Sugarplum Style Tip | Self-Tanner

Thanks so much for the love on our Zion post yesterday! I’m thrilled you guys are excited to hear more about our trip, and I can’t wait to share the next stop on our itinerary…Bryce Canyon!

But today we’re talking tans. Self-tanner, to be exact. I actually wrote this post a few years ago, but it remains one of my most popular…and with the first official day of Spring coming next week, I thought it was a good time to revisit. Soon we’ll be pulling out the skirts, dresses, and even shorts, and you can bet your boots if I’m showing bare legs, then they’re going to be tan!

Like most of us, I’ve had my fair-share of orange and streaky legs. Over the years, I’ve figured out what works best for me, and I’m happy to share my method with you. I’m no expert, but let’s see if you can tell the difference between my real and fake tan in these pics from previous posts (the answers can be found upside down at the bottom of the post)…

Pink Blouse (Pink Swing Tank) | Favorite White Jeans (on sale!!) | Earrings | Pumps

Monogrammed Bag | Bag Charm

Dress | Crossbody Bag (similar) | Bag Charm | Earrings

Fedora (similar) | Aviators | Watch | Flip Flops

Ruched Dress | Cardigan | Cage Heels | Similar Clutch

Pendant Necklace (similar) | Pave Hoop Earrings | Watch

Striped Dress (similar) | Wedges | Sunglasses | Tassel Necklace

White Dress (similar) | Floral Sandals (similar) | Similar Clutch | Earrings

Off-the-Shoulder Top | Distressed Jeans | Wedges
Color blocked Clutch | Sunglasses

Of course I’m not savvy enough to figure out how to invert text, so I’ll just tell you….real, fake, fake, fake, real, real, fake, real. How’d you do?

There are a million different self-tanners (give or take), but I’m a cheapo, so I prefer the drugstore variety. For the past few years, I’ve used the Loreal Sublime Bronze line, and loved it. It gives an even, natural-looking tan, however the spray makes a mess of the bathroom floor, so I only use it for hard-to-reach spots, and stick with the gel for my arms and legs. It does have a touch of shimmer, so that might not be your jam.

Then I discovered the holy grail of tanners…Jergen’s Sunless Tanning Mouse with instant color!

Oh yes, instant color! This is great because not only are you immediately tan, but you can see where you’re putting it. And it dries in less than 60 seconds…not a little bit dry, but completely, no-residue or stickiness dry. It’s also got the least amount of smell of any brand I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a lot).

So now that you know what I use, let’s talk about how I get the best results (these tips work for any brand).

{Application Tips & Tricks}

*The night before, shave and exfoliate. Not excessively, but enough to soften your skin.

*Moisturize immediately after bathing. These steps prime your skin for even absorption of the tanner.

*The next day, apply a thin, even layer of the tanning mouse to small areas at a time. Don’t rub down an entire leg with a big blob…I apply it to each leg in three sections (ankle, knee area, thigh). Same for arms and chest.

*Don’t forget the backs of your arms and down your sides.

*Lastly, apply a small bit to the tops of your feet and hands.

*Wash your hands immediately, scrubbing only the palms. The downside of the Jergen’s Mousse is how badly it will stain your hands if you don’t wash quickly, and aggressively! But that’s just the pigment that allows you to look immediately more tan.

*Wait until that evening to bathe again. You’ll be instantly tan, but the sunless tanner will also develop throughout the day.

*I don’t sun my face…real or fake…I use bronzer instead.

*I don’t want to have to apply it every few days, so I use the ‘dark’ shades so I can git ‘er done with a single application. It starts dark, and fades naturally over a week.

Can you tell which of these is sunless tan?

Striped Bag | Bag Charm

Answers: Fake, Real. And just in case you think I might have naturally dark skin, here’s a shot from an unseasonably warm January day. #caspercalled

I typically just use tanner on my arms, legs, and chest during the Spring, then my whole body once pool season rolls around. Feeling tan makes putting on a bathing suit a little less painful!

Do you use sunless tanner? What brand do you love, and tips do you have? I hear really good things about these tanning wipes, so I’ve got them on order to see for myself.