SmartShield Self Tanner Lotion with SPF 15 {Review}

Ah, high school. There are some aspects (okay, lots) that I look back on and just shake my head. What was I thinking? The look had to be just right, didn't it? Those clothes, the specific shoes, that makeup (was glitter really popular at your school, too? I sure hope it wasn't just me) and that's not even taking into account the tans.

I don't remember the first time I went to a tanning salon with my friends, but it definitely wasn't the last. We went regularly to keep a nice glow and then, whenever a school dance was nearing, the frequency increased and by the time the big event rolled around, our skin was bronzed and beautiful.

There isn't really anything I can do now to reverse the amount of damage I may have done and all of the wrinkles I'm sure I caused, so instead I try to do a better job of protecting myself from the sun's ultraviolet rays. My new favorite way? SmartShield's Self Tanner with SPF 15.

Combining the best of both worlds, this innovative lotion protects, hydrates and moisturizes your skin while building a natural, healthy glow - definitely something I would rather have than the extremely pale look I have after this long winter. The oil-free formula contains Vitamins A, C and E and Aloe Vera to soothe and smooth your skin and uses DHA to cause the body to produce melanin and create a natural, safe tan.

I love the idea of my skin naturally and safely tanning itself rather than being dyed or stained as with traditional self tanning lotions - forget the worry about turning orange or having some spots look different than others. SmartShield's Self Tanner with SPF 15 absorbs and dries quickly and doesn't leave any greasiness behind, something that is pretty important if I'm going to use it on my face.

In fact, I have used this lotion on my face for quite a few days now and it hasn't clogged my pores or left me feeling shiny at all. Instead, I can detect a soft glow that makes it appear that I don't spend my days inside hidden away from the sunlight. I also tried putting the Self Tanner on just one of my arms to really see if it was making a difference and found that it truly did. The one arm looked as though it had spent time outdoors while the other stayed in!

SmartShield really has invented a "smarter sunscreen" with their Self Tanner with SPF 15. It is light, waterproof, eco-friendly (why rub harsh chemicals into your skin?) and keeps your skin protected from both UVB and UVA rays while still giving you a sun-kissed look. I'm able to satisfy the part of my brain that is still in high school and thinks a tan is beautiful while the logical part of my mind knows the importance of being smart and safe in the sun.

Thanks, SmartShield, for not only having a line of safe, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-approved sunscreens, but for adding in a natural self tanner to appeal to pale people like me. And, for bringing the sunshine with you as you come down my block, thanks, Mail Carrier.

(Other than the SmartShield Self Tanner with SPF 15 that I was sent, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this product and the difference it made on my blinding whiteness.)