Disclaimer
This is a personal blog written by me, everything written is my own view and opinion.
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For years I have been self tanning and I think I have finally created the perfect routine for a natural, glowing tan.
I absolutely love to have a tan, however I am very pale and my skin goes a lovely shade of pink as soon as I step out into the sun. I have tried sun beds, tanning naturally and gradual tanners but to be honest none of them have really worked for me and the majority of them carry much more risk and damage to your skin and health than necessary. A tan can make you feel so much more happy and confident with yourself, it really is more than just a tan.
So if you are reading this and thinking that is me, or you are just wanting to have a nice glowy tan for an event then keep reading and I will share with you the Perfect self tan routine.
The first two steps I like to do the day before I tan, this is to give my skin time to breath and pores to close.
First step – Exfoliate
Making sure your skin is exfoliated is key as it clears an even canvass for your tan to be applied to. It gets rid of all the dead dry skin and makes your skin feel so smooth. By missing out this step your tan can become patchy and different colours in the dryer areas of your skin. To exfoliate my skin I like to use an exfoliating mitt as it’s easier to use and reusable. However There are some really lovely exfoliants that also do a great job. I have listed my favourites below including the mitt.
Second step – Hair removal
Hair removal before applying tan isn’t necessary if you do not remove your body hair normally however if you do it is important to do this before applying tan. I use a razor to remove the hair from my legs and underarms before tanning as I like my skin to be as smooth as possible. Having smooth skin when self tanning helps it apply smoother and less streaky. I like to use conditioner to shave as I feel it leaves your skin softer.
Third step – shower
It is important to make sure that you shower before you apply your self tanner, this is because you need to make sure that your body is clean from any deodorant, make-up, lotions etc. If you apply tan to skin which has moisturizer or deodorant on it, it can go green and streaky. I like to just have a normal shower and then at the end of the shower I like to turn the water to cold as this helps with closing your pores on your skin so your tan doesn’t sink into them.
Fourth step – moisturizer
Once you are dry and ready to tan, you should apply moisturizer but only to certain parts of your body. These parts are your hands, wrists, feet, knees and elbow.. This only needs to be a tiny bit of moisturizer, use one which is non greasy and absorbs fast ( I have listed my favorites below). Once this is completely absorbed into the skin you can move on to the next step.
Fifth step – Tanning
Before you tan make sure that all jewellery has been taken off. Firstly you want to use a tanning mitt on your hand to apply the tan, I love the tanologist mitt as it is such good quality and washes well. I also use the coco and eve back applicator on my back as it blends the tan in so nicely and is easy to use, if you don’t have someone to tan your back, it can be a pain to try and cover your back evenly. I like to apply my tan to my stomach and then to my chest, arms and legs, so I can gauge the colour and make sure it all matches. I apply my tan in circular motion and ll count how many pumps of tan i use for each part of my body, this is again to make sure the tan is even. I do leave my feet, hand and face till last as I do them differently. I tan my body in layers and once I have done the first layer I will then check it and see if it needs a second layer.
When I have tanned my body and I am happy with it, I will then tan my feet, hands and face using a makeup brush. I like to use a thick bronzer brush to do this using it in circular motions as I feel like it blends the tan out perfectly and gets into the crevices.
Once I am happy with this I will look in the mirror to make sure I haven’t missed anywhere, don’t worry about the colour as most self tanners have a guide colour which is darker than it will be, once washed off.
When the tan is completely dry you can then get dressed into loose clothing and wait for the tan to develop.
Sixth step – finally
Once your tan has developed you can wash off the guide colour. I would recommend using something soft to wash yourself with and having a cooler shower. Make sure you pat dry with a towel as a rubbing motion could affect the tan. You can then moisturise your body and your tan will look flawless.
Tips to prolong your tan
- Avoid oils on your skin
- Moisturise after washing
- Avoid baths or long showers
- Keep to cooler temperatures when showering