my sunless tan routine
It’s been about 4 years since I finally kicked the tanning beds. Finding a self-tanner can be a job in itself, let’s take a moment of silence for the early 2K’s of looking like we just rolled in our Cheeto bag……. alright, let’s carry on. After a few years, I have finally found that perfect dewy va-cay glow that actually works and I’m going to show you my tips and tricks to my sunless tan.
Step 1 - exfoliation
Every couple of weeks I give myself a good scrub down in the shower. After so many tans/applications you start to get some build up and your neck, chest + legs can start to get really splotchy but it’s important to get rid of all the dead skin cell build up.
Beautycounter’s Body Polish is to.die.for. The lemongrass scent itself is the reason to make sure to have it on hand 24/7 but, it also is designed to hydrate and soften your skin while using it. There are a couple different tools I use for exfoliating - for the larger parts of my body I use a brush. For the smaller/delicate area like hands, feet and chest I use an exfoliator glove.
step 2 - the tan
If you live in the Billings area, I get my spray tans at Versa Tan. I like having their tan as a base for my color, I grab one about every 1-2 weeks. The spray at Versa is in a booth and the color is perfection. I always get the dark shade - if it’s your first spray, go in during business hours so they can show you the positions and go over the colors with you. If you do not hit the positions correctly your hands will probably come out darker than the rest of your body, I say that from experience 🙃
What I like about Versa is that it’s a 24-hour salon, so you can get a spray at any time of the day. Make sure you take your shower and get your workout in before - I let my tan soak in for 8+ hours or will sleep in it. No, it does not rub off on my sheets.
Upkeep
After having the spray tan as my base, I use St. Topaz or Luna Bronze to keep up the color. The color on my legs fades quickly from shaving, so I always have a bottle and mit on hand for when I need to add more color, especially in the summer when I’m wearing skirts and shorts more. If you need a quick on the go option - Isle of Paradise Butter is money. The color was natural, gradually shows, doesn’t rub off and was PERFECT to throw on right before a round of golf. It also moisturizes the shit out of your skin 🙌🏻
Finding a face tanner that doesn’t break my face out was quite the hunt. Luna Bronze Face Drops are my go-to face tanner that don’t cause break outs. It is customizable and buildable and super easy to apply. Add a couple drops to your PM moisturizer (more drops = deeper glow) and apply to your glow-infused moisturizer. Pieces of advice, exfoliate your face beforehand, don’t forget your ears and WASH YOUR PALMS
Tip: If you want to keep up your tan - moisturize, moisturize + moisturize! When your skin is hydrated, your tan will last longer.
FAQ
How often do you tan? About every 1-2 weeks. When I start to get splotchy, I’ll exfoliate and start the process over again.
Does your tan come off on your bed sheets? Yes and no. If I was hot that night and I sweat during the night then there will be a little hint to the sheets, but I wash my sheets weekly, so it never gets bad. After my first initial rinse, it does not come off.
Which tanning mousse is your favorite? Honestly, there isn’t one that I gravitate towards more than the other. Bondi Sands is DARK whereas I feel like the Luna Bronze is almost a greenish tint that scared the shit out of me when I first tried it when it’s settling in but is a more natural tan after your rinse it off. As I mentioned, Isle of Paradise Butter is my go-to when I am in a rush. You can’t go wrong with nay of them!