Self-tanner is a holy grail product that will give you that gorgeous sun-kissed look without the damaging side effects of UV rays that you would be exposed to if you chose to tan on the beach or in a tanning bed. And while self-tanners seem pretty self-explanatory (just apply it to your body and voila, right?), many beginners have a hard time getting the end result to look right. To ensure a proper tan on your whole body you should follow this few simple guidelines:
Choose the right product
Have you even seen someone with badly-chosen and badly-applied self-tanner that only makes their skin look orange and unnatural? I’m sure you have. To avoid that happening to you, you need to choose the right self-tanner for you.
The self-tanner should match your skin tone so that it looks natural. Naturally pale people will not look good with a self-tanner that makes their skin color ten times darker and they need to look for something more delicate. Check out the best self tanner for fair skin on the Gorgeousville website which contains other numerous beauty help articles and product reviews. If your skin is naturally darker then congratulations, you have more freedom when it comes to choosing the self-tanner shade.
You will also need to consider the formula of your self-tanner. They come in many shapes and forms: oils, serums, mousses, towelettes and countless more. The application method differs slightly from product to product so always make sure to read the maker’s instructions carefully. A good practice for using new cosmetics, self-tanners included, is to patch test the formula somewhere in a less visible spot. This ensures you have no unexpected allergic reactions, the product sticks properly and the shade doesn’t look unnatural.
Prepare your body for self-tanner
Applying self-tanner should be planned ahead so that you have ample time to prepare yourself and your skin.
If you want to also be hair-free, shave or wax your body hair the day before you plan on applying self-tanner. Shaving afterward will literally shave off a layer of the self-tanner, weakening the bronzing effect. Exfoliate your body but do it with a brush or a loofah rather than with an exfoliant scrub. They often contain oils that will make it more difficult for self-tanner to absorb and you risk uneven application. However, skin that is too dry will absorb the self-tanner a little too well and result in ugly splotches of darker tan. To avoid that, apply moisturizer to areas that have a tendency to drying out, such as elbows or knees.
Apply the self-tanner
Finally, the time has come to actually apply your self-tanner. If your chosen formula requires you to blend in the product by hand (and most self-tanners do), use an applicator mitt. These handy gloves often come together with the self-tanner.
The key to proper application is keeping the right order. Start with your legs and move up from there. If you were to start with your arms, torso and back, and only later do the legs, you would most probably end up with ugly creases in the places where your body bends. You should be the same shade everywhere but go easy when applying the self-tanner to your neck and face because the skin there is delicate.