How To Prep Skin For Self Tanner: A Step-By-Step Guide

Like a canvas awaiting paint, you should gently exfoliate your skin, hydrate daily, and avoid sun exposure. Shaving shortly before your appointment guarantees a smooth surface, allowing the sun tan to flourish beautifully on your skin. https://us.ioniqskin.com/blogs/blog/how-to-prep-skin-for-self-tanner

On the day of your tan, while you might want to freshen up, only apply Protan deodorant if needed. Refrain from using any other moisturizers, lotions, or perfumes to guarantee a successful tan application. When it comes to moisturizers, stick to oil-free options like Aveeno lotion.

Using an exfoliating lotion consistently in the days leading up to your self-tanner application will create the smoothest base possible. This method of how to prep skin for self tanner is preferrable over abrasive scrubs that can impair skin’s barrier. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have a leave-on chemical exfoliant, you can manually exfoliate skin by massaging with a soft wash cloth combined with your body wash or cleanser in the shower.

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. So this has been going on for almost 30 years and I’m not hyperbolic when I say I have tried every self-tanner under the sun. One day, fed up, I took the few dollars I made babysitting and walked over to Rite-Aid to buy their least expensive self-tanner. While no two people can agree on the absolute best self-tanner of all time, there are a few simple tricks to finding the best tanner for you.

If that physical exfoliation doesn’t slough off enough of the color, a hair-removal cream like Nair Lotion will get the job done. The active ingredients in depilatory creams, which dissolve the protein bonds in hair, will also speed up your skin’s natural exfoliation process, removing the tanned layer of skin in the process. The longer you let the hair-removal cream sit, the more color will be removed. But follow the directions and don’t exceed the time indicated on the bottle or you’ll end up with very irritated skin.

One of the first things you should know about the exfoliation process prior to your spray tan is when to exfoliate your body. While this may not seem like a particularly important piece of information, it is, in fact, and the time you choose to exfoliate can affect the results of your tan. Therefore, it’s crucial to apply a separate sunscreen such as the Youth-Protecting Sunscreen SPF50+ that has adequate sun protection.

You should also avoid getting a spray tan if you have any wounds, recently got a tattoo, a chemical peel, or anything that would make you more prone to infection. But why use gloves specifically instead of a tanning mitt, you ask? Well, gloves are made of a material that is typically thinner and more form-fitting than a tanning mitt, which can allow for more dexterity and flexibility how to prep skin for self tanner applying the product.

Mousses typically dry very fast, she notes, so you'll have more control if you apply with the glove. After you step out of the shower and pat dry, steer clear of any lotion. You want absolutely nothing between your skin and tanning product of choice, but you can use a pea-sized amount of lotion on drier areas, like your knees, elbows, and ankles. Dead-skin buildup can create a barrier between your skin and the product, making your tan appear duller. This is why experts recommend exfoliating beforehand in the shower.

ST. TROPEZ Suprême Violet Mousse is great when it comes to the body, says Evans, as it has a deep guide color and will be the easiest to apply. Evans notes that your base tan must be lighter than the formula you use to contour. “Pick a self tan formulated to create a light to medium tone for your overall base tan,” she says. You cannot tan and contour with the same formula on the first day as applying more to an area to contour will simply wash away on your first shower.

Summer is here—and that means you can finally show off your arms and legs in your warmer-weather wardrobe! Here, learn all about one type of self-tanner—the self-tanning gelee—that could be a perfect addition to your summer skin care routine, plus, find out how to apply it for a natural-looking, faux glow. If you’d prefer to skip the tanning salon, you can take matters into your own hands with a self-tanner designed for at-home use.

It’s also pretty durable and will last for a handful of uses, which is also a plus. Mousses are pretty messy, and it's hard to get your hands in hard-to-reach areas like the middle of your back, so make things a little easier for yourself with this mister. Harknett advises that they should "exfoliate with a gentle product and concentrate on built-up, coarser skin. Then they need to keep the skin heavily hydrated up until the day of tan application." Immediately before carrying out a tanning treatment, many experts recommend applying a barrier cream to drier areas to prevent them from absorbing too much product.

The only possible issue you could ever come across with self-tanner is having an allergic reaction to a certain ingredient included. A patch test 24 hours before application will put your mind at ease in this case, so long as your skin does not appear inflamed or irritated in the slightest. Even though a tan from UV rays fades just the same, the damage done by UV rays remains. Damage such as breaking down the DNA in your skin cells leading to a number of problems including skin cancer.

Self-care is my true passion, and each year, I embark on a thorough exploration of self-tanning products, ranging from lotions to mists. This forms the bedrock of our commitment to delivering top-notch information to our readers. My extensive research and precise product rankings empower you to make informed decisions tailored to your specific skincare needs. After you’ve finished applying the self-tanner to your entire body, take a moment to check for any missed spots or uneven areas. Use the remaining self-tanner on your gloves to touch up those spots.

For a streak-free application, exfoliate beforehand, and then apply the lotion in a circular motion. It dries fast too, so you can put it on before going out for a date or to a pool party. You haven’t seen it much in the past year (apparently it spends its winters elsewhere) but now that it’s back, it wants to spend every day together. And while that’s nice, sun exposure has been shown to be responsible for 80-percent of visible aging. If you don’t already have a sunscreen you love, now how to prep skin for self tanner the time to find one. For sensitive or acne-prone skin, look for a zinc-based mineral sunscreen.

Then there are ones like the BBE face tanner above, that are specifically formulated for the face. This active ingredient reacts with the skin on your body, and of course, will also react with the skin on your face. DHA reacts with the outermost layer of the skin and produces a tan. I always apply my self tanner at night, hang out in my robe for a bit and then put my pajamas on. If your skin is on the sensitive side, Gohara recommends testing the tanner in a smaller spot on your skin first, just to see how it reacts, and then going in with the full tantouring experience.

It wasn't like I was out sunbathing every day when I lived elsewhere—quite the opposite. I religiously wore sunscreen and sought shade whenever I could. However, the sunlight and warm temperatures still made a difference. When I didn't have them anymore, it was time for self-tanner. Fake tan is made up of an active ingredient (dihydroxyacetone or DHA) that reacts with the amino acids in your skin cells to create a golden colour. One of the most important preparation steps is to use an exfoliator or body brush around 24 hours before your tan and continue the prepping process by applying a moisturiser.

During this time your skin will be much more sensitive to UV rays. If you want to turn to a store-bought scrub, choose a gentle scrub and avoid those with microbeads, parabens and sulfates. The issue with DHA is the fact that it is very drying to the skin. The Bondi Sands Back Applicator £6.99 has an extendable handle so that you don’t have to be a contortionist to self-tan your back.

The tan develops over a few hours, giving you a natural glow. If you have stubborn spots or just a lot of self-tanner to remove, then grabbing an exfoliating tool into the mix will make the stripping process much easier. Sure, you could grab any exfoliating mitt or puff, but this one was specially made for scrubbing away fake tans — plus, it’s only $6.50, so it’s totally worth it.

When treating clients with skin how to prep skin for self tanner, it can help to go the extra mile with aftercare. He adds, "Working in a medicated talc around the chest and creases with a soft make-up brush will help keep the tan intact and prevent it from flaking off prematurely." Smalley advises using "a good-quality tan that contains lots of nourishing, moisturising ingredients". Symptoms can come and go in cycles, and an increased presence of symptoms is known as a flare up. Signs of a flare up can include extremely sensitive or painful-feeling skin and increased itchiness, which can lead to open wounds if the skin is scratched too much. As with any beauty service, what comes before the treatment is as important to its success as the service itself.

Steam opens up your pores, making it easier to remove the self-tanner. Spending some time in a steamy bathroom or sauna can prep your skin for a more effective exfoliation process. Most people consider self-tanner mistakes that occur during application, but often forget about how to care for a faux glow once color has developed.

Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. We only include products that have been independently selected by The Zoe Report's editorial team. Sign up to receive 10% off, updates when we launch new products, and monthly newsletters. Use daily until you achieve your desired level of tan, then once or twice a week to maintain results.

Depending on the amount of product you apply, the formula continues to darken, though you’ll see results within as little as an hour. A gentle application will give you a golden-hour glow, but if you want to look as if you’ve spent the last few weeks on the Côte d’Azur coast, wait up to three hours to really how to prep skin for self tanner the bronze emerge. You may have seen this TikTok viral self-tanning water on your FYP, but it’s essentially a self-tanning spray that can be used alone or blended into lotion for an even golden glow. It’s quite hydrating with avocado oil, chia seeds and grapefruit oil, and it also contains color-correcting actives to brighten the skin.

Arefreshing shower helps to wash off any lingering films, oils, or lotions. Italso shrinks pores so the self-tan doesn’t absorb into them, leading to anuneven finish. Avoid anything with anti-agers or acids, both of which can mess up your color.

This timeline is vital for guaranteeing your skin is ready for an even tan. You will want to dry brush two days prior to your self tanner application—so plan ahead! Dry brush from the soles of your feet to the top of your torso. Also, avoid applying the tanner on irritated skin or open wounds.

If you absolutely have to get dressed, opt for something loose and flowing like a beach coverup. If possible, avoid putting on anything tight-fitting, like underwear or clothes with waistbands. If it's really important that your tan be flawless — you have a big event coming up, for example — Dr. Lee suggests applying self-tanner a few hours before bedtime, and sleeping au naturel. Just be aware that excess tanner may transfer to your sheets. Whether you're heading for a beach how to prep skin for self tanner, or just trying to prolong those summer vibes, who doesn’t love a sun-kissed glow? By now you should know that suntanning is taboo — read up on all that UV damage here, and what to do about it here.