after having over nearly two dozen moles removed in my lifetime (TMI?), i’ve learned to embrace my fair skin. aside from the spf 1000 i’d have to apply in order to enjoy an afternoon under the sun, given my history and the prevalence of skin cancer in our family, i’ve since made peace with the fact that a bronzed beauty i will never be.

that is until i was introduced to blushtan, an organic spray tan business with local locations in la jolla and encinitas. as their motto reads on the door in the background of this photo -they’re about “real people, real ingredients, [and] fake tans.” aside from the idea of having a little tint to my otherwise ghostly complexion -especially as we head into the holiday season, what i was most intrigued by was blushtan’s commitment to providing an organic tanning experience. their solutions are: water-based, composed of the highest quality, premium grade DHA, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, free of harsh-dyes + chemicals, fragrance-free, oil-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free, vegan, peta-approved, nut-free, dermatologist approved, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. for someone who has really sensitive skin, i had stronger peace of mind knowing that the formula used to give me a subtle glow wouldn’t result in its irritation.

the whole tanning process was super quick and easy. natalie, at the encinitas location, was wonderful and immediately put me at ease and how the appointment would transpire. she asked me a couple questions about my skin’s characteristics (i.e. when i go into the sun, how does my skin tend to react? my answer? BURNS) before mixing up my customized formula. given the normal color of my dermis (pale), i knew i wanted to keep the tan subtle -think less george hamilton, more like i just got back from a hawaiian vacation. natalie agreed. the spray tan itself took minutes. while the formula would take a while to set-in, the bronzer offered the instant gratification one looks for when they go in for a fake tan. i felt like a bronzed goddess (see above)! anyone who has ever had a spray tan knows the inevitable scent that comes along with it. however, with my blushtan experience, any lingering smell was masked by the yummy magnolia-scented drying solution that was immediately applied after the tan.

i was instructed to refrain from showering off the bronzer for at least 12 hours from initial application. while i took extra precautions to ensure no bronzer transferred onto any light-colored surfaces, i’m happy to report that neither my clothes nor furniture fabrics were affected by my new glow. following my first shower, i was advised to keep my skin moisturized as possible to extend the life of my tan. to help me do so, natalie provided a small bottle of blushtan’s tanning lotion (which also smells like magnolia).

i received the original solution, but if you’re in need of a quicker application, blushtan also offers an express solution which allows you to shower only four to 6 hours after initial application. they also offer partial-tans if you’re looking to target a specific part of your body. as we head into the season of holiday events and gatherings, a subtle bronzed glow is a great accessory to compliment any holiday ensemble. for someone who is perfectly happy being casper-esque, even i know that life is a little sweeter (and my step is a bit peppier) with a tan.

thank you, natalie and blushtan encinitas for making me feel like j.lo for a few days! tans at the encinitas location are by appointment only. to book yours, call (619) 408-8945.

this post is in collaboration with blushtan encinitas. all opinions are my own.