Million Dollar Tan Cabana Tan Extreme Face & Body Lotion Review!

Million Dollar Tan Cabana Tan Extreme Face & Body Lotion

Million Dollar Tan Cabana Tan Extreme Face & Body Lotion ($66) is Million Dollar Tan's Best Selling Formula for long-lasting, natural, ultra-bronzed color. It's made with organic ingredients and is paraben free.

I jumped on the Million Dollar Tan bandwagon after it seemed like every Youtube beauty guru was raving about it and deeming it their all-time favorite self tanner. Despite the hefty price tag, I gave in with expectations of a beautiful, deep tan.

I really like the consistency of the lotion. It's thin - therefore it smoothes on the skin easily and doesn't leave a heavy feeling on the skin. Also, the lotion isn't tinted, which has it's advantages as well as disadvantages. I really like the fact that it isn't tinted because it allows me to apply the lotion to my neck, chest and body in the morning after my shower, and I can look forward to bronzed skin hours later. The only disadvantage is that since it isn't tinted, you can easily miss areas of your body since it goes on clear. To avoid streaking/missing areas, work in small areas at a time.

Application

I don't typically like using my bare hands to apply self tanner, but it's my preferred method with this particular tanner. Latex gloves streaked the product on my skin and wouldn't properly blend, and a mitt seemed to absorb too much product. To apply, I would just simply pump some product into my palm and apply it to my skin as I would a normal body lotion - in circular buffing motions. To make the product go a little further, I'd like to add a pump of regular body lotion to every two pumps of self tanner. For my neck/chest, I like to be a little darker, so I usually apply around two layers of product. It dries pretty quickly, so once dry, you can apply another coat of product for a darker result.

*To avoid orange knees, elbows and feet, I will use a small amount of body lotion and rub it into those areas before and after applying the self tanner.

To avoid over-tanned hands and palms, I typically wash my hands a couple of times through the application process.

LORAC TANtalizer Deep Body Bronzing Luminizer Review, Photos and Swatches!

LORAC TANtalizer Deep Body Bronzing Luminizer

LORAC TANtalizer Deep Body Bronzing Luminizer ($32) is a shimmering deep-dark bronzing cream for the body. It provides instant, long lasting color to the skin without the sun or the hassle of self-tanning - and it washes off easily by the end of the night.

I've been using self-tanner for years to maintain a dark tan, but I've slowed down a lot in the past couple of years and have been keeping up with a more natural sunkissed glow.

Whenever I feel that I'm lacking color or if I want to enhance my fresh, faux tan, I always go for a tinted body moisturizer.

I always used L'Oreal Sublime Bronze One Day Gel and it worked great, but I'm pretty sure it's been discontinued, as I can't find it anywhere. I've also used Milani Body Bronzer, and it worked fine, but the results were slightly orange. That too was discontinued. So, my quest in finding a new instant bronzing tint led me to LORAC.

LORAC Tantalizer Deep Body Bronzer has the typical creamy water-based moisturizer consistency that you see in most body bronzers. It's a deep bronze shade with loads of ultra-fine golden iridescence.

It smells like vanilla, and although I loathe the smell of artificial vanilla, it's light enough where I can't smell it unless I put it up to my nose.

You can apply it as you would a self tanner or moisturizer (bare hands is fine, it washes off immediately) and the color blends out really well without looking patchy or uneven. I like mixing it with equal parts moisturizer so it smoothes on easier and so the product goes a longer way. Depending on how much you apply, you can get pretty dark, but because of the shimmer, I only use a light coat to keep it looking natural. On my skin, it's a true bronze with brown and slight red undertones. I wouldn't consider it orange.

My main use for this product is applying it on my neck and décolleté to make my skin sunkissed and glowing. It's really useful for the days when I forget to self-tan and need my face makeup to match my neck.

Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tanning Liquid Review!

Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tanning Liquid

Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tanning Liquid ($25) is a fast-drying, fast-absorbing, dark self tanning liquid that is designed to be applied with the application mitt provided for a quick and easy tan. It's also transfer-resistant, so it won't stain your sheets or transfer onto your clothing if you decide to apply it in the morning and go about your day. It also doesn't have that nasty self-tanning, chemical scent - it is lightly fragranced with a tropical scent.

•No Artificial Preservatives •Paraben Free •Suitable for all skin types

I think just about every single one of us self-tanning addicts ran out and bought this stuff after Steph, SMLx0 on YouTube mentioned that it is her favorite self tanner. You can view her video review and application demo by clicking here.

I'm pretty much the self-tanning queen around here (well, I use to be anyway..) and I always use SUN Labs as my go-to self-tanner. I'd typically purchase a couple large (professional use) bottles, and it'd last me the full year with regular use. I venture out sometimes and try new ones, but I've always been pretty satisfied with SUN, so I didn't really care to look elsewhere.

Well I've gone on a self-tanning break for pretty much most of 2012 (the biggest break in 10 years!) and recently I've been slowly but surely getting back into the routine. 


I've been using Fake Bake Flawless now at least once a week for the past 3-4 months, and it's all I've been using.

10 Beauty Products I'm Loving Right Now!

1)      L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Clear Self-Tanning Gel – As some of you may have noticed, I dropped my religious routine of fake baking (self-tanning) last October, but I felt like it was time for a little bit of color again. So, I recently purchased this and have been using it on my face, décolleté and arms, and I’ve really been enjoying it! Sure, it’s no St. Tropez, but for something quick and easy, it works well. And, it doesn’t stink, or break out my skin – yay!

2)      Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter – Can we say yum!? Blood Orange is one of my favorite scents, and if you are keen on orange, this body butter is a must-have. It’s fruity, it’s sweet, it’s spicy – it’s everything you could ask for.

3)      Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Penetrating Oil– I’ve had this for a while now, and am beginning to realize (when I don’t use it) how awesome it really is. When I use this, my hair feels softer and everyone around me seems to notice how good my hair smells – that alone will make me want to keep using it!

4)      It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in plus Keratin– I dyed my hair last week (one shade lighter, you can barely tell in photos) so I wanted a good leave-in treatment to keep my hair hydrated. I knew about this stuff for ages, but never purchased it because of the hefty price tag ($20/4oz). With the health of my hair in m best interest, I decided to take the plunge, and I’m punching myself in the arm for not buying it sooner. Best Leave-in I’ve tried, hands down. It leaves my hair so much more manageable and my hair looks and feels so much healthier.

5)      Reviva Labs Hyaluronic Acid Serum– One of my past favorites. I just got a hold of a new bottle and the sparks in my heart started flying once again. Applied under a moisturizer (or alone) this serum keeps my skin hydrated better than anything else. I never have a bad skin day when I’m using my Reviva Labs.

Clarins Auto Bronzant Intense Self Bronzing Tint Review!

Clarins Auto Bronzant Intense Self Bronzing Tint

Ever since I started paying very close attention to the products I put on my face, and recognizing which products irritate my skin, I noticed that the SUN Labs Spray I was using, breaks me out. I've been using SUN Labs for the past 5 years with no problems, but when I used it recently and woke up to a few blemishes, I went on the search for a tanning product that won't irritate my face. I'm not sure if the current bottle I have of SUN Labs is a different formulation (or if it's old), because my bottle is paraben free, and when I search for SUN Labs, I'm finding bottles that contain parabens. There are also formulations that don't contain fragrance, and mine does. I'm going to have to look further into it. In the mean time, I came across Clarins self tanning products, which have very positive reviews.

I took a look at the ingredient list, and it's quite short in comparison to other brands of tanning products. A shorter list, is always a good thing (less chance of irritations).

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Dihydroxyacetone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Erythrulose, Fragrance, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 15985/Yellow 6, CI 19140/Yellow 5, CI 17200/Red 33, CI 42090/Blue 1.

 Active Ingredients:

-Improved duo of DHA (now at 8%) and Erythrulose: Promotes a rich, tropical color.

-Vitamin E: Protects against harmful free radicals.

-Aloe Vera: Keeps skin soft and hydrated.

-Cocoa: Maintains radiance.

There are some ingredients that may be problematic to some, If you are sensitive to Fragrance in products on your face, this can possibly cause irritations, as Fragrance is listed pretty early on in the list. Castor Oil may bother some & it also contains Alcohol early on as well, some of you with dry skin may find it drying. So, moisturizing is key.

I was really excited to try this stuff out, and I tried it the same night I purchased it. The directions are to apply with a cotton pad over your regular moisturizer, avoiding your hair line. So, I went on with my regular skincare routine (cleanse, bha, moisturizer) and I put a little bit into my palm and smoothed it over my face. Then of course, washed my hands very well. The self tanner itself, is a golden brown liquid. It absorbs quickly with a light golden color guide. Nothing greasy, nothing frightening, so you can most likely get away with it during the day with a light coat. I love that this doesn't have the typical self tanner smell. It doesn't have a chemical scent, nor does it have the "cherry almond" scent of other popular self tanners. It's a very fresh scent, kind of hard to describe. I would describe it as the way my hair would smell after I left a salon that deep conditioned my hair. haha, that "salon product" scent.

The following morning after I've applied this, my face is tinted a light golden brown, with no irritations. In fact, I've been using it all week and haven't had one pimple. I've only used it over moisturizer, so I can't say how it works when it is absorbed into dry skin. I'm sure the tan would be deeper on dry skin, but you can also build the color within a few days. Color generally doesn't last long on my face. I would say this has average lasting power.. around 2-3 days. I do though, wash my face 2-3 times a day, which makes it fade faster.

I usually apply it, like mentioned, with my hands after I apply a moisturizer. I have also applied it with a clean, synthetic blush brush (natural bristles will stain) & a self tanning mitt. They all work fine. I haven't used a cotton pad, because I don't own them, but I prefer other methods, as cotton tends to soak up product and get on your fingers anyway - so why not just use your fingers to save product.

What I really love other than what I've mentioned is that you only need a very small amount of product. I literally put 3-4 drops in my palm and it gives me good color. For a deeper tan, I could of course use more, but I've been going a little but lighter lately (as some of you have noticed) with my self tan.

The price is $33 for 4.2oz, which some of you may find very expensive. Yes, it is expensive, but it is comparable to other higher end self tanners. For example, St Tropez Mousse is $30 for 4 oz. SUN Labs differs because you can find it all over the net for cheaper, but at ULTA an 8 oz bottle is around $37. So, SUN may be half the price.. but I think Clarins is a good investment (for me at least) and I believe it will last me a while. It's meant for your face and decollete (neckline), so it may not be something you'll use every day, and when you do use it, you'll be using small amounts.

Overall, very happy with this, and I'm very pleased to have found a product that will keep me golden, without the breakouts.

Have you tried this or other Clarins self tanning products? The only other Clarins self tanning product I've tried in the past was the Auto-Bronzant Special Visage Tinted Self Tanning Face Cream spf 15, which I didn't care for at all.

How to avoid your self tanner from settling in your pores & Tips for a perfect tan!

Q: Why is it that when I self tan, the tan settles into my pores and makes them look more noticeable!?

(If you haven't had this happen to you and you don't know what I'm talking about, it's when you apply self tanner and your pores appear darker and more noticeable)

First of all, you're not really going to know if this will happen to you unless you are familiar with the product you are using. Considering everyone's skin reacts differently, you can follow all of the right steps. Shower, exfoliate, shave & moisturize. Then, before you hit the sack you apply the self tanner with pristine skill, wait for it to fully dry and go to sleep. Then you wake up to legs full of dark dots. While your BFF did everything you did, and woke up with legs good enough to be in a Skintimate commercial.

Typically, you are more prone to these spots when you use a self tanner that provides a deep, dark tan with a very dark color guide (color guide: a dark colored lotion, essentially a bronzer that "guides" you from missing spots that a clear lotion can miss).

So, dark self tanners such as: St. Tropez Self Tanning products, SUN Labs Tanning products, St. Moriz, Bare Essentials Faux Tan, Neutrogena Instant Bronze.. shall I go on?

Tips for an Even Tan, Spot Free!

1) Avoid salt & sugar exfoliate. They might sound great because they make your skin feel super soft and give an overall polished look. You think your skin is the perfect canvas. But no, your exfoliate has fooled you. It has just left an oily film on your skin that actually, creates a barrier between your skin and your self tanner. So when you apply your self tanner, your skin isn't absorbing it efficiently. Thus, giving the opportunity of an un-even tan. Also if you're planning on shaving.. a salt exfoliate can irritate your skin. Think. You just revealed new, sensitive, fresh skin cells with the help of large grains of salt and now you're going to shave. I don't know about you, but it makes me cringe. I automatically think about salt on open wounds.. which also makes me think of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. LOL!!! (Don't mind me, it's late) An exfoliation glove works great with a shower gel. Plus, they are inexpensive. You can pick one up at Dollar Tree, for yes.. a dollar. Just buff your skin in gentle, circular motions.

2) Invest in a good razor. Generally, more expensive razors = better quality razors. They tend to protect your skin better (many have an aloe or lotion strip) & will give you the closest shave. You definitely want the closest shave you can get so you won't have to end up shaving over your self tan. Using a cheap razor (please don't get your razors from Dollar Tree while you're there) can irritate your skin once you apply your self tan. I've had it happen before and it stung, a lot!! Really, what's an extra few dollars to spend to have silky smooth, non irritated legs? It's one thing I don't like to go cheap with. That and my Secret Clinical Deodorant (dang you, Secret for charging so much!). I use a Schick Quattro for men and I love it. I change the blades constantly when they dull. If you know your skin in sensitive, try to avoid shaving right before you apply your self tanner. If possible, shave the day before or in the morning if you're planning on tanning at night. Give your skin a little time. Avoid oil based shaving creams or hair conditioner. A shave gel is preferred.

3) The right moisturizer. Moisturizing is a preference. It's not necessary. Some people swear by moisturizing prior to applying their self tanner. Some never use a moisturizer with equally great results. It's whatever you like. Moisturizing your skin may help the self tanner smooth evenly on your skin. Just make sure it's not... (you should know this by now) oil based. Use a water based moisturizer that will absorb into your skin. Not a moisturizer that will sit on top of your skin. You can tell if your lotion is water based by looking at the first ingredient on the back. It should say "Water". Too many excess oils can cause your skin to break out. I've experienced using an oily exfoliate, an oily shave cream and applying body cream before tanning. I woke up with pimples on my neck. I thought, what in the world!? I've never had a pimple on my neck. But it makes sense. Exfoliating your skin and then applying so many excess oils to go straight into your pores.

4) The right temperature. Believe it or not, this plays a roll. If you're planning on self tanning once you've just gotten out of your steamy shower, give a little time to cool off instead. Let the bathroom air out. Applying in warm or hot conditions is not ideal for your self tan. When you're showing in hot or warm water, all of your pores open up. Applying self tanner when all of your pores are open is a no-no. This can be one of the main culprits of having your self tan settle in your pores. I know, who wants to stand around naked and cold to apply their self tanner? Apply it at room temperature or with a fan nearby. If you're prone to having very visible pores after tanning, likely on your legs, face or arms.. splash or run cold water on your skin and pat your self dry with a towel. Then apply the tanner right away. When your skin is cold, your pores tighten. Cold water might be unpleasant, but it works.

5) Tighten your pores even more. Use a toner. Witch Hazel works great for me. Apply some on a cotton pad and smooth it over your skin. There are other products like Tendskin, that work great as well. Again, when your pores are tightened and your skin is free of oily residue, your skin will absorb the tan like nobodies business. And that's exactly what you want. You'll notice less color will wash off in the shower.

6) Application method. Make sure to wear tight fitting gloves. I prefer latex gloves over plastic gloves because they are better fitting and have a softer texture. If you're wearing loose fitting plastic gloves, like the ones you'd get in a box of hair dye.. you have more chances of getting a streaky tan. I personally like gloves mostly for lotions. For mousses and sprays, I prefer a self tanning mitt as it covers more area in one swipe.. not to mention it applies liquids very evenly.

7) Drying Time. Allow your skin adequate drying time. This is one reason I like sprays. Most contain alcohol, making the drying time very fast. If you've just applied a lotion, allow a little extra time for your tan to dry. Wear loose fitting clothes and don't come in contact with water.

8) Longer is always better. Ehem. The longer time you wait for your tan to develop, the better. If you're using a super dark self tanner, the DHA (what's essentially making you bronze) needs time to develop. With most self tanners, you need a minimum of 8 hours. I like to have my self tanner on for at least 10 hours before I bathe. My tan ALWAYS looks the darkest, and best when I've kept it on the longest. If you're going to be home all night, don't always wait for the moment you're going to go to bed. Try tanning as early as you can so there is more development time.

9) Rinse. Yes, shower. If you followed the steps, you shouldn't be scared of losing your tan by scrubbing your body like usual. Like I mentioned, the more your skin absorbs the tanner, the less color will wash off each time. If your tan developed with a barrier between your skin, your tan won't be as intense. Thus, more will rinse off in the shower because SO much less product was actually absorbed in your skin. **When it's time to shave next, this is where having a good razor will come in again. Using a good razor generally won't take your tan away. Bad razors can cause streaks in your self tan or remove it.

10) Moisturize. Make sure to keep your skin moisturized to maintain your tan! :)

I hope some of these tips helped you!! Do you have any tips of your own?

Get a Sunless Tan Instantly with L'Oreal Sublime One Day Gel!

L'Oreal Sublime One Day Tinted Gel for Face & Body

I discovered L'oreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Gel randomly one day while I was at CVS Pharmacy shopping for self-tanner. After reading the information on the front and back of the bottle, it really caught my interest that it's said to provide instant color that can be washed off by the end of the day. I figured it can come in real handy.

Have you ever planned to apply self tanner the night before you were supposed to go somewhere & you accidentally fell asleep & woke up the following morning cursing?! OR, applied a self tanner, went to bed & woke up to NO tan what-so-ever?! It's happened to me several times when trying something new or if I didn't wait long enough for the lotion to dry & went straight to bed (holy tan lines!). With self tanner, you never really know what you're going to wake up to. It may not happen often when using the same products, but on occasion you may wake up to a tan that falls beneath your expectations. That's where this awesome product comes in. I'm starting to sound like an infomercial.

Well, it's obviously not only to fix goof ups. That's just an added plus.

-If you're not a self tan user and you want some color and self tanner makes you nervous.. this is a great alternative.

-Maybe you already have an awesome natural tan and you want something to apply to your skin to add an extra glow and to slightly deepen your tan.

-It's for anyone, of any skin tone that wants some extra color and glow.

-It's a "commitment free" tan.

There aren't many steps to the process and there is no difficult technique to follow. It's not necessary to exfoliate prior to application (although it can't hurt). 

(These are the steps as listed above)

Step 1:

Start out with clean, dry skin. You can moisturize your skin with a body lotion prior to application, but it's not completely necessary. Having freshly lotioned skin, makes the blending time go a little faster (It only takes about a minute anyway). You can always apply lotion afterward to blend everything better. If you're applying this to your legs, shave prior to application. Put on a pair of plastic gloves or you can use a self a self tanning mitt. Put a couple of pumps of lotion in your hand or directly on your skin. It's alright if you under estimate how much to apply. You'll be able to add more without worrying if the color will cake.

**I've made the mistake of applying this with my hands because I figured, it's not a self tanner. But it temporarily dyed my hands & I had to scrub them vigorously for a few minutes to get rid of the color. It washes off a lot easier on your body. Just a little water and soap.. but for some reason, your palms really soak up the color.

Step 2:

Spread the color all over the area you want to cover with your hand. Then, blend the color in your skin using circular motions. If you need more lotion, go ahead and add a couple more pumps. If you see it looking too dark, add a little of your own moisturizer and continue to blend the area in circular motions to lighten it up. Once it all looks blended, let your skin dry. It dries in less than a minute. If you applied a body lotion prior to the application of the bronzing lotion, it may take an extra minute for your skin to dry.

**I love applying a shimmering body lotion after my tan has dried. Even though this lotion has a slight shimmer to it, I love for my skin to shine!

That's it! Once your skin is dry, you can get dressed.

Also, one thing to mention. Once you've used this for the first time, the next time you use it, put one pump (or a half a pump) in the garbage first. The very end of the lotion that sits in the pump tends to harden up and you will end up smoothing around a tiny clump of bronzer with your application.

Here are some addition pictures of me applying the lotion to my FULL arm.

Questions you may have?

Does it rub off on your clothes?

No. If it has dried, it shouldn't rub off. I was nervous when I first starting using it, and applied it to my arms and wore short sleeves out. I thought, what If I rest my arm on something and I'm going to have white marks on my arms?? It didn't end up happening. It has always stayed in place for me. Now, if you're sweating a lot, the color may bleed onto your clothing like any body bronzer would.

It has not stained any of my clothes after I washed them.

If I apply it to my hands, am I able to still wash my hands?

Yes.. but not several times. If I ever need to use it on my hands, I don't spend a lot of time running my hands under the water. I focus on my palms rubbing gently, rinse the soap off and pat my hands with a paper towel. The tan may disappear after a few quick hand washes.. but it shouldn't disappear after only washing them once. Just again, make sure to be very gentle and pat your hands dry.

Happy Tanning!

Have you used this product or a similar product? What did you think?

FOTD with my new stuff & St. Moriz Self Tanning!

I've been using my MAC Dainty Blush and Love Connection Mineralize eyeshadow, and I'm really liking them! I thought Dainty would be more of a baby pink.. but its like a peachy pink. No complaints though :) And love connection is very pretty. If you use the whitish colored side.. its like a shimmery taupe.. and if you combine them, you're left with a very shimmery bronze. This would even be pretty on your cheeks! You need a base though because when i swatched this on my hand, i took my other hand and wiped it off.. and it all came off in one wipe. To me, its like a compacted shimmery pigment. I didn't use a base though and it was fine. Next time I'll use one.

Here it is swatched on my hand:


And here goes my face of the day..


eyes closed..


FACE:
Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Tawny
Palladio Wet/Dry Foundation Powder in Cypress Beige
MAC Golden Bronzer (I really am liking this.. at 1st I hated it)
MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty

EYES:
MAC Espresso eyeshadow (in my crease)
MAC Typograhic eyeshadow (to darken crease and to darken line under my eyes)
MAC Folie eyeshadow (smudged under my eyes)
MAC Mineralize eyeshadow in Love Connection (filled my lid)
MAC Pigment in Your Ladyship (as a highlight and inner corners)
Rimmel Brown Eye Kohl (lined very softly my eye lid)
L'Oreal Extra Intense Liquid Liner Pencil in Black on my waterline
L'Oreal Collagen Mascara

 LIPS:
MAC Lip Liner Pencil in Spice
Smashbox Lip Gloss in Aura

 Self Tanner Update: I really, really love St. Moriz self tanner. If you are able to get your hands on a bottle, you should definitely try it.. and it's so cheap! I've been using it since I bought it, and you can really control your level of darkness. One thing I really like about it, is when I shower and scrub it off.. I don't have to scrub so hard and get my skin all red like I do when removing SUN labs self tanner. This comes off pretty easily. I guess that could be a good or bad thing. Bad because if you shower in the morning, bye bye most of your tan. I shower at night, so I don't wash the color guard off in the morning.. and its not streaky at all. When I applied it, it looked very streaky.. but within a minute.. it all settled in my skin and seemed to blend together itself! One thing I also like about this is, I can apply it to my face during the day and run errands and not look like a mud monster. It gives me a pretty bronzed color. I've ran errands with SUN on my face and it has much more of a green hue.. and I looked a little crazy. So yes, thumbs up for this!

here I am after I just applied the self tanner to my face, neck and chest with a fluffy powder brush. I have no tan on my skin prior. I didn't apply anything to my arm to show the difference. My tan of course looked better in the morning.. but i wanted to just show you a quick visual of what it looks like after applied. :) I don't have a picture from the morning.. gahh i couldn't find my battery charger.

Sunless Tanning! (My Self Tanning Routine)

I have been self-tanning for years. I started using self tanner when I was around 13 years old. I remember it was Spring break of 7th grade and I tried out a tube of Banana Boat self tanner and when I came back I told everyone I went to Florida. haha!! Since then, I've got hooked and haven't stopped using it since. I'm talking about I've been applying self tanner every few days for the past 8 years. I never go without a tan. I'm so use to myself being tan, that I feel like I look strange and unlike myself without one!

My real skin tone is very fair, probably around NC15 in MAC terms. I take after my Mom's genes as she is very fair (Nordic descent - the most susceptible to sun damage; burns in the sun) and my Dad is dark (Middle Eastern - tans easily). I do not tan easily. Infact, my skin doesn't tan at all. If I lay in the sun for hours, I'll either burn or nothing will happen. That's one reason I don't really do tanning beds either. It's so hard for me to get a real tan. I've gotten tanning bed memberships a few times and went every day in the highest beds using the most expensive lotion with 20x bronzers. Stupid I know. I was only getting freckles on my face and a very faint tan on my legs, stomach and lower back. My chest, arms, neck and face were getting no color what so ever. So I gave up on tanning beds and accepted the fact that I have little to no pigment in my skin. 

So with that said, I've tried many tanning lotions over the years and found my favorite few.

MY TOP PICKS:

 

From left to right: St. Tropez Auto Bronzant Lotion, St. Tropez Whipped Bronze Mousse, SUN labs ULTRA DARK Lotion, SUN labs ULTA DARK Mousse, SUN labs ULTRA DARK Spray and Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer for Medium to Tan skin tones.  

These are my favorites by which I use. St. Tropez and SUN are extremely similar, I can't really notice a difference. They both give me a nice brown tan. I started purchasing St. Tropez a couple of years ago when I was watching Katie and Peter the reality show with UK model Katie Price and husband Peter Andre, and she was using St. Tropez Auto Bronzant and her tan looked amazing! After that, I had to buy it. I bought a huge 32 oz bottle and loved it ever since. 

I started purchasing SUN also a couple years ago when I was at ULTA wanting an amazing tan, so I picked up the most expensive one on the rack, which was SUN Labs and it has been my Holy Grail self tanner ever since. 

I don't have too much of a preference on which formula I prefer.. I think using a mousse is the easiest and the fastest application. I'd prefer it, but like I said, It doesn't matter to me. Sprays I like, but with aerosol cans, it tends to spray not only you, but your whole bathroom. So if you use a spray, make sure to wear some old slippers or flip flops and probably put a towel on the floor. Lotions I think take the longest because you really have to rub it in so its not streaky. With sprays and mousse, its just like water, and it seeps into your skin and doesn't require too much rubbing. 

I've noticed with St. Tropez, to get the best tan, apply it on thicker than normally, and don't rub it in, the more rubbing you do, the more streaky it will look. Let it sink into your skin. Apply it at night. You may look like a mud monster, but when you wake up it will be more even. And of course, when you rinse off the excess color guide. 

**Tip: When purchasing a self tanner, if it has a green tint to it, that means you have have a brown tan. Self tanners without the green pigment tend to be more on the orange side. 

Here is how I get my skin prepped for a self tan application! In the shower, I exfoliate my skin extremely well with body wash and an exfoliation glove. I am getting rid of my old tan (depending on how long it has been on for) and dead skin cells. This really makes your body smooth, and the perfect canvas for your self tanner. Exfoliation will also prevent ingrown hairs. In the shower, I'll really concentrate on scrubbing my neck and chest, because I feel that's the most important area to have an even tan. Then, I shave. Schick Quattro is the best! (I notice when I don't shave, the self tanner sits in my pores and makes it more noticeable that I didn't shave.)

TOOLS I'LL BE USING:

     

From left to right: Exfoliation Gloves, Self Tanning Mitt, Any Large Brush.. powder brush or kabuki (you're better off using a cheap one, because it will probably get ruined) and a Fan.  

FLAWLESS APPLICATION: Apply a small amount of product onto your brush. You will be first applying it to your face. Distribute the product all over your face with the brush. If you have too much product on your face, take the brush and wipe it a few times on a paper towel until its semi-dry and keep swiping your face so your face has even color. If you're near a fan, put your face in front of the fan for about a minute. (The reason I'm doing my face first is because I want it to be the most dry. Sometimes If I go to bed with damp self tanner on my face, the color will never fully develop, or I will end up with streaks.)

Then, the next place I apply my self tanner is my legs. I take some product and put it on the self tanning mitt and rub it into my legs in small circular, fast motions and work my way up to my stomach and back. Use the same type of circular motions on your body. Work quickly, because tanning lotion dries quick, and if you go over it, it will cake and be uneven. 

I SKIP my feet. Then, I do the same thing to my neck, back of my neck and chest. If I want a deeper tan on my neck and chest, I will use the brush, as it applies the self tanner heavier. I will put a lot of product on the brush and distribute it all over my neck and chest. Then, I stand in front of the fan having it blow on high on my neck and chest. This will help the tanner from dripping, or drying extremely slow b/c of the amount of product you have on. Using the mitt will give you a slightly lighter tan. It's also less time consuming. To get a deeper tan while using the mitt, you can apply the tanner with the mitt, and then do a quick spritz of spray over it without blending it. 

The last place I apply the tanner to is my arms. Why? Because I'm constantly moving around my arms applying the tanner to my body, and I don't want to rub against anything to smear my tan. I do my chest right before it so when I apply it to my arms, I can blend it in my shoulders well since obviously your shoulders are next to your chest. I use the mitt and apply it to my arms, upper arms and shoulders. I SKIP applying it to my hands and fingers. I'll let my tan dry for a few mins. Lastly, I'll take my Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer and apply it to my feet and toes, and apply it to my hands and fingers. Then, wipe off my palms with an old towel and lightly wipe between my fingers. I always use Jergens on my hands and feet so I won't have a really dark tan on my hands and feet, which makes it real noticeable that you've used self tanner. The Jergens gives you a soft tan, and it blends in very well with the darker tan from your wrist up. No streaks, no orange. 

Yay, done! 

OTHER TIPS:

• Mix a little pigment or shimmer into your self tanner for an extra glow! I sometimes put a little MAC Reflects Bronze into my self tanner and I'm extra glowy!
• The following day, use a shimmering body lotion. Applying lotion also maintains your tan for a longer time.
• For extra shiny legs, mix a little olive oil in with your moisturizer and you'll have sexy legs! (I do this all the time)

Have you tried any of these or others? Which self-tanner works the best for you?