Pasty Patricias.
Pic above: my olive skinned brother who we all hate cuz we’re jealous. Isn’t he cute?
Confession: I am a fair-skinned Fiona. Yep. A white Winifred. A pasty Patty. Why is that a confession? Because these days, I get regular compliments on my “olive” complexion. I have to laugh inside whenever it happens, because little do my admirers know that in reality I am a pale Pollyanna. And on top of that, I am a freckled Francesca. My skin is no easy thing to work with! And that is why, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to share with you my favorite beauty product: SELF-TANNER! Self -tanner has kind of changed my life. OK, that might be a little dramatic … but seriously. I had been in the habit of caking on the face makeup, to hide my freckles and even out my blotchy skin tone. But we all know how fabulous caked-on makeup looks. It washed me out, and was so obviously overdone that it hid any amount of natural beauty I possessed.
Self-tanner changed all that. Most of my friends only used it on their legs, and even then, only in the summer. But I saw the product’s true potential. I started using it on my upper body as well, including my face. I quickly discovered that it blended my freckled skin tone and took the edge off of my painfully pale complexion. I had to learn my application tactics the hard way, but then, having the stuff on my FACE was a major motivation to get the application right. I discovered that the best method was to put the tanner on my face just like I was applying moisturizer, but a little less haphazardly. I tried to really remember that everywhere I was putting the tanner would turn a darker color, and everywhere I wasn’t putting it would remain pasty white. I was especially careful around my hairline, eyebrows, ears, and jaw line. I realized quickly that it was extremely important to blend down onto my neck to avoid having a massive, creepy line. In time, I perfected the art of applying the stuff and started using it as a regular part of my beauty regimen. I’d apply every other day or so, which maintained my color and kept me from drifting back to my naturally pasty pale self. Oh — one other thing I learned very fast: WASH. YOUR. HANDS. IMMEDIATELY!!! If I didn’t thoroughly scrub my hands with soap and water right after applying the tanner, disaster was imminent. One thing I haven’t tried (but fully intend to) is using gloves made specifically for self-tanner application.
Today, I still use self-tanner on an every-other-day basis and swear by it as a beauty staple. Don’t get me wrong; I’m all about embracing your natural look. But isn’t that the whole point of makeup and beauty products? To enhance what is already there naturally? I may not have been born with an olive complexion, but I was born with adorable freckles, which I’m now able to appreciate because I can make them blend a little better by using self-tanner. WOOT! This post is a part of BlogHer’s Transformative Beauty editorial series, made possible by BlogHer and Sonia Kashuk at Target.
Self Tanned and not even mad about it.
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Have a Whipper-Snapper Wednesday!
Thanks for Reading, ya little sweeties.
WOW! I never would have known! Your tan is beautiful too!
I totally agree on the self tanner thing and you’re totally gorgeous!
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Thanks Anca! right back atchya sista!
wait- did I miss what self-tanner you use??? share! I have tried tantowels but they’re kinda expensive and I’m cheap (got a wedding/honeymoon to pay for!)
I pay someone to come to my house to spray me whenever I need to look healthy and not pasty!
that orange and turquoise outfit is too much! perfection
xoxo navy & orange
Thanks lady! xoxo
Yes, what kind of tanner do you use? I’ve used Jergens before and like it pretty well, especially for my legs, but I find when I use it on other parts of my body it just doesn’t look right. Do you have any tips for blending from the face down the neck and chest with it all looking even? I find this task extremely difficult. Thanks!
Anne: very fair question! I swear by L’oreal Sublime Bronze. I use the DEEP tint, but it comes in medium and light as well if you don’t wanna take the full plunge right away! 🙂 Honestly though, I’ve tried soooooo many different kinds. Sublime Bronze by L’Oreal is my FAVE. Tips for blending from face down to the neck & chest: when i put it on my chest, i blend it all the way up my neck as well. And then when I put it on my face, i blend it all the way down my neck. And i just blend blend blend away! Honestly, it’s a little bit trial and error… you figure it out when you’re putting it on multiple times a week! 🙂
I just wanted to thank you for this post! I’m no fashionista, but I hate being pale in the winter. Because I read your post, I went out and picked up the self tanner. I have gotten so many compliments, and it’s only my first week. Thanks for helping me beat those pale winter blues.
Kristen – so glad to hear you found it helpful, and that you’re liking the stuff! What kind did you end up getting? I wasn’t allowed to say what brand I use in the post but I use L’Oreal Sublime Bronze. What kind are you using girl? 🙂
I went with the L’Oreal Sublime Bronze in medium. I didn’t really see a difference at first, but in the past few days I have had a few different folks (to include my fabulous hairdresser) ask if I’d been tanning. Now, almost two weeks later, I totally see a difference! I’m always bummed about my pasty white face in the winter, and this definitely does the trick.
Thanks SO much!