How to Apply Self Tanning Products
All Self Tanners Work if Applied Properly
Spring and summer bring pale skin outdoors, and it's time to achieve that healthy tanned glow without the dangerous effects of the sun.
More people now turn to self tanning products in order to receive that healthy looking tanned glow without the damaging effects of the sun on skin.
When selecting a self tanning product, price isn’t as important as one might think. Some of the least expensive tanning products can actually produce the same quality tanned look, as long as it is properly applied.
To start, it’s important to differentiate between body self body tanning products and self face tanning products. The skin on our faces and hands tends to be slightly lighter than the skin on our bodies when tanned. So before applying self tanning products, be sure to buy two: one made for body self tanning and one made for faces.
Properly applying sunless self tanning products begins before actually applying the product. Let’s look at the steps to take before application.
1. Sunless self tanning products should be placed on clean, dry skin. The first step is to shower or bathe before applying the self tanning product.
2. Shave or wax any excess hair from the areas where the product will be applied.
3. Use an exfoliating scrub or brush to slough off any rough or dead skin. This is probably the single most important step in the process. Be sure to pay close attention to the trouble areas for self tanning products, such as knees, wrists, elbows, and other places on your body where your skin bends or creases.
4. Rinse completely, leaving no soap residue on your body and then be sure to dry the skin completely before applying any product. In fact, it’s best to wait about 20 minutes after bathing before applying self tanning products.
Purchase some inexpensive plastic gloves to help apply the tanning product but not stain the hands. Gloves aren’t necessary, but will prevent the tanning product from staining hands during application.
Start with the legs and work up to the rest of the body. Beginning with the top of the foot, either spray the tanning product directly on the foot or place a small amount of lotion or cream onto the gloved hands, and then rub the tanner into the skin gently but thoroughly. Do not leave a greasy or sticky film on the skin, but rather rub in completely until no longer visible.
Continue this process, one section at a time. It’s best not to cover large areas at once, or else a spot may be missed. Instead, just work around and then up the body, one small section at a time.
For the ankles, knees, and other areas of the body where there are natural creases and bends, pay extra attention not to leave any product on these areas. Use less tanning product on the creased areas and make absolutely certain to rub the tanning product in completely, or else it will smear and rub off while waiting for it to dry.
After having completely applied the product to all areas of your body to be tanned, remove the gloves and throw them away. Be careful not to touch anything with them because self tanning products will stain clothing and material.
Next, use the facial tanning product to apply the self tanner to the face, neck and hands. Again, do small sections of skin at a time and be sure to rub the product in completely until it is no longer visible. Chrissy Dolezal has written an excellent article on sunless Face Tanning for more help with this step.
The hardest part of using self tanning products comes next. Most self tanning products take from 20-45 minutes to dry and absorb into the skin. During this time, do not sit on or wear any clothing that can stain. Also, try hard not to bend or move too much while the product dries, or else the creases in the skin at the folds and bends may look stripped.
On average, it takes anywhere from 1-3 hours for most self tanning products to show the fullest color from application, so don’t judge the color of the product until at least three hours has passed. If the color is too light, repeat the process above.
Once the optimal color has been achieved, maintain that color by reapplying the self tanning product about once per week. Every body is different as is every self tanning product, so the time between applications to maintain the tanned look may vary.
If you follow these steps, you can have a safe and rich tan all spring and summer, without the danger of sun tanning and without the expense of salon tanning, and no one will ever know the difference!
