Timing your first rinse is key to achieving a flawless, streak-free glow. Wait 4-8 hours before showering to let your tan fully develop, but avoid leaving it on for more than 24 hours. During this time, steer clear of moisture—no sweating, workouts, or liquid foundation.
Avoid Sweating and Water Activities
For the first 24 hours post-spray tan, stay away from activities that could make you sweat excessively or involve water exposure. This includes vigorous workouts, swimming, and even washing dishes without gloves. Sweat and water can dilute your tan, causing it to fade unevenly.
Try your best to wear loose clothes to avoid water and sweating for 6-8hrs whilst the tan is developing on the skin before showering off the residue. The tan will continue developing for a further 12hrs your final developed colour of the tan is achieved after the full 24hrs.
Wear dark loose clothing; tight clothing or underwear may cause marks. Wear loose fitting shoes. 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.
As sweat is acidic, it can cause self tan to break down when left to sit on the skin.
Skin Preparation: Shaving isn't just about hair removal; it's a form of exfoliation. By shaving a day before applying self-tanner, you ensure that your skin is smooth and free of any dead cells. This smooth surface allows the self-tanner to go on evenly and helps it adhere better to your skin.
Squeeze the mousse onto a tanning mitt and apply it to the body in smooth, circular motions. Top tip: to avoid orange patches, go light on the ankles, elbows, knees, knuckles, and nose. These areas are the most absorbent and will darken quickly. The more mousse you apply, the deeper the tan will be.
Opt for Gentle, Moisturizing Products: Avoid harsh soaps and scrubs right after tanning. Instead, use a mild, hydrating body wash to prevent dryness and peeling, which can dull your tan. Pat Dry, Don't Rub: Vigorous towel drying can be too abrasive. Patting your skin dry is gentler and helps avoid exfoliating too much.
Wait 4-8 hours before showering to let your tan fully develop, but avoid leaving it on for more than 24 hours. During this time, steer clear of moisture—no sweating, workouts, or liquid foundation.
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.
Is there any residue left on your calves from products like moisturiser, shaving foam or body oil? All these cosmetic products act as a barrier to fake tan and can prevent the skin from 'grabbing' colour.
Fake tan usually stains bed sheets due to the guide colour within the formulation. The guide colour is the tint that immediately appears on the body when tan is applied – it's there to help you see where you've already applied and assist you achieving a flawless, even application.
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.
Use a fan or adjust the temperature in your room to ensure a comfortable sleeping environment. Sleep on dark towels: Placing dark towels on your bed where your body will come in contact with the sheets can help absorb any excess tan solution and prevent it from transferring onto your bedding.
Don't wash your hair in your first shower after your tan. The chemicals in the shampoo and conditioner can affect your tan, so wait at least 24 hours before washing your hair.
Once you have washed off your fake tan moisturise your skin daily to increase the longevity of your tan. Dry, dehydrated skin will cause your dead skin cells to shed quicker, taking the fake tan you worked so hard for with it. Use an oil-free moisturiser as oil can break down the product [2].
Your tan takes a full 24 hours to see the final result. Wait about 24 hours to shower with soap or body wash after your appointment. Your tan needs moisture to last! Moisturize every morning and night to prolong the life of your tan.
We generally recommend sticking to one self tanning product per application. If you do not find the color to be as deep as you would like, you can always apply a second coat 30-60 minutes after initial application, or the following day.
With a high water content, Aloe Vera helps to hydrate dry skin, resulting in a more even and longer-lasting tan – but that's not all. Other skin benefits of Aloe Vera include: Moisturizing: Rich in Amino Acids and boasting a 99.
Papaya: Like carrots, orange fruits and vegetables, such as papaya, help to enhance your tan naturally thanks to its high beta-carotene levels. Melon: This refreshing fruit, rich in antioxidants and beta-carotenes will help you to keep your golden skin tone.
White armpits are a common self-tanning problem. To avoid those unsightly white patches, start by shaving your underarms a day before applying self-tanner to allow your skin to heal. Keep your underarms bare (that means no deodorant or moisturiser) before you tan.
Facial tans tend to fade fast due to twice daily cleansing, and the last thing you want is a ghostly white face floating above a mahogany neck! Using your tanning mitt and a small amount of product (less than you'd use on your limbs, for example), apply self-tan to the neck and blend up towards the jawline.
If you have fair skin like me, you'll want to opt for a tanner with a hydrating formula, which promotes the longevity of your tan and helps lessen your risk of streaks. It's also generally safer to go for a gradual or customizable formula (though a select few express options work quite well for fair skin, too).