Posts Tagged ‘tanning lotion’

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!  

1. Sunscreen – This is a no-brainer, but we can’t stress enough, the most important.  (See our post about sunscreen for tips on what to apply and how to choose the sunscreen right for you).  The sun is strong at the beach.  The ocean and sand attract the sun’s rays with very little standing in your way.  Bring at least SPF 30, like Ahava Sun Moisturizer SPF 30.  Another great sunscreen product is Kiss My Face Sun Hot Spots, an SPF 30 touch up stick that is quick and easy to apply, especially good for sensitive areas.
2. Lip Balm - Your lips are extra sensitive to the sun and shouldn’t be ignored.  Try Burt’s Bees Lifeguard’s Choice Lip Balm, which is specifically designed to be used in the summer sun, containing SPF and ingredients that provide extra moisturizing relief.
3. Tanning Oil - We can’t stress this enough, if you must use tanning oil, we recommend using oil with SPF in it.  Our favorite is still Banana Boat’s Protective Tan Oil Spray with SPF 15.  Another good one is Ocean Potion’s Protective Tanning Spray Gel with SPF 8.  It’s actually an oil-free formula but encourages the skin to tan while at the same time nourishing it and keeping it safe.
4. Waterproof Mascara - A beach essential!  Try the new Urban Decay Waterproof Fatty Mascara You can be worry-free when it comes to  whether or not your mascara is smudging or running throughout the day.
5. Evian Mineral Water Spray - Keep yourself and your skin cool with portable Evian Mineral Water Sprays.  The French Alps mineral water has be proven to not only be a refreshing beverage, but also just as refreshing for your skin.
6. Insect Repellent - Some beaches are bug free, while others seem to occasionally attract those pesky little flies.  It doesn’t hurt to be prepared with an insect repellent, like Kiss My Face Sun Swy Flotter Insect Repellent.  Their formula is both DEET and paraben-free, which makes it good for you and the environment!
7. Hair Protectant - The sun can also do damages on your hair, making it dry and brittle.  Phyto Plage’s Protective Sun Veil was designed specifically to protect hair from the drying effects of the sun.  Also a great option, Alterna Caviar ‘s unique, Anti-Aging Beach Spray, which was created with beach hair in mind.  The spray is made with real ocean water and marine botanicals that help moisturize hair, protect it from sun damage, while creating sexy beach waves! 
8. Brush with detangler – The wind and water at the beach often leave long hair in a knotty mess.  Pack a small detangler brush, like Mason Pearson’s All Nylon Detangler Hairbrush with a leave in detangler spray, like Goldwell Moisture Light Detangle Spray.  That way, you’ll be able to take care of knots easily and effectively.   
9. Tan Extender - To keep your tan lasting days after you’ve packed up from the beach, try applying a tan extender.  Sun Laboratories makes a Sun Tan Maintainer, which preserves tan by hydrating with aloe vera and enhancing the appearance of a tan.  Bella Bronzer also makes their Olive Oil and Shea Butter Tan Extender that helps smooth and moisturize sun-kissed skin.  
10. Aloe Vera - We hope you don’t get burned!  But it’s always good to be prepared just in case.  Try Banana Boat’s Aloe After Sun Lotion, specifically design to help sooth and moisturize skin that’s been in the sun all day!

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!