How to (Safely) Keep that Summer Glow All Year Long: Self-Tanner Reviews

Something about a bronze glow seems to make everything else about a look pop just a bit. And although some locations don’t have summer sun all year long, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to kiss our golden skin goodbye!

As someone who has extremely fair skin, I wanted to explore some at-home self-tanning options. Tanning beds are simply out of the question if you’re a skincare junkie like me. Not only does tanning (in the sun or in a tanning bed) give you fine lines & dry skin, but it also puts you at risk for skin cancer. So tanning is a huge no-no in my book.

It’s no secret that I love a good, professional spray tan for a special event (I’ll refer to you my favorite girl at the end), but maybe you’re wondering if there’s something safe and even easier to maintain & afford for everyday wear? I got you! Here are two of my new favorite self-tanner products:

St. Tropez Self Tan Express Starter Kit

(comes with mitt & travel size) OR

St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse

Okay, not gonna lie… this one was scary for me but ended up being SO addicting! I started with the starter kit that comes with a mitt that is used to apply the product. This particular formula is super cool because you can adjust the level of “tan” you want with how long the product stays on. And not only is this product safe for your body, but it can be safely applied to your face as well! Here’s how I used it... 

I shaved & thoroughly exfoliated the day before. The following evening, I showered, applied the product (shoutout to my husband for getting the parts I couldn’t reach! Ha!) and wore loose clothing while it worked it’s magic! I hopped in the shower again to remove the tanner after about 1.5 hours. Note: Only rinse your body here… no soap needed! I absolutely loved that I could go to bed without the product on and wake up with no stained clothes or sheets! In the morning, I woke up to a gorgeous golden tan.

It took a few times for me to get my application as smooth and natural looking as I wanted, but I did learn from my mistakes each time. Before applying, I would add a dab of lotion to my knuckles, ankles, in between my fingers and any areas that looked blotchy previously. I also played around with leaving the tanner on for less time or more time. 2 hours ended up being my favorite golden look!

Overall, I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a natural-looking tan that doesn’t want to deal with a huge mess or wait time! I got so many compliments on my tan when I used this and people were always shocked to hear it wasn’t from the sun!

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops

These drops are easy to use & can be simply added to your moisturizer before applying. They are safe for both your face & your body. The result of these drops reminded me of Jergens Natural Glow tanning moisturizers. I ended up using these to enhance my natural tan throughout the summer and mostly, added it to my face moisturizer to give my face a glow since I don’t tan my face at all. One thing I did notice is that because it’s applied with moisturizer, I felt it moved a bit on my body leaving certain areas blotchy or untouched. I used the “light” formula but felt the color wasn’t as natural as I would have liked and maybe even a touch orangey at times when it wasn’t evenly distributed.

Although I’m not sure I would buy this product again, I do like the glow it gave my face. I didn’t have any breakouts or sensitivity which was a huge plus for me! This product came highly recommended from others, so, as always, I encourage you to try it if it sounds like it’s right for you!

At-home experimenting not for you? Want the real deal?

I absolutely LOVE a good professional spray tan! If at-home options aren’t for you, no shame in turning to a pro!

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