Posts Tagged ‘self tanners’

We recently posted our top 10 myths about sunscreen and stressed the importance of wearing SPF.  Just because you need to be cautious about lying out in the sun doesn’t mean your skin has to remain pale all summer long!  To help you along, we’ve put together a list of our best selling and favorite self-tanners.

You can also check out our post with tips on how to apply self-tanner.

The Lotions

L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Luminous Bronzer Self-Tanning Lotion

L’Oreal’s formula contains light-reflecting micro-particles that help to extenuate its bronzing effect on your skin.

Fake Bake Self-Tanning Lotion

Unlike many other self-tanners, you can actually see Fake Bake Self-Tanner when it’s applied.  The color is al natural and organic, so it will not stain your clothes or sheets.

SUN Laboratories Dark Sunsation Self-Tanner

SUN Labs provides the darkest fake tan out there – but doesn’t look fake!

Too Faced Tanning Bed in a Tube

This non-streaky formula not only gives your skin a natural looking glow, but its also formulated with grape seed extracts and safflower oil – both of which contain natural skin antioxidants and moisturizers.

Bare Escentuals Faux Tan Self-Tanner

Ideal for sensitive skin, Bare Escentuals Faux Tan Self-Tanner is made with all natural ingredients that won’t clog pore or irritation sensitive skin. 

The Sprays

Body Drench Quick Tan Sunless Tanning Mist

This fast-drying, cocoa vanilla scented formula was named “Best Tan in a Can” by StyleBakery.com in 2007, and again as one of their top five self tanners in 2008.  

Tan Towel Tanning Mist

This easy to apply spray contains aloe vera, and vitamins E and B5 to help moisturize the skin and heal it from any irritations.

Fake Bake Instant Self-Tan Spray

The affordable airbrush tan that you can do on your own!  

For the Face

Bella Bronze Olive and Grape Seed Extract Instant Face Self-Tanner

This product is actually a self-tanner and instant bronzer all in one!  The olive and grape seed extract contain natural anti-oxidants and anti-aging properties.

Tan Towel Classic Half Body Self Tanning Towelettes

You don’t know what you’re missing out on until you try Tan Towel’s self-tanning towels.  They’re so easy to use and provide quick, even application with just one towel!  

We’d Rather Be at the Beach…

While we’d much rather rather spend a day at the beach, self tanning can be a fantastic (and healthier) alternative for getting that sun-kissed look that we’ve been missing these past few months!

Self tanners often get a bad rep for being messy and smelly.  And we can’t forget how they were once notorious for turning the skin into that streaky orange color.  But in recent years, companies have gone to great lengths to perfect their tanners.  These days, most over the counter tanners create a much more natural looking tan.

Self Tanning Tips for First Timers

• Start out with lighter shades of tanner to see how your skin reacts.  You would rather see subtle results at first than extreme ones!
• Test out a small, inconspicuous patch of skin before applying to the entire body
• Exfoliate your skin before application to remove any excess dead skin cells.
• After you apply the product, wash your hands to avoid staining your palms or other objects you might touch.
• Use cotton balls to apply to your hands and fingers.
• Read the instructions on the label!  (We can’t stress this one enough!)  Every product is made a little differently, so it is important to follow how each one is supposed to be used!
• Even more sunless tanning tips.

At Home Sunless Tanning Options

Self tanners come in several different forms.  Depending on what sort of results you want should determine which technique is right for you.

Tanning Moisturizers

Tanning Moisturizers combine very small amounts of tanning ingredients with your daily moisturizer.  With moisturizers, it can be difficult to get a noticeable tan on the first use, but over time they gradually produce a very natural tan.  Moisturizing self tanners are perfect for if you have fair skin.   We recommend Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Moisturizer

Tanning Sprays

Tanning sprays or mists both leave your skin with an even bronze glow.  They are perfect if you don’t have a lot of time because they can cover large areas of the skin in one quick spraying motion.  They dry much faster than moisturizers, often on the spot without leaving any greasy residue.  We recommend Fake Bake Instant Self-Tan Spray

Self Tanning Towelettes

Towelettes are the easiest of the three to use and leave the least amount of messy residue!  They are ideal for covering up tan lines or or smaller areas of the skin because all you have to do is wipe them to apply!  We recommend Tan Towel Classic Half Body Towelettes

Other Quick Tan Options

If you’re still unsure about self tanning products, you can always fake a tan with bronzer!  We advise using a large bronzer brush for all over, natural looking coverage.   The only precaution is that the shimmer of bronzer can be more or less noticeable in different lightings.  Keep this in mind when applying to make sure you’re not too sparkly! For loose powder, we recommend Bare Escentuals Faux-Tan Powder, for a compressed powder, try Physicians Formula Pyramid Bronzer

Dangers of Tanning

We can’t discuss self tanners without quickly mentioning that tanning beds can be very dangerous.   They have become accepted as part of the norm for our society, which is not necessarily a good thing.  Women in the UK have taken the obsession with tanning to a different level and have been injecting themselves with an illegal and unsafe chemical that can make skin appear tanner.  We all love to feel a natural glow to our skin, and once in a while it’s great to sit out in the sun (with SPF of course). But it’s important not to get carried away!