These tips will ensure you aren’t looking like a splotchy mess.
Coming from someone who isn’t an avid self-tanner, applying self-tan can be a treacherous experience. Usually, I go for the occasional spray tan (for formals, proms, vacations, etc). This past weekend, however, I mustered up the courage and self-tanned for the first time. The entire process is nerve-wracking–the last thing you want to do is walk around looking orange and splotchy–it’s simply embarrassing. For everyone who questions their own ability to self-tan, here are some helpful tips I have collected from various sources that I will live by from this point forward.
- Use a trustworthy brand with good reviews
I personally use tanning wipes by Dr. Dennis Gross that my mom lives by (which obviously are very different from the liquid tanning products, but hear me out). She uses them almost once a week without ever looking orange, so I had a little bit of faith that things would go smoothly. It can also be helpful to see which brands and types of tanning products work best for your friends and to try some of them out.
- Shave and exfoliate beforehand
Shaving and exfoliating are a must (but don’t waste money on expensive exfoliators). I have also been told it’s helpful to make sure the exfoliator isn’t too oily, or else the tan won’t stick.
- Move in a circular motion
In order to get good coverage and ensure there aren’t any slip-ups, applying in circles is your best bet to give yourself an even coverage.
- Be careful with your knees and elbows
I, unfortunately, forgot about these crucial areas and will never make that mistake again.
- Ask someone for help with your back
This one is pretty self-explanatory.
- Pay special attention to the hands
It’s important to wear gloves under your mit/when using wipes to avoid any mishaps. Lightly brushing the hands and feet with one pump should do the trick, but make sure your hand is in a claw shape. I have found that I prefer staying away from the fingers, just because it’s really easy to miss the sides of them.
- Go over dark places on the skin afterward with a wet Q-Tip
This, another tip from my mom, is probably one of the most helpful tips I’ve gotten. My mom usually moistens the tips of cotton swabs and goes over places on her skin that are dark already so the self tan doesn’t make them darker. These places can be dark pigment under eyes, moles, scars etc. and it makes a big difference (it’s also really helpful if you need to apply makeup).
Overall, when or if you decide it’s finally time to self-tan, I commend you for your courage and I hope a few of these tips make the entire process less stress-inducing.