Best Self Tanners and Leg Makeup for Mature Skin

There’s been a lot of talk about warm weather essentials on AWSL lately. We’ve covered the Best Sun Hats to Protect Your Skin and Cruelty-Free Sunscreens for Mature Skin. I also touched on Modest Bathing Suits and Cover-ups You’ll Love, and we even talked about Comfortable, Yet Stylish Sandals for Problem Feet. This made me realize that I have neglected to talk about another absolute essential for me…self-tanner. Today I have rounded up the best cruelty-free self tanners and leg makeup for mature skin.

In case you haven’t noticed, I have extremely fair skin. My legs are glaringly white, which can cause the blue veins to stand out like on a roadmap. I didn’t know enough about the importance of sunscreens when I was younger and used baby oil with a splash of iodine which promised to “dye my skin.” That was also a major fail and only succeeded in marinating my skin for the resulting sunburn.

I don’t tan no matter how long I stay in the sun, so I need to rely on self tanners which have come a long way in the last few decades. After asking my readers and trying a few options myself, I decided to dive deep and find the best self tanners and leg makeup for mature skin.

Does self tanner make you look older?

It really depends on who you ask! My personal opinion is no. I think that a little bit of (fake) color can add to your appearance and even give you a more youthful look when done right. To be honest, the best part about a self tanner is that it helps to camouflage any veins or bruises you may have. When I arrived in Florida last month, I found most of the other bloggers had gotten spray tans for the trip. It had never occurred to me, but it will next time.

What self-tanner is best for mature skin?

Tan-Luxe

Let me start by saying that this tanning butter is a luscious moisturizer, even without the self-tanning properties. It contains Vitamin E, sweet almond oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and tons of other moisturizing oils. It smells lovely and feels super hydrating going on.

Here, I’ve applied TAN-LUXE The Butter Tanning Butter on the right and regular lotion on the left. You can see it quickly dialed down the pastiness in just four hours. You can apply it all over, but I’m only interested in adding color to my legs.

UPDATE: After trying the Tanning Butter, I noticed it began to rub off on my white towel after a few days. If I’d had dark towels, I don’t think I’d have seen it. I’m interested in trying the other options that Tan-Luxe has to offer to see if they stay on better because the color was very flattering. Some of the products from the brand are currently on sale at HSN if you want to try them here!

Isle of Paradise

I tried these very popular Isle of Paradise drops. I like that they’re organic because I try to avoid as many chemicals as possible. My daughter mixes them with her moisturizer and loves them. Unfortunately, I had a horrible time using them and ended up with an uneven and streaky tan/mess. I know many people swear by them, so I’m guessing it was user error. The brand also has quite a few other options, and almost all of them have five-star reviews, so I’m tempted to try the brand again.

Beauty by Earth Tanning Lotion

This one comes at the recommendation of an influencer. I was surprised to see that it has 19,000k+ reviews on Amazon, yet I’d never heard of the brand. It lives up to my cruelty-free and clean standards, so I’ve added the mousse to my cart to try in the fair/medium shade and will report back.

+ Lux Unfiltered

+ LUX UNFILTERED was co-founded by lifestyle blogger Sivan Ayla. This is another one I discovered on Amazon with amazing reviews. It’s non-toxic, cruelty-free, and vegan. I love that it has two scent options, Santal or Rosewood, instead of smelling like your normal, horrible self tanner.

Vita Liberata

As I was researching the best self tanners, I came across this brand that’s cruelty-free and has a variety of products. The Gradual Tanning Lotion received Allure’s 2020 Best of Beauty Award, so I’m planning on trying it.

Saint Tropez

This was one of the most recommended body and face self tanners from the AWSL community. Be sure to buy the mitt for easy application of this mousse, so it doesn’t get everywhere or stain your hands.

• “As for the rest of my body, I really like St. Tropez self tanning foam. You use a mitt to apply it, and it’s very natural looking.” – KATIE

Why I Don’t Use Jergens Anymore

I used to use the Natural Glow by Jergens for many years. While the brand does meet cruelty-free standards in the USA and has it on the label, the brand as a whole is not cruelty-free. To be clear, Jergens does not test on animals, but they are sold in mainland China which demands it is tested on animals to be sold there. They allow animal testing by a third party “where required by law”. The bottom line is the dollar is more important than their commitment not to support animal testing.

Body and Leg Makeup

I noticed a lot of readers talking about how they like to use body makeup on their legs. While I haven’t ever done that, I can see the advantages. This is a quick solution that I would consider using for something like a wedding or wearing a dress.

• Dermablend Leg and Body Makeup: This came highly recommended by many of you. In the reviews, you’ll notice that many use it to cover up tattoos and show you before/after pictures. If you have any bruises, I think this would cover them up!
• Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs:
  • “I have used Sally Hansen leg makeup for years. Yes, you have to apply it daily as it washes off so it might not last if you swim! It does not come off on the bed linen and takes just a couple of minutes to apply, and you are able to see it go on evenly, no streaking.” – FRAN
• Westmore Beauty Body Coverage Perfector:
  • “Self-tanner doesn’t cover up veins or marks though, so when I’m going out somewhere and feeling self-couscious, I use Westmore leg make-up as a nice smooth cover-up. It stays on and doesn’t drip or sweat off. It’s applied just like a lotion would be.” – NANCY
• Extra Large Body Makeup Brush: This helps to create a non-streaky finish and blend things to look natural.

Do you have any self tanners to add to the list? Are you a fan of leg makeup?

Thanks for reading, and have a great day.