Summer is almost here and soon it will be time to show off a little more skin.  So what do you do when your skin has been hiding from the sun for 9 months and is the color of a white sheet of paper? Well if you want to be safe and not turn to tanning salons, why not try self-tanners?  I know it can sound scary because there are so many stories where the tanner has turned skin a horrid shade of orange rather than a sultry bronzy tan.  However, a lot has changed over the years and self-tanners shouldn’t be shunned anymore.  If done correctly, self-tanners really can make you look as though you just stepped off the beach.  Sometimes it just takes a few tries with different types and brands in order to find the one that suits you the best. 

When looking for a tanner, look to see if it has a bronzer in it as well.  The bronzer will give your skin an instant tan the minute you put it on, and will continue to get deeper as the hours pass.  You should also smell the tanner and see if it has a harsh scent that could cause you to not want to use it.  Test out the tanners at the store.  Ask a Beauty Consultant if you can test it out on your arm and wear it for the day.  This way you can see how dark it will make you and if it has a smell to it. Luckily most tanners have changed and so has the scent.  A lot of them even smell good now!

Always apply the tanner on clean skin. Exfoliating before the application so that the tanner doesn’t hit any dry spots on your skin and comes out streaky.  Do not apply tanner when the bathroom is still steamy from your shower.  The steam will make the tanner harder to dry on your skin.  Make sure that you rub the tanner in fully, and use circular motions.  This is where a tanner with a bronzer helps because then you can actually see the spots that you miss.  Tanning your back may sound tricky but it doesn’t have to be. Use a loofa on a stick and squirt the lotion on it and rub your back with it.  No matter what, always wait at least 5 to 10 minutes before dressing. 

And if you are not into using a lotion or gel as your self-tanner you can always buy self-tanner in a spray.  This is easy to use and the all over angle spray makes it especially easy to get your back.

Some great tanners on the market are, Fake Bake Tanning Lotion, Faux Tan and L’Oreal Tanning Gel.  Happy Tanning!

Self-tanners can be fabulous. When you do it right, you get a healthy tanned look without the sun damage. Just remember that self-tanner is not an excuse to not use sunscreen.

I don’t use self-tanner because I like my fair skin as it is, but I love to use bronzer on my face sometimes. Not only is it great for a sun-kissed look, but it neutralizes the redness from my acne scars. I read a fashion book in which the authors actively dislike bronzer and actually advocated getting a tan from the sun instead of bronzer. Not good.

If you use bronzer, use one that is one to two shades darker than your skin so that it looks natural. Use only tiny dabs of it (you can always add more), and put it on the tops of the cheekbones, the top of the forehead, the bridge of the nose, and the tip of the chin. You’ll get a great sun-kissed look.