Oh, the woe!

I have orange hands. One orange hand, really. Proof of my ongoing experimentation in the art of applying sunless tanner - I am convinced it is a FINE art, because I seem to be too unskilled to prevent orange ankles, knees, wrists, cuticles and elbows. My face, legs, torso and back look great though.

After hitting year the 27th, I informally vowed never to go out in the sun with the intention of baking to a delicate golden-brown again. After all, I do have a husband who is nearly 4 years younger than I am, and he doesn't have a single flaw or line on his face. My motivation is currently firmly rooted in vanity, but hopefully, I'll get over the vanity and start focusing instead on the health benefits of not frying to a crisp. Skin cancer runs in my family.

Welp, after seeing pictures of my milky-skinned self at Baltimore from a few weeks ago, and knowing that red looks best on me when I've got some color, I went to Ulta and bought two brands of sunless tanner - L'Oreal medium natural bronze, and Neutrogena build-a-tan.

I've only used the L'Oreal, and the results have been excellent and very natural-looking... IF I wash my hands thoroughly after applying it, and make sure to wipe my ankles, elbows and knees off properly! I applied it twice last week, achieved a nice light bronze, and let my skin fade back to its customary pale. Now, I'm in the process of becoming a deeper bronze for the competition, and have been applying each night after my post-practice shower to build color.

If you've ever been to a ballroom dance competition, I'm sure you've been exposed to just how dark some dancers go, both ladies and gents. I've seen copper so deep that it's almost green-looking. If you use the restrooms at the venue, chances are you'll find a ring of bronzer on the toilet seat, with glitter sparkles littering the floor around the commode. I don't want to get NEARLY so insanely tan. Ideally, it would be nice to look like I spent the last couple weekends on the beach.