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Sunless Tanning Tips
I’m a nice person. I truly do not like to horrify people. I would rather not be the inspiration for nightmares in small children. And when a dog runs yelping from me with his tail tucked between his legs, I feel bad.
Which is why I choose not to subject the world to my winter white legs.
The way I see it I have three choices:
1-Keep legs fully covered at all times.
- Pro: Not only does it cover my ghostly white legs, I could conceivably quit shaving.
Con: I already have enough jeans, I wouldn’t
2-Spend some time in a tanning booth.
- Pro: A natural looking, golden tan
Con: Um, cancer
3-Use sunless tanning lotion.
- Pro: If done right, a natural looking golden tan
Con: It’s hard to do right
For some parts of the country you could add a fourth option: sunlight, but here in Oregon, that’s not much of an option. At least not in April.
I choose option three. And I have come up with a couple of tips to keep from looking like an Oompa-Loompa (1971, not 2005).
First exfoliate. I know they say it on the bottle, but it really does bear repeating. Use a loofa or those scrubby gloves in the shower.
After drying off thoroughly, apply self tanning lotion.
I like Nutrogena Gradual Build a Tan. They also make a different formula just for faces. However, there are many good brands out there. Look for one that says gradual or light tan, particularly if you are fair-skinned, like me.
Go easy on knees, elbows, ankles. Think about where a natural tan is darker and apply accordingly. For example inner arm should receive less lotion.
While lotion is still drying, apply cocoa-butter over it. (I like Palmer’s, found at Wal-Mart.) The cocoa-butter does not seem to dilute the tanning lotion, but it does help even it out. Because striped skin? Not cute.
Once you are finished applying coca-butter, wash your hands or you will end up with orange palms. However, unless you like the “white-gloved” look, you’ll need to re-apply the sunless tanning lotion to the backs of your hands. But how? If you use your fingers, you’ll set up a never ending cycle of washing and reapplying. So, don’t use your fingers. Instead apply with a cotton ball or a disposable make-up sponge.
I know sunless tanning can be intimidating, but isn’t it better than the alternatives? (See cons above.)
C’mon, do it for the kids.
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4 Responses to “Sunless Tanning Tips”
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Once upon a time there was a Heidi…
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I want to do this, I really do, But I want to see your picture first! HAHA! I kid! I think I will try this!
I have NEVER tried this. I tend to tan naturally. But this year, something has happened–I’m ghost white. Maybe I’ll try it.
I bought 3 boxes of sunless tanning lotion from Mary Kay last year, with good intentions, but they sit unopened in my cabinet. I think I’m too much of a wimp. I’m much to practical to get a natural tan (I don’t want to end up looking like a worn leather bag by the time I’m 50). So I usually end up looking “white and delightsome” as Swen would call it, all summer long. This year we have a neighborhood pool that we will be frequenting, however, so I was thinking of doing the spray-on tan thing that you can get at a tanning salon. I’ll let you know if it works, and you let me know how you look after applying lotion. Here’s to tan legs in 2008!
I LOVE your tip on using the self-tanner on your hands with a cottonball! Fabulous! I would never have figured that one out on my own. I’m trying to protect my hands from the sun more (I now apply my face spf moisturizer to my hands to try and keep the aging and sun damage at bay) so I’ll probably need to perfect the hand self-tanning technique this year. Thanks! =0)