I personally believe that having a tan makes everything better. I’m a bit of a tan-a-holic and strive to be sun-kissed all year round. However, skin cancer is not pretty and sometimes it can be deadly. So, I decided to experiment with self-tanners. Self-tanning can be intimidating and it is SO easy to get it wrong. To help you avoid all the disastrous outcomes that can come with self-tanning, I made all the mistakes for you and have come up with the ultimate guide:
1. Pick the right product for you.
There are hundreds of thousands of self-tanning products on the market and it can be overwhelming trying to find one that works for you. Because of this, I have narrowed it down to three brands that will guarantee you a bronzed tan and not an orange “glow.”
– Loving Tan
– Bondi Sands
– St Tropez
These three brands not only specialize specifically in self-tanning products but they really do live up to their promises. Loving Tan is the most expensive of the three but it has the highest level of DHA in it, which is what temporarily darkens your skin. Bondi Sands smells amazing and, in my opinion, is the easiest to use. St. Tropez is great for beginners and is what I would recommend to those of you with paler skin
2. Shave & Exfoliate
THIS. IS. SO. IMPORTANT!! To prep your skin before you self-tan, I recommend taking a shower the night before and shaving and exfoliating every part of your body that you are going to put the product onto. This is extremely important because if you don’t get rid of the top layer of dead skin your tan is going to look patchy.
3. Apply
All of these products have a color guide, which means that they apply a lot darker than they will actually look so that you can see where you need to apply it. I recommend applying some moisturizer on dry spots such as your knees, ankles, elbows, and hands because this will prevent the tan from over-developing on these areas. Apply your tan with an application glove (all these brands sell one) and buff the product evenly into your body. The amount of product you use is all up to you but I would definitely endorse a “less is more” policy for your first time.
4. Develop
Your tan needs time to develop. Wear loose-fitting clothing while you wait for your tan to dry and develop. The developing times is usually between 6-8 hours so I always apply mine at night and then wash it off in the morning. The longer you keep the tanner on, the darker you will you get. When you do go to wash your tan off, do not use soap. Simply allow the water to wash off the excess topical bronzer and pat dry.
5. Upkeep
You have to take care of your tan in order to make it last. Moisturize daily and avoid chlorine. Always pat yourself dry when you shower so that you do not rub your tan off. When your tan does start to come off you can use an exfoliating product to scrub the remainder and start from scratch. Note – you must scrub all your tan off before you apply a new coat because if you don’t, it will look patchy.
I know I just threw a lot of information at you and this whole self-tanning thing seems like a lot of work, but once you get into your own routine and become more comfortable with the product it is super easy. The results are almost too good to be true and you will constantly be asked if you just came back from vacation (best compliment ever). There are alternatives to tanning beds and the sun and these products will help you achieve the golden goddess status you want without the fear of sun damage and skin cancer. Go on girls, get your glow on!
Featured Image via Unsplash
