✔️ Prep your skin. Exfoliation—say, with a body scrub—is key to a natural, flawless-looking tan. If you have the time, start exfoliating a few days before you apply the product; make sure all waxing is completed 24 hours before applying your self-tanner, as this will ensure the hair follicles have settled to help create a perfect finish. To prolong and maintain your tan, moisturize daily, exfoliate regularly, and re-apply with a gradual tanner as required.
✔️ Be gentle with your face. Your face has a tendency to develop a darker hue due to its higher pH level, so use a self-tanner specifically designed for the face or use your favorite moisturizer to dilute the product before you apply it. “If you have very fair, bleached, or grey hair, I would recommend applying a light layer of moisturizer around the hair line to ensure a natural finish,” Evans says. Always remove your makeup first, too.
✔️ Work from your toes to your head. “I usually tan my legs first and finish with my face,” says Evans. “I always work up the body.” Make sure you apply the tan everywhere so it looks more uniform. Using a self-tanner applicator mitt will also protect your hands from awkward stains, she explains.
✔️ Use enough product. Streaks often appear when you use too little self-tanner, Evans notes. You should use enough product to easily glide over your skin. If you feel any rubbing or pulling, you’re more than likely causing a streak.
✔️ Fix mistakes by exfoliating. If you end up with an uneven tan, streaks, or a color you don’t like, the best way to remove a self-tanner is to apply baby oil to the area and leave it on for 10 minutes, says Evans. Then, use an exfoliating body scrub and finish by buffing the skin with a warm, damp wash cloth.
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