Self-tanning oh  how our relationship has grown!

I am here to admit I love to be tan and loooooove spending time in the sun.  I will lay out on the beach for hours, but as we all know the sun is the devil when it comes to taking care of your skin. It is not good for the skin to be exposed to the sun for long periods of times and wearing sunscreen is KEY.

Now that I am a working adult (HA) I don’t get to lay out at the beach or see the sun in general as often as I would want. So to keep myself from turning into snow white I ventured off into the world of self-tanning…boy is it a big world. During this journey, I have found what works best for me and maybe will work for you too.

Now I will say I like a self-tanner to help give me a little color/glow but I am not thriving for the orange look or to look 10 shades darker. I like a natural bronze glow , it makes me feel more confident coming out of those cold winter months.

My first favorite is a gradual self-tanner these are the safest options when getting started. The Nivea Sun-Kissed Radiance Gradual Tanner is basically a lotion with no color guard that will gradually give you color the more you use it. You want to take the same steps in preparing as a regular self -tanner such as exfoliating and shaving.  This tan is VERY natural  with NO trace of orange. It usually takes 3 days of use to get a decent amount of color that will last about another 3 days or until you exfoliate. This option is foolproof!  The lotion doesn’t have a color guard so you can apply with your bare hands as you would a regular lotion and you don’t have to worry about any splotchy patches or orange hands + no dry time!

Next, we have the real deal. A self-tanner that will have you looking like you just came back from the Bahamas, in a good way! The Josie Maran Liquid Gold Tanning Oil took me by surprise about a year ago. My sister in law ordered it  from QVC and she is a little fairer than me. Once I saw how natural it looked on her skin tone I knew I needed it. It comes in about 4 different scents which is amazing and even comes with a mitt. You will need to prepare your skin per usual and then work section by section. Unlike the Nivea one this one has a color guard so you can see exactly where your are distributing the tan. Avoid putting too much on any  dry spots on your skin like knees and elbows to avoid any areas from getting splotchy. Leave on for 6-8 hours take a shower and boom you have that vacation glow. This tanner lasts me about 7 days and you will want to moisturize every day to prolong your tan time. Also, a good tip is you can do more than one layer depending on how dark you want to look. I usually do two layers on my legs because they see the least sunlight.

Last but not least is my go-to quick fix. I like to use this product when either my tan is fading or if I need to amp up my skin for a special occasion. The By Terry Tea to Tan is a temporary tan. You can spray it on wherever you need some extra color , blend it out with your hands and the next time you shower it’s gone! It takes no dry time and does NOT transfer onto clothes, its magic. I take this with me on every vacation! It has a little hint of shimmer which looks amazing in photos! *Plus this product can also be used on the face*
Are you into self -tanners, if so what are some of your favorites?