How to prepare the skin to apply a self-tanner

The sun is wonderful. It makes us brighten the day, makes plants germinate and develop, it is necessary for vitamin D and calcium to be fixed in the bones. However, it can also bring many problems, such as damage to the skin, wrinkles, spots and even cancer.

If you like to see golden and do not want to have the inconveniences of the sun, self-tanners are the solution. Whether it is the professionals who apply themselves in specific places for it, such as those you can use yourself at home, any type of self-tanner will help you look healthy and toasted without suffering the inconveniences of the sun or without having to go to the beach.

However, these products cannot be applied without prior skin preparation. That’s why below we will tell you how to prepare your skin to apply a self-tanner.

1 Choose the right one

There are many types of self-tanner. Gradual formulas need to be applied over several days until you have the color you want. The instant ones, which are put on and in a few hours you have the desired color. The specials for the face are for people who have a delicate complexion.
You also have to take into account the color. If you are very white skinned, do not choose a very dark one, because you will look disguised. Ideally, you should look golden but not artificial.

2 Hair removal and exfoliation

The ideal is to remove from your skin any element that prevents the self-tanner from spreading evenly.
That is why it is preferable that you shave well before applying it, which will also prevent wax, shaver or depilatory cream from changing the color you applied.
Exfoliation is also important, as it will remove dead cells and give an even texture to your skin that will facilitate the application of the self-tanner. To do this, you can use from a mane glove in the shower, or apply an exfoliator prepared from your favorite brand. You can also make the scrub yourself by mixing sugar with a moisturizer or with olive made. You can even use both methods: first the skin glove and then the exfoliator or vice versa.

3 Dampen

You don’t need to tell yourself, but just in case, once you get out of the shower dry carefully, so that there are no different areas. After exfoliation, your skin may become a little dry, so apply a non-greasy moisturizer. That way your skin will be prepared but will not have a substance with fat that prevents the self-tanner from adhering properly.

4 Care in areas you don’t want to tan

Before applying the self-tanner, take care of the areas where it should not reach. For example in the eyebrows or the beginning of the hair, it is convenient that you put a little petroleum jelly, which will prevent the self-tanner from staining your hair. In the case of hands, it is better to wear gloves, as otherwise they will be orange. Better still is to use a spray self-tanner or a small sponge to apply it without staining your hands. When you finish applying it, wash your hands quickly.

5 The application

Once you have your skin ready, start applying the self-tanner. They recommend that you do it from bottom to top, with circular novelties and taking care that the amount of product is the same in each part. It is better that you choose small areas that you can cover well. On the ankles and knees, apply a little more moisturizer, so that there are no folds. Do not forget any point. For the back you will need help, because if not there is always somewhere without application. Once you have applied the product well, wait for it to take effect. If after the specific time, it seems that the color is very light, you can apply a second layer, but better dilute it with moisturizer so that you are not too dark. Once the necessary hours have passed, you can take a shower, not before.

6 Let’s wait

Clear your agenda. Self-tanning takes time for careful application and then also several hours for the color to fix. You can not leave immediately afterwards, because the color will not be uniform and you will stain your clothes. The ideal is to do it at the end of the afternoon, so that you can stay with a loose dress in your home and then sleep. The product needs 8 hours to take effect. The next morning your color will be perfect. There are people who have special sheets to sleep after self-tanning, those who are a little old and it does not matter that they are stained with the product.