Yesterday,
January 8, 2015, will forever go down in history as the day that I tried
self-tanner for the first time. I gathered all of my materials together, which consisted
of the Vita Liberata NKD SKN Medium Tinted Tan Mousse (100ml) and Tanning Mitt. I must
admit, I was terrified. I am not naturally tan by any stretch of the
imagination. I have a rather fair skin complexion and I was worried that the product’s easy
four-step claim to perfect NKD SKN was just another typical marketing ploy. In
my mind, I fast-forwarded to a few hours later where I could just imagine
myself looking unnaturally bronzed, with the streaks to prove it.
I have
heard some self-tanning horror stories and certainly witnessed enough “orange”
skin tones to be warded off trying self-tanner before. However, I am very happy
to report that Vita Liberata was the perfect companion on my first self-tanning
trial run. It really is as simple as following four steps, which I will show
you below. I made a few rookie mistakes, but overall, I emerged from the
painless experience pleased with the results and definitely not orange! I used the self-tanner all over my body, except for my face. I wanted to ensure that my foundation still matched my skin tone, but I have no doubt that the end result would have been a radiant touch of color. I chose a
jeweled dress with vibrant white, emerald, aquamarine, and teal hues to
emphasize the tan. To top it all off, I wore a fluorescent bubblegum pink
lipstick, because neon colors complement a golden skin tone. Have a look for
yourself…
Before
After
In the
dreary winter weather, our skin could use a pick-me-up. As I was applying the
tan mousse, all I could think was how natural and glowing it looked. I would
say that this Vita Liberata product is foolproof, because it’s impossible to
end up with an undesirable result! I was left with some patchiness,
especially in the crease of my elbow and on my feet, but I blame that on my
first time self-tanning. Streaks were kept to a minimum however and were
relatively easy to fix if I noticed them in time. The medium tint worked
wonders on my skin, because it didn’t look fake. It gave the illusion that I
had just returned from some hot island destination when, in all honesty, I was in
Manchester over the Christmas period. When I say Manchester, I am referring to
the northern city that tends to hold a permanent spot on Britain’s Top 10
Wettest Cities List...
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| Step 1. "Scrub Up! Exfoliate all over, especially around elbows, knees, and ankles." I really like the Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub. The maple scent is heavenly and leaves you with soft, touchable skin. Do not moisturize prior to applying self-tanner. |
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| Step 2. "Mitt Up! It's simple...protect your hands by always using a tanning mitt!" Pump Vita Liberata's foamy NKD SKN mousse on to the tanning mitt, spread the product evenly on the mitt, and then apply it to your skin in circular motions. Use less product on hands, feet, knees, and elbows, wiping these areas with a damp cloth after application. |
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| Step 3. "Tan Up! Always tan bottom to top - a simple rule so you don't smudge your tan by mistake!" |
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| Step 4. "You've got perfect NKD SKN!" Before using Vita Liberata's NKD SKN Medium Tinted Tan Mousse (left) and After (right) |
Vita
Liberata’s philosophy is to provide self-tanning products that are easy to
apply, dry instantly, and fade naturally (with a tan that lasts up to seven
days). All of the products are odorless and made with natural extracts. I was
slightly concerned about whether the self-tanner would stain my clothes, so I
aired myself out for 10 minutes, waiting just as impatiently as when I apply
nail polish. You saw the white dress that I chose above, but it was left
completely stain free, as the mousse does dry instantly on application! That’s
a definite benefit to this product, especially if you are in a hurry or need to
start getting ready for a night out. That does mean that you need to be quick during the application process however!
In order to reach the trickier areas of my body, such as my back, and to check the evenness of the color, I enlisted the help of my flatmate. An extra pair of hands should probably be added to the materials list as an essential! All in all, my first self-tanning experience took under an hour to complete and I will definitely be using the Vita Liberata NKD SKN Tinted Tan Mousse again. I've since been reaching in my wardrobe for skirts, dresses, and sleeveless tops. As my flatmate jokingly asked me this morning, "Have you been on a tropical vacation lately, Laura?" In the midst of winter, a tan (even a fake one) is enough to help get you through to the warmer months, where you can start planning your summer holidays and replace the bottle with rays of sunshine.
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| Vita Liberata's NKD SKN collection, photo courtesy of Vita Liberata |
I am still very much a self-tanning novice of course. I sit here and Google random and probably pointless things such as, "Can I shower when I have self-tanner on?" and "Can I wear perfume with self-tanner?" The answers are of course yes and yes after you've allowed the product to settle for a day. After that, it's up to you what you do with your tantalizing self and your NKD SKN!
Get ready for the weekend with luxury tanning brand, Vita Liberata. NKD SKN is their newest collection and includes five products which promise the most natural tan. The products are available exclusively at Superdrug stores and on the NKD SKN website here. Vita Liberata has very kindly offered a 45 percent discount on NKD SKN products if you enter the promo code DREAM45 online at the checkout. The offer expires on February 2nd, so hurry and click your way to skin that looks naturally sun-kissed. We won't tell if you won't! Browse more of Vita Liberata's products here.
