How to Use Tanning Products Effectively

If you're aiming to achieve a beautiful sun-kissed tan without worrying about the harmful effects of UV rays, you can eliminate the risk of UV exposure by using tanning products (also known as self-tanners). You may have heard terrifying stories about DIY tanning gone wrong, such as streaks, orange hands, and dark spots on the skin. However, you can avoid these issues if you properly prepare your skin and apply the tanning product with care. Refer to Step 1 to learn how to create an even, natural tan at home.

Choose the Right Tanning Product. There are many different types of self-tanning products on the market, making it difficult to choose the one that best suits your skin. Some products will gradually tan your skin over a few days or weeks, while others will give immediate results. Some provide long-lasting effects, while others may fade after a week or wash off when you shower. It's important to pick a product based on your needs:

• Gradual Tanning Products. These come in creams, gels, sprays, or mousse forms. Gradual self-tanners typically contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA) or Erythrulose, which react with amino acids on the skin's surface to darken your skin. After one use, your skin may only darken by one shade, but you can continue applying the product over several days until you reach the desired result.
• Instant Tanning Products. Most of these come in spray form and provide an instant tan that can last up to a week, although some may fade quickly after showering. Instant self-tanners are often trickier to apply than gradual ones because they absorb quickly into the skin, which can sometimes result in streaks or uneven patches.
• Facial Tanning Products. If you have sensitive or oily skin on your face, look for self-tanners specifically designed for facial use. While most self-tanning products are safe for both body and face, choosing a product designed for the face can help avoid irritation, especially if your skin is particularly sensitive.
• Choose the Right Shade. If you have fair skin, opt for a light to medium brown shade. For those with naturally tanned skin, a dark brown shade is ideal. You can always apply more product to deepen the tan if, after your first application, you feel that your skin is still too light.

Remove thick hair from the areas you want to tan. Thick hair can make it difficult to apply the tanning product evenly. Consider shaving or waxing your legs (and arms if necessary) to ensure you're satisfied with the results after tanning.

• If the hair on your legs or arms is fine, you don't need to remove it before tanning unless you truly prefer to do so.
• Men should also shave or wax their chest or back before applying a tanning product.

Exfoliate your skin. Regardless of your skin type, it's highly recommended to exfoliate in your shower before tanning. When your skin is dry and flaky, applying tanning products evenly becomes quite difficult, and you might end up with streaks or patchy coloring rather than a smooth, bronzed look. The chemicals in tanning products react with the amino acids in the skin's outer layer. By exfoliating the top layer (which would naturally shed anyway), the tanning product can better adhere to the fresh skin underneath, ensuring a longer-lasting tan. Additionally, dry skin tends to absorb more color, making your tan uneven. To exfoliate, use a washcloth, a body brush, or a scrub gel to remove dead skin cells from the areas you're planning to tan.

• Pay special attention to rough areas like elbows and knees. Tanning products tend to darken these areas more quickly because they absorb color unevenly. Exfoliating these areas will help you apply the product more smoothly.
• If your skin is dry, moisturize after exfoliating. Use body lotion or essential oils to lock in moisture. Wait for the product to fully absorb before applying the tanning product.

Dry your skin thoroughly. One important thing to remember is that when applying tanning products, your skin needs to be completely dry. If you're tanning in a bathroom, wait for the moisture from the bath or shower to dissipate. Make sure the place you choose to apply the product is cool enough so you won't sweat during the following hours.

Set aside a few hours for tanning. Rushing through the self-tanning process will lead to noticeable imperfections. You'll miss areas, create streaks, or stain your clothes and hands. Set aside a few hours to make sure you have enough time to evenly apply the tanning product to all the areas you wish to tan.

Wear a pair of rubber gloves. Gloves help protect your hands from turning orange. Your palms typically don't tan naturally, so if you tan this area, it will be obvious that your tan is the result of a tanning product rather than sunlight. If you don't have gloves, you can thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water to remove any dye residue.

• You may also need to protect the bathroom floor by covering it with an old bed sheet or a plastic tarp and standing on it while applying the tan. Tanning products often leave stubborn stains.

Apply tanning product to your legs, torso, and arms. Start from your ankles and work your way up to your torso for a natural-looking tan. Dispense a small amount of tanning product into your palm and apply it evenly in circular motions. Follow the instructions on the product you’re using to know how long you need to massage the product into your skin. Apply it to each body part to ensure no area is missed.

• If you're using a tanning spray, follow the guidelines about how far to hold the bottle from your skin and how long to spray for. Spraying too close or for too long can result in uneven color.
• When applying the product around your feet, apply from the toes up to the ankles and the tops of your feet, using as little product as possible. Avoid applying the product to the toes, heels, or the sides of the feet, as these areas usually don't tan naturally.
• If you need to tan your back, use a strap or band to apply the product evenly. Alternatively, ask a friend to help.
• If you're not using gloves, set a timer and remember to wash your hands every five minutes, scrubbing underneath and around your nails.
• Though most people's skin doesn't naturally tan under the arms, it can be hard to avoid this area while tanning. It’s best to apply the product here too and, after five minutes, gently wipe away excess with a damp washcloth.

Apply tanning product to your ankles, wrists, and joints. Mix the tanning cream with your regular body lotion and apply it to areas like your ankles, wrists, knees, and elbows for a more natural-looking tan in these spots. You can use any lotion of your choice.

• Apply regular body lotion to the tops of your feet and blend it into the tanning product already applied to your ankles.
• Use a small amount of body lotion around the knees, especially just below them.
• Do the same for your elbows, focusing on the crease when your arm is extended.
• Use more body lotion on your hands, and apply it evenly to your wrists.

Apply tanning product to your face and neck. Use only a small amount of tanning product on your face and neck, as this skin tends to darken quickly. Start by applying it to areas that naturally tan, such as your forehead, cheekbones, chin, and nose. Use gentle circular motions to apply the product, spreading it outward to cover your entire face.

• You might want to apply some petroleum jelly to your eyebrows before tanning your face. This will prevent the product from collecting in your brows and making them too dark.
• Be careful not to use too much product on the upper lip, as this area absorbs more color than other parts of the face.
• Don’t forget to apply the product behind your ears and on your neck, especially if you have short hair.

Wait. Avoid contact with anything or anyone during the first 15 minutes, and don’t put on any clothes for at least one hour. If this is inconvenient, you can wear loose clothing, but make sure it's something you don't mind staining. Avoid getting wet or doing anything that might make you sweat for at least three hours after applying the tanning product.

• Only shower after 8 hours. Don’t exfoliate or apply retinol-based products for a few days.
• Wait at least 8 hours before applying more tanning product. It usually takes time for the color to fully develop, and if you act too quickly, your skin might end up too dark!
• If you feel the tanning cream is sticky on your skin, you can use a large powder puff to lightly dust your skin with powder 30-60 minutes after application. Just be sure not to rub, as this could affect the tan.

Apply more tanning product to any missed spots. If you've missed one or two spots, don’t worry! You can easily apply more product. Put on a clean pair of rubber gloves, rub a small amount of tanning product (about the size of a coin) into your palms, and gently apply it to the missed areas. Be sure to blend the product well, especially along the edges of your body, for an even finish.

• Be careful not to apply too much product in this second round. If you accidentally use too much, wipe it off immediately with a tissue.

Remove tanning stains from overly dark areas. If some areas of your skin have developed dark patches, you might need to remove some of the product. While this can be tricky, there are a few methods you can try:

• Scrub the dark areas while showering. Use a body brush or washcloth to scrub the dark spots. This will help lighten the color a bit.
• Use lemon juice. Soak a tissue in lemon juice and press it against the dark spots. Let it dry completely and leave it on for about 20 minutes before washing it off with water.

Moisturize to maintain your tan. As your skin’s outer layer dries and begins to peel, your tan will start to fade and peel off as well. To help your tan last longer, always moisturize by applying body lotion daily. Use sunscreen when going outdoors, as even tanned skin needs protection from the sun to avoid drying out and causing skin damage.

Repeat the tanning process for a darker shade. If you want to deepen your tan by a few shades, or if your tan is starting to fade, you can reapply the tanning product just as you did the first time. Make sure to apply it evenly to avoid patchy areas where some spots are darker than others. You can gradually apply more product every few days to achieve a deeper tan.

• Always remember to apply the tanning product in circular motions to ensure it is evenly distributed on your skin.
• Don’t worry too much about the boundaries on your body; areas like your lips and nipples won’t be as affected by the tanning product, so you don’t need to overly avoid them.
• Try mixing your tanning product with body lotion for a more even and natural-looking tan.
• Stretch marks under a year old tend to darken more easily.
• Freckles and moles may also darken along with your skin tone.
• If you can’t get help applying the tanning product to your back, consider using a spray bottle, sponge brush, or a paint roller to apply it yourself.

• Even if the tanning product contains sunscreen, don’t rely on it for sun protection. You should use sunscreen separately, as a light layer of tanning product won’t provide significant protection.
• Your skin may react with the chemicals in the tanning product, causing an unpleasant odor. This smell will fade after a few hours.