Tips to Flawlessly Apply Sunless Tanner

How to Get a Natural-Looking Glow with Self Tanner

Any stigma that sunless tanner may have once had is now long gone. Since tanning in the sun not only increases your risk of skin cancer, but also rapidly ages your skin, using a self tanner instead is the way to go. But you have to know how to properly apply it to get that warm, healthy tan glow without streaks and splotching. So we’ve put together eleven important sunless tanner application tips straight from the pros so that you can confidently fake your glow all year round. 


Go Yellow-Based
When selecting a sunless tanner product, opt for one that is yellow-based instead of orange-based.

Celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert Jessica Liebeskind likes Bobbi Brown Sunless Tanning Gel for Face and Body. “It’s yellow-based so it looks warm—not orange, like many other tanners,” she says. “It blends with your skin tone but gives you a golden glow.”

Self-tanners that are orange-based often have higher levels of DHA—the sugar that acts as the dye in sunless tanner products—which can leave your skin a tangy shade of orange. The lower the DHA levels—i.e., more yellow-based—the more natural your tan will look.


Consider Gel Tanners
Gel products are a smart choice because they apply with a more even consistency. As Liebeskind explains, gel products are key to a flawless sunless tanner application because they allow the product to evenly glide over the skin rather than clumping in areas, which results in a streaky finish.

But if you’re in a bind and don’t have a friend or partner to apply the tanner to your back, spray sunless tanner may be your best bet. If you feel that the spray is not reaching all areas of your back, you can spray it into the air and then step back into it a few times to soak up the pigment.


Patch Test
Since each person’s skin tone and pH levels differ, the same sunless tanner product can yield very different results from person to person. So when working with a new tanner, try testing a small patch on your skin (like your stomach or thigh) the day before using it to see how your skin color reacts to the tanner and the particular amount you applied.


Exfoliate! 
To avoid looking like a hot blotchy mess, you must exfoliate before applying sunless tanner. “[Sunless tanner] basically dyes your dead skin cells,” explains licensed esthetician Daniela Ferri. “That’s why you get a much more even color after exfoliation.” Your tan will also last longer if you properly exfoliate, as you’ll have removed the excess dead skin cells which would have soon sloughed off and left a patchy tan job.

For pre-tanning exfoliating, do it in a warm shower and avoid using any oil containing scrubs as they can interfere with the self-tanner and block it from properly adhering to your skin.

Exfoliate your whole body and face, but be particularly conscious of exfoliating around your knees, ankles and elbows. The dead skin cells that gather around those areas are magnets for self-tanner pigment.

Be sure to rinse shower products off completely and let your skin dry fully before applying your tanning product—we are talking bone dry (we like to wait a good 30 mins after the shower to apply tanner).


Moisturizer Option
If you’re feeling timid about applying a new self-tanner, you can go slowly by applying a mix of your tanning product with your regular body moisturizing lotion (make sure it’s oil free). In your hands, mix some lotion into your self tanner. Thoroughly rub the mixture together in your hands and then apply. While this may have the effect of diluting your tan, it will reduce the likelihood of streakiness.

Or, to avoid the risk of diluting your tan, you could simply moisturize the areas of your body that are particularly dry and more prone to over-absorbing the tanner—this includes your elbows, hands, knees and feet. Apply a thin layer of lotion to these areas prior to applying your self tanner (not mixed with lotion).


Go Easy & Start Low
Take your time, gently and slowly rubbing the tanner into your skin. Start by applying tanner to your legs and feet and working your way up to your stomach, upper chest and arms. You don’t want to have applied a smooth coat to your arms and stomach and then smudge or crease it by bending over to apply to your legs.

Apply only a light amount of tanner to those areas mentioned above which tend to over-absorb color (hands, feet, elbows and knees). We try not to directly apply to those areas, but rather, apply directly to another nearby area and then spread it over lightly to the more cautious zones.

If you are new at applying tanner, you may want to opt for a product that contains a tint so that you can more easily identify any missing spots. This tint washes off when you shower (and will wash off of your clothes too).


‘Tan’ Your Face Too
There’s nothing like skipping your face in your tanner application to give you the full Lindsay Lohan oompa loompa effect. If you have particularly sensitive or acne prone skin, look for a product designed specifically for your face that will not clog pores or be too strong for the delicate facial skin.

You can apply the product lightly with your fingertips making sure to avoid your eye area. For a more guided approach, grab a makeup sponge (like the type you might use to apply foundation with) and apply the tanner.

The golden rule with your face is to go easy. You can always build color over time by applying a thin layer each day, or can add more color using makeup bronzer.


Avoid Orange Palms
The next worst thing to a streaky self-tanner application is the tangerine palms you sport for three days after. To avoid the telltale signs you’re faking it, you can apply your tanner with gloves. If you do use gloves, just don’t forget to lightly go back over the backs of your hands with your product so you don’t end up looking like you wore gloves to the beach.

If you don’t use gloves, you may want to apply a dab of Vaseline to your fingernails (do it to your toenails too) to prevent your cuticles from absorbing the pigment.

After finishing applying your tanner to your face and body (including the backs of your hands), wash just the palms of your hands and the skin between your fingers with water and soap. You may want to scrub them with a wet washcloth for more precision. Then dry these areas well, trying not to smudge the tanner on the backs of your hands.


Let It Dry
After you apply your tanner, even if it feels dry, don’t jump into your favorite white dress just yet. Stand around for at least a few minutes before putting on a loose fitting robe, and try to avoid sitting down, getting into bed or getting dressed for at least 15 minutes, as this could potentially smudge the tanner and get you an uneven color. The longer you can wait, the better, and opt for loose fitting clothing when you do get dressed.

Be sure to avoid doing anything that will make your skin moist for at least six hours after applying your tanner—that means avoid showering, exercising or swimming during this time.


Make it Last
To maintain your sun-kissed look, be sure to reapply once or twice per week. If you want your tan to look darker, you can “build it” by applying more tanner after showering the following day. Avoid exfoliating because this can unevenly strip off your tan.

Between applications, protect your tan by applying your regular moisturizing lotion. The more you moisturize, the better. If your skin gets dry, your tan is more likely to flake off. Again, skip exfoliating for now.

Don’t forget to apply sunscreen daily. Even though your skin may look darker, it does not have a greater ability to protect you from burning.


Quick Fixes
If you’ve already applied your product and realize you’ve got a couple of blotchy or streaky areas, fear not: we’ve got your back.

If you discover small areas that you've missed, but the rest of your application looks flawless, just apply a thin layer of tanner to the lighter areas. This should cover and blend nicely with the rest of your tan.

If the pigment is clumped in areas, you need to exfoliate to remove the hyper-pigmented skin cells. Soak in a warm bath and then exfoliate with a lemon scrub. Check out a sunless tanner fix scrub recipe here: http://montereydayspa.blogspot.com/2013/07/seven-diy-body-scrub-recipes.html . The acidic properties of lemon will help remove the dye that the exfoliator does not.

For your face, don’t scrub too strongly or use a harsh exfoliator that could actually cause more irritation and redness on your skin. Instead, apply makeup remover to your face with a cotton ball. This should remove enough of the pigment to where you won’t feel too orange. Also, just washing your face and using a face brush can help to remove a significant amount of unwanted color. If you don’t have a facial brush, head to your kitchen for some baking soda. Mix a paste of the baking soda with a few drops of water and apply to your face lightly in circular motions then rinse.

To treat dyed nails, simple polish remover will strip away most of the color. If not, dab a little hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball and apply it to orange areas—that should do the trick.  

 

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Article source: ChickRX