After recently sharing my go-to sunless tanning routine (a routine I’ve been doing once to twice weekly for the last month or so) I also thought it would be fun to share a few other products I have been turning to frequently to achieve that flawless summer bronze.
Now real talk moment:
I cannot tan. Or, at least, I shouldn’t tan. Whenever I have gotten a great tan “naturally” it usually means that I’ve actually gotten burned, then freckled, then burned again, and then it fades into a tan. So, as you can see – that’s a dangerous, and frankly reckless, way to achieve a summery bronze.
Once upon a time, I loved to sit out in the sun, now I like to sit in the shade, slather on sunscreen, and dream about my next multi-masking session to target any new and unwanted wrinkles.
Best Bronzers and Self Tanners
My Favourite Products to Achieve a Perfect Summer Bronze
Self Tanners:
As I mentioned in my latest Sun-less Tanning routine, I am obsessed with the St Tropez Water Mousse, and St Tropez Water Mist.
The St Tropez Mousse is lightweight and non-sticky which makes it a great option to apply in the AM, go about your day, and have a great bronze by evening.
The mousse develops over 8 hours, and while it gives a deep tan, it doesn’t make you look unnatural or orange. I’ve been so impressed with the golden tone it has, and how easily it is to apply.
While I have had a few streaks with this product (mainly around my arms – a typical spot for me to get a streak or two – what’s with that, by the way?) I have found that using a bit of coconut oil on a cloth helps to easy soften those lines so they appear less obvious.
The mist is legit one of my favourite things ever. It’s super fine, lightweight, and gradual, so you won’t often experience streaks, and your skin never feels sticky or tacky.
I also really love using the mist on my back when I feel like my mousse application may have been a bit streaky. I’ve found it really helps soften the overall look of the tan and make it appear evener.
Bronzers:
Laura Mercier Soleil
I recently just got and started using the Laura Mercier Soleil bronzer and you guys – I am obsessed. This bronzer is a bit lighter than what I have used previously, but I seriously love it. It adds such a smooth, soft, and delicate bronze to your skin and never looks chalky, muddy, or orange. It’s absolutely stunning.
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
The bronzer I have been using for years and years is my Benefit Hoola Bronzer. I love this bronzer and the fact that it’s a slightly cooler and darker bronze shade than the others in today’s post. I tend to use this more when I have a tan or my sunless tan is at it’s deepest bronze. I find when I am back to being my normal paleness that this bronzer can appear a bit too harsh on my skin. If I use this when I am pale, I tend to mix it with a lighter bronzer so that this bronzer acts more like a contour shade.
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Palette
The Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Palette has been one of my go-tos since last summer, and I honestly think it’s going to always be in my makeup bag. This bronzer is lighter than hoola, but a slight bit deeper than soleil, making it a great in-between shade for when I am looking for something to give me a bit of a deeper bronze without looking like I am contouring. I would also say this shade is a bit warmer than the two above.
Nudestix Bondi Bae
Bondi Bae is another bronzer I absolutely adore. The cream formula makes it great for drier skin types, and it blends out super easily. This is the warmest shade out of all the ones mentioned today, so I would recommend using it just as a bronzer and not a contour shade and also using a light hand when applying.
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