All kinds of self-tanners at a glance
- 7 min reading time
Are you looking for a golden glow without exposing your skin to the sun? Self-tanners are the perfect solution to achieve a beautiful, sun-kissed look all year round, without the harmful effects of UV rays. But with so many self-tanners on the market, from mousses to oils to sprays, it can be hard to know which one works best for you. How do you choose between a quick drying time, a deep colour, or a formula that also cares for your skin? In this blog, we will guide you through all types of self-tanners and their unique benefits. This way, you can make an informed choice and ensure you get the perfect bronze glow, just in time for spring!
Preparation and application
Good preparation is essential for a perfect bronze tint. A smooth base means a flawless tan, and that is of course what we want! That is why it is important to exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells. This ensures an even and smooth base for the self-tanner. The best way to do this is with a body scrub, which efficiently removes dead skin cells. It is also important to thoroughly moisturise your skin, especially on dry areas such as knees, elbows, and ankles, to prevent dark spots or streaks. You can do this well with a body lotion, but make sure it is fully absorbed before applying the self-tanner, otherwise you will get streaks. The best way to apply your self-tanner is with a tanning glove, this ensures an even application and you won’t end up with orange hands (which is nice). With all these steps, you have the perfect base for your self-tanner!
How to choose the right shade for your skin type?
A self-tanner can sometimes be intimidating because we don’t want to look orange. Choosing a self-tanner that suits your skin type is therefore crucial for a natural look. Several factors are important here: your skin colour and your undertone. Skin colour refers to whether you have a light, medium, or dark skin tone. If you have a light to medium skin tone, go for a self-tanner designed for light skin tones. If you have a medium to dark skin tone but it’s your first time and the only choices are light or dark, start with the light one. This way you can see how it turns out and you can always apply more or switch to a darker one. If you have a dark skin tone, naturally choose the dark one, this gives you a deeper complexion and a lovely glowing look!
Then undertone is also something to consider in your search for the perfect self-tanner. Everyone has a different undertone, so it can be important to find a matching self-tanner. If you have a cooler undertone, a self-tanner that is light in colour and has a pink undertone is perfect. If you have a warm undertone, an olive-coloured self-tanner is a better option. If you can’t really tell if you are cool or warm and you’re somewhere in between, lucky you! Most self-tanners will suit you well. By knowing your skin colour and undertone, the self-tanner will look most natural on your skin and it will look like you’ve just spent a week in Spain!
Lotion Self-tanners
Let’s start with the best option for beginners who want an intense tan. A self-tanning lotion is perfect for beginners because it gives control over the application and is easier to spread. A lotion also provides hydration to the skin, so if you have dry skin, a lotion might be the best option. The tan develops gradually, so it can sometimes be hard to see how dark it will get beforehand. That is why we recommend beginners start with a thin layer. The great thing about a lotion is that it is easy to build up daily. This lotion from Sunkissed is perfect for this, it is vegan and gives a glowing and hydrated finish!
Mousse Self-tanners
For those looking for quick results and a light, airy application, a mousse self-tanner is perfect! A mousse self-tanner is probably the most popular type among regular tanners because of its streak-free effect. This application gives the fastest result and you can quickly head out the door with a beautiful tan. A good mousse to use is from BT cosmetics, this is a mild tanning mousse with natural extracts. If you want a rich, airy, and quick tan, this is your way to go!
Spray Self-tanners
Spray self-tanners are great for reaching hard-to-reach spots. They offer even coverage and keep your hands nice and clean! You might think this is the easiest way for self-tanning, but we do recommend it for someone with more experience in applying self-tanners. This is because you need to know well where you are applying it and whether you have covered everything. It can quickly go wrong if you miss spots on your body and only find out later. But a good tip is to use it as an extra if you already have a slight tan. This gives your tan an extra boost and ensures an even skin tone.
We can still recommend a tanning mist for our less experienced users, but this is only for your face. This is ideal for quickly getting a sun-kissed look that instantly brightens your appearance. The tanning mist from Coco&Eve is perfect for this! Need to head out quickly but still want a bit of colour on your face? Then you should definitely give this a try!
Face Self-tanners
We have already briefly mentioned tanning for your face. There are also other types of these. Tanning drops are the most common here. These self-tanners are often lighter in texture and designed not only to give a nice colour but also to hydrate and care for your skin. These tanning drops are meant to give your face a light tan that lasts a few days. If you don’t feel like wearing foundation but still want a nice colour, this is perfect! The tanning drops from Coco&Eve give you a beautiful tan and at the same time provide plenty of hydration and nourishment thanks to the hyaluronic acid and natural ingredients in them. So if you don’t want to tan your whole body but want a nice brown face, this is for you!
Removing Self-tanners
Now you know all about self-tanners and how to apply them, but how do you remove self-tanner? Sometimes a tan fades or can become patchy, then it’s time to remove it completely. Basically, how you put it on, you also take it off. Namely with an exfoliant such as a body scrub. This removes all the dead skin cells, which is actually where your tan sits. This way your tan layer comes off and you can be fully ready for a new layer of tanning without it becoming patchy!
Conclusion
With so many options on the market, there is a self-tanner for everyone. Remember that the key to a perfect self-tanner lies in preparing the skin, careful application, and following the instructions. Whether you choose a lotion, mousse, spray, oil, or a special face tanner, you can enjoy a beautiful, sun-kissed glow all year round. Don’t forget to always do a patch test before using a new product to prevent skin reactions. And enjoy your sunniest self!
