3 Great Self-Tanners for Middle-Stage Skin!

Remember the days of sun tanning in the real sun - lounging in the backyard lawn chair with baby oil slathered all over our skin and aluminum foil directing the sun's rays right at our faces? We spent the whole day at the lake or beach with our bodies devoid of sunscreen and sometimes we baked in a tanning bed so we looked like we spent a month in a tropical location before prom? I know - Yikes!

Today, we try to take better care of our skin but that doesn't mean we want to look like Casper the Friendly Ghost all year long. Sometimes having a little tan coloring makes us feel better (less visible varicose veins, wrinkles and our many skin imperfections, and perhaps we look a little more toned!?) For whatever reason, we still want that natural-looking, gorgeous, tanned glow and a sunless tan is the way to go!

We all know that middle-stage skin is different than that of a 20-something so Marty, Trish and I decided to put a few sunless tanning products to the test to find out if they were easy to apply, streak-free and a nice brown (not Cheeto orange) color on our less-than-perfect middle-stage skin.

We did some research and picked tanning products with good reviews and that were reasonably priced (some of the products can really get up there in price). We tried a tan towelette, a foam/mousse and a lotion:

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L'OREAL Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes

Convenient and easy to use, these Sublime Bronze Towelettes deliver a streak-free, natural-looking instant glow tan. With enough self-tanner for one application, each towelette is perfect for at home or on the go. Formulated with Vitamin E and AHAs for a soft, smooth, sunless tan that develops in 2-4 hours.

Beauty by Earth Self Tanner

Get a natural, sun-kissed glow! Say goodbye to orange hues and hello to a natural-looking tan. This bronzing tanning lotion comes in fair to medium & medium to dark shades for all skin types.

It is all-natural and made with organic aloe vera, shea butter, and botanical extracts without any harmful additives or dyes.

Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Ultra Deep Bronze

An award-winning formula that's the gold standard in DIY home tanning. It works with your skin tone to create personalized, flawless color that dries quickly and lasts for days. Streak free, hassle free instant self tanner.

Bronze Tan Self-Tanning Mitt

This Bronze Tan Self Tanning Mitt ensures a smooth and even application of your favorite self tanner, regardless of the formula. It comfortably fits all hand sizes and prevents product waste, offering a seamless, streak-free tan. It is made of microfiber and is machine washable.

Watch here for the final results!!!!!!

Our take-aways:

• These are 3 great self-tanners for middle-stage skin that actually work and go on with a streak-free, natural look! Yay!

• Try a shade darker than you might initially think depending on your skin tone

• Use the application mitt for a smooth, even tan

• Apply more than one coat for a darker tan (some self-tan products take several hours to develop - we were not very patient! The next day our tans had fully developed and we were much darker than in the video.)
  

A few extra tips for the best self-tan results:

• Exfoliate before application so skin is ready to absorb the tanner

• After applying the self-tanner, let it fully dry before putting your clothes back on and avoid sweating to help prevent streaks and splotches.

• Wash your hands immediately after applying the self-tanner so your palms don't turn brown/orange.

• Shower about 12 hours after applying the tanner (or whatever your particular product recommends) to wash off any bronzer and get a more natural look.

Do you have a favorite self-tanner?? Please share!!