September marks the end of cutoffs season, which means that everyone and their uncle is rushing to Miami/Cancun/other beach destination to get their tan on. In case you happen to be stuck at the office with only a skinny latte to keep you company while your bikini clad friends pollute your Instagram feed, this guide is for you. While your skin may naturally be white as snow, and your summer sadly beach-less, there is no reason you can’t pretend you took a weekend getaway to an exotic destination. Read on to find out how you can fake a St. Barts tan.
LUSH Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub ($35.95)
The trick to a flawless tan is exfoliating beforehand. Skip this step only if you want to look like some variation of a cheetah. We love this little jar from LUSH because not only does it smell phenomenal, it’s all natural and can be used on both your face and body. How’s that for multi-tasking?
Shiseido Brilliant Bronze Quick Self-Tanning Gel ($40.87)
We all live in fear of looking like an Oompa Loompa after a fake tan, but rest assured, this genie in a bottle will leave you looking like a golden goddess with the most beautiful sun-kissed skin.
James Read Tan Accelerator ($38)
Now for maintenance. The James Read Tan Accelerator speeds up your journey to caramel skin and makes it last longer. It’s basically your ideal man in the form of a beauty product.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Blush-On Glow BB Highlighter ($28.50)
Since you now have a tan convincing enough to look like you just disembarked an airline from the south of France, it’s time to accentuate it. We love Estee Lauder’s BB Highlighter because it gives your skin a nice glow. Use under your eyes and in a straight like from the bridge of your nose to your cupid’s bow, along with a dollop on your chin.
NARS Blush Bronzer Duo ($42)
The NARS Blush Bronzer duo is the secret to perfect cheekbones. Although contouring looks great, it’s time consuming and takes away from the whole #IWokeUpLikeThis image. Instead, of using a ton of product to contour, try a toned down version of it using blush and bronzer after highlighting the right spots.
