Attention all Self Tanners…Meet Your New BFF
March 16, 2016
All Images
Jennifer Hagler Photography
By Buffy York
So this past weekend Tim and I were Sonny and Cher for a fundraiser for the Youth Department at our church. Since not one strand of my DNA is similar to Cher’s I decided to get the mother of all spray tans and at least I would have that going for me. I am no stranger to prepping for, maintaining or scrubbing off a spray tan or self tan, but recently I discovered the perfect product leading up to the big event.
Deborah Stone and her daughter Alex have recently opened Botaniko. Botaniko is a hip new space in downtown Birmingham that offers skincare powered by natural ingredients balanced with modern day cosmeceuticals. One day Deborah, knowing that I am a “product junkie” invited me down to check out her new space and sent me home with a bag of goodies. I made it clear to her that I would only talk about products on the blog that I loved, believed in and came back to purchase.
Today’s post is the first installment of one of the many Botaniko products that I love and will keep me coming back for more. Botaniko’s Lemongrass & Mint Bamboo Exfoliating Body Wash is awesome on any given day, but is essential to the scrub down right before your self/spray tan is about to go down. (Let’s be honest, it is about to be Spring Break and we all know tan fat looks better than white fat!) I know there are a gazillion scrubs on the market, but this one is my fave. First the scent is amazing and clean, second the bamboo is finely ground and covers a lot of skin real estate and most importantly, this scrub is a cleanser! Translation, it will scrub off any unwanted dead skin and since it is a cleanser it won’t leave behind a moisturizing residue that could act as a barrier and keep your self tanner from “grabbing” the skin. In the world of self-tanning it is “Prep Perfection.”
To order your own Lemongrass & Mint Cleanser call Botaniko at 205-568-7277 or order from their website here. If you live in Birmingham I highly recommend you taking the trip downtown to see their space. It is amazing and cool and doesn’t feel like anything else in town.
Botaniko
310 Richard Arrington Boulevard North #300
Birmingham, AL 35203
For the record my two favorite spray tanners in Birmingham are Abbie Pettijean (205-540-7633) who makes house calls for $35 in the Over the Mountain area and Studio A in Cahaba Heights because I can book on-line.
March 17, 2016
CyndyWhere is your favorite place for a spray tan?
March 17, 2016
Buffy YorkCyndy, I love Abbie Pettijean and Studio A. See their contact info in the blog post. –Buffy
March 17, 2016
AmyAwesome info! I’m in the market for a spray tan, and will be definitely trying this. Sooooo…..who does the best job with spray tans in the Birmingham area?
March 17, 2016
Buffy YorkAmy,
I just added my favorite spray tanners at the bottom of the post.
Buffy
March 17, 2016
OliviaI agree Buffy! Studio A in Cahaba Heights is the best. Shout out to my girl Morgan. She makes it work even on my pasty white skin!
March 17, 2016
Buffy YorkGreat minds think alike Olivia!
March 17, 2016
Lindsey LutzI am obsessed with all things Botaniko! Hope to see you soon!
March 17, 2016
Lela CampbellAbby is awesome!! For pale girls with dreaded sunspots (that absorb too much color…think cow spots) I love St. Tropez 4 in 1 Tan, Tone, Firm & Moisturize. In a time crunch regarding drying and showering, my go to is St. Tropez Self Tan Express…you can shower after 1 hour for a light tan, 2 hours for medium and 3 hours for a darker tan!!
Thanks for the tips, Buffy!