You might love or hate the sun, but there is no denying it: we all love a good tan. What is it about golden skin that makes us immediately feel sexier?
Now whether you love or hate the sun, there is also no denying that you absolutely cannot sit and bake for hours under it nor is it recommended to use tanning beds. It is a big no no because the results are catastrophic, from premature aging to cancer. So what’s our alternative for a sun-kissed glow?
As Dr. Costi embarks on a new campaign to raise awareness for skin cancer and the dangers of sun exposure, we thought it would be a good idea to remember the basics of self-tanning with a how to use self-tanning products.
A fake tan is a tricky thing to achieve, because your ultimate goal is a natural looking one! You want to avoid at all cost streaks, discoloration and orange skin! Follow these steps as closely as you can, to achieve a natural looking glowing fake tan.
As you will have to choose between a product for fair skin or dark skin, make sure to choose according to your actual skin before tanning. If you have pale skin, you should choose a self-tanner that’s not very dark, to get a more natural result. If your skin is already exposed to sun, or you have olive skin then you can go for a deeper darker tan.
To avoid blotchy discoloration and an uneven tan, you must prepare your skin to be smooth all over. The best way is to scrub away dead skin cells with a good exfoliation, focusing especially on the rough areas like elbows, knees and ankles. Use a natural exfoliant like an apricot scrub that will also hydrate, and make sure to have perfectly clean skin before applying the tanning product to avoid streaks.
Once you decide you want to apply the self-tanner, do it as the last thing on your calendar that day. The better you plan it the better you achieve a good result and avoid the orange streaks. Prepare gloves to apply the lotion so you avoid having orange palms the next day. Furthermore, make sure you shave or wax the day before, because any rubbing of the area afterwards will remove the tanning product.
Now using the glove (you can get a tanning glove), place a small amount of the product in your hand (if it’s a lotion or a cream) and smooth it in circular motions on your legs. The idea is to work your way from bottom to top. So you start at your ankles and work up in circular motion. This will prevent marks from forming when you bend down. Your hands and arms should be last.
Now for the delicate part: your face and neck.
Using a dollop of product on your fingers, you should simulate a natural tan where the sun would naturally catch your face: on your forehead, cheeks, bridge of your nose and your chin. Blend the product from the inside to the outside of your face, and quickly wash your hands afterwards.
And we wait…and wait…and wait… we have to patiently wait because if we don’t, the self-tanner will look like a melted painting. So no sweating and no showering for at least 10 hours (this will vary depending on the product you use).
It’s ok! The more you practice the better your tan will look. You can always remove streaks of product by rubbing some lemon on the area and then gently washing it off with a towel. Worst case scenario, you exfoliate the whole area and start all over.
Moisturize! For both your face and your body, it will be imperative to keep your skin moisturized in order to prolong your tan. Also avoid any skin peeling products or acne treatments because they remove your top skin layers, therefore dissolving the tan.
Whether you keep your porcelain skin or you choose to self-tan, always remember to love yourself! You are beautiful, just the way you are <3
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