I am a self tanner junkie. I am very fair complected and will take all the help I can get without the harmful rays. I’ve done both professional spray tans and tried everything under the sun at home, from drugstore to high-end prices. My current favorite is an affordable self tanner, so I have to share it with you! It’s such a great find. Dare I say… it’s the best drugstore self tanner!
– Your Self Tanner of Choice (Mine is the Jergen’s!) – Mitt (this one is super cheap and amazing) – Body Butter or Barrier Cream
Prepping the skin before you apply self tanner is crucial! It will ensure an even coverage of the product and will prevent it from streaky. Here’s a few things you can do to prep. – Make sure you exfoliate beforehand. Self tanners tend to attach to dry spots and make them look darker, so it is key to make sure you have an even surface with your skin. I always take a shower before I self tan, and scrub my skin with a sugar scrub or some other exfoliant. – Once I get out of the shower I make sure to use a thick body butter or lotion on my hands, feet, knees, and elbows. This helps to prevent the self tanner from developing too dark in those areas. You could also use a barrier cream, but a lotion does just fine for me.
– Use a mitt. A mitt is a game changer. This one is cheap, on Amazon, and the best mitt I have (I have about 4 mitts and this one is my favorite). – Avoid your feet, hands, elbows, and knees until the very end. – Start with your legs and move upward. Pump the foam or lotion onto the mitt, spread across the skin, and buff out in circular motions. – I go in this order – left leg, right leg, back of thighs and butt, stomach, lower back, left arm, right arm, chest, upper back. – To get your back completely, try to get some help from your partner or a friend. If not, don’t stress out too much about your back (unless you’re wearing a backless dress or swimsuit).
– Pump about a half pump of foam and lightly go over knees and elbows. – Wash hands and then take whatever’s left on the mitt (no additional product) and lightly go over feet and hands. – I prefer not to apply self tanner to my face, but if you want to, put a tiny bit on the mitt and thoroughly buff in, making sure to blend down to your neck. You do not need to use a face self tanner, but if you have sensitive skin or break out easily, you may want to. – Let product completely dry before dressing. – Wear dark, loose clothing as the tan develops. – Rinse product off in the shower after it has fully developed.