I Heart Brown Fat

I have a new pregnancy love.

This.

When I was on my honeymoon in Mexico, I remember sitting in the hotel lobby, and two women were discussing their bodies and how they hated the first couple of days by the pool, with their white, untanned flesh exposed. Then one of them said the words that I have loved to use ever since: "Brown fat is prettier than white fat."

And it's so true. I love the look of that deep, golden tan that I have when I am in Mexico. Coming from the Northwest, that golden glow is almost impossible to get, even in the summer. We just don't get enough strong sun here. Also, I can justify getting a tan once a year and figure that it's not too bad for my skin, but I would start to get nervous if I tanned every day. I hate tanning beds and the smell of burning skin that I swear lingers for the next couple of days. I just lie in them thinking about the cancer invading my skin.

Still, having a tan is wonderful. Not only do I think I look thinner, but it smooths cellulite, covers spider veins, and minimizes other blemishes.

I have tried self-tanners in the past, but they all made me look streaky, orange, or made me smell funny. Or my bathroom would look like a murder scene as the clear tanning lotion dried and you could see every fingerprint, smudge, and swoosh from what I thought was a careful application.

About a month ago, my friend Amy suggested that I try my new love. And so I did. And I love it.

First of all, it applies smoothly and has a faint tint to the lotion so that you can immediately wipe up any spills or messes. I haven't had any streaks. It doesn't smell great, not like some of my other lotions, but it doesn't have that strong self-tanner odor. I can put it on in the morning before work and not wonder if everyone is smelling my tanning lotion all day long. I also think the color is extremely natural looking. I have had several people ask me if I went on vacation recently.

A few tips if you do decide to use it:

1) Be sure to wash your hands - especially between your fingers - after you are done applying. Then, use a piece of tissue to apply the lotion to the backs of your hand and fingers.

2) I had a bit of problems with the areas by my wrists and ankles. I just made sure to exfoliate really well in those areas and make sure to really rub the lotion in well there the next time.

3) After you start to get "the glow" (about 3 days for me), I would switch to every other day. The color starts coming on really fast once it starts showing. I find that every other day keeps it from getting too dark.

4) Be sure to wait about five minutes before getting dressed. I broke this rule a couple of times and it didn't ruin my clothes, but I had a couple of "swooshy" looking marks on my legs and belly that night where I think the lotion got wiped off.

So, there you have it. My latest pregnancy love.