How to Get the Perfect Self Tan Every Time

As a fair skinned redhead, I have tried a ton of self tanning products. It takes a while to learn what will work for your skin tone and type so you can get the perfect self tan every time. I have learned to accept the fact that I will never be able to get a natural tan so self tanners are a must for me during the summer months.

 

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I truly believe in.

We all know how damaging the sun’s rays are to our skin so there are products on the market for every skin type to help give you a gorgeous glow without harming your skin.

I have tried all kinds of ways to get the perfect self tan and I have gotten pretty good at it over the years. I wanted to share some of my fake tan tips and tricks for achieving a natural looking summer glow. Because no one wants to look like a Cheeto!

Get the Perfect Tan with Self Tanner

Related Posts:

How to Get Flawless Legs this Summer

Summer-Proof your Skin Care Routine

Which Sunscreen is Right for You?

When choosing a self tanner, you should try to choose one based on your skin tone and not the shade you are hoping to achieve in order to get the perfect tan with self tanner.

There are so many formulas available right now that you can even go a step further and choose one based on your skin type. For dry skin choose a moisturizing lotion or mousse, for oily skin try a gel or serum.

Best Self Tanner for Fair Skin: It seems that self tanning is hardest on those of us with fair skin. Streaks and imperfections can show up more easily and we can turn an orange hue if we are not careful.

I am a big fan of gradual tanners because it helps prevent that dark orange color and gives you a much more natural looking fake tan. You can simply apply the lotion once a day to create a natural and subtle color but it’s easy to add more if you want a darker look.

I recommend the Jergens Natural Glow daily moisturizer as a budget friendly option. Another great product is the Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster. You simply add a few drops of the serum to your regular moisturizer for a custom color. They offer it in both face and body formulas.

Best Self Tanner for Medium Skin: Probably the easiest skin tone to use self tanners on. Pick a formula labeled “light bronze” to give you a summer glow that isn’t too dark.

I like the Jergens Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse because it is very easy to apply and goes on smooth. It deepens your skin tone in a couple of hours and you can apply again the next day if you want a richer color. It’s best to use a self tanning mitt to apply this formula.

Best Self Tanner for Dark Skin: People with dark skin are usually looking for a healthy glow instead of an all out tan. Using self tanner on dark skin can really help cover any imperfections and improve your overall skin tone.

You can apply a sheer tinted body cream and top it with a shimmering body oil to achieve luminous summer skin.

If you want to add a bit of color, try the Banana Boat Summer Color Sunless Tinted Lotion in Deep Dark. It dries quickly and is easy to apply everyday to give you a slightly darker hue.

Best Self Tanner For the Face: Finding the best self tanner for the face can be tricky because you don’t want to have your face darker than your body.

I really like using the Almay Healthy Glow Makeup. It is great for all skin types and gives you a subtle tan on your face. You can add more the darker you want to get. Make sure you also blend into your hair line as well!

Fake Tan Tips Before you Tan

Don’t Drink Before you Tan: Drinking can lower your amino acid levels in your skin. The DHA in self tanners react with amino acids to work best. So to prevent any streaking, tan the day before you are planning on drinking more than two glasses of alcohol.

Exfoliate: For a streak free look and no patchy spots, you must exfoliate to get rid of all of the dead  flaky skin. This will allow the DHA to penetrate your skin evenly.

I like using the Jergens Color Primer In Shower Scrub. It makes my skin so soft and smooth. I use it in the shower right before I apply any self tanner.

Fake Tan Tips While you Tan

Avoid drips by working from your feet up. Use a self tanning mitt to apply the product evenly and avoid orange palms on your hands.

If you do have to use your hands to apply your self tanner, wash your hands and then use a makeup remover wipe on your hands, nails, and cuticles.

Fake Tan Tips After you Tan

To make self tanner dry faster, use your blow dryer on the low setting.

Moisturize twice a day to make the fake tan last longer.

Made a mistake? Fix a self tan by mixing the juice of 1 lemon and 1 lime with 1 Tbs. of baking soda until a past forms. Put the mixture in the microwave for 20 seconds and once it has cooled, spoon it onto a cloth mitt and rub it onto the areas that look darker. Then Rinse.

This should help fade the lines and streaks. You can repeat if necessary to help get the perfect self tan.

 

I hope that these tips will help you get the perfect self tan every single time. I love using self tanner for a healthy looking glow. If you have any other tips that you use, please feel free to share them below.