I refuse to subject my skin to hours upon hours of sun damage! But how’s a girl to get a healthy, summer glow without frying in the sun?!?

Self tanning. That’s how! Self tanning has improved drastically in the past few years- no longer must we settle for various shades of orange or unflattering ankle streaks! As a devout sunless tanner, I have gathered many tricks and tips to perfect the ultimate summer bronze from a bottle.

If you haven’t already, look around for a free spray tan! Salon spray tans are incredibly professional and most salons have deals in which you can get a spray tan completely free from Mondays through Wednesdays.

If you choose to do it yourself, keep in mind the three important pre-tanning steps: shave, exfoliate, moisturize.

  1. Shaving is essential to making sure you have an even tan. Applying self-tanner without shaving first will leave you with small, white spots at the root of hair follicles where the tanner did not reach. I suggest using a moisturizing shaving cream such as Kiehl’s Close Shavers Formula

  2. Exfoliating is also important in ensuring a long-lasting and flawless tan. There’s no point in using self-tanner on dry, rough skin that will only be sloughed off in a few days. Loofahs or body scrubs will both work to expose healthier skin. Be sure to concentrate on exfoliating areas such as knees and elbows where dry skin can end up absorbing more self-tanner and leave you with extra bronzed joints!
  3. Moisturizing in preparation for self-tanning can be tricky. If you have the time, shaving, exfoliating, and moisturizing with a light lotion the night before you self-tan will give you the best results. You want to make sure your skin is evenly hydrated so there are no dry patches of skin that will absorb uneven amounts of tanner. I always make sure to put a light layer of vaseline on my cuticles and elbows- areas especially prone to absorbing too much tanner. If you’re planning on self-tanning your face, it’s a good idea to mix the tanner with some facial moisturizer because aiming for a half shade lighter on your face will give you the most natural tan. Additionally, I always prep by putting some eye cream  on beforehand because the eye area is naturally a little lighter than the rest of your face and I like to keep my tan very natural looking.

 

These are the three pre-tanning essentials! Remembering to follow these steps will ensure a longer-lasting, more natural tan! As for what tanning product to use, I swear by Neutrogena MicroMist: it’s affordable, easy to use, and very natural!

Have fun tanning and enjoy your new, safe glow!


Emma B has 11 post(s) on RTR On Campus