HALL OF FAME SUNLESS TANNERS

I'm a born and bred beach kid and former tanorexic, so although I now wear SPF religiously, being pale in July is simply not an option for me. Enter self tanners (and airbrush tans! But we'll save that for another post). You think you'll turn orange, it will rub off on your clothes, you don't have the time. I get it. But it's not the 90's anymore (despite current fashion trends), and sunless tanners have come a long, long way since their inception. That being said, I most certainly do not recommend picking up just anything at the drugstore. These are a few of my favorite tanners.

My number one priority for self tanners is efficiency. If it's not easy, I'm simply not going to use it. When I first heard the St. Tropez's Bronzing Mousse required a separate tanning mitt, I balked. An extra accessory to locate in the depths of my overstuffed, lilliputian bathroom?! However, once I caved and purchased the set, I was elated. The mitt makes application SO easy. And it's essential for avoiding your hands while applying this super pigmented, super quick-dry formula. A little moisturizer to elbows, knees and feet, apply foam in circular motions, done. Then you can get dressed RIGHT AWAY. It has a fairly subtle guide so you see color instantly, but there's no transfer onto clothes. Why the dark formula? Because it immediately looks like I just spent a long weekend on the beaches of St. Tropez (see what I did there?) and the effect lasts for--I'm not kidding--nearly two weeks. This is not a "subtle glow." Perhaps an option better suited for those who spent Memorial through Labor Day the summer after college graduation on a boat slathered with a whopping SPF 4. For everyone else, stick to the standard shade.

My face has definitely been the more difficult aspect to figure out when it comes to self tanning. As someone who has a multi-step skincare routine including daily exfoliation, I need to apply self tanner to my face nearly every other day to keep up a bronzed look--no two ways about it. I find the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow pads extremely easy to use even at this frequency. They seem to have more of a color payout than Tan Towels and I feel like my skin absorbs the product even when applied over serums and moisturizer. And the formula is clear and light--unlike the standard lotion--so I haven't had any issues with breakouts even with my extremely finicky skin type.

Just realized you look like Casper next to your pals--right before you're about to head to Gurney's? Enter Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronzing Tint. This product is REVOLUTIONARY. Just mix a bit with your moisturizer and you are instantly tan AF (actually you can customize it--so as tan as you feel like being, really). I'm just truly amazed by how natural this looks while packing such a color punch. And I love that it's formulated by a holistic-minded dermatologist. Normally I would be worried about a product like this clogging my pores, but it's so light with such a phenomenal ingredient list that that's simply not an issue.

Another revolutionary (almost futuristic, even) product: Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster. It completely solves the issue mentioned above of trying to fit frequent self tanning into my routine. This tanner comes in a tiny bottle that at first you will think is a sample size. But it's magic is in it's concentrated formula--you simply add a few drops into your regular moisturizer and apply as per usual. The shade is customizable depending on how much you add, and is completely natural looking both alone and under makeup. With such a tiny volume and a short ingredient list (including nourishing aloe vera), it won't change the formula of your favorite moisturizer. So why not add a little bronzing boost to your normal routine? For a chance to win this powerhouse of a product, see my post below!