Applying self tanning products effectively begins before you actually apply the product. You must properly prepare the skin for the product first and then you can apply the product. Let’s look at the first five steps to take before application of a sunless tanning product.
1. The first step is to bathe or shower before you apply a sunless tanning lotion, cream or spray.
2. Remove any excess hair from the part of the body to be tanned.
3. Use an exfoliating scrub or brush to remove rough or dead skin, paying special attention to the folds and creases where the body bends.
4. Rinse thoroughly and let your skin dry completely before applying any product.
5. Next, you want to purchase some inexpensive plastic gloves to help apply the sunless tanning product without staining your hands. If you don’t have plastic gloves, that’s okay too, but you will want to wash your hands several times while applying the product to other parts of your body to prevent staining your hands orange.
Now that you have your gloves on and you have prepared your body for the sunless tanning product, you can follow these five easy steps to apply the tanning product to your skin.
6. Start at the top of the foot and apply a small amount of the self tanning product..
7. Rub the self tanning product into the skin for that small section of your body gently but thoroughly. You don’t want to leave a greasy or sticky film. Rub the sunless self tanning product in completely, until it is no longer visible.
8. Continue applying the sunless self tanner to your body one small section of skin at a time. Don’t try to cover a large area with one application, or you may miss a spot.
9. When you reach the ankles, knees, wrists, or any other area of the body where your skin will crease or fold, be sure not to leave any product in this area – rub it in completely. These areas of the body are usually naturally lighter than the rest of the body anyway, so it’s okay to use a little less tanning product on these trouble areas.
10. Most sunless self tanning products take about 20-45 minutes to dry completely. Don’t wear any clothing or sit on anything that can stain during this time. Also, try not to move too much until the product is completely dry.
Some final tips:
Most sunless tanning product takes between 1-3 hours to show the optimal tanning color, so don’t reapply until the color has had at least three hours to develop. If the color is still too light after three hours, you can reapply the product.
To maintain the tan year round, you can reapply the product once every week or every other week.
There you have it – ten easy steps to achieve a professional looking sunless tan without paying salon prices or damaging your skin in the sun. Remember, sunless tanning products do not protect your skin from sun damage, so you will want to use a sunscreen when spending time outdoors.