Beware the Self Tanning Trap.

Every year, I try to fake a tan and every year I fail. I now consider myself an at home tan connoisseur so I feel like I need to share my experiences with the world so that someone can be spared the mistakes I have made. I'm going to go in chronological order. 

The first self tanning lotion I ever tried was the classic Jergens Natural Glow. I will admit, this is by far my least favorite out of all the products I've tried. Everything else had it's moments of goodness but this has no redeeming qualities. (Sometimes my candor in these reviews surprises me but hey, at least I'm being fully honest!) It smells horrible and the scent lasts on your skin for days. It also sparkles which makes it that much less natural looking. It has a very yellow undertone and most people don't tan yellow, so it doesn't really pass for natural looking on anybody. I hated the way my skin looked with this stuff. You also can't control where it darkens very much so you get splotchy. My family called me "carrot toes" that spring break because it turned my toes orange. It was gross. 

I have a better review of the Loreal Sublime Bronze Clear Self Tanning Gel. I like this stuff a lot because application is easy. However, with it being clear, you don't know where you've applied it and it's easy to miss spots or get spots where a drop went astray. It's also somewhat orange. According to one of my close friends it doesn't actually look good on. (Thank you for telling me this a year later, but okay.) This is a pretty good one for first timers because it's gradual and not too intense right away. 

Now for my most recent experiences. I have been using this stuff the last few days and it is my favorite out of anything I've tried. It smells like vanilla and fades in a few hours which is pleasant. It sprays on well and dries quickly. It develops into a great color. However, I had some application issues somewhere and got some lines on one of my arms. My boyfriend has been calling me "creamsicle" and "Oompa Loompa" the last couple days which I think is a signal to stop. Clearly no one in my life thinks self tanning is a good idea and won't hesitate to give me grief about it..anyway, this was not actually orange. I got good reviews from my girlfriends. I recommend this one. Now for the fail product of the season. 

I wanted to love this stuff. It smells like coca cola and has the best gel consistency. It surpassed all expectations for application. However it turned my face orange enough that another random guy thought it would be okay to tell me so, and it settled in all the dry patches. Never again. I hope these reviews helped someone out there. Tanning is such a touchy subject right now especially with prom coming up. My own belief is that tanning beds should be avoided at all costs and that as girls we should stop hating on each other's fake tans since we all get them anyway and it's not anyone's fault if they turn orange. It happens to the best of us. 

Xoxo Katie

New York City and Dreams of Journalism

 I am infatuated with New York City. 

This isn't exactly remarkable, seeing as how there are tens of millions of people thinking exactly the same thing. However, I think that's part of the appeal. So many people live there and have been there that I felt a connection between myself and all the souls that have seen the many sights before me. It's hard to talk about this without being cliche but the crowds made me feel so small and just like I was a part of something bigger. I was captivated immediately after the flight in. 

I was priveledged to attend the Columbia Scholastic Press Association conference at Columbia University. (Our yearbook took home a Silver Crown, for anyone that has any meaning for.) I attended classes learning about journalism and my favorite was called Writing Fashion and Beauty: Frivolous or Functional? It really inspired me and reminded me of the passion I have for the field. It was led by Gerit Quealy, who was extremely insightful and I was sitting on the edge of my seat and hanging on every word she said. I think I wrote down just about every word too! I only wish I could have spoken with her longer. I know that some of the resources she gave me will be so valuable.