Imagine that you bought a self-tanner that you’ve been dying to use. You kept hearing about it on television. Even one of your favorite celebrities promoted it on social media.
You finally cave in and decide to give the product a try. And then you wake up with streaks and splotches. You’re disappointed because you were hoping to glow like your fave celeb. Streaks and splotches are common with most self-tanning products.
Entering the world of self-tanning can be challenging, especially if you’re new to it. It can be hard to determine which products are the best for your skin type. Just because a certain self-tanner looks good on someone else doesn’t mean it’ll work for you.
You don’t have to feel despair over your self-tanning mistakes. Whether you’re airbrushing or using bronzer, you’ll want to be aware of the most common self-tanning mistakes. Here are five ways to get your glow on this summer while correcting some of the most common self-tanning mistakes that occur, no matter which product you use. Just relax and remember that most of these mistakes are correctable and can be fixed.
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1 – A Streaky Tan
This is a common problem with most self-tanners on the market. But thankfully, the newest self-tanning products come with advanced formulas that don’t cause streaks. So, the best way to prevent streaks from happening is by choosing a high-quality self-tanner and an application method that works for you. Those new to self-tanning should use a bronzer that allows you to see where you applied the product.
Another way to prevent streaks is to apply the product with disposable gloves or a tanning mitt in large circles. Then allow plenty of time for the self-tanner to settle and appear. You also should avoid crying, sweating, or wearing fitted clothing or coming into contact with water eight hours following application to prevent streaks.
2 – Orange Palms
Orange palms is another common problem that happens by not wearing disposable gloves or a tanning mitt. Your skin is also severely dehydrated. Covering your hands and using a moisturizer after your self-tanner dries can prevent this problem from occurring. If you have to tan without gloves or a mitt, then you should wash your hands after self-tanning a section of your body to prevent the self-tanner from setting into the palms.
Maybe it’s too late and you’re sitting there with orange hands before reading this guide. There are several ways for removing the self-tanner, such as baking soda or an old-fashioned lemon slice and ice cube.
3 – Choosing the Wrong Self-Tanner
Not all self-tanning products work the same. It’s important to do our research by reading online reviews and labels. If you have a certain skin condition, then you may want to use a self-tanner that contains natural ingredients. Since DHA is the active ingredient in self-tanners, it’s important to choose a self-tanner that has hydrating ingredients to prevent your skin from drying out, such as MineTan Coconut based on coconut water.
This allows the self-tanner to glide evenly onto your skin and prevents fading. If you have naturally dry skin, then you’ll notice that your tan won’t last as long as expected. It may also appear uneven, so it’s best to use a light application and gradually build your tan until it creates your desired result.
4 – A Dark Tan
Maybe your tan is darker than you wanted or anticipated. In this case, you should soak in an Epsom salt bath for up to 20 minutes. While you’re soaking in the tub, gently scrub your skin with an exfoliator or washcloth. Your self-tanner should easily come off.
You’ll want to try this method a few times a week if you want to remove your entire tan. But one bath soak should be enough if you just want to lighten it. This method is also effective if you want to remove your old self-tanner before trying a new one.
5 – Tan Quickly Fades
As previously stated, self-tanning products work differently on different skin types. While most products last as long as stated, there are some that could fade in as few as three days. Depending on which self-tanning product you use, you can gradually build on your tan with that same product to prevent fading. Another trick is to ensure that your beauty and skin care products can be used with self-tanning products.
That means avoiding products that contain alcohol, fragrances, parabens, and sulfates. All of these ingredients are extremely drying and irritating on the skin and can lessen the duration of your tan.
