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Hi friends, let’s talk self-tan!
This feels like one of the most long-awaited blog posts. I have been asked about my self-tan anytime I share my newly applied tan. 😄 I do “self-tan Sunday” every week and I would love to invite you to join me if you are looking to achieve a flawless self-tan even during the winter and spring months!
In this post I share all of my tips and tricks to getting the best self-tan at home and a few of my favorite products that make that happen!
I have been using St. Moriz for YEARS, however, I think I may have found a new favorite recently. I have tried out several brands and they either would apply with streaks, leave me orange, or wouldn’t last very long.
I captured these photos before I shifted to this new recent brand, called B. Tan “Tanned AF”. I stumbled upon this brand in my grocery store of all places! I’ve been religiously ordering off Amazon, but when I unexpectedly ran out, I was in a pinch and thought it was worth a shot. LITTLE DID I KNOW it would be the best tan I’ve tried!! I didn’t want to gatekeep this product, so I have it linked in this post and here.
Want more beauty favorites? I shared some I’m currently obsessed with and my tan made the list!
I have used a few different types of self-tanner and I wanted to share the differences!
Gradual tanning will darken a little bit over a few days, and can be built on if you want a deeper tan. These are nice for those who worry about going too dark/orange and it’s more subtle.
Self-tanning mousse is what I use and it’s a foam that you pump onto your tanning mitt. It gives a deeper tan, and has options to develop and build on or a fast tan that only takes 1-3 hours to show results. I personally prefer this type because if I’m going to tan, I want to be TAN 👏🏻
Self-tanning lotion is the most *risky* in my experience because it will develop over several hours and can often leave missed spots if you are newer to tanning (due to it going on clear). I would say this one looks the most appealing for a beginner, but is one of the more challenging types to use!
Self-tanning spray is like a hair spray, that you mist on your body. It makes it easier to reach hard-to-see spots (which I talk about below!) and covers a bigger surface. It also does tend to dry instantly if that is something you are looking for when tanning.
I also want to add this because sun safety is very important, do NOT apply self tan and go sit out in the sun after.
This does not protect your skin from the sun and I recommend you avoid direct sun time for a little bit after applying and use sunscreen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply self-tan?
I learned a little by trial that applying self-tan with your hands is not the way to go. 🤪 I swear by using a tanning mitt to get the best, most even tan!
You will want to spray the tanning foam onto the mitt and then apply it to your body in circular motions. I suggest moving fast and spreading it in, not letting it sit in one spot to prevent streaking.
I personally will apply it to one arm, both legs, my stomach and neck, switch mitt, then apply it to the other arm. I avoid my hands during this process.
I then use an old makeup brush and apply the tanning foam to my hands in a stippling method and in circular motions! I feel this applies in a more natural way and blends in best with my arm.
2. Does self-tan have a smell?
The smell will depend on the tanning brand you use! St. Moriz has a really nice smell in my opinion, and B. Tan has a very faint smell. I personally love the smell of spray tan, so I would say it does smell but in a nice way! I will say it doesn’t smell like chemicals though, more of a sweeter, light smell.
3. How long do I leave it on and how do I make sure it stays on?
I may not be the best person for this, but I have a lot of trust in my self-tanner LOL. I have experimented with a few ways and I like the results I get every time.
I shower and exfoliate, apply, and then go to bed with it on and rinse off in the morning.
I will apply it in the morning after showering the night before, let it develop during the day, then rinse it off.
Basically, ensure you shower before applying to have a clean surface to apply your tan on! I know the tanning bottles will recommend a few hours but I like a nice deep tan so I’ll leave it on for a little bit longer. This will ensure your tan stays on, because if there is a build-up of dead skin, sweat, or makeup it won’t apply evenly.
4. Will self-tan stain my clothes?
Make sure you let your tan FULLY dry! This is my biggest tip to ensure you don’t have any transfer. The tan will feel slightly “wet” until it’s dry. Usually, it will just take a few minutes and by the time I finish half of my body, the other half is already dry. I would recommend wearing clothes that you don’t mind having transferred on if you are worried and being able to test out how long your tan takes to dry.
5. How do I get to the hard-to-reach places like my back?
I’ll be honest, I don’t worry too much about my back because it’s never shown due to my clothes… But when I do:
I will do this in “4 sections”. I first reach over the top of my opposite shoulder and get the top half of my back as much as I can with one and switch hands when needed. For the bottom half, I will reach with my right hand and get the right lower back and vice versa. If you don’t fully trust yourself, you can try to set up two mirrors or enlist a friend/spouse for help!
Final tip: I feel self tans go wrong when your hands look stained and not tanned. I highly recomend the brush method and also trying to go atleast an hour (if not more) without getting them wet. So yes I’m telling you make sure you use the bathroom beforehand. Badly tanned hands are the biggest giveaway and distract from your bronzed look!
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