NKD SKN Pre-Shower Tan

Being a pale girl, I am a fanatic for self tanners. They are literally the only way I have even an ounce of color in the summer, until I can work on getting all my freckles to join together in to one big "tan". I also love them because they're safer than exposing your skin to so much sun and I won't have excessive tanning wrinkles when I'm older. I like to think I'm doing my skin a favor. Ya feel me? 

I've talked about self-tanners on Glazed Over before (see here and here for just a couple examples) and I've got a brand new one to talk about today - the NKD SKN Pre-Shower Tan. 

This tanner is marketed as a gradual tanner, so don't expect amazing bronze results in just one application, this is going to take a bit. All you have to do is apply this before you shower, leave it on for 10 minutes, and go about your normal shower routine. Of course, don't scrub the daylights out of your skin in the shower, or when drying off, and you'll start to see color develop over the next 4-8 hours. Avoid using any lotions afterwards so the tan can properly develop.

The cream itself is a thick, yellow lotion that doesn't have any nasty self-tanner smell (gotta love that!). It rubs in easily and doesn't feel greasy on the skin. I tended to leave it on for closer to 20 minutes each time, only because I got busy doing things or cleaning the bathroom while I waited for the lotion to set. Once I dried off, I could smell a faint tanner smell which I didn't like, but it didn't last all day. I used this every other day, for 3 applications, and achieved a nice glow that looks natural on this Snow White-esque pale girl. It's even lasted me 4-5 days without becoming patchy (pro tip: moisturizing on days you don't use this product is key to keeping a lasting glow that doesn't look patchy!). Check out my results:

I've heard other people bash this product because it doesn't give them enough color. For me, it's just enough to not make me look like a crazy tanned redhead. The glow you get is comparable to using the Jergens gradual tanning lotion or the Suave version, and it doesn't have the nasty smell and it takes less time to develop. 

As a new mom, I personally love that I can lather this on and rinse it off so my little one doesn't get covered in self-tanner. This is just what I needed for the summer time! 

If you're interested in trying out this tanner, you can find it online and at Ulta ($19.99 for 6.76 oz).

March Favorites!

It's been too long since I've done a favorites post, but recently there have been a few stand out items that I couldn't wait any longer to tell you about. I keep grabbing for these fabulous products, and I'm thinking you might want to pick them up, too...

While on vacation in Hawaii, I reached for the Vita Liberata Self Tanning Gradual Lotion. Even on a tropical vacation, you'll find me underneath an umbrella because me and the sun just don't get along. I was able to fake a teensy bit of color by using this lotion. I applied it every other night for a week and had a nice subtle glow that wasn't orange or streaky. I am very fair skinned and this lotion gave me the perfect amount of color that was still natural. I absolutely love that this lotion is made with organic botanicals and has clean ingredients, AND it has the such a minimal self tanner smell. Loooove.

The rest of my favorites are all for the face. I've really enjoyed wearing L'Oreal's Infallible Pro-Matte foundation. I like this best when applied with a damp beauty blender. It lasts all day long and provides a matte full coverage. I especially like that the lightest color actually suits my skin tone. If you're pale like me, you know the struggle of finding a foundation that is light enough! 

On my cheeks, I've been coming back to an oldie but goodie over and over this month - Wet n Wild's Pearlescent Pink. These Wet n Wild blushes are under $5 and they pack a serious punch in the pigment department. This color in particular is a perfect pink with subtle golden shimmer. You only need to dab your blush brush once or twice in to it and you have more than enough to give your cheeks a healthy glow. 

Lastly, the Covergirl Full Lash Bloom mascara has been my go-to this month. At first, I didn't think it was love, but one day I looked in the mirror and realized how truly full and voluminous my lashes looked and it was all roses from there on out. This drugstore mascara isn't going to give you crazy length, but if you're in need of volume and fullness, I would highly recommend picking up a tube! 


What were your favorites this month? I'd love to know! 

Vita Liberata NKD SKN Tinted Tan Liquid

This summer has been the summer of self tanners for me. I've tried more tanning products than I even realized existed. One of my most recent finds is NKD SKN Tinted Tan Liquid, a line from popular tanning company Vita Liberata, clearly marketed to a younger demographic. 

NKD SKN Tinted Tan Liquid comes in a 2.54 fl oz spray bottle, and also comes conveniently with a mini tanning mitt. The formula boasts natural and organic ingredients that are good for the skin (it does claim to have aloe vera, lychee and licorice), and a completely odorless application. While I'm not 100% sure how natural and organic the ingredients truly are, I can vouch that it's an odorless tanning product. 

The NKD SKN tan liquid comes only in the shade dark (they have mousses that come in both medium and dark if you're looking for something lighter) and I will tell you - don't be frightened by the "dark" label, as I was. Being a fair-skinned girl, I was scared I'd end up an orange, or just plain too tan - but my fear was unwarranted. If you've ever gotten a spray tan (I typically get the medium shade spray tan), this is 2-3 shades lighter than that. It's just right, and will give you a perfect tan glow. I actually got told I look tan (for probably the first time ever?!) by someone after using this product 2 or 3 times. 

Application is easy. After exfoliating your skin, just spray some (scarily dark) product on to your tanning mitt and rub it in to the skin. This product does have a color guard, so you can see where you are applying it to your skin. It dries very fast, and the color lasts about 4 or so days on my skin (although it claims to last up to 7 days). It fades very naturally, not streaky or patchy. 

I have no idea why it looks like my right leg doesn't have any product on it - I tried and tried to get a picture to accurately show what I saw in person, but I couldn't capture it. In person, they both looked even. 

Overall, I really enjoy this product. It's totally affordable, ringing in at $19.50 per bottle (available at Ulta), and I have gotten 6 or 7 uses out of it and my bottle still has about 25% left. I think this is a fabulous option if you want to try out the Vita Liberata brand without spending $50 per bottle.


Have you tried NKD SKN? Let me know your thoughts! Also, what's your favorite tanner? I want to try them all!

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse

Being a mega-pale girl who burns at the slightest hint of sun and doesn't appreciate the extra chance for wrinkles, I am a big fan of self-tanners. I use them all summer long so I don't look like a ghost. In the last couple summers, I've tried my hand at alllll kinds of tanning formulas, and recently I tried one new to me: Vita Liberata's pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse in Medium ($54 for 4.22 oz)

This tan mousse claims to last 4 times longer than other tanning mousses, with a lasting time of 2-3 weeks. It is best applied with a mitt, and it goes on nice and easy with a color-guard so you can see exactly where you've applied the mousse. This formula is made with "odour remove technology" so it really doesn't have that disgusting tanner smell. I was pleasantly surprised by the complete lack of icky scent. It also claims to fade patch-free, which I can say is absolutely true. 

Usage is easy. After exfoliating in the shower, apply some lotion to your knees, elbows and wrists so the color doesn't build up there, and then pump some product on to your tanning mitt and go to town. Once you've applied it to your whole body, let the tan dry for a minute or two before putting clothes back on. Leave the tan on for at least a few hours before showering. I like to apply the tan before bed and sleep with it on, showering it off in the morning.

The medium color is perfect for pale girls (like me) looking for a subtle glow that suggests you've spent some time in the summer sun. It's not overwhelming, and the color is a tiny bit forgiving if you happen to fudge the application up (another application will correct any wrong-doings). It's a true medium tan. If you are able to tan even a little bit, I'd recommend trying the dark shade. 

Above is the before and after, but I should mention the after picture is BEFORE I showered off the tan. It was a shade lighter after a shower. Also, ignore my badly fading spray tan on my right shin in the before picture. 

Does it last 2-3 weeks? The answer is no. It doesn't last 2-3 weeks on me, at least. It did last a solid week with a reapplication two days after the first. I have yet to find a tan that lasts over a week on me, which is probably the formula of most self-tans, but could be that my skin just doesn't hold the color very well. Granted, the instructions DO say to apply the tan 3 times over 12-24 hours for the longest lasting tan, which I did not do (ain't nobody got time for that). 

I found this formula to be really nice and easy to work with. It didn't smell bad, it wasn't streaky, it didn't fade patchy and gave my skin a natural tanned look. I thoroughly enjoyed using this tan mousse and I'd totally repurchase it in the future. It is a tad pricey, but I think you get what you pay for and this is an exceptional formula that's worth the splurge. You can purchase Vita Liberata on their website, or at Sephora. Check them out!


What's your favorite self-tanner? I'd love to know! Tell me in the comments.