Let me start out by saying I am naturally PALE: like Revlon 001-Ivory foundation pale. But I’m also one of those people who tans naturally and looks good with a tan- years and years of swim team have taught me that much. However, ever since my dad was diagnosed with skin cancer for the first time (out of five or six) when I was in high school, I became wary of the sun.
Right now, I’m sitting in my bedroom sporting a lovely shade of bronze- not because I’ve been laying out, but because I’ve been using what I’ve thought of as the best self-tanner for years…
St. Tropez Bronzing Lotion. ($40 for 8 oz. at Sephora)
Yes, I’m talking about St. Tropez – the BEST sunless tanner out there as far as I’m concerned. Celebs and beauty editors alike agree with me: the line is a favorite of everyone from Sienna Miller to Victoria Beckham, and appears at the top of almost every magazine’s yearly “top beauty product” list.
Before I show you guys how to use St. Tropez to get a gorgeous tan like the stars, let me get a few things out of the way:
Yes, it’s a mess to put on.
Yes, you will look like a mud wrestler while you let it dry.
Yes, it is pricey.
After all that trouble, why would anyone use it?
This tanner will give you a PERFECT color that most self-tanners out there can’t beat- it’s dark and makes you look like you’ve spent the weekend in Ibiza. No orange- ever. Seriously, its color is unparalleled and that’s what makes it (in my opinion) the best on the market.
Zephyr posted a great self-tanning tutorial a while back, so check that out if you just want to learn how to use self tanner the right way. This how-to focuses solely on St. Tropez (yes, this tanner requires its own tutorial. So worth it, I promise!).
To get the best results, do this right before going to bed at night- don’t bother with actually showering as you’ll shower again when you get up.
Table of Contents
How to Apply St. Tropez Self Tanner
Step 1: Exfoliate
Every self-tanner tutorial starts with this step, for good reason: dry skin= streaky tan. Focus on your knees (especially right under your kneecap), ankles, elbows, and wrists. I just use a loofah without body wash- I think the St. Tropez brand exfoliator is a waste of money. Some say to avoid using a body wash that has oil in it, I’ve found that it doesn’t make a difference. Make sure to shave, too!
Step 2: Moisturize
Olay Quench Body Lotion- $7.69 at Target
Again, make sure to get the dry areas (knees, wrists, elbows), as well as your face and neck. St. Tropez makes its own moisturizer, but any one you have lying around will work.
Step 3: Apply
This video from St. Tropez does a great job of explaining how to apply their self-tanner. Here are my tips:
- Don’t worry about the number of pumps they tell you to use- use however many you need to coat the area you want to cover.
- Definitely use gloves! I used to apply it without using gloves and had to wash my hands every five minutes. You can buy a huge pack of vinyl or latex gloves at any drugstore and they’ll last forever- plus you’ll avoid orange palms!
- As the video says, don’t rub it in too much and, above all, don’t worry about making it even. It will look streaky before you wash it off!
- Don’t worry about buffing– If you follow Step 4, you won’t have to use it!
Step 4: Sleep
This tanner takes a while to set in- at least 6 hours. We’re busy girls; we don’t have 4-6 hours to wait around for this tan to dry. Instead, just sleep while it dries. As long as your sheets aren’t too light-colored, you won’t make a mess.
Step 5: Wake up and Shower
As soon as you wake up, jump in the shower. Don’t look at yourself in the mirror unless you want to be freaked out- your tan will look streaky. Don’t worry- it’s supposed to! Make sure to get every part of your body wet- the water washes away any streakiness.
Step 6: Dry ‘n go
Once you’re out of the shower, pat yourself dry and marvel at your bronze skin- I swear it will look great. Moisturize your entire body and face– again, whatever lotion/cream you use normally will work now.
To prolong the life of your tan (it’ll last about 5-7 days) moisturize as often as you need- I usually lotion up twice as often as usual. That’s all you need to know!
What do you guys think?
Guys, I promise that using this is not as annoying as it seems- once you get the hang of it, probably after a few uses, you can apply it in under 15 minutes. Plus, you’ll look just as great as your beach-going friends- except without the risk of melanoma!
Now I want to know what you think. Have you used St. Tropez products? Will you? What’s your favorite self-tanner? Tell me everything in the comments!
I agree with Brittany and Paula. The only reason I would justify a tanning lotion is if your coloring was uneven, like if your legs were paler than the rest of your body.
@ Morgan: I haven’t tried the mousse, mostly because I like the lotion so much! What I have heard is that the mousse is easier to put on and less messy, but the tan it delivers is a few shades lighter than the original lotion- it’s definitely an option for those than don’t “tan” naturally (@Charlotte @Cathy)
@Julie- They recently changed their formula which cut down on the DHA smell by like 70%- I couldn’t smell anything, but my mom thought she could. It’s much, much lighter than any other self-tanner smell!
@Brittany- I guess it’s just personal preference. Personally, I don’t like looking like a Twilight vampire extra- and I’ve heard that a 20% increase in skin “darkness” makes your muscles look 40% more toned. There are definitely some girls that, I think, look better pale. To each her own I guess 🙂
I have really light skin and red hair. I was wondering how the bronzing lotion would look on me. I’m really considering getting it.
Thank you so much for this article! I used to be addicted to laying in the sun but I have grown more and more worried about skin cancer and wrinkles as I get older (I’m 22)! I have tried everything from drugstore lotions to professional airbrush tan and none really work! I can’t wait to try St. Tropez I have heard so many great things about it!
Brittany, personally I feel more confident and thinner when I am tan! I like to be tan in the summer and pale in the winter. I don’t like it when my legs are so pale they blind people! And it is too hot in the summer to cover them up so I gotta do something.
I have the mousse and I love it. Sounds like its easier to use than the lotion too. With the mousse you just rub it in — don’t have to wash off. It doesn’t leave your face feeling icky either. I rub it in, and then put my makeup over it. Instant tan! And in the morning, you’ll wake up with an even greater tan.
Dying your skin a different color just seems totally wrong to me. When Michael Jackson bleaches his skin, it’s a worldwide scandal, but when half the white girls in the universe dye their skin darker once weekly it’s a normal, accepted beauty procedure?
I agree with Brittany. Your natural skin color, or natural with some acceptable, normal sun exposure, will always look better than any purposefully acquired color, no matter whether you’re milk pale or ebony dark. And, I, for the record, and a milk-pale, near-translucent white girl, with mild freckling and auburn-red hair (My mom’s Scottish, my dad’s of Irish ancestry). And yes, people are crude enough to comment on it and say things like my legs blind them. Nevertheless, I am proud of the personal, natural beauty of MY skin. I have never used a self-tanner of any sort in my life, and forget laying out, I’d scorch.
In the fashion and beauty world, we tell curvy girls to accept their bodies, mixed-race girls to embrace their unique heritage, quirky and artistic girls to take risks in their personal style. When will we stop telling “ghostly pale” girls that they’re not sick, and fat-looking, and unattractive, and wrong? When will girls in pageants, catalog models, and everyday girls appear in bikinis and miniskirts and prom dresses without shame, no matter how much melanin is in their skin?
I realize not everyone will accept this, and I do not mean it to offend. I also realize that the point of this particular CF article is to achieve a certain look, rather than a variety of standards. I would merely hope that any of you who are currently on the fence will decide with me to dare to sport your natural color, and call it beautiful even if it isn’t “beach-goddess bronze,” this summer and every summer. Wear those short shorts with pride, ladies!!
I agree with you Brittany. I think naturally pale girls are pretty and I think naturally tan girls are pretty. Maybe I don’t understand because I’ve been the same shade my whole life lol.
I’ve heard amazing things about St. Tropez! When my Dove Energy Glow runs out, I’m definitely going to try this!
For those of you that have used it, does it smell like other self tanners? that smell just makes me sick
Will definitely try it tonight! Do you have any experience with any other St Tropez products? Like the gradual tan, the mist, or the mousse?
I LOVE St. Tropez Bronzing Lotion ! This article is really great, especially using gloves and sleeping are the important steps. I am very fair and I used to be scared of self tanners, but since I started using St. Tropez I look healthy and glowing 🙂 I’m excited to read the other summer articles 🙂
Greetings from Germany !
I’m African American, and I think it’s just the strangest thing that people will will go out and buy tanning lotion or risk sun cancer to become a different color. To be honest, I think most (if not all) fair skinned girls look best their natural color–I’m not kidding. You don’t look sick, you don’t look gross. I have so many friends that tan in the summer and when they come back from vacation I secretly wish they wouldn’t have laid out because not only are they at risk for a disease, but they don’t look as pretty as they did before. I mean if you are naturally tan, that’s gorgeous too, because your features compliment the tan, just like pale girls.
Maybe I’m missing something here…? I don’t want to offend anyone–I’m just curious.
Sunless tanners make me nervous. I have very fair skin and I’d like to look tan, but I have never tried a self-tanner. I’m considering trying one of the gradual tanners, like the one from Jergen, because they are less intimidating. I don’t feel like I need to be as nervous about messing it up.
It looks great, but be aware of self tannars with Oxybenzone and Methylparaben as they increase the risk of cancer and much more.
I’m doing beach week on my blog and completely forgot to include a sunless tanner. Thanks for the tips!!
I love love this video tutorial, I’ve used st. tropez products before and watched it on youtube and it is incredibly helpful. I wash and exfoliate with oatmeal soap beforehand and my tan always looks like a dream 🙂 great article