‘Tis the season, friends: summer is nearly upon us. But not quite. Our shorts beg to be worn, but our legs, in all their pasty white glory, scream, “NOOOOOOOOOOO!” (To my brown-skinned friends: just read on and laugh, mmkay?) To remedy the issue, self tanners beckon from the shelves, promising, “You, too, can DIY your way to perfectly sun(less)-kissed skin!”
I went for it last spring. And yes, I too had *ahem* astounding results.
Let us remember. #tbt #neverforget
Originally published on May 11, 2015.
I have a complicated history with at-home beauty treatments. So, naturally, I decided to buy 3 bottles of sunless tanner last week. (It was buy 2, get 1 free. How could I not?)
For my first application, I’m a bit tentative. I exfoliate. I moisturize my knees, elbows, and ankles. Then, just a bit of self-tanner on the arms, a smidge on the legs. It’s clear I’ve learned my lesson about aggressive product application. (You probably want to read about that here.)
Unfortunately, my extreme caution results in… not much of anything. So, I proceed with what I deem the next appropriate step:
Re-apply With Reckless Abandon.
I use approximately half the bottle, “just to see what this stuff can really do.”
Well, “what this stuff can really do” is quite remarkable.
I admire my ravishing reflection for a few moments, quite pleased with my sun-kissed self. Waiting for the lotion to dry, I peruse the back of the bottle.
“This luxurious sunless tanning lotion is a real treasure that will give you a perfect tan…” Don’t I know it! I look amazing.
“Apply a rich moisturizer to elbows, knees, and ankles to keep these areas from getting too dark.” I TOTALLY DID THAT. Holy crap, I’m like a professional self-tanner.
“Your tan will achieve its maximum darkness in 4 hours.” This color is perf – wait, what? Maximum darkness in what? Um…
It’s already 8:30 pm, and there’s no way I’m staying awake for 4 more hours. (Who am I kidding – I’m lucky if I’m awake 30 more minutes.) Looks like somebody’s waking up a SUN GODDESSSSS.
The next morning. You guys.
I LOOK LIKE I ACTUALLY JUST GOT HOME FROM THE BEACH!
If that beach was in Florida.
And while in Florida I went to an orange grove and rubbed them all over my body.
So that I would look tan. But also kind of orange.
And.
I am shimmering.
Like. a. unicorn.
NOWHERE ON THE BOTTLE DOES IT MENTION ANY FORM OF SHIMMER.
WHERE WAS THE SHIMMER DISCLOSURE?!
So really, the moral of the story is: beauty products hate me All Things in Moderation. Also, don’t come to me for your self tanning tips.
Your turn – spill it. What are your worst (best?) beauty product fails?
All the Little Pieces 