So, Christina Aguilera killed it at Etta James' funeral with her rendition of "At Last." It was respectful, heartfelt, and totally classy. Something that wasn't totally classy about the pop star's performance, though, was the dark brown, oily substance running down her legs -- which, FYI, was only self-tanner.
Whether it was due to excessive sweating because of nerves, excessive sweating because of the unseasonably hot weather in California, or plain old cheap, crappy self-tanner, this never should have happened. Not to Christina. Not to anyone.
I'm all about self-tanner. Seriously, I love it. Yeah, it's a pain in the butt to apply, but when done right, it's a fantastic alternative to the real, cancer-causing, wrinkle-inducing deal. But "done right" is the imperative phrase here, people. Self-tanning lotions, creams, sprays, and towels can be your best friend when you're in need of some color -- or your orange arch-nemesis.
First thing's first when applying self-tanner: Exfoliation. I'm sure you've heard this before -- and I'm sure you've ignored this crucial step, as it's sort of annoying -- but, trust me, it's essential. Exfoliation is the one thing that can give you a gorgeous, even-toned, long-lasting tan job. Just buy a bottle of cheapo St. Ives and go for it in the shower. Your legs will thank you.
Next, don't do the self-tanning thing if you've got a party or event that day. Do it a day or two before. (The two-day rule especially applies if you're going for a professional spray tan.) You don't want to just throw on a coat of whatever and head out the door -- most likely, it will rub off onto your clothes. Or, as in Christina's rare (weird) case, drip down your leg.
I feel bad for Christina. Not only did this embarrassing mishap occur while she was paying tribute to one of her idols, she's now the subject of many an Internet joke. But it was totally avoidable. This didn't have to happen to her. She should have just applied the stuff two days before her performance. And, of course, exfoliated.
Have you ever had an embarrassing self-tanning blunder? Do you self-tan at all?
Image via Splash