towel by Citta Design (www.cittadesign.com/). View the myriad of gorgeous colours and prints of TRIANGL’s latest collection, and shop online, at www.triangl.com.au

Megan Robinson, 10 October 2013