Elbows, knees and heels have a tendency to end up looking much darker if care is not taken, as they are so much drier than the rest of the body and absorb the tan more. Wrists, feet and hands can end up looking patchy if fake tan is not applied correctly.
Areas like your elbows, knees, and ankles can be drier and rougher than the rest of your body, so you should apply self-tanner with a light touch to avoid having them become too dark.
Apply it over your whole body before tanning, focusing particularly on dry areas. This will prevent the skin from absorbing excess tan and looking patchy, instead giving you a gorgeous, radiant glow.
After applying your self-tanner, you'll need to give the product time to dry and settle on your skin. Do not get dressed right away, wrap yourself in a towel, or lie down. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes before putting clothes on—and even then, wear loose-fitting attire.
Because your face is (generally) less covered up than the rest of your body, and if you have a rigorous skincare routine, you might find that the self tan on your face fades quicker than your body.
Because vitiligo spots have no melanin, they can't tan. If the skin isn't protected with sunscreen, vitiligo patches may burn or scar.
Miss out the knees and stop just above the ankles. Starting from your shoulders apply the fake tan to both shoulders and arms using the same circular and then vertical movements as above. Avoid the elbows and stop at the wrists.
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. Avoid Irritation: Shaving can sometimes cause minor irritation, particularly if you have sensitive skin.
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.
Because fake tan clings to our dead skin cells and our skin naturally sheds, a fake tan typically lasts around 5-7 days. To keep your skin looking tantastic for as long as possible, it's crucial to keep skin hydrated.
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.
Keep your underarms bare (that means no deodorant or moisturiser) before you tan. Give your armpits a quick wipe right before applying tan to remove any sweat that may have accumulated there. Now, for the secret ingredient: after you've applied your tan to your underarms, pat on some talcum powder.
Know Your Tan Limit
You may be surprised to learn that there is a limit to how much your body can tan in a day. Past that point, your body can't produce any more melanin. Meaning your skin won't get any more bronze or olive-hued, but it will still be susceptible to sun damage.
Self Tanner
“Self-tanning lotions are a safe alternative to tanning beds and sun exposure, and they work by temporarily staining the outermost layer of the skin with a color additive called dihydroxyacetone (DHA),” notes Aimee Carr, an esthetician, makeup artist, and founder of Voodoo Makeup.
Keeping the skin cool prior to tanning can help reduce strawberry legs as warmth can open the pores.
Self tanners can expect their golden hue to last between 7-10 days due to the natural turnover of skin cells. Or if you get a tan outside, you can expect your tan to fade in about the same amount of time at 7-10 days as well.
Remove Body Hair
However, do not remove body hair too soon before your session. When you shave or wax your skin, your pores open up. If you wax or shave right before your session, you will go in before your pores close up, and the spray tan will get into your pores and leave you with dark dots.
As sweat is acidic, it can cause self tan to break down when left to sit on the skin.
Don't Wear Tight Clothing Immediately: Tight clothing can rub against freshly applied fake tan and cause streaking or smudging. Opt for loose, breathable clothing until your tan has fully dried and developed. Don't Forget SPF: Fake tan does not provide protection against harmful UV rays.
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.
Compared to the rest of the body, skin on the legs does not produce the same amount of melanin, which results in legs getting less tan. Skin on the legs is thicker and harder and the UV light from the sun or sunbeds cannot easily penetrate it.
❤️🔥 If you struggle with white patches on to top of your bum and shoulders we have some tanning tips for you! 🍑 White patches are caused by body's pressure when lying on a tanning bed. Pressure applied to areas of the body prevents proper blood circulation.