Sunless Tanning Self Tanning
With the sunny days of summer ahead, you may be thinking about the perfect tan. Getting that look includes many options from going into the sun or visiting sun tanning salons to self-tanning, the latter believed to be much safer. Today we have a vast choice of sophisticated products, containing fine ingredients, carefully dosed, tested and supervised in the labs. Today’s self tanning products nourish and exfoliate the skin, making the tanning process safer and friendlier. They also include fruit acids that not only refresh the skin, but also rejuvenate the skin cells. Self tanning products react with aminoacids and result in soft and natural looking skin. Some self tanning products contain sunscreen with a high sun protection factor. Their only inconvenience seems to be the risk of uneven tan and streaks. The following tips on applying self tanning products will help you obtain a perfect and natural looking tan:
- First, take a bath or shower and exfoliate your skin. If you skip this step, you’re almost guaranteed uneven results. To avoid it, you want your skin to be as clean and smooth as possible before you start. An old fashioned soapy washcloth usually works better than scrubs, loofahs or mitts. Pay special attention to rough areas like knees, elbows, ankles, and the tops of your feet. These areas will tend to soak up the self tanning lotion and turn darker than the rest of your body so it’s very important to get rid of any dead skin.
- Dry yourself off by patting (not rubbing) and pin up your hair. Apply regular body lotion to the dry spots you just exfoliated, and then allow several minutes for your body to dry completely.
- It is highly recommended to wear thin gloves to avoid getting self tanning lotion on your hands, but putting it on with your bare hands will likely produce more even application.
- Start with legs. Do one whole leg at a time. Remember that knees and feet tend to be dry areas that can grab too much color. If you don’t want spotted toes, don’t apply tanner directly to the tops of your feet. Carefully blend some down from your legs for a more subtle effect.
- Do your torso, neck and face next. If you’re using a spray and you’re fairly flexible you can reach the middle of your back without help. If you’re using lotion, find an assistant to help you with your back. You may also be able to pull it off using a sponge on a stick. This probably goes without saying, but don’t spray yourself in the face. Put some tanner in the palms of your hands, rub your hands together and then apply it to your face.
- Don’t forget about the areas that would tan naturally under the sun: knees, arms, neck, and the back of your legs. When applying the lotion to your face, remember to smooth it onto your eyelids and into your hairline. If you’ll be wearing your hair up, don’t forget to apply the self tanning lotion on the back of your neck and behind your ears.
- When you’re finished, wash your hands thoroughly if you didn’t wear gloves, otherwise your palms will turn an unnatural color.
- Once you’ve applied your tan, you need to allow it to completely dry. Some spray tans dry in just a few minutes, while lotions may take 30 minutes or more. Either way, you need to wait at least an hour before swimming, sweating, or wearing tight clothing. Any of the above can streak and ruin a new tan. If you want to go darker, you can repeat the process the day after you tan. Go easy on the exfoliation the second time around so that you don’t remove your first layer. Once your tan is set, keep yourself well moisturized. The longer it takes the skin to flake off, the longer your tan will last. Most bottled tans begin to fade after a few days. You’ll need to reapply once or twice a week to keep your color.
- To achieve a deep, dark tan before a special occasion, apply the self tanning lotion before going to bed, and then again in the morning. Before you leave, check yourself in the mirror for streaks and correct them with a damp paper towel. Apply a finishing touch by applying bronzing powder to your face and shoulders, and then hit the town!
- If you don’t want to dye your skin, use a bronzer. Many of today’s bronzers contain a mix of light and dark tones, which create a more natural looking color than the single-toned products. So sweep the color with a powder brush where your face would tan naturally, which is usually across the nose, high on the cheekbones, across the forehead, and the tip of the chin.