SingleWorkingMama

Over the years, I’ve experimented with many different self-tanning products.

When they first came out, they smelled bad, made your skin turn a broad spectrum of orange tones (all on the same body part) and were generally miserable to handle and expensive.

Today, many different options exist in the self-tanning realm. I’ve tried L’Oreal, Banana Boat, Jergens and Neutrogena brands, (because I am a bargain hunter, I usually just buy what is on sale or the cheapest) and while I think all of them provided satisfactory results, it took a little bit of trial and error to get the technique down pat.

Now that I’ve got it mastered, I want to share these steps with you! I’m sticking to the legs, because that’s my comfort zone. (Presumably, the technique should apply to other regions of your pasty self, but I can’t swear to that.)

Steps to getting a natural-looking artificial leg tan:

1. Carve out a little time for yourself – time that allows for you to run around in your skivvies as your applied product dries. (Oh – and if you haven’t lately, be sure to shave.)
2. Begin with some cheap body lotion. Slather your legs with it, making sure to get your knees, heels, ankle bones… Any “sticky” (aka “rough”) part that the tanner will settle into, leaving you with weird looking knobs.
3. Immediately following the lotion, apply the self tanner. IMPORTANT: AVOID those “sticky” parts that you slathered with lotion. (knees, ankle bones, heels.)
4. Wash your hands with soap.
5. Go back to your new best friend – the cheap body lotion. Slather yourself up GOOD, including, once again, the “sticky” parts. Rub it in thoroughly.
6. Wash your hands with soap again.
7. Go about whatever chores you are able to, while clad only in skivvies. If that means painting your toenails, reading a book or knitting, all the better!
8. Once dry, get dressed or go to bed. If you’re going to get dressed, I suggest a skirt. Your legs are no longer going to blind passers by, and you worked damned hard for it… Show it off! Just be SURE your legs are DRY before letting any of your clothing or bedding come in contact with them.

At the moment, I’m using and enjoying Jergens Natural Glow. I think it’s the least smelly of the lotions I’ve tried, and the results are pleasing.

Jergens Natural Glow

My cheap body lotion du jour is Queen Helene Soy & Cocoa Butter Hand and Body Lotion – about $4.29 for 32 ounces. It smells good and makes me feel like I’m on vacation somehow. I bought it at Sally Beauty.

Mmm, mmm.... Cocoa!

Good luck! Let me know how it goes. And, I’d LOVE to hear any self-tanner disaster stories too.

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