Happy Wednesday, everyone!!! I know we’ve had a crazy last few weeks, and a lot of us don’t have access to the beaches or pools or outdoor activities that we usually do and I know for me – it makes me really sad to lack that vitamin d and healthy glow I usually get around this time of year. It makes me feel SO GOOD to have a little color on my skin. I’ve been trying to switch over to more self-tanner than actual tanning because I know just how bad it is for your skin. The NUMBER ONE ager of skin is sun damage – and a sun tan IS sun damage. SO. While we are all indoors still, I wanted to bring a little bit of summer sunshine inside to you and show you exactly how to get a FLAWLESS self-tan. Let’s dive into this.
SELF-TANNING ROUTINE – how to bring some sunshine into the indoors this spring!
ONE: EXFOLIATE & SHAVE
It’s super important to exfoliate your ENTIRE body and shave anywhere you plan on applying the self-tanner. Do this the DAY before you self tan, because if you do it too soon – the self tanner can fill your pores and leave dark spots on your skin. I shave a FULL day before I self tan.
I use a loofa to exfoliate my skin with my favorite show gel. I exfoliate POST shaving so my skin is super soft. I moisturize my whole body the day before – but I do not moisturize the day of because you don’t want ANY oils, lotions or deodorants on your skin because it’ll affect how the tan will develop.
TWO: APPLY GENEROUSLY (I like the tanning foam + mitt combo) TO CORE BODY
I use the Bondi Sands dark tanning mousse for my at-home tan. I don’t feel like it’s too dark for my skin when I apply a single layer (if you are darker in complexion than me – I would recommend doing the double tan instructions on the back). I end up a really nice golden medium shade which is the color I’d typically tan to on my own during the summer.
I use one large squirt of foam for each body part: stomach, chest, arm, arm, leg, leg, shoulders, back. There should always be enough product on my mitt. I add a TINY bit of lotion to my ankles, wrists, knees, elbows and underarms because those tend to absorb the most product on me. The lotion helps even that out. I’m talking a TINY bit of lotion – just enough to add a small buffer there. I buff the foam out in circular motions.
*note: I wait an hour and then inspect my body: if I notice anywhere tanning unevenly or see any streaks: grab your mitt WITHOUT ANY EXTRA PRODUCT and buff out the streaks or uneven tan lines. This will prevent those from setting and even out those spots. You don’t see these right at first – so wait the hour for it to start developing!
THREE: APPLY TO HANDS + FEET + FACE CAREFULLY
I always just use the EXCESS product for these sections of my body. Take the excess from my legs down to my feet – making sure to get the whole top of my foot. I don’t worry about the sole of my foot. Take the excess from your arms down to your hands – but I don’t do my fingers or the palm. Then I take whatever is LEFT OVER completely after hands and feet and what not and rub that onto my face. I do not add ANY extra tanner to my mitt because otherwise my face way over tans.
FOUR: WAIT FOR IT TO DEVELOP
I like to tan at night because I sleep in the self tanner so it can develop while I am sleeping. Otherwise, I sweat and touch it and stuff and it smudges. I immediately shower when I wake up so the bronzing formula can come off and leave my actual tan. I sleep naked or in a loose robe the night I tan so that I don’t get any smudges or streaks. IF YOU CHOOSE TO SLEEP IN IT – You don’t have to worry about over-applying because it will stop developing after a while.
FIVE: BUT….WHAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE
Bondi Sands has an AWESOME self tan remover that makes it really easy to touch up if you realize you make a mistake after it fully develops. Just add a little bit to the mitt and rub where you want it to come off.
SIX: KEEPING THE LONGEVITY OF THE TAN
When you shower – shower in cool or warm water. Hot water is going to TOTALLY strip your tan. I also try not to do more than like a quick clean when I have self tanner on – aka no super hot, super long, shaving kind of showers. Just a get in, get clean, get out kinda situation. Moisturize every day – I like the Bliss sage + lemon lotion. It’s super thick and hydrating.
PIN THIS FOR LATER:
Self-tanning makes me feel so much better. I like when I have a healthy glow. I never go darker than I actually would get by sitting in the sun during the summer because it looks unnatural, though. A light tan does wonders for my self esteem and how my makeup looks, honestly. I do my best to embrace my pale skin during the fall and winter but man. I like my freckles and tan in the spring and summer, ok?
