Sometimes, the best accessory a girl can have is a tan. I’ve always felt more confident in whatever I’m wearing if I have a good tan. In the midst of a brutal winter in D.C., I have my ways when it comes to achieving that warm summer glow sans sunshine.
If we’re being honest, I try to stay out of the sun altogether these days. I used to spend my summers at the beach, laying out all day in the sun. But after a run in with Melanoma last year, I’ve had to make some serious changes. While it was a super scary experience, I always try to look at the positive in things. So I can at least appreciate of all of the extra wrinkles and sun spots I won’t have since I’ll avoiding the sun for the rest of my life.
But, because I still love the look of a good tan, there are a few tried and true things that I rely on to keep my faux tan going all year round… Scroll below to find out what they are!
How I Keep A Tan All Year Round:
Spray Tans: Before any warm-weather trip, where I’m going to be wearing swimsuits and dresses, I always get a spray tan. I go to either DC Lash Bar to be sprayed by an actual person or to Palm Beach Tan for a machine spray tan (Even though I swore I would never support a business that still uses tanning beds – I call them “cancer machines”). I can’t decide which I like better. I find that I get darker at DC Lash Bar, which I love, however the Versa goes on a bit more even and doesn’t come off on my clothes as much.
St. Tropez: This is by far my favorite self-tanning brand. There are two products I use by St. Tropez and they are the Gradual Tan Everyday Tinted Body Lotion and the Bronzing Mousse. I use the Gradual Tanning Lotion every day and if I have a special occasion coming up is when I would work the mousse into my regime. The mousse is great if you need a tan fast and I recommend using a mitt to apply it at least four hours before you leave your house.
Kopari Coconut Crush Scrub: I supplement my tanning products with this exfoliating scrub that I use in the shower 2-3 times a week. I’ve found that using a body scrub helps the tanning products apply more evenly. This particular scrub leaves your skin looking polished and feeling hydrated. Note: I *don’t* use the scrub when I have spray tan.
Giorgio Armani ‘Maestro’ Liquid Summer: I know my Instagram Story followers might be sick of hearing about this product, but it’s one of my all-time favorites. I use a few drops of the Armani liquid bronzer after I apply my regular foundation and I use a Beauty Blender to apply it. The benefit to using this product in combination with your regular foundation, instead of just using a darker foundation, is that you still get that warmth while staying within your skin’s true undertones. The liquid bronzer comes in three shades and I use 90.
What are you favorite self-tanning products to use in the winter, or whenever? Let me know in the comments below!
WEARING:
Free People Dress
Free People Sunglasses
Photos by Linett Teresa Photography
