Exfoliate your skin. Self-tanners work by dyeing the top layer of
skin, so it's important to slough your entire body to remove any dead
skin build-up that will "catch" the product and result in an uneven
tan. The easiest way to do this is in the shower: Use either a shower
gel with exfoliating beads, a loofah, or stretch bath gloves made for
this purpose. Exfoliate your entire body, paying close attention to
"dry" areas like knees and elbows.
Make sure your skin is dry. If your skin is even slightly
wet, the self-tanner won't go on evenly, and you will have brown
streaks! After your shower, vigorously dry your skin. Don't apply the
product in a steamy bathroom.
Apply moisturizer. A thin coat of moisturizer will make your skin
as smooth as it can be and will prepare it for the most even
application possible. Let the moisturizer absorb and "dry" for several
minutes before applying self-tanner.
Apply the self-tanner as you would a moisturizer. Be sure to use
slightly more self-tanner than you would moisturizer, and as you rub it
in, make sure you spread it evenly over your skin. (Some women advise
using circular motions to avoid streaks.) The trickiest spots are the
backs of your legs and your back. (One woman recommends using a paint
roller saturated with product on those areas.) Remember that the tops
of your feet and backs of your hands should not be as tan as the rest
of your body. Apply the product lightly around your ankles, knees and
elbows. Make sure the product is fully rubbed into the skin; you will
streak wherever it isn't.
Moisturize around the edges. To avoid distinct tan lines, apply
moisturizer to areas where you did not apply self-tanner, like your
feet and backside, then gently rub it into the self-tanned areas.
Finally, be sure to dry completely before dressing or going to
bed. It may take only 20 minutes to feel dry to the touch, but the
longer you can wait before putting anything against your skin, the less
likely you are to get splotches. Some labels say you'll be dry enough
to dress in 15 minutes, but unless you're rotating in front of a
powerful fan, that won't happen.
Comments
by tanya from wellington/tawa on April 9, 2008
its really nice to be able to learn this information before using the product!
thanks
by tanya from wellington/tawa on April 9, 2008