Self-tan and fake tan have become quite popular in recent years, especially as more awareness around skin damage from the sun has come to light. The hype around self-tan has skyrocketed as many brands and self-tan lovers have started making creative and innovative tanners during the pandemic. Before the increase of self-tanners on the market, there were limited shade ranges and harmful ingredients in the products, like preservatives. Now there are many more non-comedogenic face tanning options, one example being Tanolgist’s face tan.
The best way to get a seamless tan is from the prep before application and following specific steps, so let’s go through the mandatory steps for a perfect tan. Start by thoroughly washing your entire body head to toe, with soap or body wash. Then, exfoliate with a scrub, which can be in the form of a sugar scrub or other physical scrub. This will help take away any dead skin, dirt, oil, and other things on the skin that would lead to an uneven tan. Lastly, wash off and lather your legs — or anywhere else you have hair you want to remove — with thick shaving cream and begin to shave. You want to get rid of the hair because it clings to the self-tan, making it less even and smooth. If you don’t desire to remove hair, it’s not going to ruin a perfect tan, but it may not last as long.
After shaving, do one more round of exfoliating to make sure your legs are fully clean and there’s no more dead skin. After the steps in the shower, make sure you are completely dry. Once you’re dried, you can begin to apply a first layer of tanner, rubbing it on in circular motions through the places you want to tan. Do this until no streaks remain, and decide how dark you want your tan to be. If you want a light change in color, stop here, but if you desire a darker tan, apply another layer. Do this until you have your perfect shade and make sure you only add another layer of tanner once the previous one is completely dry.
Since self-tanner is a form of stain, you need to apply it all over your body to make your skin an even color. Think of it like a lip stain; if you put on an uneven amount, it can dry and look blotchy, which will only worsen with wear. Confusion around application is one reason many have stopped trying self-tanners, since not getting a smooth tan can be frustrating with how much time and effort goes into trying to make it look perfect.
One of the most common reasons why self-tan might look patchy is because there isn’t enough product. Don’t be stingy when it comes to self-tan; you need around a tennis ball size glob for each part of your body — enough to cover your hand — so that when you apply, you are getting an even coat that rubs in seamlessly. If you use too little tan, it won’t look as good because such a small amount can’t cover all the skin, and it will end up leaving streaks.
Most tanners require you to wash the tan off after a few hours, so make sure to wait the recommended time before fully rinsing all of your body, but do not scrub. If you are instructed to not rinse the tanner off, seal everything in with a heavy body butter or moisturizer. Annie Denny, a Franklin junior and beginner tanner, started tanning in the spring of 2023 because she wanted to get a summer tan while still living in Portland weather. She uses Glow Your Own Way, a self-tan by the brand B.Tan. This brand sells many different self-tans, such as Too Tan To Give a Damn and I Woke Up Like This. All of these different tanners have different finishes and levels of darkness to them.
Just like finding your perfect skin care is personal, so is finding a tan that fits your skin type and desired look. Some like a super natural tan that’s not too noticeable, but still gives the skin a bit of color. Others love an extremely dark, bronzy look, while some like a more olive-colored tan to complement their undertones. It’s all unique to your skin and your preferences, so do a bit of research before spending your money on a tanner. Don’t be hesitant to try a few different brands before choosing the one that fits you best.
“I picked I Woke Up Like This because I really like a natural looking tan,” Denny says when asked why she picked her tan. “I find that orange tans look unnatural on me so I tend to pick an olive one.” she adds. It doesn’t have to be complicated, finding a tan that you like can be as easy as knowing that you don’t like a certain color on yourself.
Due to the recent increased demand, you can find self-tanner almost anywhere; from popular makeup stores Sephora and Ulta Beauty, to even a grocery store. A great way to get advice when looking for a tanner that fits your skin tone is to ask an employee.
“The best way to get the right shade is by looking at what color you are in your undertones, which is super easy, just by looking at the color of your veins,” shares an Ulta Beauty employee. “So, if you have purple [veins] then you have cool undertones, so you would most likely find yourself gravitating to violet or green based tanners.” Tanners that have a green-based tan are a brownish green color when pumped out of the bottle. “If you have green veins you are warm toned, so you should find a tan that has a honey or yellow shade,” the employee continues. Those kinds of tans are lighter in shade when pumped out, not greenish or purple. Finding the tan that compliments your natural undertones will increase the look of that perfectly blended tan.
If you’re having trouble getting your tan even and natural-looking, follow these steps to get a seamless look. Remember you don’t need to buy a bunch of expensive products to make it look perfect, but rather the preparation before application is the most important part.
It’s a learning journey to try something new and don’t shy away if you have trouble getting it right the first few times; practice makes perfect. One thing to keep in mind is that self-tan is meant to help with even skin tone and slight color change. If you ever find that your self-tanner is making you look older or orange-looking, that’s a sign you may be over doing it with your tan. It’s meant to be a creative way to change up your look, so have fun with it and best of luck with your new great tan!
