Goodbye Sticky Corn Chip Self Tanner, Hello Peta Jane Beauty!
'Good skin is always in.'
I’m a former tanning bed fan and self-tanning aficionado who has tried her fair share of at-home tanners. Many have left my skin feeling tacky and smelling like a corn chip. Fortunately, those days are over thanks to Peta Jane Beauty! The self-tanning collection came about in 2015. Dancing with the Stars pro Peta Murgatroyd‘s ballroom tan looked less-than-glamourous after a show. Working with a lab with over 40 years of experience, she created the best self-tanner I’ve ever used.
I spoke with Peta over Zoom to get her tips for applying the perfect tan at home. Plus, she shares the secrets behind her non-sticky, pleasantly floral self-tanner.
Woman’s World (WW): What finally pushed you to start the brand?
Peta Murgatroyd (PM): “I was on Dancing with the Stars for a while at that point, and we would be getting tanned every single week. It was kind of the ritual on Sunday night before the Monday night show. [Peta Jane Beauty came out] of frustration of not having the perfect tan to be able to go on stage with. You would smell bad and it would be coming off in patches. There was nothing that I tried on the market that could fix all of these things.”
“I wanted to find and create a product that would marry those two things together. That t would look good under the lights, but I could still wear it the next day and feel confident. So I teamed up with an industry professional in the tanning business. I didn’t know how to formulate products, but I knew what I wanted.”
WW: You mentioned the top three things that are most intimidating about self tanning, one of them being the sticky feeling. For me, it’s getting the perfect application. And then another big thing is scent. Self tanners always smell like corn chips. How did you tackle those problems when you were formulating your self tanners?
PM: “For the last seven, eight years we’ve been creating these products. It was me putting my own scent in there; it was testing all the undertones and making sure that there was never an orange color in sight. It took a long time to get the color perfect [and] a long time to be able to not have it be sticky for 45 min to an hour afterwards. I wanted to be able to dry in seconds [because] I don’t want to have to wait around standing there naked, waiting for it to dry. Then put my signature scent on top of it…that’s kind of how it happened.”
“What you’re smelling is the DHA, which is the active ingredient that tans and stains your skin. We have ours made from beets and sugar. If it’s a synthetic version, it’s going to smell. Outs smells very minimal[ly], and we have our scent on top. You can’t put synthetic things in there you will smell like a Frito, for sure.”
WW: Speaking of scent, you mentioned the scent in your self tanners is your signature perfume. Can you talk a little bit more about that?
PM: “I don’t know if I should say what it is. I might give away all the secrets. But yes, it’s really the only perfume I wear. A friend gave it to me when I was 15. I don’t wear anything else. I took that and was like, ‘Okay, let’s break this down.’ Let’s obviously not copy it, but make it our own and see what we can do to put that type of a scent in [a self tanner]. I don’t like heavy scents; I don’t like anything that feels musky and too harsh. I wanted it to be light, floral, and just honestly very feminine.”
WW: Which product do you find yourself reaching for the most?
PM: “If I’m going to do one big tan, I’m going to use the dark or the ultra dark mousse with the mitt. But if I was to do an everyday thing, for me, it’s the gradual line. I love this line; it’s non-toxic [and] it’s amazing. It’s like putting on moisturizer in the morning all over the body. You can put it on like a moisturizer and the next day you’ll see a little subtle glow, and you can keep building that over the week. I’s kind of foolproof…”
Dark Tanning Mousse
Sunless self-tanner for a natural glow!
- Description
- Absorbs fast without that sticky feeling.
- Signature Peta Jane Beauty scent—no more corn chip smell!
- Apply with the tanning mitt for even coverage.
WW: We have to talk about the back applicator. This has changed my life and I love using it to get full back coverage. I even use it on my legs to buff my tan out. Do you have any secrets to applying the perfect tan or hot tips you swear by?
Reusable & Washable Back Tanning Applicator
Get an even glow!
- Description
- Get a streak-free tan all over.
- No more asking for help with your spray tan!
- Soft, gentle and machine washable for reuse.
WW: I personally always feel my best when my eyebrows are done and I have a good tan. How do you think a good tan contributes to your feeling of readiness and glamour in everyday life?
WW: Are you working on any new products? What’s next for Peta Jane Beauty?
PM: “We have skyrocketed exponentially. I’m so excited where the company is headed. We’re going international now, so we’re going into the markets of Australia, Europe—I know the U.K. is super huge on self tanning. So we are getting our feet in those doors. And Canada as well, so we are really excited about that.”
“Our line will be expanding, too. We are nearly finished three or four new products… We’re coming out with a completely pure line of self tanners….and maybe delving a little bit into more skincare things to enhance the tan like a really good moisturizer.”
Conversation
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