There are a couple things to know before using.
1. First and foremost...take a shower before using this product. And be sure to shave all areas that you would normally shave. And please, please exfoliate before using this after you shave. You don't want all those dead skin cells that are left behind after shaving to have an affect on how this product takes to your skin.
2. When you get the product, it will come w/ 2 purple gloves, a mitt, a spray nozzle and the tanner itself. Now, I read a lot of reviews where they loved the product but complained about it leaking. Let me tell you right now how to solve that problem. The "straw" on the spray nozzle is WAY too long. So, before you replace the original cap on the bottle with the spray nozzle, I highly recommend taking a pair of scissors and cutting about one inch off the bottom of the "straw". And trust me, that will NOT be too much.
3. Please be sure to use the gloves that come w/ the product and you can use them over and over again.
4. The mitt is the best part about the product. You place it on your hand over the gloves.
5. On the brown side of the mitt (the soft side), put about 2 or 3 sprays of the product on the mitt and begin to rub it into your skin. I usually start out w/ my back. I'm single so I have to do this part myself, but if you have a spouse or significant other, they can do it for you. Be sure to bend your elbows, knees and fingers when applying the product to those parts.
6. When applying it to the face, I usually just put one spray of the product on the mitt and then rub into my face. Make sure to rub into the hairline so that you don't get that "I don't know how to apply make-up" look. If after trying, you decide that you don't like the all over face application, then just start applying it to the areas where you would naturally be kissed by the sun such as the cheek bones, top of nose, forehead, etc.
7. For my hands, I usually do those last. I take my gloves off and just use the tanner that is left over on the mitt to do my hands with (don't spray any extra on the mitt). Be sure to get in-between your fingers, too.
Now, my skin tone is naturally an olive color...meaning that I tan pretty easily. So, it doesn't take much of this product to give me the color that I like. This comes as a 6oz. bottle, so it should last you quite some time. I highly recommend doing this as the very last thing of the day, right before you go to bed. That way you are not messing w/ any water and you have overnight for it to set. Most reviews I read on this said that they didn't have any issue with the product rubbing off onto their bed sheets while they slept. I, on the other hand, did. It wasn't a whole lot, but I did have some. I think mostly it's because I like to sleep on my stomach so what did come off was on my pillow. No biggie...nothing the washing machine can't take care of. The next morning when you shower, it will look like it's all washing off...don't freak. It will be fine. Also, some reviewers said they did a 2nd application the next night. For some folks, that may be something you want to do. For me, because of my skin tone, I usually only apply it about every 3 or 4 days to keep my color. And this stuff dries really fast, so don't spray it onto your body and then rub it because it may dry faster than you can get to it. Be sure to spray it onto the mitt and then rub onto your skin. And because it dries so fast, you don't have to stand around in your birthday suit waiting on it to dry. Also, it doesn't have that "I just laid in a tanning bed, that's why I have that funky odor coming from me" smell. It smells kinda tropical. I think it smells kind of like coconuts...but that's just me.
Anyhoo...I hope you give it a try. It's way better than going for a professional spray tan. Besides the fact that you don't have to deal with someone looking at your body imperfections and criticizing you in their head. I mean, who really wants to get down to your skivvies in front of someone you don't know. This product also beats the tanning beds. We all know those aren't good for you. And I personally just don't have the patience to sit in some freaking hot bed for 15 or 20 minutes anymore. I could be doing something much more productive with my time.... like applying this self-tanner.
2. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer: I just recently discovered this and I must say that I LOVE it!!! It's supposed to "erase" those dark circles, but I've only been using it for about a week now so I can only see a slight difference with it. It has helped me look more awake, though, and I like that! It is about $7 at like Wal-mart or Target, but so very worth it. Because of my skin tone, I use #130 Bluff Beige.
In my family, both the men and women have the dark circles. So, no matter how much rest I get, I still look like I've been hit in the eyes with a baseball bat (not really that bad, but close) most days. Again, I read product reviews on it before I bought it. And it got TONS of great reviews. It doesn't take much and I only apply it in sort of a triangle shape under my eyes down to the edge of my nose, tapping it onto my face. Then I very lightly blend it in w/ the tip of my finger. Be careful when doing that as it can rub away fairly easily causing you to apply more.
I like this product for a couple reasons. 1. It doesn't cake up and doesn't make you look like you've put this thick concealer on. It's really light and you don't even know you have it on. 2. Once you set it w/ powder, you are good to go. There is no need to apply more unless you are going to be meeting the girls up for a night of fun after work.
3. Cover Girl Clean Foundation: This is another product that I just recently started using. I had been using Almay, but they have gone up...WAY up on their prices as well as they must have discontinued what I was using because I can no longer find it. So, instead of paying like $12 for a small bottle of Almay foundation, I started using this. It's only like $5 in the store. I use #535 Medium Light and it works for my skin. It's supposed to help against acne breakouts which is also what the Almay product did. But with this, it saves me $7. It's really light and airy and I like that. I don't like feeling like I have layers and layers of makeup on. I use this to blend into the edge of the Maybelline eye concealer I use (mentioned above) and over the rest of my face. Overall, it's a really great product and I highly recommend it.
4. L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Powder: Another product that I just recently started using. It's like $8 or $9 in the store. I use W4 Natural Beige. I normally use Physicians Formula, but they were out of the one I buy that day and I needed some, so I bought this (plus, I had a $2 off coupon, so I thought I'd try it). And I really love this stuff! It's very light and doesn't cake up over my concealer and foundation. AND...it doesn't take very much of it to cover. So, I can see it lasting me a while.
5. Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother: I have been using these for about a year now and it's probably one of my most used items! I carry it with me everywhere - Literally! I am not one to use lipstick...never have been. I hate how cakey and thick lipsticks feel on my lips. So, I have always used glosses or lip shines. Plus, I like the more natural look to my lips. It's about $6 in the store and I switch up between two different ones: #40 Gleam and # 45 Sparkle. Both are great!!
6. Amber Romance Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream by Victoria's Secret: I have to say that I absolutely LOVE this stuff!!! I'm not a huge "lotion" person. Never have been because I don't like the greasy feeling of lotion. I use Aveeno on my legs after I shave and on dry spots during the cold months because I have to, but that's as far as I go w/ lotions. But this Hand Cream is fabulous!!! I use it all the time. I keep some on my desk at work and I have some at home! I like using the cream because it's thick enough that it doesn't leave a slippery, greasy feeling on my hands, but yet it really moisturizes. Victoria's Secret carries these in several different scents, but I love the Amber Romance the best. It's not over-powering, but smells really good and I get lots of compliments on it! I think they normally run about $12, but most of the time VS has specials of like 3 for $25. That's when I normally buy them up. Plus, I don't have to go back so often if I do that as the closest one to me is about 30 minutes away.
7. St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub: A few months back (I think around February time frame), I did a post on my face cleaning routine which included Neutrogena Naturals face wash and the Olay Pro-X system. I still use those as they work for me and I really like that the Pro-X removes the dirt and make-up that my normal face washing doesn't, but I also use this St. Ives Apricot scrub. I mostly use it in the mornings while I shower. I like that it is a scrub and it exfoliates my skin. Plus it smells good!! I'm pretty sure the one I have is for sensitive skin because my face is pretty sensitive to certain things. It's about $3 or $4 at Wal-mart. And I really like it a lot!!
8. St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Moisturizer: Yet another recent discovery. I have been needing a facial moisturizer for quite some time, but again, I don't like the greasy feel that most have. I did some checking around and read a ton of great reviews on this. So, I decided to start using it. I like how it moisturizes my skin, but I don't put it on my nose. I think it just adds to the oil that the skin on my nose naturally produces and I definitely don't need any help with that. But I apply it at night after I wash my face and in the mornings after my shower. I apply it to my face and neck. Again, I just recently started using it, so I can only see a very slight difference. But I like it so I will continue to use it. I think it's only like $3.50 in Wal-mart. I think it's like 10oz and it will last you FOREVER because it doesn't take much! But I did read a couple reviews where they used it on their stomach/thighs/legs after having a baby and it seemed to help. But that's your call. I just use it on my face and neck.
9. Arm & Hammer Sensitive Toothpaste: For quite a number of years now, I have struggled with pretty sensitive teeth. I don't like really cold things on my teeth. That's why I don't drink anything with ice in it unless I have a straw nor do I hardly ever eat ice cream. Some time ago, after my hygienist recommended it, I started using the Sensodyne toothpaste. It was expensive (like $5 a tub), but it was the only sensitive toothpaste out and it worked, so I continued to use it. Recently, Arm & Hammer came out with a sensitive version. I decided to give it a try mostly because it was half the cost of the Sensodyne. I can tell you that with the first tube, I couldn't wait to get through it. I didn't like it and I think it was mostly because of the flavor. The next time, I tried a different flavor. I've been using it for a few months now and I really like it. It works just as well as the expensive stuff, but at a way better price. I'm not home right now, so I can't remember what flavor I use, but you can just try them and see which works for you.
Tootles!!
I veered away from Sensodine for a while, but eventually it felt like I had slight sensitivity coming back (I think I was using Colgate sensitive in lieu), so I went back to the Sensodine. I'm always looking to save a bit here or there, but there are a few places I splurge, and that's one of 'em! :) Thanks fot the reviews. I may give the concealer a try!
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