It's Sunless Tanning Season, and I Have a New Fave Product

I am a self-tan connoisseur, I’ve mentioned it many times. A few key points to remember:

• I’m very pale, and I’m fine with it. My summer shade is Cate Blanchett and my winter shade is Tilda Swinton.

• My legs are lighter than the rest of my body. Again, this is fine, but I like to match, and I like the way my legs look with a little more color.

• Becasue of these two things, I use sunless tanner on just my legs, and becasue I want a hint of color, I gravitate toward gradual tan moisturizers and, as of last year, sunless tanning drops.

Last year I bought Sol by Jergens Self-Tanning Drops, and I really liked them, and wrote about them here. I considered repurchasing this summer, but I decided to try something different. I considered splashing out on these Tan-Luxe ones, but decided to just try another sold-at-Target brand, and picked up a bottle of Tanologist Self Tan Drops in Light.

I don’t know if I think these drops are better than Jergens, or if I just have more patience and experience, but for whatever reason, I prefer Tanologist. After I shower at night, I add two drops of Tanologist Self Tan Drops to my lotion (this one is a fave) for each leg. Then I go to bed. Waking up in the morning after day one, it’s not going to look hugely different. This is the trick with the drops (at least I think so): You need to do it gradually. If you throw 15 drops in your lotion you’re going to look orange and smell like self-tanner. Take it slow! I do two drops for each leg, days in a row. Then, once things have built up a bit, I might go to adding drops every other day. If you want to be instantly tan all over, I’m not the person to advise you (but I will: You need a spray tan).

If you’re looking to match your pale legs to your less-pale body, tan drops are a godsend. They don’t smell, they allow you to control your color, and you can still use your regular lotion. Did I mention you won’t smell like a walking bottle of self-tanner once your’e done?? That’s the true miracle of tan drops, IMO.