Self Tanning Must-Haves!

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Happy Monday!

Okay, first thing’s first: this has been the longest month of my entire life. How is it STILL January? I feel like I’ve aged 100 years since the start of 2018. I’m not sure what it is, exactly. Maybe it’s the cold weather? Or the “Dry January” that I attempted and slightly failed to complete? Or maybe it’s the rain that’s taken over Charlotte over these past few days… either way, the month of January has G2G.

It’s always around this time of the winter where I REALLY start to miss the summertime. I miss everything about it.. the sunshine, the vitamin D, being outside and being active, the list goes on and on. I also always tend to feel gross around this time of year. Not only have I essentially been eating everything in sight over the past couple of months, but my skin is super pale and I’m starting to resemble Casper The Friendly Ghost.

For that reason, I’ve pulled together a few of my favorite Self Tanners that get me through the wintertime. I feel like I’ve tried every self tanner under the sun at this point, and there are most definitely some stand-out products that are worth sharing with the world! If you haven’t already, I highly recommend trying any (if not all!) of the below this winter to give your skin the glow it needs to get you through to Spring:

Clarins Booster — LOVE this. I use a few drops of this product every morning mixed with my moisturizer. This is a lightweight, self-tanning fluid specifically meant for your face; which means never having to worry about breakouts. #winning. Also, the term “self-tanning fluid” is used very loosely, as the change in skin color is far from drastic (aka you’ll never be orange). The Clarins Booster just gives a subtle glow!
St. Moriz — The best choice for immediate color. Normally, if I’m planning ahead, I’ll apply this product at nighttime and rinse it off in the morning if I want some color for the next few days. However, sometimes there isn’t enough time for that, and I’m scrambling to find something that will give me some color FAST. Alas, I give you St Moriz. This low cost self-tanner is a major go-to if you need something quick, because it looks pretty natural even in it’s application state. Some self-tanners look ridiculous and slightly scary after they’re applied — but not this one. There have been countless occasions where I’ve applied this before a night out to prevent blinding people with my pale legs, and the application looks natural enough to wear out and about without having to rinse off beforehand. 10/10 RECOMMEND.
St. Tropez Self Tan Starter Kit — is nothing short of amazing. This kit allows you to try three products, without the commitment of spending a ton on just one single product. Admittedly, St. Tropez products are not cheap. However, in my opinion, they are the best… so I think they’re worth the price! I highly recommend trying this kit so you get the hang of St. Tropez formula and how it works with your skin. Such a great value!
St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse — The full size version of the product I listed above. IT’S THE BEST.
Kate Somerville Face and Body Towelettes — I rarely travel anywhere without these. They are the perfect “toss and go” size, and are so easy to apply. The best part about these is that you can really apply them anywhere, and there’s no mess involved. No need to whip out the tanning mitt and worry about the liquid tanner getting anywhere. These self-tanning towelettes apply evenly, dry quickly, and will give you an extremely natural-looking finish.
Jergens Natural Glow — The OG. Who else grew up applying Jergens? Seriously, I have been using this stuff since high school, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. This is a product you can get away with applying every day if you wanted to, and it wouldn’t look unnatural. The gradual color builds over time, and is perfect for a subtle glow.
St. Tropez Applicator Mitt — because you need something to apply all of these fabulous products! Truth be told, you can get any self-tanning application mitt anywhere, and at all sorts of price ranges. However, I strongly recommend the St. Tropez mitt simply because of the quality. I’ve used other store-brand mitts, and they never seem to last me very long. This mitt (only $6.50) is worth every penny.
Benefit Hoola Zero Tanlines — No commitment necessary! This product isn’t permanent, so it will wash off immediately whenever you’re ready to get rid of the glow. I may or may not keep this at my desk at work and whip it out on days when I’m wearing a dress or skirt and my legs need some color. It even comes with a little sponge that’s built into the cap, so you don’t need an applicator mitt for it. It’s the best!
Tan Towel Self Tan Towelettes — Similar to the Kate Somerville I described above, these are equally as perfect for traveling, but provide even more color. I am a HUGE FAN of Tan Towel!
Fake Bake — LOVE. One of my favorite products for sure. I would say this product gives the “darkest” finish out of all the self-tanners I’ve listed. I’ll also warn you not to be afraid after you’ve applied Fake Bake – the dark color looks a little scary! However, I promise the color looks much more natural once it’s rinsed off. Similar to St. Moriz and St. Tropez, I apply this product after exfoliating in the shower, and I let it soak in overnight. I then rinse off in the morning, and BAM. No longer pale.
L’Oreal Sublime Bronze — Another throwback product that I can’t seem to get enough of. I’ve been using this product for years, and I’ve always kept it handy in my bathroom cabinet. This product calls for an entirely different application technique than any other self-tanners listed above due to the fact that it’s a spray. I usually apply this one in my shower to keep from spraying everything in my bathroom! For easier use and if you’re not a fan of the spray bottle, this also comes in a towelette version here.