14 valuable tips to make self-tanning succeed the first time!
- 13 min reading time
Self-tanners create a lovely sunny glow on the skin. You can create this tan yourself, but it depends entirely on good preparation. Quickly applying it to your body without preparation probably won’t give the desired result. However, self-tanner is ideal and can give a beautiful and even result with the right preparations. In this blog, we give you tips and tools to get the perfect self tan!
Does a diet affect my color?
Did you know that your diet also affects the condition of your skin? The more you nourish your body instead of just filling it, the more beautiful your skin becomes. Think of plenty of good fats found in nuts, seeds, avocados, and raw milk. Proteins are also important, such as yogurt, eggs, and meat. Furthermore, vegetables and fruit are of course very good for your body thanks to the minerals and vitamins they contain. A beautiful skin that is silky soft and smooth is naturally the ideal situation for a self-tanner. So yes, your diet definitely affects your color, but in an indirect way.
Scrub your skin for a beautiful sunny glow
Scrubbing is one of the most important precautions before you start using your self-tanner. A self-tanner reacts with the top layer of skin cells. That’s why it’s important to remove dead skin cells so you get a beautiful and even final result. If you don’t, the dead skin cells that aren’t removed can cause an uneven result. Not what you want, of course. We recommend these products:
- Sunkissed Light Medium Gradual Tan
- Jet Set Sun Tan Glove
Remove hair from your body after scrubbing
Not only scrubbing is important, hair removal is also an essential part of your tan routine. So first, enjoy a relaxing shower before you create a tan. We recommend scrubbing first and then hair removal, as a razor is already sensitive to the skin, and if you then scrub as well, you’re really pushing it. So it’s better to scrub first and then use a sharp razor.
For your face, it is important to cleanse your skin well and remove all makeup. If you don't do this, you are likely to get a blotchy result, and of course, you don't want that. When you are going to hair removal, it is important to do this about 24 hours in advance so your skin can recover. A red and irritated skin is NOT the right base for a beautiful tan.
Is moisturizing your skin before exfoliating an important step?
Have you thoroughly cleansed and exfoliated your skin? You might think you can start right away, but there’s one more step you shouldn’t forget. That is moisturizing your skin, in other words, hydrating your skin. Why? On dry skin, the self-tanner doesn’t absorb as well as on hydrated skin. You can start hydrating your skin days before you actually give yourself a tan.
If you don’t really have dry skin, it’s still recommended to moisturize the generally dry areas like your elbows, knees, ankles, wrists, and hands. We also highly recommend doing this right before the moment of truth, just before applying the self-tanner. Use a body lotion or cream that suits your skin’s needs. Make sure to let the body lotion or cream fully absorb into your skin before continuing with your self-tanner.
Keep your skin well hydrated so the self-tan lasts longer. So keep moisturizing even after you have a lovely tint. Of course, you want to enjoy your color as long as possible, so do everything you can! Apply body lotion or oil daily after showering and you’re all set. Our tip: Revuele Tender Care Body Lotion Ultra Firming
Why? Completely free from harmful ingredients and is fully natural and VEGAN.
How do I choose the right self-tanner?
There are currently many different types of self-tanners on the market, which is very convenient, but which one is right for you? Read on quickly and discover which variant best suits your needs:
Self-tanners that gradually develop color
These variants actually come in all kinds of types and forms. Think of creams, gels, sprays, or mousses. The bottom line is that gradual self-tanners contain DHA (dihydroxyacetone) or Erythrulose. It may sound a bit complicated, but basically, they react with the amino acids on the skin to create a beautiful tint. If you want a darker shade, just apply daily until you find your perfect tone! Take a look at these products:
- Sunkissed Gradual Tan Light-Medium
- Sunkissed Self-Tan Mousse Medium
- SUNKISSED Gradual Tan Medium-Dark
Why do we recommend these 3 from this brand? Because this brand and its products contain as much as 95% natural ingredients. Although many people choose a color from a jar because they think it’s safer than the sun, they often underestimate the dangerous ingredients that are often in it. SUNKISSED knows this and has therefore carefully looked at its ingredients and uses almost only natural ingredients. So that means you’ve really found a safe way to tan :)
Instant self-tanners
Ideal for a night out. Instant self-tanners are almost always in spray form. You can often wash them off at the end of the day. However, there are also variants that last for a week, so you can enjoy a nice color all week long. Instant formulas are usually used by women and men who already have some experience. Why? Because you can quickly get spots or streaks. Practice makes perfect, so if you don’t have anywhere to go soon, you can practice nicely.
Self-tanners for the face
Self-tanners specially made for the face often contain more nourishing or adjusted ingredients so they are gentler and better for your face. However, most women also use the 'regular' tanning products on their face. It is especially recommended for sensitive skin (sensitive or oily); if you don’t have that, a normal variant will work perfectly. Our top picks:
How do I choose the right shade of brown?
Choose the right color. Everyone has different skin, so you should never just order something randomly. Look at your natural skin tone and choose the right variant accordingly. It’s better to order a shade that’s a bit too light than too dark. You can create a darker tint by applying more. But if you’ve applied too much or chosen a color that’s too dark, it’s much more work to fix it.
Of course, it is important that you choose the right color; the basic variants are: light, medium, and dark. You always look at your natural skin tone. Do not choose the color based on the sun tan color you want, as that will give you very strange results. Additionally, it is important to choose a tanning product that matches your wishes and requirements. What one person likes, another may find useless. For example, one person prefers a mousse, while another prefers a spray. It’s entirely up to you what you find most comfortable to use. It’s also important to consider how long you want to enjoy it. Is it for a lovely night out, or for a longer period like a wonderful, sun-drenched holiday?
TIP - again, always opt for a lighter shade rather than one that’s questionably dark for your natural skin tone. You don’t want to look like a carrot or one big, uneven blotch. It’s also wise to apply carefully, as you can always add more. If it suddenly gets too dark, it will take some time to fix it. Better safe than... ;)
How do I apply self-tanner correctly?
To avoid a color that’s too dark, it’s advisable to start with about a teaspoon of self-tanner at a time. Apply this to your tanning mitt or your hands, and work from your feet upwards. The very last areas you tan are your arms and hands. Always apply the self-tanner in circular motions. This prevents streaks – you definitely don’t want to be a brown/white zebra.
Start at the top of your foot and work from there to the side of your foot, your toes, and your ankle. For knees and elbows, it’s important to lightly go over the skin, as these are areas where the color is absorbed quickly; otherwise, it will be darker there than the rest of your skin. Once your whole body is covered with tanning, including your arms and hands, take a small drop of self-tanner. Put this drop on the inside of your wrists and rub them together. Why? This prevents an ugly line between your tinted forearms and your palms.
When applying the self-tanner, use long strokes and circular motions. Of course, start at your feet and work your way up. The crucial spots are the areas that dry quickly and that you have well prepared with body lotion. Properly blending the self-tanner is also very important to achieve an even result. For your back, it’s advisable to ask your husband, housemate, or best friend to help you. Or maybe take a yoga class first ;)
TIP - You can create a more natural effect on your elbows, wrists, knees, and behind the knees by diluting the self-tanner a bit. This also makes it easier to apply in those areas. You can thin the self-tanner with a body lotion.
How do I tan my face with self-tanner?
If you are using a facial tanner, it is important to apply it to the areas that normally tan the most in the sun. These are your nose bridge, forehead, cheeks, and chin. These are exactly the spots where you apply the dots of self-tanner. From these 4 spots, carefully blend it out over your entire face.
TIP - The skin above your lip often absorbs tanning better. So it’s advisable to apply less tanning there. You definitely don’t want to accidentally create a mustache. The same goes for your eyebrows and hairline, as they can also pick up a nice color.
Scrubbing your hands after using self-tanner
Once you have finished applying your color, it is absolutely advisable to wash and scrub your hands well. You don’t want orange palms, that’s obviously not a good look. When scrubbing your hands, it’s important to pay attention to your nails and cuticles. After scrubbing, do not rinse off with water, as this will make your hands blotchy. You don’t want that after all that work. Remove the scrub with a cleansing wipe or tissue.
If you want to avoid orange palms, you can wear (latex) gloves or use a Tanning Mitt . The advantage of a Tanning Mitt is that you won’t have orange palms and you apply the self-tan evenly and smoothly on your skin. Recommended good scrubs without harmful ingredients are:
Can I get dressed immediately after spraying the self-tan?
Once you have sprayed or applied color to your body, it is not advisable to put on your clothes immediately. This can cause your tan to fade. Therefore, it is important to wait at least 15 minutes before putting your clothes back on. Wear loose clothing or a robe. If you do the self-tanning routine in the evening, it is wise to wait at least half an hour before getting into your cozy bed. Also, wait at least 8 hours before exercising or swimming. It is ideal to do it in the evening when you have plenty of time, can put on your pajamas, and wake up the next day with a nice tan.
How do I properly remove self-tanner?
Are you all done and realize that your hairline or eyebrows have accidentally been tinted and picked up a shade? Then take a cotton pad, dip it in lemon juice, and gently rub over the spots. The acidic lemon juice will bleach the brown tint.
If you haven’t been able to clean your cuticles properly, try to remove them with a good scrub. Nail polish remover is also often used, but you need to decide for yourself if you want to use it. The stains on your legs that accidentally appeared can be removed by scrubbing thoroughly. It’s ideal to do this under a warm shower so your skin softens a bit. This makes the whole process easier, followed by drying firmly with a towel. This way, most of it is removed.
How do I maintain my beautiful, sunny color?
Depending on the self-tanning product you use, the sunny color develops over a few hours to days. If the color is fully developed and you’re still not completely happy with your sunny glow, you can apply another layer on the skin.
If you are satisfied and want to maintain this color, it is important to reapply the self-tanner every 3-4 days. Avoid skincare products with exfoliating effects, such as body scrubs or facial creams with fruit acids. These not only remove the top layer of dead skin cells but also the color. This is exactly where the self-tan resides.
Hydrating products are definitely recommended because you want to keep your skin’s moisture balance. This helps the beautiful, sunny color last longer.
Want to tan your skin again after some time?
If the color starts to fade slightly and you want to tan again, it is absolutely essential to remove the old brown color by scrubbing. You can easily do this with an exfoliating body scrub or a scrub glove. Always do this during a warm shower or use warm water; your skin becomes softer, making the whole process easier. Often, not everything disappears in one go; this can take a few washes. Hydrating remains very important, but that’s probably already clear :)
If you don’t completely or fully remove the old color, the brown color will build up and it will become increasingly difficult to remove.
How much time do I need for it?
It depends on how easily it goes for you. In any case, if this is your very first time, it is advisable to take your time. Say about an hour; this sounds a bit generous, but there are spots that are hard to reach. So use the time, take your time, put on some lovely music, and get started! These are wonderful moments in life, enjoy them and relax while applying that beautiful summer glow. Haste rarely makes good, especially with self-tanning. The more often you do it, the easier and faster it becomes. Good luck!
