My Self Tan Bible
Hi babes,
It’s been a MINUTE, actually more like four months and I miss you! While this blog is something that I love and brings me so much joy, sometimes life gets in the way and the last few months have been a crazy but amazing time of change for me. While I could do a whole post catching up with you and letting you in on what has been going on in my life, which I will soon, there’s something else I just couldn’t help but share before and that’s my Self Tan Bible.
As winter slowly approaches (cringing I know) I’ve been pulling out all the things that help me achieve a Florida tan 365 days a year and I wanted to share with you my favorite products and my do’s and dont’s to self tanning. It’s important to note that self tanning, like most things, is certainly not a one size fits all situation, but if you can take a few things away from this post, I’m glad I could help.
Do’s
Apply with a mitt! I really don’t have a preference for this so I’ll link a few here and here.
Exfoliate before. TBH I rarely do this with a bottle exfoliator because I’m lazy and occasionally I pay, but you really should. Exfoliating helps your tan go on more evenly as well as fade evenly. This product by Tanceuticals was made exactly for pre tan exfoliating. I do exfoliate when my tan is fading uneven though and I love this glove from Ulta and this from Loving Tan
Perform a patch test. I like to think I’ve used enough self tanners in my life to know that 1. I’m not allergic to self tanning ingredients and 2. most tanners don’t look orange on me considering my olive skin tone, but this step is really important. Like I said self tanning is something you have to practice with and try multiple products before you nail it. While something may look amazing on someone else, it could pull completely orange tones on you, hence always do a test patch!
Wash your hands after. I know what you’re thinking —> I applied with a mitt and my hands need some tan too, but honestly NOTHING is worse than orange wrists and hands.
Apply at night. So many things can go wrong during your day, random rain storm, random sweat episode, clothes that leave marks and rub on your skin all day… you get the point.
Moisturize your skin. Not on the day of your tan or right after, but you should be moisturizing your whole body head to toe every day, and if you’re not you better start. Your skin is your largest organ and it needs love, not to mention this will help your tan fade more evenly especially in the winter when you start to get dry patches.
Dont’s
Shave right before. While shaving does kind of exfoliate your skin which is technically a good thing before applying tanner, avoiding doing it the day of.
Sweat after applying your tan. Self explanatory.
Add a second layer. 1 is enough and 2 will cause an uneven tan.
Self tan a few days later without exfoliating first. Scrub, scrub, scrub uneven areas of the first tan off before applying more tanner. Adding layers is what causes streaks and uneven fading.
Shower with hot hot water the first rinse after applying. If you’re like me, and love to shower with extremely hot water avoid this especially during your first rinse after applying self tanner. I find that hot hot water causes my tan to sometimes look streaky.
Skip deodorant the day of tanning. If this is not feasible, I get it, but at least try to wash your deodorant off to avoid white armpits.
Face
My face tan checklist:
Products that don’t make me break out.
Products that don’t streak.
Products that give me a glow, not orange skin.
|1.| Tan-Luxe Drops
The tan-luxe drops are worth the hype if you’re looking for a subtle, easy to use product that keeps your skin in mind. Its formula is light and hydrating and highly regarded as a tanner than doesn’t break you. I love adding 3-4 drops of this to my moisturizer for a subtle glow. I use the light-medium shade but would switch to medium/dark next time I purchase.
|2.| Clarins Liquid Bronzer
While I like different face tanners for different reasons, this one may be my all time favorite. When first purchasing I let it sit around for months because I hated the product consistency and application but once I figured it out I fell in love. The tan color it provides is really rich (not orange) and it layers really nicely too. To apply grab a cotton ball and shake product out onto it until the cotton is completely covered with product, do one half of your face, then grab another cotton ball and repeat for the other half. It seems like you’re wasting a lot of product but the bottle lasts a long time!
|3.| Tanceuticals color + Correct
Tanceuticals has been around FOREVER and I love their products because they smell like coconut not self tanner. TBH what stops me from self tanning half the time is that I cannot stand the smell of tanning products. I use the dark shade and find it matches my skin really nice. It’s a cream formula so make sure you wash your hands after applying. When using any cream formula it’s important to note that a little goes a long way so a pea sized amount is all you need!
Body
|1.| Loving tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse
I wanted to put more than just one tanner on my body list, but this stuff is just so good nothing else compares. It’s by far the darkest tan I’ve achieved from a self tanner, it applies nicely and fades really evenly. I’ve tried literally everything from St. Tropez to Isle of Paradise to James Read and Bondi Sands and Loving Tan is by far at the top of my list. I use the shade dark but would try out the ultra dark during the summer when I have more natural color because usually my skin responds well to really dark tanners. The 2 hour express mousse is also an amazing option but I like to let my tans sit over night so that they achieve maximum color.
The Extras
|1.| Dry Brush
goop.com
Lymphatic support + exfoliating power, dry brushing will up your health, appearance of skin and your pre tan prep!
|2.| Exfoliating Glove
lovingtan.com
While I usually opt for an Amazon or Ulta exfoliating glove, I’ve recently started using this and it’s magic. Perfect for removing remnants of an old tan before self tanning again or when you just want it off.
|3.| Body Blur
revolve.com
So no this is not a self tanner or even a gradual tanner, but it’s the best thing ever created. It’s essentially body make up that gives you a tan AND an HD skin finish (literally your legs will look FLAWLESS). I always use this before events or photoshoots if I want my looks to look airbrushed and super shiny and smooth. Note that this WILL transfer to clothes (although it’s washable) but definitely not something to use when wearing white or if it’s raining, yes I’ve made both these mistakes. I use the color ‘latte’.
|4.| Bum bum cream
sephora.com
I’ve talked about this product a billion times so I’ll spare you, but if you’re looking to keep your skin moisturized and have your tan fade more evenly and you don’t like the smell of gradual tanners, this is perfect.
|5.| Bali Body Gradual Tanner
balibody.com
There’s so many gradual tanners on the market so I figured I’d highlight another brand that has tanning figured out down to a science. Use this every day to extend a tan or a few days post applying a self tanning mousse to keep your color more rich.
