Attention Wake Forest students: shockingly, today is officially the first day of spring. I know what you’re thinking, “The high is 60 degrees today and we had snow and ice Monday.” Both are valid points and reasonable hindrances in our springtime celebration; however, warm months are inevitably ahead of us. The perfect beach bod isn’t all you should be focusing on when thinking about the sunny days ahead. I’m talking about attaining the perfect beach tan. Whether you can tan like Penelope Cruz, or generally rock the Emma Stone skin tone, I can help you get that desirable sun-kissed glow even without even a ray of sunshine (and let’s be honest, that seems pretty realistic these days). Here’s how!
Sunless tanning, as in without the tanning beds, is amazing. It requires a little bit of maintenance, but the results are so worth it and your skin will thank you. Rather than using less-efficient one-step tanning products individually, I recommend using this great three-step product process that comes close to perfect.
What you need:
- St. Tropez Tanning Essentials Self Tan Bronzing Mousse
- Sephora Tinted Self-Tanning Body Mist
- Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer
Helpful Hints Before You Start:
The two most important parts about faking a gorgeous glow are moisturizing and exfoliating. If you do not prep your skin by exfoliating and moisturizing, you will be streaky and blotchy and will probably end up orange. Start by scrubbing down your whole body with a loofa. Next, apply a deep moisturizing lotion all over, being especially careful with areas where the skin is rougher, like your elbows and knees.
Here’s how to use each product:
1. Start with the St. Tropez Self Tanner Mousse. Apply this all over just as you would a lotion. Always start from the center of the area you are working with and move out towards the edges, so that the tan looks more natural and avoids streaks. This tanner is best used overnight. For the best results, apply it right after your shower and rinse it off in the morning. I also recommend using the mitt that can be purchased with the tanner, because this product can leave your hands looking a creepy color. It’s best to use the mitt, but some serious scrubbing will get the color off your hands as well.
2. After you’ve rinsed off the St. Tropez, apply the Sephora Tinted Tanning Mist. I love this product, and use it exclusively for my face. I think that using a spray all over is always risky because you can so easily get splotchy areas or streaks. However, this is perfect for the face and chest areas because it is easy to apply and gives great color. I would spray about 6-8 inches away from your face, aiming towards the outer edges and then blending inwards. This product requires more re-application because your face is exfoliated and scrubbed so often. However, it does build gradually and it always looks great when you apply it.
3. The Jergens lotion is perfect for maintenance. And, they made a new formula that doesn’t have that icky smell! Apply the Jergens regularly as a moisturizer to build the tan overtime. It kills two birds with one stone, because you can work on your time while keeping your skin moisturized! Remember to always keep your skin moisturized, because it will not hold any tan otherwise.
To keep your skin glowing, natural, and tan, I recommend reapplying this process one every 4-6 days. Use these products and tips and you’re guaranteed to get that perfect tan you’ve been looking for!