The other day, I saw a sign, "Tone it or tan it!" It’s crazy but being bronzed does actually make me feel more toned, even if I’m not! I’ve always loved the look and feel of a beautiful tan.
My family and I always like to spend summers in the water, hitting the pool or beach regularly starting around May or June. Besides having great summers, I get to see what happens to sun-worshippers as they get older, with dark skin that’s crinkly and wrinkly all over. Ummm, it didn’t take a lot of thought for me to decide that is NOT the future skin I want! Sunless tanning is definitely a no-brainer for me.
Summer for me means finding the perfect bikini and hanging out with friends in a shady spot by the water. But for sure, that look doesn’t include pale skin. I want to be tan before I ever put on my swimsuit, and without killing my skin. Maybe you aren’t a water person like me, but you want to feel good wearing shorts or an off-the-shoulder summer dress. Maybe you just like the way a suntan gives that nice contrast when you’re wearing light colors? Self-tanning works for those of us who want a safe and easy way to deepen our skin tone.
How Does Sunless Tanning Work?
Have you ever wondered? Well, being the curious type, I scoured the Internet for more info. The active ingredient in these products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which reacts with dead cells on the surface layer of your skin so that it becomes darker and looks tan. My personal routine is to use self-tanner every day at the beginning of the summer until I get to my desired shade. Then I use it twice a week for maintenance.
Good Sunless Tanners
If you’ve never used self-tanners, you might be surprised at the huge number of brands available, in the form of lotion, cream, spray or mousse, and it’s not easy to know which one will work best for you.
Since I’ve experimented with a lot of these, trial and error method, I can share with you a few things to watch out for.
One of the worst things that can happen is getting a streaky or orange-colored result, that doesn’t look anywhere close to being natural. Why does this happen? Remember that chemical I mentioned, DHA, which reacts with your skin cells? Apparently, it’s difficult to stabilize and with some people’s skin, it reacts to produce more of a tangerine tint than the “sun-kissed glow” you were expecting!
The next worst are products that are sticky. Even after waiting more than the suggested “10 minutes to dry” they are still that way, even hours later. By then I’m ready to wash it off, problem solved, and I know not to buy that brand!
The third problem that comes up is that many brands produce a really unpleasant smell. If you’ve used self-tanners, you know what I’m talking about. And if you haven’t, trust me and be warned. If the smell doesn’t go away in 10 minutes, just take a shower and forget that one!
The Best Tan Ever!! – Blue Saint Instant Body Self-Tanner!
So last week a new product sample arrived in the mail, and after slitting open the package I find a blue and white box and a powder blue mitt! It’s a brand new self-tanning product called Blue Saint Instant Body Self Tanner to try out and review! I love this beautiful application mitt, and I’m feeling like a combination of “excited” with, “This better not turn me orange!”
Anyway, the product description here says this sunless tanner is made with organic and plant-based ingredients. And what’s really different is that it includes probiotics to nourish the skin! Wow, so I’m now really hoping it will work, as I like the idea of putting things that are healthy and organic on my skin, rather than unknown chemicals. Oh, and get this...Blue Saint says that they are the only brand with a 100% guarantee that their product will NOT turn your skin orange!! That is crazy good news, and anyone who has ever endured a week of disgusting orange-colored skin (like I have!) knows what I mean.
So here goes, let’s try it! The application mitt helps to spread the mousse evenly on the body and works much better than just using your hands for this, and it protects your hands from taking on too much product. I do like mousse because it generally gives you a smooth tan, not too dark and not too light. It’s one of the easiest forms of self-tanner to apply without streaking and splotching. Blue Saint Instant Body Self Tanner doesn’t have any smell, and it definitely wasn’t sticky. So far, so good!
I tried out my Blue Saint mousse all last week, doing several applications since I wanted to be dark enough. It worked beautifully and was so easy to use with the mitt. My skin looks and feels so natural with a perfect golden bronze color! Just what I want! I love the clean, moisturizing yet non-sticky feel, no fragrance, and knowing that I’m using an organic product.
I’d definitely say that this probiotic self-tanner is the perfect product if you are just starting out with self-tanning, as it’s so easy to use with impeccable results. And for people like me who are becoming regular users, for sure this is one to try first. You’ll love it. It’s an awesome organic product with no smell and great color that lasts.
My Top Tips for Self-tanning Beginners
If you’re new to self-tanning, here are some tips for using Blue Saint Instant Body Self Tanner
- Exfoliate and shave first in the shower. I’ve got a few different jars of body scrub and I like alternating between different scents. Focus especially on knees, elbows and ankle areas.
- Apply in sections. Use a circular motion to massage the mousse evenly into your clean, dry skin, doing one arm or leg at a time and then your chest, midsection, and back. The back is hard to reach and it’s better if you can get someone to do that part for you. If you’re not using an application mitt, wash your hands with soap after each section to protect palms from discoloration.
- Check your joint areas. Knees, elbows, and ankles sometimes absorb more tanner than other areas. If you need to, wipe a bit with a damp washcloth, or use a little body lotion to even out the color.
- Take time to dry. I usually need at least 10 minutes. Don’t wear tight clothes right after this, and try to avoid sweating.
- Always be careful. Don’t inhale self-tanning products or get any in your eyes, nose or mouth.
Frequently Asked Question about Self Tanners and Sunless Tanning
My friends and I have had a few questions about self-tanning methods, so being the “tanning geek” that I am, I’ve done a lot of research and wanted to answer what may be some of your main concerns. I was also wondering how my new favorite, Blue Saint Instant Body Self-Tanner, compares with other tanning tactics.
Tanning Beds vs. Self Tanning Creams | Are Tanning Beds Safe?
Tanning beds are not safer than the sun and dermatologists say that there’s no such thing as a safe tanning bed or tanning booth. Indoor tanning beds produce UV radiation that is 10 to 15 times higher than the midday sun! Just one session can raise your risk of developing skin cancer: the risk of melanoma by 20%, squamous cell carcinoma by 67%, and basal cell carcinoma by 29%.
Besides the skin cancer risk, there are over 3,000 cases of injury every year in hospital emergency rooms due to indoor tanning. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even requires warning labels on all indoor tanning equipment.
Are Spray Tans Safe?
Spray tans may put your health at risk, due to the DHA in the tanning solution, if you are not careful that your spray tan is done correctly. Research has shown that high levels of DHA can increase the formation of free radicals, which is linked to cell damage and cancer. (Granted, these levels are higher than what is used in the average over-the-counter brands.) So if you’re having a spray tan, be careful to cover your eyes, nose, and mouth, as the long-term effects of DHA inhalation are still unknown.
If I Am Using a Self-Tanning Lotion, Do I Still Need to Use Sunscreen?
Self-tanners do not offer sun protection. You still need to wear a good sunscreen of SPF 30+ when going outdoors.
What Is the Best Self-Tanning Product to Use?
Sorry, I’m not going to attempt to review a whole slew of products here, that’s for another blog!
I will say that the one I just tried, Blue Saint Instant Body Self Tanner, is definitely amazing and I think you’ll love it. I hear that there’s some buzz around L.A. because Blue Saint is fast becoming a favorite with dancers on TV shows, so that’s pretty cool. But what’s most important to me personally are the awesome results and easy application. It’s affordable and my family approves because it’s safe, organic, and contains probiotics.
My friends all love it now, too, and we help each other out by looking for missed spots on hard-to-reach places on the back. Speaking of friends, Blue Saint Instant Body Self-Tanner (and mitt!) makes the absolute perfect birthday or holiday gift! Stay tuned for when I try out Blue Saint Self-Tanning Facial Drops, which was just released a few days ago! I’m totally excited about this, as if it is anything like Blue Saint Instant Body Self Tanner, it’s going to give me my perfect go-to self-tanning combo. You can try these yourself at www.bluesaint.com, and they offer free shipping within the U.S. What’s not to love?!