Apply a moisturizer or body butter to shower damp skin. (NOT Curel or Dove – these can ruin tans!) A few good choices would be Shea Moisture, CeraVe, Lubriderm, Vanicream, or Hempz, and some people prefer pure Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, or Cocoa Butter.
Maintaining Your Fake Tan
Moisturising well and using a bronzer is a good start: Moisturise using a non-oil-based moisturiser every day to keep your skin hydrated and therefore avoiding any cracking or flaking. Carefully pat your skin dry after baths/shower/swimming rather than rubbing.
Opt for products containing ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, or hyaluronic acid, known for their hydrating properties. Moisturize at least twice daily, especially during the first few days after tanning.
LOTIONS Avoid any oils or lotions that use mineral oil (petroleum), baby oil, coconut oil, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (which is found in most body washes). I have found the best lotions to use are Aveeno, Cetaphil, Hempz, and CeraVe.
In an interview with Redbook, Jennifer Aniston revealed that her favourite self-tanning product is the L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Tanning Towelettes, she says: "I like the L'Oréal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes. They're great."
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.
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.
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. Once you've washed off the colour guide and waited at least 8 hours, you can apply your favourite moisturiser to your entire body.
When it comes to self tanning, preparation is key. Just like when tanning the rest of your body, we recommend exfoliating your face the day before application. This removes any dead skin cells, leaving your skin silky smooth. Follow with your favourite moisturiser to stop your skin feeling dry.
Spray tanning offers a controlled, even tan that's virtually impossible to achieve under the sun. For celebrities, whose appearances are closely scrutinized, the uniform glow and customizable shades of spray tans are invaluable.
Ardell Body Drench Quick Tan Instant Self-Tanner
Kim Kardashian flashed her own bottle of Body Drench when showing off her travel makeup bag — and she definitely knows a good sunless tan!
Westman Atelier Vital Skin Care Complexion Foundation isn't your typical foundation; it's more of a tinted moisturizer.
The Two-Day Rule: When it comes to tanning before an event, it is generally recommended to have a spray tan or apply your own tan two days prior to the occasion. The reason behind this is that all tans take approximately 24 hours to fully develop, even after rinsing off the initial bronzer.
What's the difference between self tanning lotion and mousse? 🤩 The tanning lotion is perfect for a hydrating, long lasting tan. The mousse is a quick drying formula that is perfect for a fast tanning application.
They're usually applied as the final step in your daily body care routine to help keep your skin smooth, soft, and comfortable-feeling. CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, for example, can be used as often as needed to provide 48-hour hydration and help restore your skin's protective barrier.
Dhesthetics has 2 recommended body washes to use in the shower to help preserve your tan. Aveevo Daily Moisturizing body wash or Cetaphil Daily Nourishing body wash. All of these body washes have great ingredients in them that will help to preserve not only your tan, but keep your skin healthy.