It’s officially time to shed layers of clothing and shimmy into our summer dresses and cutoffs — and when it comes to beauty, the leg-baring season is synonymous with self-tanners. Seriously, who could resist sun-kissed bronzed skin? Not us. While it’s tempting to lounge under the warm sunny skies, a faux glow is so much safer and incredibly easy to achieve right in the comfort of your own home. We called upon the top sunless tanning experts in the business and have a full rundown of the dos and don’ts of self-tanning, along with some of the best self-tanners and applicators. So skip the sunbathing and fussy spray tans, and step up your self-tanning game with these pro tips to ensure a beautiful tan all season long.
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Self-Tanning 101: The Products and Pro Tips to Ensure a Gorgeous Tan
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Self-Tanning 101: The Products and Pro Tips to Ensure a Gorgeous Tan #1
"Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water and eat vegetables like kale, spinach and avocado that are high in lysine. This will help improve your tan color," explains Vita Liberata and NKD SKN founder Alyson Hogg. "Additionally, always exfoliate and if you need to shave, do it at least four hours prior to applying the self-tanner."
Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub, $15 at Ulta
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Self-Tanning 101: The Products and Pro Tips to Ensure a Gorgeous Tan #2
"Choose the correct type of self-tanner that suits your skin and lifestyle," says Sophie Evans, St. Tropez skin finishing expert. "If you have a busy schedule or want to go to the gym or try on clothing in the day and do not really like the idea of having to wait eight hours to shower, this is when the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mist comes in. It is designed to shower off in as little as one to three hours. Apply exactly the same way as the classic Bronzing Mousse, but customize the color by choosing when to shower. One hour will give a light tan, two hours a medium tan and three hours a dark bronze."
St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mist, $40 at Sephora
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Self-Tanning 101: The Products and Pro Tips to Ensure a Gorgeous Tan #3
Alyson Hogg explains that beginners should use a product that utilizes color in order to see how your results will come out or to simply use a gradual lotion. "For those who don’t self-tan regularly, use a product with a guide color so you can see where you are applying, such as the Vita Liberata Ten Minute Tan or try a gradual, buildable tanning product like the NKD SKN Natural Gradual Tan Lotion that delivers a subtle deepening shade day after day."
Vita Liberata Ten Minute Tan, $39 at Sephora
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Self-Tanning 101: The Products and Pro Tips to Ensure a Gorgeous Tan #4
"A tanning mitt is important to ensure an even tan," says Alyson Hogg. James Read adds, "When tanning the body, make sure you always work the mitt down the body in downward strokes and map out where you have tanned. This will make sure your tan is perfect." Read also suggests waiting for 15 minutes and applying a second layer of self-tanner to deepen your tan and touch up spots that you may have missed in the first round.
James Read Tanning Mitt, $10 at Net-a-Porter
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Self-Tanning 101: The Products and Pro Tips to Ensure a Gorgeous Tan #5
If you don't want your face to be as tan as your body, James Read says moisturizer will be your best friend in this case. "To achieve a lighter tan on the face, apply a small amount of moisturizer to your face, wait to dry and then you’re ready to apply. This will make sure it's lighter, but also keep your skin hydrated," he says.
James Read Day Tan Face, $34 at Bluemercury
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Self-Tanning 101: The Products and Pro Tips to Ensure a Gorgeous Tan #6
Alyson Hogg explains the importance of wiping your elbows and knees after you've applied your final layer of sunless tanner. "Elbows and knees tend to be darker when applying self-tanner," she says. "To ensure evenness and the most natural tan, always wipe knuckles, knees and the back of the hands lightly with a damp washcloth or wet wipe after applying the tan. Moisturizing these areas beforehand is also helpful as these parts of the skin are drier and can result in a darker fade if you don't dab them after."
Vita Liberata Moisture Boost Body Moisturizer, $20 at Vita Liberata
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Self-Tanning 101: The Products and Pro Tips to Ensure a Gorgeous Tan #7
James Read adds that using a fluffy makeup brush is also helpful when blending your tan on your hands and feet. "You could use the leftover tanner from your mitt on your makeup brush to work [the formula] over your hands and feet," he says. "This will help you achieve a natural-looking tan on these areas."
Artis Palm Brush, $65 at Artis
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Self-Tanning 101: The Products and Pro Tips to Ensure a Gorgeous Tan #8
If you happen to have gone a bit too dark with the tanning on your face, James Read suggests using a peel to reset. "If your tan is way too dark on your face, use an enzyme peel to remove your tan," he says.
James Read Tan Perfecting Enzyme Peel Mask, $22 at Net-a-Porter
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Self-Tanning 101: The Products and Pro Tips to Ensure a Gorgeous Tan #9
Maintenance is key to ensuring a long-lasting tan. "To keep a natural tan going, make sure your skin is moisturized daily after any showering or bathing," says Sophie Evans. "Use a gradual self-tanner every few days to boost your color and bring back the depth of your summer glow."
St. Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Sculpt and Glow Everyday Multi-Active Toning Lotion, $35 at Sephora
