The key to achieving a perfect bronze glow with self-tanner is careful application, which can be tricky. It takes repeat experimentation to figure out how much product to use, what areas to go over lightly, like knees and elbows, what areas to avoid completely, like palms of hands and armpits, and where to start and stop the application, do you stop at your ankles or continue down to your toes?
Self-tanning takes time.
Allow AT LEAST a half hour, although an hour would be best. But don't be discouraged; it would still take longer to get the same amount of color from the sun and with self-tanners there is absolutely no risk of wrinkles, skin cancer or sunburn!
Take a quick shower or bath (don't soak) and exfoliate
your skin, either with a washcloth or body scrub. Don't overscrub, but do pay extra attention to your knees, ankles, feet, elbows, and neck. This will help achieve a uniform appearance since self-tanners grab on to dry surface skin cells, and you may have more dead, thickened skin cells in certain areas.
After showering and completely drying off
Apply a thin layer of lightweight moisturizer over the areas where you will be applying self-tanner. This will help the self-tanner glide on without clinging to dry patches. A little extra moisturizer over ankles, knees, and elbows can prevent those areas from looking patchy.
Perspiration will make self-tanners streak
Take a cool shower or bath to keep from sweating. Your skin must be completely dry to get the best results. Do not apply self-tanner in a steamy, hot bathroom or on a humid, hot day.
Apply the self-tanner while naked
You can also wear an old bathing suit to help determine where you want your tan line to end. Have a game plan of where you want to stop and start the color. Do you want tan armpits? What about places like your heels, hands, and ears? Remember that self-tanners will stain clothing until they completely absorb into the skin and take effect on the skin cell.
Applying self-tanner on your back
Requires a friend with a helping hand.
Apply self-tanner to one section of your body at a time.
Be more concerned about even application than rubbing it all the way in.
To prevent tan palms
Try using surgical or plastic gloves to apply the self-tanner. This can work well, but can also make application trickier. Another option is to wash your hands every few minutes or after you apply the self-tanner to a section of your body. If you wait too long you will have strange-looking palms. It helps to have a nail brush handy to be sure you get the self tanner off your cuticles and the area between your fingers.
Be aware
Different parts of your body "pick up" self-tanner more easily than others. For example, some people find that their legs turn brown more easily than their arms or torso, while others find that their faces and necks change color fastest. Experience will help you determine which is true for you. Be careful around your nose, eyes, ears, hairline, and lips. A cotton swab, makeup sponge, or synthetic makeup brush can help blend a thin, even amount smoothly over those areas.
Wait 15 minutes
Before getting dressed. Do not exercise or swim for at least three hours.
If you make a mistake
and end up with streaky or dark areas of skin, consider using an exfoliant over those spots. Then, in the morning, manually exfoliate those areas with a wet washcloth. This should rub off any uneven stripes.
Take special care
Problem areas... As an option for your hands apply self-tanner as you would a moisturizer, but then quickly wipe your palms off on a slightly soapy washcloth. Then take a Q-tip dipped in cleanser, eye-makeup remover, or nail polish remover and carefully use it to wipe around the nails and cuticle area and between your fingers. You can also use a makeup sponge to apply self-tanner to the back of your hands, tops of your feet, temples, and hairline. By holding the sponge deftly between two fingers, you only need to worry about preventing this small area from changing color.
Reapply self-tanner
As you feel the need... generally it will start fading in about three to four days as the surface layers of skin shed.
