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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Tan in a Can: Self Tanning and Bronzing Products that Really Work

All summer long, I have had people ask me about my "tan", so I thought it was high time I shared my secret with the masses instead of just one by one.  For those of you who know me, you will already know that any tan that I sport is certainly not courtesy of the sun.  My skin scoffs at the sun.  I freckle, I burn, I peel, but never under any circumstances do I tan.  Never have, never will.  Such is life.  We must all play the hand we are dealt.  

So rather than shock people with my scary white skin, I choose to self-tan.  And I have tried them all. Remember when self tanners first became popular?  They all had a scary orange tint to them, and they were usually pretty streaky too.  Oh, and the smell.  Ick, it was awful.  But, I was right there- front and center with the orange streaky skin- struggling to find some color for my otherwise colorless skin.  

Thankfully, instant tanners have improved by leaps and bounds since those days.  Today's self tanners are smooth, bronzy-colored, and odor-free.  And I have finally settled on one that I love.



Tanwise is an aerosol spray tanner.  I love it so much more than lotion tanners.  It literally goes on the color that it's going to be so you can see exactly where you are putting it.  There is no room for streaks with this stuff (unless you choose to spray yourself down in the dark).  And unlike lotions, you don't have to wait for the color to develop.  Like I said, it instantly tans, and it dries quickly too. Oh, and there is zero smell.  I have found that even the best lotion tanners still have a hint of self tan "smell" and I'm just not a fan.  I usually apply this every other day or so, and that's just about perfect for me.

So where do I buy this this little beauty secret?  I find it locally at Sally's Beauty Supply.  You can buy it online too, but that's my go-to source for my tan in a can.

Now, I do not personally use tanner on my face.  I know plenty of people who do, and I suppose there's nothing wrong with giving that a try too if you like.  But for me, I prefer to use a bronzer for a summery facial glow.  My go-to bronzer this summer has been Betty-Lou Manizer by the Balm.  And I can't say enough good things about it.  I apply this bronzer with a big fluffy powder brush over my regular powder.  The color is perfect- a little shimmery and a lot of pretty bronze glow.  It is oil-free so it doesn't ever make you look too "dewy".  And what's more, I am in love with the packaging for this product.

You will also see it pictured above with it's counterpart, Mary Lou Manizer by the Balm. This product is not a bronzer, but rather a luminizer and highlighter.  It gives your skin a soft and pretty glow without being too over the top.  Sadly, I broke this compact into a million pieces, that is before I discovered how to repair broken powders.  But I did save the case because it is just so darn cute.  For now, I am using it as a mirror for my purse, but I've got to get some more of this stuff!

I initially found the pair of these Balm products sold as a set at TJ Maxx for less than $10.  I had no idea what a good deal that was when I bought them, but I'm glad I did.  You can find them at lots of online retailers too.  :)  And they are usually sold individually.

So, that's about all folks.  As our summer winds to an end, keep your color going for a bit longer and consider giving these fine products a try.


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1 comment:

  1. I never really cared so much that I blinded people with my white glow, but I am always on the lookout for anything that makes my face shimmer. (so I can blind people even more. lol) Great tip!

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