Spring has fully sprung in Texas…sure there are still a few chilly days, but the time has come to shed the tights. I’ve even been able to wear shorts a few times. But you can bet your boots if I’m showing bare leg, then it’s going to be tan!
I shared my How to Transition to Spring tips, and showed several of them in #SugarplumStyle posts over on Facebook and InstaGram….and all have had one common and recurring comment from you guys….‘Tell us about your self-tanner!’
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 end of this post).
Of course I’m not savvy enough to figure out how to invert text, so I’ll just tell you….fake, fake, real, fake, real, fake. 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. 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.
This year 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).
*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.
Answers: Real, 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! My kids actually got in the pool this weekend, but there’s a few more weeks before this mama hops in!
But after falling down the Nordstrom rabbit-hole of cute new swimsuits, I may have to make an exception! I’m eyeing these sassy one-pieces this year…especially this one and this tankini. And hello darling striped cover-up and hat!
Do you use sunless tanner? What brand do you love, and tips do you have? Who’s ready for sun and vacation now?!
*This post is written in collaboration with Nordstrom, but all outfits, clothing selections, and Casper-impersonating are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors!*
