St tropez self tan routine dani austin8

St tropez self tan routine dani austin11

St tropez self tan routine dani austin11

all white bathroom

St tropez self tan routine dani austin8

all white bathroom

all white bathroom

POOF: Wayfair // Sandals: PJ Salvage

Ok, guys, I’m gonna break it down for ya: Summer is around the corner (Ok, maybe not RIGHT around the corner, but a girl can dream, right?), and my legs are feeling a little on the ghostly side. I’m longing for those warm, sunny days when I can lay back and catch some rays (safely, with SPF, of course), but until then, I gotta turn to some alternatives to get that glowing goddess look.

Now, last time I checked, skin cancer was not cool. So my suggestions for achieving the perfect fake tan will not involve laying under ultra-violet lights. There’s SO many awesome products on the market that can give you a really natural looking tan, without breaking the bank. Read on to see my steps in getting the perfect fake tan all year long.

FIND THE RIGHT PRODUCT. Like I said, there’s a ton, and it can be overwhelming standing in the aisle at Wal-Mart for 20 minutes just trying to decide what the heck product to buy (yeah, that was me). There’s lotions and sprays and foams and wipes (oh my!). There’s also different levels based on your natural skin tone. So if you’re naturally fair skinned, look for one that specifies that it’s for light skin tones. Darker? Go with one designed for deeper, darker skin. The ones I shared in my video are my tried and true favorites!

PREPARE YOUR CANVAS. Before you go getting all happy with your newfound boyfriend…er, I mean tanner…you MUST make sure your skin is ready. First, shave and exfoliate. This will help the tanner set better on a clean, smooth surface. You might also want to try a water-based moisturizer all over, since sunless tanner tends to saturate dry areas like knees, ankles, elbows, etc. Trust me, you do NOT want to look like an Oompa-Loompa!

APPLY. Whether you chose a lotion, foam, spray, wipe—whatever!—the goal is the same: an even application that doesn’t result in blotches or an orange hue (I like Cheetos, but sure as heck don’t wanna look like one!). Long, smooth motions up and down are a better approach than rubbing. The first time you use the product, you might want to be a little more conservative until you see the result. Not enough color? Next time, apply more. But my motto is slow and steady…you can always add more, but it’s not as easy to take off!

NOT INTO DIY? The good news is that spray tan booths are super popular and give a nice, overall look. Yes, they’re going to be more expensive than buying a bottle of lotion at the drugstore, but if it saves you time and convenience, then I say go for it! The same prep rules apply for using a booth. There’s also usually written or recorded instructions at the salon (just be sure to actually FOLLOW them. Don’t believe me? Check out the Friends episode where Ross learns the hard way).

Getting that subtle glow can be a confidence boost, whether you choose to keep at it year round, do it for a big event (hint, hint: WEDDING!), or just in preparation for swimsuit season. Either way, you’ll be feeling “hey girl hayyyyyyy,” and your friends will be jealous of that Caribbean cruise you didn’t take.

xo,
Dani

get yo’ tan on

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