Whether you are using a self tanning lotion or a self tanning spray there are some common mistakes that you may have experienced yourself when applying self tanning products. While it is easy once you get the hang of it, it is also simple to apply incorrectly if you haven’t mastered it. These are quick acting products that stain or dye your skin, so once you actually start the process of self tanning it is extremely hard to stop the process once it begins. There are three mistakes that are most common when self tanning and here are the ways to avoid them.
Uneven coverage creating “streaks” on your skin is one of the biggest mistakes a person who is self tanning can make. Before using a self tanning lotion or self tanning spray you are supposed to moisturize and exfoliate your skin, but most people skip this important step. Even if you do it, it might happen right before you apply the self tanning lotion which is just as bad for your skin. You should prepare your skin at least 1 to 2 days beforehand by shaving or exfoliating with a washcloth or loofah sponge.
When applying the self tanning lotion or self tanning spray you should work slowly and rub the product in completely before moving on to another area. Using the self tanning lotion will give you more time to smooth out uneven areas and avoid streaks altogether. Also, using self tanning lotions with built-in tinting will reduce the streaks. One of the best self tanning lotions available is the Clinique Face or Body Quick Bronze Tinted Self Tanner. Both are available in any store that sells self tanning products.
You can also touch up streaks if you already have them by using sunless tanning wipes or towelettes that even out the area. If the streaks are already to dark to cover, you can wipe the entire area with a cotton ball that is soaked in hydrogen peroxide. That will lighten the streaks and let you begin again.
The second most common mistake people make with self tanning products are giving themselves blotchy spots on their body especially in the ankle, elbow, and knuckle area. This is because self tanners are absorbed more by drier skin so once it is there the product soaks it in and reacts with the top layer of skin cells which may not be exfoliated well enough.
This is where the exfoliating is very important. You can also use a moisturizer regularly and at least a few days before you decide to do self tanning. That way when you apply the self tanning lotion or self tanning spray you will get a more natural and less blotchy look. You can also dilute the self tanning lotion with a moisturizing lotion to work it in at the same time into your feet, ankles, knees, and elbows. If you do end up with these blotches anyhow you can simply loofah the offending areas in the shower and then put on more moisturizer. That way you can repeat the process in 24 hours and have a better chance to get the self tanning lotion to apply evenly.
The last most common mistake people make when applying self tanning lotions is that they use the wrong shade and their tan comes out too orange, yellow, or brown. Self tanning lotions are just like hair colors, they depend as much on your natural coloring as they do on the product. You should start out with a self tanning lotion or self tanning spray that has a lower concentration of DHA, labeled fair, or medium. The best way to start applying a self tanning lotion is to apply it lightly with a reapplication every few days so that you can slowly become tan as opposed to doing it all in one day and risking a very fake tan. If your self tanner does come out looking too dark or the wrong color for you can simply jump in a pool where the chlorine accelerates the fading process, or scrub gently in a shower. Self tanning can be mastered; you just have to take the proper steps to do so.
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