Before applying self-tanner, it's important to prep your skin adequately. A key step to an excellent faux tan (that lasts!) is exfoliation. "Before applying faux tanner, your skin should be completely clean, dry, and exfoliated to remove any dead, dry skin," says Samantha Magill of Tournesol Beauty.
Avoid wearing make-up, perfume or deodorant on the day of the tanning bed session. That's because these chemicals can negatively impact the even result of the final tan. For the same reason, please don't wear watches or jewellery.
Shower at least half an hour before you plan on self-tanning to cleanse your body and remove any deodorant, make-up or moisturiser that will cause your tan to become patchy or streaky.
One crucial step in this preparation is timing your shaving routine just right. If you're wondering when the optimal time is to shave before applying self-tanner, we suggest aiming for approximately 24 hours before.
Before applying self-tan, it's important to exfoliate your skin to remove any dead skin cells and create a smooth, even canvas for the self-tanner. You can use a body scrub or a loofah to exfoliate your skin in the shower.
Applying at night gives your self-tanner time to develop a natural tan look. Things like showering, rain, or tight clothes can mess up your tan when it's trying to settle. And some tanning products will also stain! As the self-tanner process can take up to eight hours, applying right before bed is super convenient.
It is important not to wear tight clothing after applying fake tan as this can cause your tan to rub off or cause marks. This can make self-tanning in the morning more difficult as you must wear dark, loose clothing to avoid any transfer and you can't use deodorant or perfume.
Now that your self-tanner is on, it's time to take care of it. Be patient and let it dry fully before you put on clothes, jump into bed, sit on the couch, etc. Essentially, leave it alone until it sinks in. This could take around 20 minutes.
Apply Moisturizer Before Tanner
After exfoliating your body, continue the prepping process by applying a moisturizer. You shouldn't apply self-tanner without moisturizing first, because skipping out on this prep step could potentially leave you with patchy color — this goes for your face and the rest of your body.
Tanning lotions are fantastic for gliding across smooth skin but can be trickier to blend into a hairy chest, legs and arms. We recommend you opt for a tanning spray or mousse instead because the lighter texture is easier to buff into the skin even when applied over hairy areas.
Not protecting extra-dry areas
These spots are notorious for soaking up too much tanner and going too dark or muddy looking. So it's generally a good idea to apply some body moisture cream or lotion here as a barrier before you get your bronze on.
1. Dolce Glow Self-Tanning Mist. From the color to the ease of application, this is the winner in my book. The aerosol dispenses the product easily, which has a liquid texture that's simple to blend.
A gentle soap and some warm water will help to clean away any tanning product; something as mild as baby soap is ideal. Allow the tanning mitt to air dry before use.
Exfoliate everywhere you want to tan
One of our first (and probably most important) fake tan tips is to exfoliate and then exfoliate some more! Sloughing away dead skin cells with body scrubs and exfoliating mitts will create a super smooth base for your fake tan to glide on to.
After You've Tanned
Use a hairdryer. Once you have the perfect coverage, grab your hairdryer to help it set. Be sure it's blowing cool air and move it along your body. Not only will this help the solution dry faster, but it'll also help to kick the tanning development process into overdrive.
Changing position frequently, every 30 minutes, such as lying on your stomach, back or side, is important to ensure your skin tans evenly. In addition, it is important to position yourself correctly in the sunlight, moving the towel or lounger towards the sun, so that you are always in direct sunlight.