The Perfect Tan
I love being tan (and my pasty white skin looks a lot better too!), but since I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible, my tans are limited to the indoor variety that I have to apply myself. But I have a confession to make – I am horrible at self-tanning. I mean, really, really horrible. (True story – I once spent two hours before a wedding trying to even out my legs, one of which I’d managed to turn orange, and one of which was still white with a bronze streak down the front. It looked totally ridiculous). While I still haven’t found the perfect product that can naturally replicate what a tropical vacation would do to my skin (well, after I burned to a crisp and then it turned to a tan), the Mystic Tan Perfect Tan Kit Face is pretty great.
The Mystic Tan system is a three part process. Step One is putting on the Base. It’s a thin, white liquid that you apply sparingly to your face as preparation for the tanning spray. Designed to stop you from over-applicating the self-tanner, you put it on yourfreshly washed and exfoliated skin and it conditions and balances it out for the tanner. It’s also designed to increase the color depth and saturation and accelerate the color development, so you get a more even color faster by using it.
After this dries (I usually wait about ten to fifteen minutes, just to be safe) comes Step Two – Build. This is the actual self-tanning liquid and what I like about it is the way it’s delivered – in an spray can that allows you to control the application process fairly easily. You just hold the nozzle six to eight inches away from your face and spray quickly, with a continuous side-to-side motion until your entire face is moist. I find that for me, spray bottles of self-tanner tend to work better than lotions – I seem to wind up with a more even tan and less streaks, which is always my goal. The spray self-tanner also dries quicker for me because it’s applied in a mist, so I’m able to continue on with my day a lot quicker after I’m finished. (The only drawback to it is that it’s really easy to get it all over the place where you’re spraying it, so be careful or you’ll find yourself wiping down the entire room).
The third step in the process is called Boost. Boost is a cream that goes on after your first bath or shower. (Make sure you wait at least four hours after applying self-tanner to rinse off or you risk losing the results). The Boost cream is made up of a blend of silver, gold and bronze pigments, as well as vitamins, so it helps keep your tanned skin looking shimmery and healthy. It also helps to stretch out the results of the self-tanning spray, so your skin will stay darker longer. (This will also help stretch your self-tanning budget!)
I’ve tried a lot of self tanners, and I really like the Mystic Tan system. It gave me a bronzed, glowing face without a lot of work, which is my favorite kind of self-tanner, and without any weird stripes of color. My next step is going to be attempting to use the spray all over to give my body a bronzed look. Wish me luck!
Available for $54 at Sephora.com or Beauty.com.
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COMMENTS
I have never had luck with self tanners until now, if you haven’t tried the solerra self tanning mitt or lotion, you have to try it. My friend got it in a gift bag and gave it to me (she is African American)It is the easiest, most goof proof tanner I have ever used. When I went to work after using it people thought I had gone away. I want everyone to try this because I am now sold for life!
I’ve yet to find a self tanner that looks realistic, dries quick enough not to streak, AND doesn’t smell weird; does the mystic tan have any smell to it? Does the all over body version work as well as the face system seemed to?
I am completely inept when it comes to self tanner which is a shame since cool whip colored legs are not so attractive. If you have luck with the all over spray do tell!