HAPPY HAPPY FRIDAY!
As soon as I hit publish on this post, I’m about to pack lunch and then head out to the pool! But in my Q&A IG stories yesterday, I was asked if I had any recommendations for clean sunless tanners, and I decided this post was worth updating! Even if it doesn’t feel like spring outside where you are, that doesn’t mean you can’t get some color. đ
So I present to you my favorite sunless tanner that is natural, non-toxic, and gives you amazing color that lasts. (also known as… A UNICORN!)
Whose. He knew. (And no, this is not sponsored!)
Is named Vita Liberata Fabulous Gradual Self-Tanning Lotion. (You can get it at both Nordstrom and Dermstore!)
Have you heard of this brand before? I didn’t. I can’t take credit for this discovery though, because I actually read about it in Cupcakes and Cashmere; I bought it on a whim and loved it so much that I had to dedicate an entire post to it, just like she did. !
Note on pregnancy-safe beauty products: Now that we’ve shared the big news about LR, I get a lot of questions about “pregnancy safe” things. There is no official definition of “pregnancy safe”, just like there is no real definition of “clean” or “non-toxic”, these are not regulated terms. Advice varies from doctor to doctor and from person to person. I can’t tell you what is “pregnancy safe” for you, so it’s up to you to decide what you’re comfortable with! I want to point out that this product contains salicylic acid, which some doctors say to avoid, others say is perfectly safe. This is generally considered a very safe ingredient, so it doesn’t keep me up at night, but I wanted to call it out!
The BEST Clean At-Home Sunless Tanner: Vita Liberata
Because I love it:
It develops gradually and it comes out clear, not brown, it goes on like a lotion!
It does not stain all your sheets and your clothes.âis a zero transfer formula. This is my biggest problem with sunless tanners and why I don’t use them more often. This is a complete game changer!
doesn’t smell badâeventually develops that hint of a âsunless tanâ smell, but not as much as many I’ve used!
It is a very natural color, not too dark, not too light. It just gives you that *sun-kissed touch of shimmer*
it is moisturizingâmade with Hyaluronic Acid, Shea Butter and Aloe Vera.
It actually LASTS for days! Another big annoyance I’ve had with other at-home sunless tanners (St. Tropez, Tarte) – this one seems to last much better. The color is perfect for everyday: it’s not “Vegas pool party tan” but “I’m just an ordinary human who wants a natural kiss of color.” I find that it lasts about a week and doesn’t come off in that patchy way that a lot of sunless tanners do.
How to apply it:
Exfoliation first is KEY – my absolute favorite scrub is the microdermamit. It’s AMAZING and not too harsh on the skin and does an amazing job. I have them both for face and body. It is also a small brand owned by a woman! Be sure to focus on your feet, ankles, heels, wrists, knees, and elbows, also known as the driest spots that often give away your sunless tan!
Then I apply body lotion (I have been using Billie’s for about a year and I love how inexpensive it is and it’s clean!) on my feet, ankles, heels, wrists, knees and elbows ONLY, just the areas that tend to get more orange, (if you’ve ever had a spray tan, this is where you are told to put on the âbarrier creamâ). The reason for this is that these areas tend to get drier and therefore absorb more product, making them more likely to turn orange. However, do not apply the lotion anywhere else, according to the directions on the bottle.
Then, I apply the product itself with a mit sunless tannerâ rubbing with circular movements all over. I have found that this is the key to an even tan. (I never have good results just using my hands!)
another key is Don’t rush through the application process.
Rub and rub so you don’t miss any spots and get a nice, even tan. I also like that this ensures my hands don’t get too orange, just make sure you apply it to the tops of both hands! Leave on 8 hours before showering!
Also, I don’t apply sunless tanner to my face, so I can’t speak to that specifically. I apply it all the way to my dĂ©colletage and under my jawline, but I’ve had bad experiences with sunless tanners giving me breakouts (this happened with St. Tropez), so I’m too nervous to just add extra bronzer when I do. my matching makeup
Looking for a spray tan?
Please bookmark this for the future once we are actually going places again. đBut I always get asked where I go for a spray tan in Chicago, and I LOVE Penny Kraft + Co. I would HIGHLY recommend Penny, you’re in Chicago and looking for a place to spray! They are only $45 and if you mention my name on the reservation you get $5 off!
However, for everyday use, you can’t go wrong with the Vita Liberata! 5 stars in my book! Next, I want to try their sunless tanning water which looks very intriguingâŠstay tuned for that!
