How To Keep Your Summer Glow All Year ‘Round With Chocolate Sun + Pretty Peaushun

Sometimes we just can’t find the time to head to the beach each weekend—especially if you live 3 hours away like myself! I’m also not a huge fan of the pool… so how the heck am I going to get my tan on this summer? Good question. I’ve got an answer (and it’s not propping yourself up in a skin-damaging tanning bed!). Instead? Self-tanner!

I know, I know, when you read self-tanner, you automatically think back to that time in college you slathered yourself in stinky tanning product and hoped to look like you took a 3-week vacation to Bali. (No? Just me?) I didn’t think about all the chemicals those products contain, let alone how incredibly orange and nasty smelling I was afterward. NOT FUN/CUTE!

Don’t worry, you don’t have to be stained orange and stinky! But better yet, you can use self-tanners that 1. work and 2. smell amazing (like chocolate specifically) and 3. have incredibly nourishing, non-toxic and organic ingredients! Say what?! Yep, you read right!

Enter Chocolate Sun—I mean, the name alone should already grab your attention. CHOCOLATE and SUN?! Delicious name, amirite? ;) Whether you’re a bride trying to get a warm, post-summer glow for your fall wedding, an attendee at said wedding… or you’re just trying to get a healthy tan for your everyday and possibly every night (girls night out anyone?!), this faux glow is going to be your BFF. It’s better than sun-damaging tans, and definitely better than stinky, toxic self-tanners!

Chocolate Sun Organic Self-Tanner Face and Body Creams: Cocoa Glow, Medium: Cocoa Glow is Chocolate Sun’s cult best-seller. It is similar to their Cocoa Lite Enhancer sunless tanning cream, as it is created with the same proprietary blend of organically grown and wildcrafted botanicals and herbs chosen for their beneficial, nurturing and hydrating properties. The ingredients also include shea butter, coconut oil and aloe—so it almost feels like you’re just applying moisturizer! This cream is pretty incredible and will leave you with a golden brown, natural looking tan. (No streaky orange found here!) This Medium shade is perfect for those with fair to medium skin.

Chocolate Sun Organic Self-Tanning Spray—Cocoa Fleur 1: Also called the Cocoa Fleur Tanning Atomizer, this Cocoa Fleur 1 is the lightest formulation from the spray collection. This spray is made with the purest of botanicals that are going to not only give you your sun-kissed tan, but they’ll nurture your skin with every application. It’s perfect for touch ups or building a tan and it enhances and extends existing tans.

BODY LOTIONS TO ENHANCE YOUR TAN

PRTTY PEAUSHUN Skin Tight Body Lotion—Medium*: You’re going to love this, ladies! This luxurious body lotion improves the condition of your skin and conceals minor imperfections all while enhancing definition. Can someone say miracle lotion?! Here are just a few of its amazing ingredients: arnica, which helps diminish bruising; extracts of green tea, which are anti-inflammatory and help reduce UV damage plus prevent collagen breakdown; rosemary extract to stimulate cell renewal and soothe; and blue vervain leaf to heal and relieve aches and pains. Combined, the ingredients help reduce cellulite and repair and tighten your skin. Plus, depending on the shade you choose (between plain, light, medium*, deep and dark), it’ll leave you with a beautiful glow!

*perfect for all skintones for a sun-kissed glow

First photo: on skin, not absorbed yet. Second photo: rubbed in and absorbed

Prtty Peaushun Body Lotion Travel Size—Light*: This convenient travel-sized lotion is great for sticking in your overnight bag or even your beach bag! The shade light differs from medium in the fact that it’s a lot lighter (of course) but it’s perfect for that fairer shade of skin for a nice glow!

I didn’t just want to share these awesome products with you, but I wanted to help you get that beautiful summer glow! So read further for the HOW TO!

*These products are found here now: Skin Tight Body Lotion (Plain), Skin Tight Body Lotion (Dark), Skin Tight Body Lotion (Deep Dark).

HOW TO APPLY SELF-TANNER

STEP 1: CLEAN SKIN

Make sure you’re freshly showered and exfoliated. No other product should be applied on the areas you’re applying the self-tanner. (No other lotions, serums, etc.—in fact, I wouldn’t even use an oil-based body scrub in the shower if you know there’ll be residue) This is crucial for an even application of the Chocolate Sun Organic Self-Tanner Face and Body Cream or the Chocolate Sun Organic Self-Tanning Spray.

STEP 2: PREP

Apply a thin layer of moisturizer onto tops and bottoms of your hands and feet, and don’t forget in between fingers and toes. Also, feather a thin layer of lotion onto the inside of the bend of each of your wrists and down the sides of your ankles and heels.

STEP 3: APPLICATION (CREAM)

Product should be applied starting at your ankles. Work one leg at a time, front and back. Continue applying product onto lower back, working your way up to the midsection of your back, and to upper back. This is a good time to wash hands, dry completely and begin the remainder of the body.

For shoulders and arms, starting at the top of the front of the shoulder, apply product working downward onto the front of arm until you reach the wrist. Next apply a lighter coat of product to the inside of arms. It’s very important to blend and overlap on arms and to blend lightly around armpit. Do not apply directly to armpit.

The feet are a bit tricky because you don’t want patchy feet (the worst!). So, a tip is to mix your own moisturizer with the self-tanner in equal parts. Apply lightly, but thoroughly, to the tops of the feet blending onto the ankle, where the application began.

For hands, it’s similar to feet—make sure to mix moisturizer with self-tanner in equal parts. Apply lightly, but thoroughly, to the tops of hands, blending onto wrists. Remember to detail hands by wiping palms thoroughly as well as in between fingers.

If you’re wanting to do your face, make sure to blend product from neck, onto face. Keep in mind the application is somewhat similar to applying foundation!

APPLICATION (CREAM)

Stay approximately 3-4 inches away from the area you are applying. Use broad circular motion or zig zag motions across each area of application and always keep atomizer in motion. Be sure to overlap strokes of application, preventing missed areas. Remember you can always reapply to deepen the color—it’s best to start slow until you become comfortable with application.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Utilize your prepared damp cloth to thoroughly wipe the palms of your hands and inside of your fingers. Roll a small, soft hand towel and using the smooth side of the rolled towel, very lightly sweep over outer edges of armpits, wrists, ankles, hands, feet and the inside of arms. This will help blend application.

APPLICATION TRICKS

Use gentle, broad, circular strokes for application to body. Overlap each stroke to avoid streaking and missed areas. It is best to let the product absorb into skin, rather aggressively rubbing into skin.

There you have it! The self-tanner application and some tricks to help it go smoothly! When your self-tanner is applied and dried, allow 6-8 hours to see colour developed. Then, feel free to apply your PRTTY PEAUSHUN Skin Tight Body Lotion and you’ll be well on your way to that coveted tan and summer glow!

Small Black – Boys Life

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This post was featured on Eco Diva Beauty's blog and contains affiliate links. As always, all thoughts expressed are honest and unique to my personal experience.