Spring and summer are barreling down the corner, which means it’s time to get our tan on. Getting that summer glow going doesn’t require hours in a tanning bed or skin-aging UV damage; You can get a tan before stepping a foot out the door with a single self-tanning session.
Before you start slathering on your favorite self-tanning or bronzing foams, lotions, or creams, the first step is all about the prep.
About 24-48 hours before you apply your self-tanner, you’re going to take a shower. You want your skin to be a little bit dirty—not freshly showered—so the tanner has something to grab onto.
During your shower, you’re going to do a couple of things: You are going to shave everywhere you need to shave, and you are going to exfoliate. This removes all the dead cells so you’re not shedding all that skin, and it makes the tan last longer.
My go-to exfoliation technique is using the COOLA Sunless Tan Exfoliator Mitt. It’s a 2-in-1 Exfoliator & Applicator with a nice rough surface on one side that uses organic Sisal to gently buff away dead skin, sunless-tan residue, and other impurities. I use this mitt in the shower with a sugar scrub, then continue my routine as normal.
When it comes to self-tanner, lotion is your best friend.
After I get out of the shower, I completely dry off and use the Hempz Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon Herbal Body Moisturizer, which smells so good; it’s definitely one to get. As soon as you get out, moisturize your whole body from head to toe, and then you will be ready to apply around 24 hours later.
Part two means it’s time to apply.
The first thing I grab is The Australian Glow Reusable Double Sided Tanning Mitt. A tanning mitt is a 100% must when applying self-tanner to avoid stained hands, and this one is washable, reusable, and creates a smooth finish without any streaks.
The tanner itself is The Australian Glow One Hour Rxpress Self Tan Mousse in the Dark shade. It says it’s ready to be washed off in about one hour, but you can leave it on for up to four if you want a deeper tan, and it will continue to develop over 24 hours.
I am absolutely obsessed with this tanner; the color is so pretty, and it’s not super orange, but a nice rosy color, which I really like.
Start with a hefty pump. I do my legs first, applying the mousse from the tops of my ankles up. Something super important is to not apply the tanner directly on any area prone to dry skin, so you don’t want to apply directly on your ankles and feet or your hands. I typically use what’s left over to even go over my knees.
Next, I do the top of my body the same way while still leaving my feet and hands alone because I go back and do those last. Once all my skin is coated, I let the tanner develop for at least an hour, but I usually don’t take a shower till the next day to let it develop longer.
One Pro Tip: At the hour mark, wash your hands and then use lotion on your feet!
The third part is what to do after letting the self-tanner develop.
First, I am super impressed, in love, and obsessed with The Australian Glow Self Tan Mousse. It’s such an even glow and it’s dark without being too dark.
To maintain this beautiful tan and make it last a full week—which is normally how long I leave my self-tanner on before I reapply a new coat—you’re going to moisturize from head to toe every day and every night. My go-to moisturizer is still the Hempz Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon Herbal Body Moisturizer.
When the tanner starts to get a little flaky and you start getting patches—because you will; it’s temporary—you’re going to use the St. Tropez Tan Remover Prep and Maintain Mousse and rub it all over your body before taking a shower.
This remover preps your body and makes the tan come off easily, even with the darkest shades. When you get in the shower, take that same COOLA Sunless Tan 2-in-1 Exfoliator & Applicator Mitt that you used in the prep stage to rub off all the tanner from your body.
Then, once you have it all off, you are ready to do a new coat and start this whole process over again for as long as you want to maintain that gorgeous, glowing self-tan.
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
