How to Achieve the Perfect Tan

Summer’s all about achieving a healthy glow. And self-tanning is the healthiest way to fake sun-kissed, bronzed skin. Unfortunately, the application can be tricky. In today’s post, we are giving you pro tips to achieve the perfect tan just in time for the summer season:

Planning Ahead

You can’t just slather the product and call it a day. Self-tanning usually takes six hours minimum. Some formula takes even longer to develop. That means you have to avoid water at all cost. Sweating is also a no-no, it will cause the pigment to streak. So clear your schedule and focus on tanning for the day (or night!). If you’re tanning for a special event, give yourself at least three days so the color develops well. The best time to apply self-tanner is at night. You will have more time for the color to develop.

Prepping the Skin

We cannot stress this enough, you have to prep your skin first before self-tanning. Prepping the skin ensures an even, streak-free tan. Start by exfoliating the skin. Pigment could clump in dry areas of the body. Buffing away dead skin cells minimizes patchy application. When exfoliating, give extra attention to the knees, elbows, and feet.

Once you’re done exfoliating, remove unwanted hair using a razor. Don’t wait to shave until after applying a self-tanner, you’ll strip away the color! If you prefer waxing, do so at least two days before applying the self-tanner.

After you’re done shaving, slather moisturizing lotion all over the body. The secret to a perfect tan is hydrated skin. Focus on the driest areas of the body: feet, elbows, knees, ankles, wrists, etc.

Applying the Self-Tanner

Once you are done prepping the skin, it’s time to move on to the application. It’s important to apply the tan in a cool, dry place. Never apply the product in a steamy bathroom or humid environment. Once you start sweating, there is no way to apply the product correctly.

Ideally, you want to do it in front of a full-length mirror. This way, you can see which parts of the body you’ve worked on. We recommend investing in a reusable tanning mitt. The mitt prevents discoloration of the palms.

Applying Self-Tanner on the Body

Start by applying the self-tanner from the feet then work your way up to the legs. Get a generous amount on the mitt then smooth it on the legs evenly. Do not rub the product aggressively. This could cause unevenness! Use gentle, circular motion to spread the product.

Don’t worry if you go over the same spot several times, your tan won’t look streaky. Instead, focus on parts of the body you might’ve missed.

Applying Self-Tanner on the Face

Once you’ve worked your way to the face, protect areas you don’t want colored with Vaseline. Apply Vaseline on eyebrows and the hairline. Then, get a small amount of the product and blend. Start from the apples of the cheeks, blending outwards the corners of the eyes. Now, blend the product on the chin, nose, and forehead. Check if you’ve missed any spots. After you’re done, give it a few minutes for the product to dry.