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.