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.
Moisturize a few hours before applying self-tanner, and not immediately beforehand. Exfoliating is essential for an even, all-over sunless tan, but avoid exfoliating, shaving, or waxing after applying sunless tanner to extend your tan. Moisturize and wear SPF 30 daily to protect both your skin and your tan.
Applying a moisturiser may interfere with the flawless result you so perfectly applied. We want your tan to be 20/10 and unfortunately if moisturiser is applied it can leave blotches, marks and strip the tan in certain spots on the skin.
Do... Stay moisturized. Using a moisturizer before & during tanning is so important. If you're skin is dry not only will the tan apply unevenly, but it will begin to patch off and look very fake & odd when fading.
Moisturize ahead of time
If your skin is dry when you go in to get your spray-on tan, there's a chance the pigment could cling to dry patches, resulting in a blotchy, uneven tan. Prior to your appointment, make sure your skin is adequately hydrated from head to toe.
Avoid shaving immediately before your spray tan session. Ideally, shave 24 hours prior to allow your skin to recover and avoid any potential irritation. Exfoliate gently: If you're shaving before tanning, gently exfoliate your skin using a mild scrub or exfoliating glove.
Hydrated skin will not only tan better but will also keep its colour for longer. Moisturise your skin twice daily to prepare your skin for the sunshine and get that long-lasting tan. Dry skin can lead to a peeling and uneven sun tan and so is effectively the enemy.
Make sure you avoid lotions that contain petroleum, mineral oils, coconut oil or Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) – all of these can compromise your fake tan. Instead choose products made specifically to help nourish and maintain fake tans, such as tan extending lotions or nourishing body butter.
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.
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. The best time to fake tan is at night as this will give the tan full developing time and you don't need to worry about what you are wearing.
AFTER THE TAN
Shower lightly in cold – lukewarm water for 45 seconds ONLY after your desired development time. Use plain water, don't use shower gels, scrubs, shampoos or loofah during the first 24 hours after your treatment. Pat your skin dry. Do not rub or scrub your skin.
The exact way to prepare for a self tan is to remove unwanted hair, shower with a natural/organic soap and exfoliate at least a few hours before applying a self tan product. In doing these things beforehand you are preventing clogged pores, the correct skin PH level and a wax taking off your new sunless tan.
you definitely want to use a tanning lotion prior to tanning! moisturized skin holds a tan for much longer. if you do not use lotion, the rays will bounce off your skin instead of absorbing it! After tanning, lotion is called tan extenders.
Yes! Moisturising is key to a long-lasting, streak-free tan. Moisturise daily post-tanning to lock in hydration and leave your skin buttery smooth.
If you love a good facial oil, we're with you. But it's best to give your old faithful, or any heavy oil-based moisturisers, a miss the day you bronze – both before and immediately after. Why? Because oils are known to break down self-tan.
High Comedogenic Rating: Coconut oil has a high comedogenic rating, meaning it can clog pores. This can lead to breakouts and uneven skin texture, impacting the smoothness of your tan. Clogged pores can also disrupt how evenly the self-tanner is absorbed, resulting in streaks or patches.
While some concerns have been raised in the past over toxicity from highly concentrated DHA, the use of DHA in self-tan products has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At-home tanning products generally contain DHA at levels between 3-5% – levels deemed to be non-toxic and non-carcinogenic1.
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.
When it's time to tan, we'd say the best self tan for dry skin is a lotion. These are our most hydrating product, as they moisturise and tan your skin a the same time. Our Self Tanning Lotions are absolutely ideal!
Use Dish Soap
Dish soap can not only cut through grime and grease but can also get rid of your spray tan.
After extensive testing, we determined the highest rated self-tanner to be the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse. It's an airy mousse that's easy to apply and blend and leaves you with a natural-looking glow. You can also customize the depth of color based on how long you leave it on your skin.