Self-Tanning Tips and Tricks for 2023

We now live in a time wherein tanning is no longer limited to going outside and running the risk of skin burning or worse.

Self-tanning your back, arms, and the rest of your body is now possible. Here are some tips on achieving the perfect tan on your own.

Choose the right self-tanner

The advantage of self-tanners is that they come in different varieties.

They aren’t just limited to one type per brand. This is a great option since everyone’s skin is different.

Some may be more sensitive than others, and tanners may react differently to different skin tones.

Determine your skin type and tone first.

This will determine what self-tanner you should buy and use. It’s also important that you learn how to apply self tanner!

Exfoliate

The first step is to prepare your skin for tanning. One important activity to do is exfoliating your skin.

Dead skin cells are still present, which will be a downer if they receive the tanning effects. Once they leave, new and unaffected skin will pop up, causing some inconsistencies.

These inconsistencies can be minor to downright noticeable.

Remove those dead skin cells beforehand by exfoliating your skin.

This means scrubbing them off. This can be done either with a physical exfoliant (scrub) or a chemical one.

Both will do the job well but verify whether you have sensitive skin. In case you do, it is best to use physical exfoliants.

Moisturize

The next important step is moisturizing. Moisturizing is essential for your skin to avoid making it look dry and unhealthy.

Apply moisturizer all over your body, especially to areas that are drier than others.

Avoid Make-Up and Deodorant

You should hold off on make-up, deodorant, or anything else that isn’t a tanner.

Make-up and deodorant can block off the absorption and effects of tanner.

No need to worry about smelling unpleasant. You’ll find out why in a bit.

Shave

This step is a bit overlooked, but it is still helpful.

You want to keep the tan consistent. Removing hair enables the tan to have an equal reach.

It is also best to shave before tanning and not after. Shaving after tanning can cause the tan to lose effect.

Use a Tanning Mitt

A downside to self-tanners is that putting them on can be a messy process.

If you have seen people with orange palms or brown streaks in areas where there shouldn’t be, this is why.

Self-tanner can stain the palm of your hands, so it can be tricky to keep them clean while covering your whole body with self-tanner.

One way to keep your hands clean is to use a tanning mitt. These will keep your hands streak-free while you get to put on the self-tanner.

You can also put the mitt on a long stick, covering those hard-to-reach places like your back.

Start With the Face

So, where should you start?

A good place to start is your face. This is relatively easy to put the self-tanner on.

You’ll need to exercise some control over how you apply the tanner. This is to avoid the self-tanner hitting your eyes or entering your nose and mouth.

Wearing thin goggles can help protect your eyes from contracting the self-tanner.

Once you are done, you can wash off the self-tanner immediately and move on to the next part.

Work from the Bottom

After the face, the next logical step is to go from the bottom and work your way up.

The reason is that you don’t want to have self-tanner on when you are bending.

You’re going to bend when applying self-tanner. Bending while having self-tanner on can cause creases to form. This will leave some white marks and make your tan look inconsistent and fake.

A smooth and effective way to attain consistent tan results is to start from the bottom and work your way to your neck.

You can use a mitt or attach it to a backscratcher to reach your back. This will help minimize the need to bend your arms that much.

Work in Sections

Take your time putting on the self-tanner. The goal is consistency and smoothness.

Work in sections of your body. For example, apply first on one leg, then the other, and so on. Ensure that everything is set before moving on to the next one.

Another tip is to apply it in a circular motion.

Pay Attention to Small Details

It may be easy to miss small parts such as your ears, nose, and elbow. But leaving them out will make things inconsistent.

You’ll be left out with noticeable spots that will make your tan look not so appealing if left untanned.

Applying self-tanner next to a mirror will help ensure that you don’t miss out on anything.

Wait For the Tan to Dry

While it won’t take an entire day for the effects to complete, it will take some time before the tanner takes full effect.

While waiting for the tan to dry, here are some specific things you can do.

Wear Loose Clothing

The tan is still moist and can easily slip out of your skin and stain something else. Wear loose clothing to avoid attaching itself to the clothes and leaving your skin.

Avoid Exercising

If you still worry about having a bad smell by not putting on deodorant, here’s the reason why you don’t have to.

Constant sweating is enough to wash away the tan during the waiting stage.

Avoid any strenuous activity to ensure that you don’t sweat until the self-tanner takes full effect.

Showering

Speaking of washing off, you might be asking about showering.

Wait a few hours before you shower. The same reason applies to this one.

Although exercising is something to be avoided, for the time being, showering is still somewhat encouraged.

You just need to wait around six to eight hours until you can shower.

As for the showering itself, keep the showering time short and the water lukewarm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you don’t moisturize before tanning?

Specific effects of this include dryness of the tan and a color difference.

How long should I wait before showering?