360 Degree Tan Towels, 365 Days A Year

As you may have noticed, towelettes of all kinds have been popping up everywhere lately. From make-up removal, to SPF, to mini-facials, it seems like there's a towelette for everything these days... “People must like these things,” I thought, as I VERY cautiously selected a self-tanning towelette to try and review. Let me tell you what—my hesitancy wasn't remedied in the LEAST when I opened my first-ever tan towelette to find that it looked like a giant-sized version of the moist towelettes provided when you eat ribs or hot wings…

This post is for anyone who is or has been similarly skeptical about self-tanning towelettes. I can now say that I understand all of the hype around the things: they’re convenient and fool-proof. On a recent weekend trip, rather than bringing an entire tube of self tanner with me; measuring the amount of product to use; and inevitably ruining some of my host’s towels while waiting for the product to dry on my skin...I whipped out this handy little packet by Kate Somerville (Somerville360); applied it all over my body; threw on a dress; and went straight out to enjoy time with my friends. I was literally shocked by the convenience and ease of use—the liquid from the towelette absorbed into my skin instantly and didn’t even leave the repugnant smell I had grown used to from night-before-event spray tans!

I obviously followed the directions—exfoliated first, and rubbed the towelette all over, in circular motions—and it came through for me big time. As Sara mentioned last week, the key ingredient in self tanners works with the actual pigment in your skin. I found the Somerville360 color to work with my skin tone very well, but I would encourage those of you with fairer skin to buy one of her single packets first, and test the color effect on your own skin. Two towelettes can be purchased for $10.

I’m not sure how spray tanning outlets plan to stay in business with more and more affordable (8-packs of Somerville360 cost less than most single airbrush tanning sessions), user-friendly (see above) and healthier (Somerville360 is paraben-free) alternatives hitting the market. All I know is that I won’t be turning back any time soon…I’m so glad I discovered these things in time for summer, and I plan to use them all year long!