Down here in Savannah things have started to heat up; yesterday it was 80+ degrees and it shows no signs of stopping.  Don't get us wrong, we aren't complaining, we can't stand cold weather so the sun is always welcome here but it does pose a unique dilemma.  As a natural redhead, we were blessed with pretty and very sensitive ivory skin.  We don't tan.  At all.  Trust us, we tried (and yes we know how bad tanning beds are for you and laying out and all that.  It was high school.  We were desperate to fit in.).  Anyway, these days we don't leave the house without sunscreen and we're fanatics about making sure we have a high spf spray available in our car or bag just in case we get stuck outside somewhere.

Sunscreen, however, help too much with the whole being tan thing.  We're all for the 'love your body just as it is' concept (seriously, we are) but our personal preference is when it warms up and the hem lines get shorter and shorter and bikinis are a staple, we prefer to have an enviable glow.  That doesn't mean we're going to go to any length to get it, but thankfully due to the invention of self-tanning lotions, sprays, mousses and towelettes, we don't have to.  We've tried them all and since we consider ourselves something of an expert on this area, we thought we would share our hard-earned knowledge with you.  Long gone are the days when you turn orange - self tanners these days mean a pretty, believable golden hue that can be customized to fit your skin tone.  

Side note:  we're huge fans of VersaSpa's spray tan in clear medium (chances are you're local tanning salon has one), but since this isn't actually an at-home self tanner we're leaving it off the list.

These are the top products that we've found and use over the summer.  They're listed in order from least expensive to most expensive but remember, just like finding foundation, you have to try several different formulas before you find the perfect fit for you and your skin.  Keep in mind that the lotions tend to last longer than mousses or sprays but take longer to apply and generally take longer to dry.  We mix our lotions with just a touch of Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Radiant Body Lotion to help prevent streaking and keep our skin hydrated - we've never noticed a problem with lighter or uneven color so if you aren't completely confident in your self-tanning ability this might be a good option for you.  


1.  Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion, $6.99

Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion, $6.99, available at Target

It's funny how the cheapest product on our list is one of our overall favorites.  Banana Boat's Summer Color is self-adjusting to your skin meaning that in theory it won't be too dark for even lighter skinned individuals but we've always gotten a pretty deep gold color.  It goes on smoothly and evenly (especially when mixed with a touch of body lotion) although it does take a few minutes to absorb into the skin.  The smell is pretty much what you should expect from self-tanners - shea butterish mixed with, well, whatever it is that causes that self-tanner smell.



2.  L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion, $10.99

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion, $10.99, available at Ulta

This is more of a gel/lotion combination that also goes on smoothly when mixed with body lotion.   It's tinted which helps you see where you've already applied and shows up really well on lighter skin.  The product smells great but it does have a lot of sparkle to it - like 'I just came from the club' amount of sparkle, which is fine if you're just out and about but it's not the best when it comes to work-appropriate if you have staunch dress codes.



3. St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse, $32.00

St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse, $32, available at Sephora

Our only mousse on the list, this is our first year using St. Tropez products, in the past we had shied away due to the price but we're glad we took the plunge.  Coming out in a frothy mousse (think hair product only a little thinner), this product is best applied with a self-tanning mitt to help keep your hands safe from being entirely too dark but more importantly to make sure your tan is smooth and even.  Don't freak out about the initial mousse color having a greenish tint - that's how it delivers a true golden brown color.  Your tan will only be a few shades darker than your normal coloring, so if you're looking for a deep dark color fast, you may want to try a different product but it does layer nicely.



4.  St. Tropez Bronzing Spray, $35.00

St. Tropez Bronzing Spray, $35, available at Sephora

One of two sprays on our list, this St. Tropez product smells amazing and is gentle on your skin but may throw you off when you first apply it.  Like clear tanning formulas in self-tanning machines, the bronzing spray isn't tinted which means you can't tell where you've already applied it and which places still need to be touched up.  We suggest using the self-tanning mitt to make sure you've covered everywhere and don't end up with a patchy tan.  



5.  So Bronze Professional Airbrush Tanner, $35.00

So Bronze Professional Airbrush Tanner, $35, available online

Our last spray on this list, So Bronze is a little easier to apply due to the fact that it is tinted, allowing you to tell where you've already sprayed.  It also lasts longer than expected and dries almost instantly while delivering a beautiful deep color over the next 4-6 hours.  



6.  Lancome Flash Bronzer, $40.00

Lancome Flash Bronzer, $40, available at Sephora

Last but certainly not least, Lancome's Flash Bronzer is a gel formula that we mix with body lotion to help it apply more evenly but it delivers a rich golden tan while leaving your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.  Though it does have a little sparkle to it, the finished effect is pretty much negligible.  A little goes a long way too, we usually only need one to two bottles per summer.