The only thing I get from the sun is burns! And while seeing stars like Anne Hathaway and Nicole Kidman embrace their pale skin does make me feel a little bit better about my skin tone I can’t help but think everything looks better with a tan. Plus with this chilly weather I’ve been even more ghost-like than my usual self! I’ve written about various tanning products I’ve tried in the past and I’m a fan of spray tan places like Sundara ($78, full body; $30 face only) — though you have to be careful with them because the 3-4 hours after you get the spray done are crucial since the color is still fragile. When it’s cold if you put too many layers on after, the tan may smudge, but if the weather is hot you risk sweating and the color coming off as well! It’s way easier to tan at home since you don’t have to worry about the weather or immediately covering your body with clothing. I tried-out Lavera Sunless Self Tanning Lotion on my arms and legs last week and was pretty happy with the results. It’s made with organic soy extracts and unlike other tanning lotions it only takes 1-2 hours for you to see visible results. So you’re basically building your tan because you can always add more to get a richer, darker color or just add a little bit each day to maintain the color you already have. Plus, unlike most tanners, the smell is actually pleasant (non-invasive floral) and it’s moisturizing (there’s aloe in the lotion). A side tip that I learned at Sundara is to avoided any moisturizers with milk (like a fave of mine L’Occitane Amande Firming & Smoothing Milk Concentrate), because they’re bad for your faux-tan!
