Less-Fair, Less-Hair.

Last weekend I went to a wedding in Pennsylvania, and my mother-in-law asked how I managed to have a tan already. The answer, of course, is self-tanner. Gradual self-tanner, to be precise, because it is so much easier and less stressful to use than the stuff that makes you tan all at once, though I occasionally do that too. You might have heard me mention it before.

One Small Step For Tan

When I found a full-size bottle of Stila One Step Bronze in my June Birchbox, I was intrigued. While I usually just use a light dusting of powder bronzer in the summer, this serum (according to the box) says it will do a whole lot more than just give a little sunny color. It promises a “flawless glow,” and lots of other lovely things. Honestly, even if it only promised a flawless glow and then delivered on it, I would be all over this.

L’Oreal Has Got Your Back (Sort of).

Before I left for Ocean City, I laid off the gradual tanner for a while because I had planned to use a more intense tanner for the trip, and I didn’t want the gradual stuff to mess with it. I had bought a bottle-shaped can of L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Pro Perfect Airbrush, which is a self-tanning mist with a 360 spray. I could have sworn I used the exact same thing last summer, with great results. Unfortunately, this time it did a whole lot of nothing. Or a whole lot of next to nothing, really. I bought the Medium shade, and it acted more like a gradual thing. It was fine, just not what I was going for. I should have tried the Xen-Tan from my June Birch Box, but by the time I figured out the L’Oreal didn’t work, it was too late/too risky to try something else.

Glow On With Your Tan Self!

I got a promotional sample of Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads free with a Sephora.com order way back in March(ish). It came with 4 packets, and I wish I had tried them immediately, so I could have told everyone to get a sample. But it just wasn’t seasonally appropriate to have a tan yet. Especially not just a tan face! You should only do that… never.

Four Day Weekend, Three Day Tanner

A few weeks ago, I attempted to use last year’s leftover gradual tanning moisturizer with no luck. It just made my legs look slightly dirty; I guess that stuff expires. The few times I went out bare legged I’ve just dealt with being pale, but since it rained forever and ever, it didn’t really matter. I was wearing pants most of the time. Now that the hot weather has made a very dramatic entrance right at the unofficial (but kind of official) beginning of summer, I decided to put the hurry up on the faux tan. But I’m not ready for the serious tanner, because that has it’s own kind of drama, and it’s just not necessary yet. I found something somewhere in between, a fast-paced gradual tanner that works over three days.