I'm actually very pale (read: ghostly), but you would never know it.
For as long as I can remember, I've had a monthly membership to a tanning salon—but don't worry, I fake bake. I'm not about that tanning-bed life.
Admittedly, I used to never touch the at-home stuff. However, there are times (like my upcoming week-long Cabo vacay) when I'm without my precious spray tan and a faded color just won't do. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you don't get that Carrie Underwood-golden glow without weekly maintenance.
The Holy Grail: Now there's a few non-negotiables that I have when it comes to my self-tanner. The color has to be undetectable (there's no point if you just wind up looking orange), the clean-up has to be painless with absolutely no rub-off, the color has to show up immediately (bonus points if it darkens as you wear it) and it has to be moisturizing since I'm using it in the place of lotion (SPF is also a plus). Never does any one product tick all of these boxes (hence the spray-tan life), until now. World, meet Vita Liberata Self Tan Dry Oil.
The Color: In the bottle, this stuff looks dark. Really, the only thing that made me try it was the stylish frosted-glass bottle adorned with gold-foil font (that informed me of the organic botanical ingredients inside). When you open it up, it's super-shimmery with a rust-red tinge, which at first made me skeptical. But, honestly, since I knew that the Sports Illustrated girls use it to get cover-model ready, my expectations were high.
The Application: One of my biggest issues with at-home tanners is the mess. Particularly with traditional mousse varieties, it stains your hands, dries streaky and gets all over your clothes. This was different. The portion control spout dispensed itty-bitty droplets at a time, but it's plenty since it's oil-based and a little goes a long way. It rubbed in like a body oil (moisturizing) and dried like a lotion (no rub-off). I was also able to go sans mitt, since the color washed right off (True story: I unfortunately had to bleach my hands when I decided to go mittless with a mousse that shall remain nameless).
The Quality: You want to know what I'm really looking for? Instant gratification. And this product really delivered. The transfer rate was immediate and in about five minutes flat I had a tan worthy of the Sports Illustrated cover. The flecks of gold had an airbrush effect disguising any imperfections, especially on my legs. Since it is oil based, you do have to wait for it to dry, but the best part was that the tone deepened throughout the day. Oh, and the built-in SPF 50 was ideal, too.
If You're a Self-Tanner Newbie: Enter: First Aid Beauty Slow Glow Gradual Self-Tanning Moisturizer. If you're the commitment-phobe type, dip your feet in the self-tanner pool with a daily moisturizer. It's impossible to mess it up. Unlike most, this one's colorless and odorless, so it really just feels like you're applying body lotion. You're not going to notice a dramatic difference, but if you use it every day, by the end of the week, people will be asking you about that subtle, healthy glow you've got going on.
If You're a Self-Tanning Pro: Like I said earlier, mousses are tricky, and I do not recommend them if you are just starting out. You really have to know how to apply it to make sure that it dries evenly. Color-wise, the James Read Self Tan Bronzing Mousse's whipped formula is top shelf. Out of the can, it has a muddy shade, but it dries almost instantly to a deep matte bronze. It's also buildable and layers nicely if you didn't get it dark enough the first time. Pro tip: To avoid stains, just be sure you use a mitt.