Craving a tan? Don’t cave into the usual brands before trying these natural self-tanners, because yes, they do exist!

Fake tan isn’t known for being natural. In fact, as far as beauty products go, it can be one of the worst offenders for touting questionable ingredients. Many will use synthetic dyes to add to the tanned effect, and buckets of fragrance to mask the smell. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

The main ingredient in self-tan that gives you a golden glow is DHA, which reacts with your skin to turn it a darker hue, and it turns out that it can be naturally derived from sugar beets with a cinch.

The result? Natural self-tanners without the guilt, nasties or dreaded oompa loompa/President of the U.S. effect. Paired with a few simple tips, you’ll have a natural looking tan in no time.

Get Scrubbing

When it comes to getting an even tan, the key is to scrub up. Any dry flaky areas will absorb more product and lead to a patchy tan. While we all love a good natural body scrub brimming with oils, you’ll want to avoid those to exfoliate with as they leave any oily residue on the skin (usually a good thing). Instead, stick to a good exfoliating glove and use some elbow grease!

Elbows, Knees and Toes

We’ve all learned this one the hard way after sporting a pair of uber bronzed knees. Yep, not the most natural look. The skin on your elbow, knees. and feet is drier than most other areas of the body, so to stop them from soaking up extra tan and having all the fun, prepare them with a dose of moisturizer or balm.

Put Away the Moisturizer

While you want to moisturize the above, avoid the rest of your body. Your skin just won’t take to the self-tan as well, so it’s better to be smooth and dry. Don’t fret about thirsty skin though, because the below list of natural and organic self-tanners will tick that box with no extra effort needed.

No Waxing

You’re prepping for a special event or big night out, so you’re doing the works; hair, wax and tan. Here’s the thing, waxing and self-tan aren’t the best of friends. Waxing leaves the skin irritated (even if it’s natural, yanking out hair by the root sure goes against nature) and opens up pores, so wait until the following day until you apply self-tan. You also shouldn’t go for a wax post-tanning, and you’ll be stripping the top layer of your skin, aka the tan, right off along with your hair.

Keep Your Shower Cool

Most of us will shower as prep before tanning. It makes sense right? Plus, way easier to get your exfoliating game on. Just try to avoid a shower that is too hot. Again, this will open up your pores which could lead to self-tanner gathering in them for a slightly dotty look. If you want to be on the safe side, give yourself a nice cold blast before stepping out to ensure your pores are closed. Brrr!

Never Skip the Mitt!

It should go without saying, but always, always use a tanning mitt. Bare hands plus self-tan will always equal orange palms, no matter how quick you are at washing it off. Using a mitt will also help you to avoid any streakiness. Just apply your tan to the mitt first, and then rub into skin in circular motions and you’re on the way to a golden glow.

4 Self-Tanners for an All-Natural Glow

1. Eco Tan Invisible Tan
If there’s one thing Aussies know, it’s how to make a great fake tan. The creamy formula will give your body a botanical moisture boost with the likes of aloe vera and oils of avocado and macadamia. The finish is a deep natural looking bronze which will develop over eight hours.

2. Chocolate Sun Organic Self Tanner-Cocoa Lite Enhancer
Not into going too dark? Then this will be your bag. The scent actually lives up to the name, so you can forget about that tell-tale fake tan smell, too. Coconut and sweet almond oils will leave your skin feeling super soft along with your subtle, healthy glow. Feeling braver after the first application and want to go a little darker? Just apply another round!

3. Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse
For the most fuss-free application, mousses are the way to go. Unlike many conventional offerings which are full of synthetic fragrances and dyes, this natural self-tanner provides all the perks without the nasties. The best part? After all that hard work you can reap the rewards with a tan that will last and fade evenly over two to three weeks.

4. Luna Bronze Gradual Self Tanning Moisturizer 

Sometimes all you want is a quick daily pick me up without the commitment, or the time intensive prep. The Aussies have your back again! A whopping 96% of the ingredients in this formula are certified organic, including aloe vera and rosehip seed oil. All that natural nourishment, plus a little tanning boost, will leave skin looking healthy and glowy, naturally.

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So you have some issues with your skin. Who doesn’t? If you have tanned, scrubbed, stripped, and slathered, and still aren’t loving what you see in the mirror … may be time to embrace your face.

We all have things we don’t like about our skin. Too pink, too dark, too pale, too irritated, too many zits. Rather than nit picking (and actual picking) try getting behind the skin you were given and giving it what it needs.

Choose Products for Your Skin Type

Use products right for you, not your sister, best friend, favorite aunt, or pop star in the latest issue of Glamour Magazine. Your skincare is about YOU. Your skin. It is as personal as your diet. Identify your skin type and issues, and look for products geared toward them. Your skin, and attitude about it, will benefit.

Conceal the Right Way

Are you covering dark spots, discoloration, and blemishes with a thick layer of concealer and foundation? Well, stop! It is not good for skin and, really, looks worse than a lighter touch. Be sure you are using the right color concealer or foundation for your skin tone. This will help a lot in coverage and provides a more natural look. Concealer should be one shade lighter than your natural skin tone. Follow Spirit Beauty Lounge’s Color Guide to figure out which shade is best for your skin. Foundation can be tricky, yes. SBL offers a super useful Color Guide for foundation too, with several product options for each tone.

Own Your Skin Tone

We know tanning, whether in the sun or a tanning bed, causes skin to age prematurely and can even lead to skin cancer. Not cool. Self tanners are a safer way to get a bronzed look. But what about learning to love your paleness? Since my preteens I have tanned my fair skin every summer. I still love a great tan, but now I end up with more spots and freckles each year. Plus, I can tell it has aged my skin and am now envious of women with the creamy, even complexion. Protect your skin while you have it. Promise you won’t be sorry!

Get to the Root of the Problem

So you may be able to learn to love your pale skin. But what about acne or rosacea? Who is going to learn to love those? Try listening to what your skin is telling you. Unhappy skin is unhappy for a reason. Acne may be hormonal or because of an allergy or inner imbalance. It can even be something as simple as a hair product coming in contact with the skin or a dirty pillowcase. Deal with breakouts the gentlest way possible. Use products made with natural antibacterial ingredients that balance, not strip, the skin. Zero in on what causes your rosacea to flare up and steer clear of those things. There are even skincare products designed to treat rosacea and irritable skin conditions.

Hopefully these tips will help you learn to embrace your face. As with most things in life, being you is always the best choice.

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Image of woman with hand on face via Shutterstock

The post Embrace Your Face: How to Love the Skin You Have appeared first on EcoSalon.

Summer may be a distant memory. That doesn’t mean you can’t sport a healthy glow. Follow our self tanning tips on choosing and using the best natural tanners.

Whether you plan to hit the beach or are simply tired of looking at lifeless skin color, there are healthy options to achieving tanned skin. Forget tanning beds or spray tans and get your glow on at home.

Sunshine is good for us. It triggers the body to produce vitamin D (something most of us are low on this time of year) and is a natural mood booster. Of course, overexposure and inadequate protection increases our risk for skin cancer, sun spots, and premature aging. Moderation is key. Around 15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure daily is recommended. Beyond that, be sure you are using safe sun protection.

So tanning the old fashioned way is out. We’ve heard about the dangers of tanning beds, and spray tans are said to be a detriment to health due to inhalation, chemical or not.

That leaves self tanning lotion. Easy to use, can be applied right in your own bathroom, and offers a natural looking tan. Better still, you have healthy options here.

While self tanners have come a long way from the orange streak-inducing products of yester-decades, not all of them have made the jump to using nontoxic ingredients. Why skip the tanning bed just to slather yourself in chemicals? Many mainstream self tanners contain dyes, synthetic fragrance and preservatives, and other harmful ingredients we try to steer clear of.

Safe natural self tanners are made with plant-derived ingredients Dihydroxyactone (DHA) and Erythrulose. DHA is derived from sugar beets or cane sugar and Erythrulose is found in fruits like raspberries. The sugars react with the amino acids in the top layer of skin to create a tanned effect. These natural tanning ingredients are not only safer for skin and body, but create a more natural looking tan than chemical tanners.

Don’t know where to start? Following are healthy all natural self tanners for face and body. They not only provide desired results but look and feel like regular moisturizer.

True Natural Self Tanner Anti-Aging Face & Body

True Natural Perfect Tan Facial Self Tanner & Moisturizer

Chocolate Sun Cocoa Illume Lite for Face

Lavera Self Tanning Lotion

True Natural Tropical Tan Face & Body Self Tanner, Dark Tan

Chocolate Sun Absolute Sun Sunless Tanning Cream

Self Tanning Tips for Application:

For best results, start with clean, freshly exfoliated skin. This goes for face too. Apply as you would your regular face or body moisturizer, working in smooth fluid motions to ensure even coverage. Go slightly lighter over tops of feet, ankles, knees, and elbows. Lightly wipe over eyebrows and lips with a towel after applying tanner.

Some practice will help, but this is not rocket science. Just a good, safe tan.

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Image of woman in the sun via Shutterstock

The post Self Tanning Tips: Choosing and Using Natural Tanners appeared first on EcoSalon.

6 best products for a healthy self tan.

Many of us want a bronzed look, but achieving a safe summer glow can be tricky. We want to look gently kissed by the sun, not smacked in the face by a metallic tangerine. So check out our favorite products this season for sun-less (and safer) color.

Eco SPF 30+ FACE
Just because you’re not directly baking in the sun, doesn’t mean you should forgo a daily SPF. Eco FACE receives a #1 ranking from the Skin Deep database for safety. With a non-greasy application, this product moisturizers and protects with a non-whitening zinc oxide. It is also completely free of nanoparticles.

Natural Self Tanner by True Natural Cosmetics ($17.99)
For some, applying a self-tanner can seem like a walk through a department store makeup area – there’s lots of chemicals and fragrance flying around. This brand-new self tanner from True Naturals brings us back to nature with a light, citrus scent plied with a smooth, quick-to-absorb application. Meant for face and body, this vegan product is the first USDA 100% Certified, Biobased self tanner on the market. Using naturally-occurring sugars, the product reacts with amino acids on the skin to create a naturally-tanned look.

Deep Dry Skin Leg Oil by This Works ($60.00)
The first line of defense against dull skin is a good moisturizer – so what better to give your gams a richer hue than a product made from nine different cold-pressed essential oils? Deep Dry Skin Leg Oil, via Futurenatural, combines rose, patchouli, sandalwood, tuberose, macadamia and coconut oils with Jojoba and olive oils. This product brings a deep hydration to your skin. High in vitamins and fatty acids, you can transform your skin from scaly to silky smooth.

Bronzer by Alima Pure ($17.00)
The general rule of thumb for picking a shade for bronzer is to go two shades darker than your natural skin tone. Creating a soft glow, this product enhances your natural skin tone with a subtle sun-kissed application. Available in several different swatches, it is BDIH certified. Alima Pure was the second United States company to gain this prestigious natural certification.

Bronzer and Blush Combo by Miessence ($31.90 and $21.15)
For the ultimate in color, consider separately applying both a bronzer and blush. Some products are meant for blending, as are this bronzer and blush combo from Miessence via Organic Glow. The experts at Organic Glow recommend using a powder brush to dust the bronzer and blush to the desired color intensity. Apply the bronzer in a C formation and the blush to the apples of your cheeks. Organic Glow offers several shades of blush by Miessence – lighter skin tones should start with Apricot Dew while the darkest should consider Desert Rose Satin. These products are both BFA certified (Biological Farmers of Australia).

Living Luminizer by RMS Beauty ($38.00)
Liquid bronzers can be streaky, so for many its best to stick with a powder duster. But for those looking to sparkle, the Living Luminizer from RMS Beauty will add light and life to your face. For darker skin tones, this can be an excellent way to add a bit of shimmer to your bronzer. For all users of all shades, this is a great choice for daytime, as a good shimmer reflects daylight. This product is formulated with raw, food grade organic ingredients in their natural state.

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