Sunday Casual + Sunless Tanners

Hello, weekenders! I hope you’re enjoying a few relaxing days of doing what you love best and are all ready for a new week ahead! I guess I am, because really, who is ever really ready for a new week ahead?!

So, I know weekend posts are a little rare but I had a little bit of extra time on my hands this weekend and thought, what the heck. Especially when you can find these little gems on sale right now. Not too shabby, I think!

With summer on the horizon, I’m guaranteed to become the queen of casual and this, my friends, is just a preview. No need to roll around town in stretchy pants and gym shorts when you have the most comfortable chambray shorts ever made… Believe me when I tell you that if you wanted to sleep in these babies, you could. It makes me wonder why they weren’t made in, oh I don’t know, every color of the rainbow? I’ll take 2, please.

And with that I wish you a wonderfully casual Sunday and I hope you had a fabulous weekend!

J.Crew Factory : Pink Striped Tee (25% off!) / J.Crew : Chambray Shorts (30% off!) / Madewell : Clutch (on sale!) / J.Crew : Espadrille Wedges, similar here, here / Michael Kors : Gold Watch / Jennifer Zeuner : Monogram Necklace

And, before I go off to do a million chores and other fun things…

I get a lot of questions about my tan here on the blog, Instagram, and even in e-mails and while I’ve done a post like this before, I’m always more than happy to share these two beauty favorites that I have been using for-ev-er. I mean, tried, tested, and true products from a girl who NEVER goes into the sun. I did enough abuse when I was a teen and in my early 20’s and friends, it’s not worth it. I go to the Dermatologist a few times a year to have my skin checked and I just worry about it constantly. It’s simply not worth it, to me. My sunblock is as thick as paste and even then I’m covered head to toe in oversized hats and bathing suit cover-ups. Get your faux glow on and trust me, even if you have a little mishap here and there, it’s always better than being in the sun.

So, here’s what I’m using!

I love Sun Laboratories Sunless Tanning products so much. They always look so natural and there’s 3 shades to chose from in their lotions. The lightest is “Medium”, the medium shade is “Dark”, and the darkest shade is “Very Dark”. I am pretty happy right there in the middle with “Dark” as the medium is too light for my preference and the “Ultra Dark” is a little too unnatural for me because I’m so fair. So, depending on your preference and skin tone, you can decide what’s best for you.

I apply the product with a vinyl glove (I love Target’s Up & Up brand!) and then I use the mitt over the glove. You see, the product will go through the mitt and your hand will stain. Trust me, I speak from experience. I sometimes use the mitt when applying the lotion to my legs and arms but mostly, I’m okay using just the gloves. Just make sure you rub it all in and try not to miss any spots. There’s a built in bronzer to help guide you and it’s dark enough to let you know what spots you didn’t cover. The mitt, however, is the only way I apply the product to my hands and feet. It makes sure everything looks even and blended. Super important in these areas!

I always apply my tanner before bed, wait about 30 minutes to an hour, get dressed in some old clothes (long sleeves, pants) and head to bed. This lotion does feel a little bit tacky when you put your clothes on but rest assured, the product won’t rub off and your tan is well on it’s way. Because of the developing time and the fact that I always shower after the tan is set, I recommend doing this before bed and not before you head out that day. The color guide will transfer onto your clothes and a shower is really important before get dressed.

When you wake up in the morning you’ll probably start swearing me to the high heavens because you look nothing short of a blotchy brown/orange mess but go ahead and hop in the shower and after that color guide washes down the drain, you’ll be left with a beautiful tan. Very natural and most importantly, made without damage from the sun.

Sun Laboratories is paraben free (a few years ago in 2010-11, it wasn’t but their most recent formula has it listed right on the bottle that it’s free of parabens…). It smells lovely and a little goes a long way. In the summer, I buy the big bottle on Amazon and it lasts pretty much the whole 3 months I’m using it. I apply once, maybe twice a week because if you’re smart about moisturizing, it helps maintain the tan and when it starts to fade, it doesn’t look splotchy or scaly.

Now, while I LOVE my Sun Lab, I think the secret to my success is the top coat I use, Lorac Body Bronzing Spray. I literally don’t know how I went so long without this amazing product. After you wake up and shower the color guide off from the Sun Lab, if you’re looking for a little extra color, go on outside and give your tan a quick spray of the Lorac Bondy Bronzer. I am OBSESSED. If you give it about 30 minutes to set and don’t spray the entire can on your body, it doesn’t transfer onto your clothes*** and it makes your skin absolutely flawless. It only comes off with water AND soap…and even then you have to really scrub it off. I think, even with my morning shower, this product lasts about 3 straight days. The little puff that comes in the box works wonderfully and I lightly spray my legs, arms, chest, one small space at a time and blend it in using the puff. It’s freaking amazing. Amazing, I tell ya…

***Just a little side note. Now, seeing how this isn’t a sunless tanner and just a bronzer, if you’re hot and sweaty…it will rub off. While I couldn’t recommend this product more, I wouldn’t wear it in 100% humidity and a white dress. While it’s pretty close to perfect, I’ve yet to find a product that doesn’t eventually show it’s face a little bit on light colored clothes. I almost think after one shower, the bronzer is less likely to show up on what you’re wearing but still be noticeable on your skin, if that makes sense. You only need a small dusting of this spray and it will look fabulous. It’s like a BB Cream for your skin. Covers up all faux tan application mishaps and blends all flaws.

And there you have it, girls. Get your tan on this summer SAFELY and look like a bronzed beauty in no time.

Happy Tanning!