These days, it seems like everybody is making a gradual self-tanner, but this one from St. Tropez’s new range is specifically created for the face!

St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tanner for Face is infused with some serious good-for-your-skin ingredients like aloe and vitamin E, plus it boasts St. Tropez’s Aromaguard, their trademarked fragrance technology that eliminates that notorious self-tanner smell by at least 70%!

I’ve been mixing a small amount into my daily moisturizer for the most natural-looking glow without the mess (or stink!) of typical self-tanners.

St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tanner for Face is available from Nordstrom for $25.

Day four of our 7 Days of Holiday Looks was an easy, peachy look for me. I pulled my hair into a low ponytail and added a little “enhancement” à la Jessica Simpson.

I like this hair piece better than the other piece I tried as it was much easier to attach and looked very realistic (in my opinion).

I went for a mostly peachy look on my face with a little bronzer and brown eyeshadow.

St. Tropez Radiance Mousse

I am obsessed with this Radiance Mousse from St. Tropez. It’s so light and easy to apply. Just dab the tiniest amount on cheekbones, forehead, eyelids—anywhere you want to glow— and gently rub in with your fingertips.

NARS Orgasm Blush

This blush is an old standby that’s been in my makeup bag for 10 years because IT WORKS.  I also love Super Orgasm which is the disco version of the original Orgasm, but since I’m already bronzed up here and glowing beyond recognition, I skipped it. You’re welcome.

CHANEL Aqualumière Gloss in Canari

Aqualumière Gloss by CHANEL is just so good and this peachy-coral color called Canari is perfect for my holiday look. This is very sheer and easy to apply so you don’t have to worry about a precise application. Also, it’s not sticky at all so your hair is safe if the wind blows!

On my eyes I used some bronzy brown eye shadow shades and tons of Lancôme Hypnose Drama mascara.

Bree’s Look: So here’s the thing. I know Bree did a Day 4 Holiday Look because we’ve been doing them every day together, but I can not find any photographic evidence of any such look. I have a sneaking suspicion she deleted them (she wasn’t liking her look) but I can’t be sure. So much for Bree’s day 4 look

Bailey’s Look:

Bailey’s gorgeous hair is starting to get on my nerves. I mean, how many good hair days is this girl going to have in one week. Sheesh. (Also, while her shirt looks eerily similar to the shirt she wore in Day 3, Bailey asked me to mention that it is not, in fact, the same shirt.) (As if, right?)

Bailey has kind of surprised me with her efforts in this holiday feature. She’s been waking up an hour early each morning to prepare her holiday looks before school. That’s total dedication, right friends?

Pixi Smokey Eye Creator Kit

Sadly, this great little smoky eye kit is sold out on the Pixi website, but keep checking back for availability because it’s a great kit for any girl looking for some vavvooom in her holiday look.

L’Oreal HIP Jelly Balm in Plush

This pot gloss looks bright in the container but it’s really just a pale pink. I think Bailey likes the way it tastes just as must as she likes how it looks! Yum.

NYX Powder Blush in Natural

I continue to be amazed at the color payoff and versatility of NYX Cosmetics. This powder blush in Natural is a pale pink with no shimmer—so pretty! (And the price is pretty, too.)

Rimmel Glam’Eyes Lash Flirt Mascara

This new Glam’Eyes mascara from Rimmel is really black and inky and thickens lashes without clumping them. Bailey is really picky with her mascaras but she’s worn this for three days in a row now. In my book this means she’s giving this a thumbs up.

To add to our list of favorite holiday fragrances, we each selected another scent we can’t get enough of this season:

Erika’s Pick: Nuit de Noel by Caron ($85)

I have the teeniest, tiniest little sample of this fragrance that I love to bust out during the holidays. Everything about this classic 1920′s fragrance screams Christmas and I just can’t get enough of it this time of year.

Bree’s Pick: YSL Parisienne ($39-85)

When you live in a house with teenage girls, nothing is sacred. Not your closet, not your jewelry, not even your perfume. Needless to say, my favorite YSL scent has quickly become Bree’s favorite YSL scent. With notes of rose and violet, I must say this fragrance smells almost as good on her as it does me.

Estée Lauder Sensuous

Sensous by Estée Lauder is a family love affair here at Makeup Bag. The woody amber fragrance first won the heart of 6-year-old Janey last year and then made its rounds to the rest of us, including Bailey who is naming this as one of her faves.

And just because you are my most favorite readers of all, I’m gracing you with this here picture of Janey and her holiday look.

She took this with the Photobooth feature on my computer and even filmed a video, but there wasn’t any sound. So sad because she expertly demonstrated how to apply the L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara. I’ll see if I can get her to do it again this week.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday last week. Just think, only 25 days until Christmas!

Self-tanner and I have a love-hate relationship. I love how it gives my skin an even, glowing tone, but I never seem to get the application right. (And I never know if I’m using the right formula for my skin—too dark? too light? too streaky? too orange?)

Winter is my favorite time to test out self-tanners. Since my legs are always covered, it’s the perfect opportunity for trial and error without the world being privy to my self-tanning mishaps.

Makeup Bag intern, Monica, sampled some St. Tropez favorites after hearing about the new Aromaguard formula that helps mask the unmistakable aroma of self-tanner (DHA activating on the skin). Here’s her report:

I was dying to try St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse and Intensifier after hearing them boast a complex that reduces the tell-tale “tanning” aroma. I excitedly applied both products but was disappointed when I began to smell “it” in all its glory immediately after application and for the next several hours. Fortunately, I had a pleasant surprise in store! While most tanners’ scents tend to linger on my skin until the last drop of color disappears, the scent of these products was gone without a trace after just one shower while my tan remained fully intact.

The Intensifier (similar to a gradual tanner) and the full-strength Bronzing Mousse were equally easy to apply, with helpful tint guides and lightweight, quick-dry formulas that were totally transfer-resistant. Interestingly, I felt as though both formulas achieved the same color with just one application, but I actually preferred the Mousse; my tan was more even and natural than the color I got from the Intensifier.

While I’d prefer a tanner with no scent whatsoever, technology just isn’t there yet. Until that day, these St. Tropez formulas make a great compromise – if I handle the odor for a few hours (until I get a shower), I’m rewarded with a pretty tan sans the stink for the rest of the week!

St. Tropez has an essential guide that offers step-by-step tips for a perfect tan every time:

10 Steps to the Perfect Tan

1. If you’re a tanning junkie, exfoliate regularly to avoid build up. Several layers of tan can result in an uneven result.
2. Waxing or shave more than 24 hours before tanning.
3. Give yourself a good all-over polish and apply plenty of moisturizer the night before your tan to get your skin as silky as possible. The most common cause of a patchy tan is dry skin, so it’s crucial to moisturize problem areas (wrists and hands, elbows, knees, ankles and feet) immediately prior to self tan application.
4. Keep palms tan-free – try using latex gloves or our applicator mitt when applying, then simply sweep the backs of the hands with self tan diluted with moisturizer. Our Tan Remover– which you can use for up to four hours after tanning – removes any unwanted tan.
5. When you’re applying your tan, make sure you’re covered all over. Don’t worry if you go over the same area twice – the tan will only be patchy if you miss a bit, not if you double up.
6. Make sure you don’t rub in your gradual or self tan. Gentle smoothing is all you need, then you can let the product do its work. Rubbing may make the finish uneven.
7. Try to avoid washing your hands for as long as possible in the development time – a minimum of 2 hours. Try a hand sanitizer or wipes instead.
8. Your tan won’t get deeper the longer you leave it – once it’s been on for the required amount of time (check the pack) it will have given you the natural-looking golden color you’re after. For a deeper tan you should re-apply on successive days – 2 – 3 days in a row will give you a really deep, rich bronze tan.
9. After you’ve applied your tan wear loose, dark clothing and avoid tight-fitting underwear. Anything that’s pressing on skin may result in a patchiness.
10. The hands and face will fade quicker than the rest of the body so apply Rapide Face to the face and the backs of the hands to keep your tan looking fresher for longer. For a color boost for the rest of the body, try using a tan intensifier every 2-3 days – but don’t forget to polish and moisturize, too, or your color won’t fade evenly…

St. Tropez tanning products with the unique Aromaguard formulation are available online at St-Tropez.com.

I love everything about self-tanners except for the lingering “aroma” many leave behind, so I was elated to hear that this new St. Tropez Everyday Perfect Legs self-tanner boasts a special technology that reduces the odor by at least 70% percent! I’m dying to get my hands (and legs!) on this new addition to St. Tropez’s extensive self-tanning range.

Tell me, do you have any tricks to rid yourself of the telltale tanner smell?

Available from St. Tropez for $45.