Let’s Talk Self-Tanner

I feel better with a tan. I don’t know what it is about my body having some color on it, but man does it make me feel better.

• It makes my mood better (because I don’t look in the mirror and feel all pastey)
• It makes my makeup easier with is a win all in itself. Somehow the tan helps with my dark circles because hello it’s not dark circles right next to pastey white skin, but instead beside somewhat tan skin and I can either go without makeup more confidently or use less makeup. Either way, the tan makes it better.
• I can wear shorts/dresses/sports bras/bathing suits without feeling like I’m blinding myself or someone.

It defines the small amount of muscle that I do have and just helps it to look more oomph (you know what I’m talking about.)

So, let me say first, I have absolutely no problem or care in the world with people who don’t care to be tan, or use tanner, or get a tan in the sun (let me be the first to tell you, I LOVE a tan from the sun, with sunscreen of course, but it is too dang cold for that right now.) I’m all about doing what you want to do with your body, skin, hair, whatever it is to make you feel your best.

If you want to wear makeup or not, workout or not, get your nails done, do them yourself, or not at all, get your hair colored whatever way, or not, literally whatever it is, you do you! And for me, it means I like to use self tanner to give myself than “tanned” look year round. To each their own.

Okay, now let’s talk about the self tanner I’ve been using because I love it and it is budget-friendly. That is a major win in itself. I’ve been using the Tanologist self-tan mousse in the shade dark. The tanner is under $20 and worth every penny in my opinion.

How I Apply:

First things first, I shower and in the shower I shave and exfoliate. I’ll link my razor because it’s my absolute favorite ever here. And I also wrote a whole separate blog post all about it here. After I shave, I exfoliate all over using this and the Dove exfoliating body wash.

Once I get out of the shower and dry off, then I’ll lotion my whole body including my face. You can use whatever lotion you like best. Let you lotion dry for a few minutes!

Now you are ready to get your tan on. Let’s do this.

I apply it with a mitt in circular motions all over. I also use this tanner on my face, but if you’re not comfortable with that, there are tanning drops you can mix into your moisturizer/lotion to put on your face. Some people prefer one over the other. Complete preference!

This tanner doesn’t have color to it, so make sure you remember where you’ve applied so you’re not putting too much in certain places or running over the same places multiple times. The mitt really helps it to look even and not splotchy or streaky. Do the bigger surface areas on your body first with the most product on your mitts, then use excess for knees, elbows, hands, feet. Make sure to only go over these areas once or they can get to much tanner on them and not look natural. Also, bend your elbows and knees when running the mitt over for natural and best coverage. Don’t forget your neck area and behind the knees!

When do I apply? I apply at night after Krew goes to bed usually. This tanner takes about 4 hours to process and if you want it darker leave it longer. So, this works out perfect to apply and have it on overnight while you sleep, then rinse in the shower the next morning. After I apply and let dry for a few minutes, I’ll put on dark, loose long sleeves and dark loose pajama pants to sleep it. This helps it to not transfer onto light clothes or my bed! The next morning, I’ll hop in the shower and do a super quick rinse (don’t scrub). This just gets the excess off and gives it a natural, blended look.

If you want your tan to last, use lotion everyday, especially on your dry areas (elbows, knees, ankles, hands, feet).

With this tanner, I haven’t noticed it getting splotchy as the days pass. Even on day 4-5, I don’t see splotches where it’s worn off, it’s more of a gradual fade, which I love. Even though it doesn’t splotch, still exfoliate before using it again, unless you’re doing it a few days in a row to build a darker, more intense tan.

Top Tips to a Perfect Tan

1. Shower, shave, exfoliate.
2. Lotion (especially your dry skin areas)
3. Apply the most product on the major body parts (legs, stomach, chest, arms) then use what’s left on the mitt for knees, elbows, hands, and feet. I promise there is product on your mitt even if you don’t think so. The excess that you don’t see on there is the perfect amount for those smaller/drier areas.
4. Apply at night and sleep in dark, loose clothing.
5. Rinse but don’t scrub.
6. Lotion each day.
7. Exfoliate before next application.

I hope this helps you with your next self-tan, and thank you for reading! Let me know if you have any further questions, or try this out. We’ll chat again soon!

I’m just a mama who loves a good tan.

My Everyday Makeup

I don’t know about y’all, but if I have my makeup on (or at least some form of it *cough, cough* mascara and concealer) I feel pretty put together for the most part. I’m the type of girl that can have my hair in a ball cap or a messy bun and even though it won’t be “fixed,” I can have some makeup on and feel great! Needless to say, a lot of my days I tend to put a little makeup on for the day and pop my hair into a bun and then I feel like I can take on the day. Also, my hair can be fixed for the day and it will end up in a bun or hat at some point throughout the day because Krew loves, and I mean gets SO much enjoyment from pulling or biting my hair, and we’re already dealing with some postpartum hair loss so this mama can’t afford for her sweet babe to be pulling out anymore of those precious hairs every day. Mamas, are you with me?

Anywhooooo, where I was heading with this hair and makeup talk, is that my makeup routine takes me about 10 minutes max and I’d love to share my favorite go-to products/routine! Let’s talk makeup!

To start, I don’t wear foundation/bronzer/face powder, but if you do, just incorporate that into the routine wherever you would usually apply those products! I do wear concealer and concealer powder, and recently have just switched up my routine a bit! Previously, I was doing my concealer first, but I tend to pop some shimmer eyeshadow on, and when I did, the shimmer gets under my eyes a little and then when I wipe it away, I’m having to reapply/touch-up the concealer! So…I’ve started doing my eyeshadow first. The order I do my makeup is: 

Eyeshadow & brows (I don’t do brows all the time, but when I do, I use my eyeshadow pallets in the dark brown colors)

Eyeliner 

Mascara

Concealer

Concealer powder

Blush 

Lip (I don’t always wear a lip color because I’m a tried and true chapstick/lip balm girl)

For my eyeshadow, I’ve always used my go-to Urban Decay Naked Palette, but I also incorporate some of the Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette! Recently however, I came across the Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette, and I’m IN LOVE with this palette! I love it alone, but I’ve also been mixing this one with the Urban Decay palette and it’s given me some of my favorite eyeshadow looks!! My go-to colors in the Urban Decay palette are ‘half baked’ and maybe mix some ‘sidecar’ for the whole lid, then I’ll pop some ‘hustle’ in the outer corners and the top outer corner of the lid. BLEND. BLEND. BLEND. Then if I need some more pop on the actual lid I’ll blend some more ‘half baked’ or ‘sidecar’ depending on the look I’m going for! I may darken my lid a little some days with ‘smog’ or ‘toasted’ as well! I always, always, always, pop ‘sin’ at the inner corner for brightness and to open up the whole eye and ‘virgin’ under my brow and to the outside of the lid! I really feel like it pulls everything together and cleans/blends things out for me. See what I mean by go-to? I use this palette in so many ways/combos, but this is my simple go-to routine! Now, for the Naked Basics Palette, I love to use these as a base for my shadows, specifically ‘commando’ or ‘instinct’ but I also love ‘lethal’ for that outer corner and ‘extra bitter’ for a Fall look. I also love ‘lockout’ for my brows, and the smaller end of this brush for this purpose too! As for the Honest Palette I’m loving the light pink as a finisher on the middle of the lid for a bright daytime Spring look, as well as the dark brown for my brows, and I’ve also started using the black as my eyeliner on the bottom! I love a product I can use for many purposes and this one serves so well as eyeshadow, brows, and eyeliner…win win!

Okay, moving into my eyeliner, I will put some of the Honest Palette in black under my eyes for a softer liner look, and then if I want a little more of a sleek cat eye, I use the Kat Von D tattoo liner in the color ‘trooper black.’ This liner is so easy to apply and get that sharp line, and it will not move once its on! I seriously have tried so many liquid liners and this one takes the cake!

I love, and I mean love mascara. I have tried countless mascaras and I’ve found two that I am crazy about. My 2 favorites are the L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise and the Honest Beauty mascara. The L’Oreal Lash Paradise is the best dupe for Two-Faced Better Than Sex mascara you’ll find. Trust me on that. As far as the Honest Beauty mascara, it is a 2 step process, because it is primer and mascara, but I layer my mascara so this works for me! These both give my eyes that extra wow factor! Needless to say, I would use either of these mascaras in about 2-3 coats and get great results from both! I just enjoy trying new things and telling y’all about these amazing finds!

*THIS IS WHEN I WIPE THE EXCESS EYESHADOW SHIMMER FROM UNDER MY EYES.*

For my concealer and concealer powder, I am OBSESSED with the Tarte Shape Tape in the shade ‘light neutral.’ I use a damp beauty blender to apply. so nicely, doesn’t move, blends so amazing, doesn’t crease, I mean I could go on about this concealer all day y’all. It’s my favorite. I swear, Brandon probably gets sick of hearing about how much I love this concealer every day once I get it on. I brush a little bit of the Bare Minerals Powder Concealer in the shade ‘summer bisque’ over top of this concealer just for additional setting of my concealer. Both of these products blend so well and are so lightweight, I seriously don’t even feel them on my face!

I love a good blush. I have a favorite powder and liquid/cream blush. My favorite powder is Bobbi Brown Powder Blush in the shade ‘tawny.’ This sweeps on so great, and gives me that just got out of the sun look that I love! My favorite liquid/cream blush these days is Nars Liquid Blush in the shade ‘orgasm.’ This is super lightweight, has a slight shimmer without being overwhelming, when it hits light a certain way. I like to pump a bit onto my hand, warm it up rubbing it in a little, then sweeping and blending on my cheeks with a brush. Both are SO quick and easy to apply.

For lips, I already told y’all I am a chapstick girl. Chapstick is seriously MY JAM. I always have some with me, and I can’t go a day without it. Addicted, I know. That being said, I also love a good, natural color every now and then. Nars has a lip balm in the shade ‘orgasm’ that is the best of both world! It glides on and nourishes like chapstick, and gives a natural, pink nude color which is my fave! I keep this with me all the time for that bit of color while nourishing like chapstick! I’ve also been loving the NYX Butter Gloss in the shade ‘creme brulee!’ 

I will also link my brushes that I use as well! I got a pack of 10 brushes and a beauty blender on Amazon for $10. Such an amazing deal!!