How to Prep Skin for Self Tanner: Hydration Tips for a Smooth Finish

In the latter case, best practice would be to apply your favourite moisturizer, and wait 5-10 minutes for it to sufficiently sink in. “What people often get wrong about self-tanner is thinking it protects them from the sun -- it does not,” Robinson says. Just because your skin looks bronzed, you don’t have any additional protection and the same SPF application guidelines apply, she says click here.

“Eczematous skin should be very carefully exfoliated before application of self-tanner so that the new skin tone will be even and natural looking,” says Dr. Loretta. For a cream product, apply it the same way you would know how to prep skin for self tanner a moisturizer, using your hands to slather an even layer around the face.

Regular exfoliation helps remove dead, dull cells, helps smooth your skin, and provides a more even base for your tan. After an hour (or longer – if you choose), shower quickly for 45 secs, with lukewarm water. The brown bronzers will wash away, while the fast tan actives continue to work and deepen. It stops the development of tan actives during the development time. This is a common mistake people make, especially in the colder months.

Achieving a flawless, sun-kissed glow with self-tanner requires more than just applying the product. Properly prepping your skin is essential to ensure an even application and long-lasting results. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to prep skin for self tanner.

Exfoliate Your Skin

One of the most crucial steps in preparing your skin is exfoliation. This helps remove dead skin cells that can cause uneven patches when applying self-tanner.

Choose the Right Exfoliator: Use a gentle scrub or a chemical exfoliant tailored to your skin type.
Focus on Dry Areas: Pay special attention to elbows, knees, and ankles, where dry skin tends to accumulate.
Exfoliate 24 Hours Before: For the best results, exfoliate your skin a day before applying self-tanner to allow your skin to recover.

This AHA exfoliant will not only remove the tan but will brighten the skin and diminish dark spots. It was the first time using a self-tanner and I had a great experience with this product! It's easy to apply, it's not greasy and it gives you great results from the first application.

Shave or Wax

If you plan to shave or wax, it’s best to do this at least 24 hours prior to applying self-tanner. This allows any irritation or redness to subside, resulting in a smoother application on how to prep skin for self tanner.

This starts off the process with a fresh even canvas to have your skin airbrush tanned into golden brown perfection. Gradual tanning lotion is a safe and failsafe way to achieve a beautiful bronzed glow. Instead, stick to one application per day and build up your tan gradually over time. This will give you a more natural-looking result of how to prep skin for self tanner and reduce the risk of any mishaps.

You can use a chemical exfoliator, such as a lotion containing glycolic or lactic acid, or a physical exfoliant or scrub. You can find a wide array of body scrubs in most beauty stores and aisles. When exfoliating, pay particular attention to areas of your body where you tend to experience the most dryness, such as your knees and elbows.

This will help your skin retain moisture and prevent the self-tanner from settling into dry patches. Use a loofah, exfoliating pad, or a body scrub to gently get rid of dead skin cells – our self tanning application kit will give you all the tools you need for a perfect tan. This will help make sure your tan last as long as possible. Give your feet, ankles, wrists and elbows a little moisturizing love beforehand to help make sure they don’t end up darker than your body (these are extra porous areas).

Liquid tans feature a lightweight formula that dries in seconds, amust-have if you want instant colour. These require a tanning mitt forapplication, and the Way To Beauty Self Tanning Liquid happens tooffer one for free! Its 100% natural formula rich in vitamins and aloevera gives your body a luxurious glow free of streaks and patches,refreshing your skin with a soft finish. Tanning mousse is one of the most popular fake tans because itsvelvety texture glides effortlessly onto your skin. It can last aslong as seven days while developing in as little as two hours,requiring a tanning mitt for even application. There are so many different fake tans out there that it’s oftendifficult to know where to start.

The mist has a light, pleasant, floral scent, and develops into a gorgeous even tan that is never orange. CLEANTAN black tea tanning drops are a concentrated form of self-tanner. Using clean ingredients and plant-based pigments, CLEANTAN provides a golden, natural-looking tan. Our formula is 100% vegan, cruelty free, and made without parabens, synthetic fragrances, silicone, gluten, and dyes. After exfoliating in a circular motion for a few minutes, check the softness of your skin using your hand. If there are areas of your skin that still feel dry, hard, or bumpy, continue using the stone for an additional one or two minutes.

It’s always easier to start with the legs and work your way up, and finish by tanning your hands. We recommend tanning the lower leg first, from the ankle up, skimming over the knee. Then tanning the feet with any excess self-tanner from that initial application.

Just pour the liquid into your hands and press into clean skin everyday for a few days, then top-up your tan every two to three days. Dry patches on your leg from fake tanDry patches are a magnet to fake tan which can leave muddy streaks instead of a smooth skin kissed glow. When your fake tan goes wrong in this way, an easy fix is to soak in a bath with a generous glug of bath oil for at least 15 minutes.The warm water and oil will help to soften and loosen the dry patches. You can then gently rub the problem areas with a flannel or tanning mitt which should lift off the worst of it, allowing you to blend the areas in to allow you to right a fake tan gone wrong. This step is especially important for areas that are prone to dryness, such as your knees, elbows, and ankles. Applying a moisturiser will help to hydrate your skin and create a barrier between the tanner and your skin, preventing it from absorbing too quickly and resulting in a patchy tan.

Moisturize Strategically

Moisturizing is another key component in how to prep skin for self tanner. However, it’s important to apply moisturizer strategically.

If you do get wet, gently pat your skin dry instead of rubbing, as rubbing can remove some of the tan. Though it may feel counter-productive, keeping oily skin moisturised is essential. These hyaluronic acid-infused drops are a great option for those looking to keep their skin healthy and glowing. A gradual formula, the drops are infused with skin-loving ingredients such as cocoa seed extract to protect from environmental aggressors and keep the complexion plump. Although it can mimic the sun-kissed complexion of natural melanin tanning, theself-tanner alone provides no sun protection. A study has shown that the tan achieved with DHA only provides a sun protection factor (SPF) of 3, which is far from sufficient.
So, no matter your preference or skill level, you’ll be able to find a fake tan product that works for you. Our formulation does not contain a sunscreen and does not protect against sunburn. Therefore if you are exposing your skin to UV rays, always wear proper UVA & UVB protection. We recommend applying your SPF as the last step in your skincare before applying Prep-Set-Tan.
Use a Lightweight Moisturizer: Opt for a fragrance-free lotion that won’t interfere with the self-tanner's formula.
All spray tans must end, which doesn’t have to be a bad thing. When you’ve hit the seven—to ten-day mark, you’ll see signs of fading and know it's time to scrub it. Grab an exfoliating mitt at the end of your shower and buff your skin. The skin will be soft and moisturized, and you’ll start to see the self-tanner buffing away. If you’ve ever left a spray tan appointment looking streaky rather than silky, your spray tan prep routine was probably to blame.
Focus on Dry Spots: Apply extra moisturizer to areas prone to dryness, such as elbows and knees, to prevent them from becoming darker than the rest of your skin how to prep skin for self tanner.
Plus, they can all be conveniently found here on our website. Never has it been so easy to create a foolproof makeup plan, full of quality products that are designed to complement and protect your skin than it is with Colorescience. Setting spray or setting powder can be the final touch for your makeup routine. If you want makeup that stays on all day long, without greasing, creasing, or shine, it’s important to invest in a quality setting solution. Begin applying your lip gloss from the center of your lips, and drag the applicator along the length of your pout. Try to avoid pulling any gloss above your natural lip line, and smack your lips together lightly to ensure your lip gloss reaches all the nooks and crannies of your lips.
Freshly exfoliated skin is often more sensitive, so tread lightly with your razor to avoid any redness. But before you worry about maintaining your self-tan, first you have to achieve one you actually want to maintain. We've got the expert tips, tricks, and product recommendations that will make that not only possible but probable.

When applying your tan, it is important not to rush the process, make sure you have good lighting so you can see where you are applying the product, a mirror can also help for any hard to reach areas. Take your time to blend the product into your skin using circular motions work in one area of your body at a time to avoid streaks. After showering, go right ahead and apply your gradual tan.

That is why after an initial visit with one of our specialists, we often like to offer additional appointments to make sure things are running smoothly. So, ask your doctor about how telehealth could be an option for you. Welcome to The Tanning Shop, providers of professional tanning solutions across the UK since 1991. Harper’s BAZAAR participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. The products featured in this article are from brands available in NBCUniversal Checkout. Take control of your look with the help of our Tanning Experts.

These areas develop and hold onto self tanners more easily, which can cause uneven coloring. Thoroughly moisturizing prior to applying self tan will help to apply colour more evenly. DHA deposits into the dead surface layer of the skin, so you want to remove the flaky layers that are about to shed -- any dry patches will react with the tanner and look darker than other areas. That’s why preparation is crucial, explains Fabiola Trujillo, owner of Sobe Tan in Miami. She advises exfoliating ahead of time with a washcloth or loofah in the shower to ensure you have a smooth surface so the tanner can uniformly dye the skin. Facial self-tanners are designed for the more delicate skin on your face and often contain SPF to protect your skin from the sun.

This formula won’t settle into fine lines and will leave your skin looking fresh. The magic is in the design and shape of the teeth on Kazmaleje's hair combs, as they are smooth, round and long, mimicking the shape of your fingers. This design feature allows you to thoroughly comb through thicker sections of hair at once, thereby reducing the time it takes to detangle.

Patch Test the Self Tanner

Before going all-in with your self-tanner, conduct a patch test. Apply the product on a small area of your skin to see how it reacts and to check if the color suits you.

However, for beginners, it can be challenging to achieve a flawless tan without looking orange or streaky. In this blog, we'll share some self-tanning tips for beginners that will help you achieve a beautiful, natural-looking tan. You should shave before tanning, but not immediately before. For best results, shave the day before you plan to apply fake tanner. Be sure to hydrate consistently leading up to the day of application.

Prepare the Application Tools

Doing this one area at a time (upper arm, then lower arm, then the front of the stomach, etc.) will make that a bit easier. Amanda Harrington has a super selection of buffing brushes to add light and shade to different areas of the body and face and to work the tan in in a natural-looking way. "For maximum exfoliation I love to use exfoliating gloves, working the scrub in circular and lengthways motions. Pay extra special attention to your elbows, knees and décolletage,” Jules adds. Shaving strips away a layer of skin, making it important to shave hours before your fresh tan.

When choosing a self tanner there are many on the market and the choices can be overwhelming. However it is important to realize that there are more factors beside color. While of course that is crucial, the quality of ingredients will be a huge factor in the color, longevity and fade and if it is drying to your skin. The self tanning mousse & gradual tanning lotion from Melissa Weinberg Tanning & Beauty is the best on the market and will last while providing a beautiful tan and flawless coverage. Below is great information on how to use a self tanner and Tips on using the best self tanning products. Fake tan can sometimes accumulate on dry areas like hands, elbows, knees, and feet.

Proper tools can make a significant difference in how to prep skin for self tanner. Using the right applicator helps achieve a seamless finish.

Again, take your time with the circular and vertical strokes in order to cover the area evenly. Michealla Bolder shares her top Winter skincare tips and explains the importance of keeping skin hydrated for a great Winter tan. We’d recommend allowing your tan to dry fully before dressing. You don’t want it rubbing against your skin or showing any marks.

Wake up with glowing hydrated skin by using our Self Tanning Sleep Mask. Non-comedogenic and dermatologically tested, this deeply nourishing, rich moisturising cream can be applied before you sleep as your night cream and is suitable for those with sensitive skin. If you can, wait at least an hour before applying your self tan so you give your moisturiser enough time to really get to work on your skin.

Self-Tanning Mitt: Invest in a good quality mitt to avoid streaks and stains on your hands.
Gloves: If you don’t have a mitt, wearing disposable gloves can also help protect your hands from staining.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

When applying self-tanner, wear loose, dark clothing to avoid rubbing against freshly tanned skin, which can lead to streaks or unevenness.

Final Touches

Once you’ve completed these preparation steps, you’re ready to apply your self-tanner. Make sure to follow the instructions on the product for the best results. After application, wait at least 8 hours before showering or sweating, allowing the tanner to develop fully.

By taking the time to prep your skin properly, you can enjoy a beautiful, even tan that looks natural and lasts longer. Happy tanning!