My Self-Tanning Routine and Tips

You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy self-tanner!  Who doesn’t love a good glow?  I am not a big fan of winter, and one of the ways I like to fight off those winter blues, is by having some color.  (Side note: I also like to watch live beach cams and visualize I’m in the sand and not the snow.)  I ventured out of my spray tan booth comfort zone last year to experiment with some self-tanners I could do at home.  This was to save some moola, but mostly for time management.  As a busy mom, I don’t always have time to get away to the tanning salon.  I was super nervous to tan on my own, and did a lot of research on prep and products to avoid any serious fails.  I got lucky and found an amazing product that gives me that all over bronzy glow.  Below I will share with you my self-tanning routine.

1. Shave

If we’re all honest here, this can be a rare occurrence in the winter…but it is a MUST for even tanning.  I usually shave my legs and remove any unwanted hair the night before I tan, and then moisturize all over with this lotion.  I love the coconut scent which reminds me of the beach! The recommended time frame to shave is 12-24 hours before applying the tanning product, but I know some choose to shave right before application, and that is fine.  Just do not apply lotion all over if you are going to apply product right after shaving.

2. Exfoliate

The evening I apply the self-tanner, I will shower and use an exfoliating brush beforehand to make sure I remove as much dead skin as possible.  You could also use a body scrub to help with exfoliation.

3. Moisturize

Before applying product, but after exfoliation, I apply lotion to the areas of my body that are more dry.  I apply lotion to my knees, elbows, feet, and any other bony prominences, since they tend to get a little darker once the self-tanner is applied.

4. Apply

I always start with my face and neck.  I use the self-tanning product Color Correction Self Tanning Face Lotion – Dark, by Tanceuticals, that is designed specifically for the face since the face and neck are more sensitive.  This also includes your ears!  You want to apply product up to the hairline.  I then wash my hands well.  After I wash my hands I put on this mitt to apply Tanceuticals Color Correction Self Tanning Lotion – Dark, to rest of my body.  I highly recommend using a mitt to avoid getting orange hands.  You could also use a Body Buddy Back Applicator (say that three times fast) for self application to the back, but I always recruit my husband for this part.  The first time we tried it he ended up with a large orange spot on the bottom of his palm because his hand is too big for the whole mitt to cover (heyyyyyy). He was very upset about this, and we take extra precautions now in the back application process.  I start with my feet and work my way up to my neck to prevent creasing from bending over to apply.  Lastly, I tan my hands.  I mix a small amount of lotion with the tanning product and only apply to the back of my hands, then carefully wash my palms.

5. Dry

I allow the product to completely dry before I put on clothes, which usually takes no more than 5 minutes.  I wear loose fitting clothing to bed and let it do its thing!  The color has never come off on my clothes or sheets, but I always put on an old set of non-white sheets as a precautionary.

6. Shower

I shower when I awake, and the tan usually lasts a week for me as long as I continue to moisturize every day to avoid dry skin shedding (eww).

I recommend you try this product for yourself!  You get several tans out of one bottle, and the price is very reasonable!  And did I mention, it doesn’t cause clogged pores or acne? I hope you enjoyed this mama maintenance post.  Look good = feel good, feel good = do good!  What self-tanners have you tried and had success with??  Comment below.

{Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.}

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