Whenever I tell my girlfriends, “I simply don’t tan,” they scoff at me though they have come to know my fair hide over the years. “We see you with a little color all the time, you’re just pale right now…everybody tans.” Extremely untrue! Unfortunately, I burn and I freckle, but I am also familiar with all the convenient, inexpensive, and quality products to fight the Casper effect. Don’t get me wrong, pale and creamy skin can look quite delightful if you know how to do it up right, for instance, rose petal lips, romantic hair, a simple swish of liquid liner, and sheer bubble gum pink blush to highlight those cheekbones. On the other hand, if you are sick of rocking your same old style or solely want to spice up your look for a special event like a wedding or birthday, then I have got the most interesting places and prices for you to purchase effective tanning solutions sans sun! In my experience, drugstores sell products just as effective in beauty as any department store; often the prices are the only difference. In any case, I decided to raid a few of them within a mile radius of my apartment and try all that the sun gods had to offer! Here are some ways to bronze it up without breaking the bank:
- Walgreens Bronze Spray Mist 2- Pack $10.99- A little magic in an aerosol can. The color is natural, the mist is fine, and it is easy to apply… just make sure you cover your feet while you are polishing off your body to avoid brown bottoms (wear footies during application and at the very end lightly mist the top of each foot)!
- L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Gelee Medium $9.49- This gel goes on smooth and streak free while also intensely moisturizing and healing skin with delicious vitamin E. The bottle says “lightweight” but I disagree. I do believe it feels a tad oily and slick until it properly dissolves in to your skin. I recommend waiting 30 minutes to an hour before applying make-up to your face. Additionally, this is the type of product you need to slather on if you want color. A light coating won’t do much! Nonetheless, the color developed from this product is fabulously natural looking.
- Ulta Tinted Self-Tanning Continuous Spray $9.99- Similar to the Walgreens Bronze Spray, Ulta’s version is easy to apply and quick to dry. The bronze color does not develop as quickly or deeply as the Walgreens brand, but the color is still rich. Application is a breeze as long as you keep the aerosol can six inches away from your body and move your hand it tiny circles!
Ladies, trust me when I say one of the easiest ways to be Chiq is to achieve a luminous tan without drying, scorching rays cooking your skin. The only thing that should be leathery in your old age is your handbag, not your face. Seek out your local drugstores or beauty stores for some bronze finds, and make sure to grab a sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher along with your self-tanner!
