How to Get that Bronzed Glow at Home | Face & Body

Hi friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Mine kicked off early on Thursday with a girls’ birthday celebration for Tarah at Backstreet Cafe, then a couples dinner on Friday at A’Bouzy, and Saturday night we ate at Bombay Brasserie.  I’m crazy for their Chicken Tikka Masala, and after eating Indian food in Mexico, was continuing to crave it at home!

I usually meal prep and eat my meals at home, but Houston has some amazing restaurants and it’s fun to get dressed and go out once in awhile!  I will have some new healthy meal prep ideas for you tomorrow, so come back for that!

HOW TO GET THAT BRONZED SUMMER GLOW AT HOME

In the meantime, today is all about that bronzed summer glow and how you can achieve it at home.  I’ve been playing with a new bronzer that gives you a sun-kissed look on your face and a self tanner that I’m so crazy for.  I truly believe it’s the BEST COLOR I’ve ever gotten from a self tanner and I’m a convert!

Even at Tarah’s birthday dinner, I got several compliments on my tan and I was happy to share that it was from a bottle!  They thought it was from Mexico! Nope!

 

BRONZED FACE

Let’s start with the face.  My new secret weapon that gives such a beautiful bronzed glow is NARS Bronzing Powder.

It comes in a larger package with a wide flat surface, perfect for using different types of brushes.  Even a big fluffy brush will get a good amount of product on it because of the large surface of the bronzer.

The bronzing powder has a gold shimmer to it- not glittery per se, but does have a golden sheen that adds brightness to your face.

The color “Laguna” is a more natural tan as opposed to a reddish or “sunburned” color.  It contains a lot of pigment, so a little goes a long way.  It’s best to start with a light hand and build onto that if you want a deeper bronze.

I dip the fluffy brush into the powder, then start just under my cheek bones with a light tap, gentle sweeping motion, moving up to my forehead near the hairline.

Because my forehead is on the bigger side, I bring the powder down a bit from my hairline.

I’ll end by applying a bit across the bridge of my nose, basically touching all of those those places where the sun would naturally hit your face.

Be sure to blend it out so there are no harsh lines.

The NARS bronzer gives you a gorgeous golden goddess type of look, more like a natural ‘tan’ than a contour alone.

A huge plus for this bronzer is it’s staying power.  You can apply it in the morning, and not have to touch it up all day!  It’s wears wonderfully for a full day.

And, in case you were wondering, I linked the rest of my makeup below, and everything is from Nordstrom.  It’s still one of the easiest places to shop online and their website is so easy to navigate.

Shipping and returns are always free and you can also do free same-day curbside pickup, without ever having to get out of your car!

NARS Bronzing Powder • Charlotte Tilbury Concealer • Contour Duo • Eyeshadow • Eyeliner “Teddy” • Brow Pencil • Lash Primer • Fat Lash Mascara • Lipstick “Hey Frenchie”

Jeans • Wedges • Star Necklace

I try to never tan my face from the sun because I know how damaging it is and I’m super sensitive to hyperpigmentation if I get sun on my face.

When I was in Mexico, I was religious about applying sunscreen everywhere and reapplied it multiple times a day.

Swimsuit

Not only did I not burn, I didn’t even get a tan!  I came home more pale than I went because I got a professional spray tan before I left.

Well, that was weeks ago and I wanted to tan my pale skin at home to replicate the look of my pretty, professional spray tan.

MY NEW FAVORITE SELF TANNER

I’ve been using self tanner at home for years now and have always been happy with the results from drug store brands.

But, when you know better, you do better!

I can’t even believe what I’ve been missing with the St. Tropez self tanning mousse.

Everything from the easy application, pleasant scent, to the GORGEOUS color makes it my new favorite self tanner! ♥

St. Tropez Self Tanning Mousse

St. Tropez Self Tanning Mousse • Mitt

TIPS FOR APPLYING ST. TROPEZ SELF TANNING MOUSSE

STEP 1 • EXFOLIATE

Make sure to exfoliate your skin before applying self tanner.  Any exfoliator that doesn’t leave a greasy film on your skin will work.  The color will adhere to your skin best when you have clean, dry, well-exfoliated skin.

Maxi Cover Up

STEP 2 • TO MOISTURIZE OR NOT

Most tutorials recommend that you apply moisturizer/lotion to the dry parts of your skin (hands, heels, elbows, knees) before self tanner.  This is because if those areas of your skin are drier than the rest of your skin, the product will tend to collect there.

I moisturize on a daily basis, but skip it before applying self tanner.  I’m just careful to go extra lightly on those parts and buff well with the mitt.  More on that below!  I just make sure that I am completely dry before I apply self tanner.  I usually shower, towel dry, then wait a few minutes to ensure there are no damp parts of my skin.

If I’m in a hurry, I’ll use my hairdryer to help quickly dry my body faster.

STEP 3 • APPLY THE TANNER TO YOUR BODY IN SECTIONS 

Once your skin is prepped, you are ready to apply the sunless tanner.  I also use this mitt for application so I don’t end up with stained palms.

This self tanner comes in a pump bottle.  Give it a shake and then pump one-two pumps of the tanning mousse onto your mitt.

The fluffy whipped mousse isn’t the prettiest color out of the bottle, but the color ON YOUR SKIN is what matters, and this one is beautiful, a truly brownish tan color that doesn’t look one bit orange!

I always start applying the mousse to the upper part of my leg (knees to booty), then knees down to feet.  I do the front part, then the back.  Use the mitt to lightly smooth the product all over that part of your body.

The good thing about the mousse being a tan color is that you can see where you are applying it.  After my legs are done, I move onto the booty, then stomach, chest, and arms.

I’ll switch which hand I’m wearing the mitt on, depending what side of my body I’m working with.

Tee • Jean Shorts • Flip Flops • Blue Ray-Ban Sunglasses

TIP FOR HANDS, ELBOWS, KNEES :

I don’t apply the mousse directly onto those areas that tend to be more dry.  Instead, I use the mitt to buff over areas like my heels, elbows, under arms.

For my hands, I’ll  buff over the back of my hand and between my fingers.

QUICK DRY 

It takes about 10-20 minutes to dry completely, but if you’re in a hurry, you can lightly blast your skin with the cool setting of your blow-dryer to speed up the drying process.

WHEN WILL YOU SEE THE TAN?

You will immediately notice the tan, but it will deepen and develop into a darker tan over the next 3 hours.

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR TAN

If I want an even deeper tan, I’ll apply self tanner at night, go to bed without rinsing, then apply it again in the morning.  I love those results, especially in the summer if I’m wearing a swimsuit.

Avoid super hot showers and moisturize daily with a non oil-based moisturizer.  Oil-based moisturizers tend to rub your tan off faster.

If you’re shaving your legs, don’t press super hard.  Each shave takes a bit of the tan off with it. You can go swimming, but your tan will fade more the longer you stay in the water.

Swimsuit • Similar Hat • Blue Ray-Ban Sunglasses

LONG WILL YOUR TAN LAST?

If you follow those guidelines above, the tan lasts about 5 or so days, then starts fading naturally.

DO YOU TAN YOUR FACE?

I don’t use self tanner on my face, but I have used the Trish McEvoy Self Tanning Drops on my face and like the results.

You put a few drops in your hands and then massage it all over your face.  I usually do it at night and wake up in the morning with a light tan glow!  You can use more for a deeper tan.

I like the bronzed makeup situation so much that I gave my tanning drops to my mom though! I’m really bad, (or good?) at giving things away when my family or friends mention that they like something.

It also happened with my hairdryer brush.  I gave mine to my mom, then missed it so much, I ended up buying myself a new one! ha!

Tee • Jean Shorts • Flip Flops • Blue Ray-Ban Sunglasses

HOW MUCH DOES ST. TROPEZ SELF TANNER COST?

I can’t believe I hadn’t tried St. Tropez before, but I know that it was because it’s pricy, and I didn’t realize just HOW GOOD it was!

A big bottle (6.7 oz) is $44 dollars.  Now, I’m convinced it’s worth it!

And, considering price per wear it’s even less expensive.

Also, now that I know I can get a professional looking tan at home, I don’t think I’ll go as often for a professional spray tan.  That will also save me money!

HOW LONG WILL THE BOTTLE LAST?

If you use the self tanner 2 times per week, it’s supposed to last about 3 months.  Some people that use it less often say the bottle lasts them a full year.

I’ll try to keep track of how many uses I get out of this bottle and will report back!

Tee • Jean Shorts • Flip Flops • Blue Ray-Ban Sunglasses

CLICK THE PHOTOS BELOW TO SHOP

if you’re reading this via email, click through to my blog to see the shoppable photos

What is your favorite self tanner??  Let me know in the comments!

Now let’s go kick Monday’s booty!

 

*affiliate links used in collaboration with Nordstrom