Tips and tricks for self-tanning application

Everything you need to know about getting the perfect tan with the help of a self-tanning product - without unwanted "stains"!

We all know that capturing the perfect tan under the sun or using a tanning bed is harmful to your skin and your health, but you can get a beautiful tan in a safe way - with the help of self-tanning products. Think of it as a magic wand that can even out your skin tone from head to toe and give you such a tanned bronze tan ALL YEAR AROUND. Despite the fact that many of you are afraid to use such products for fear that they will have unwanted lines and stains, or get an 'orange' tan, with our help you have no reason to worry. As with any beauty routine, there are steps you need to follow to make sure everything works well. When we talk about self-tanning, there are a lot of things you need to pay attention to - from proper preparation, ie the use of body scrubs and moisturizers, to the application of the product itself. In order for the result of applying the self-tanning product to be satisfactory, below we bring you 19 tips and tricks on how to make your “artificial” tan look authentically sun-kissed and natural, without any unwanted stains.

 19 tips for properly applying self-tanning products

1. For an evenly tanned body, exfoliate the entire body before applying any self-tanning product. To prevent your tan from looking smudged and fading unevenly, it is best to do a body scrub the day before applying the self-tanning product. This way the self-tanning product will not enter the open pores on your body which can create a freckled appearance on the skin. (See our Sugar, Matcha ili Coffee BABE body scrub). 

2. After showering and exfoliating, apply body milk to your hands from your wrist to your fingertips, on the backs of your heels, and on your elbows and knees. These areas tend to be dry and will absorb more pigment than other areas of your body, causing unevenness. If you have large pores or dry skin, you should also apply a moisturizer on your face 20 minutes before applying your self-tanning serum.  See our rich and moisturizing body milk Hydra BABE.

3. One clear sign of a fake tan are orange spots on the soles of your feet. Stick tape to the bottoms of your feet when using a self-tanner to cover your skin in case you step in fallen residue. Painter's tape or gaffer tape is thick yet not too difficult to remove when you're finished.

4. 

   Whether you use self-tanning foam, self-tanning serum or any other self-tanning product, always apply them in a cool, dry place to prevent your body from sweating. Exfoliating your skin before self-tanning is important to remove any dead skin cells (that cause bumps on your skin), dirt, oil, and anything else that could create a barrier between your skin and the product. However, before you start applying the self-tanning product to your body, you will have to leave the steamy bathroom as humidity, water and sweat can “disrupt” the self-tanning process itself by creating streaks and unevenness.  

5. To successfully apply the self-tanning product to the creases on your finger joints, bend your fingers so that your hand looks like a claw. It’s important to know that you don't walk around with your fingers straight all day long, so when applying self-tanning foam, be sure to cover all corners of your body that might be visible when you move.

6. When applying self-tanning foam to your arms and legs, skip your elbows and ankles. Since the skin in these areas will absorb most of the product, skip them during the first application. Then go back to those parts of the body and lightly coat them with the remnants of the self-tanning foam left on the glove for easier application, making sure the foam blends well with the skin to prevent the color from looking too concentrated.

7. 

   Understandably, applying a self-tanning product to your face can be daunting because it’s your face after all. Therefore, it is recommended to use products for the face that are intended exclusively for the face because facial skin is more sensitive than body skin and therefore requires special care. Such products should be applied all over the face, below the jaw line and on the sides of the forehead and face all towards the ears. See our GLAM TAN self-tanning serum with hyaluronic acid that gives your face a natural and even darker face skin tone, and at the same time nourishes the skin thanks to hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5 and glycerin.

8.  Instantly tone your body by contouring from head to toe. If you are someone who likes good contouring, you can apply self-tanning foam to specific areas on your abs, butt, legs, and arms to achieve a naturally contoured and shaped effect. 

9.  Since most self-tanning products do NOT contain sunscreen, be sure to use sunscreen with SPF when exposed to the sun. Pay special attention to facial skin that is more sensitive! For the body, we recommend our Sun BABE body sunscreen with SPF 30  and Sun BABE face sunscreen with SPF 50. 

10.  We all know that when applying self-tanning foam on the body, there are several hard-to-reach parts of the body such as the back. But you can make it easier to cover such hard-to-reach areas in a very simple way - by assembling your own “glove stick”. Take a glove for easier application of self-tanning products, a hair elastic and a back brush. Then put the glove on top of the brush head and wrap a hair band around the handle so that the glove does not slip. Apply the self-tanning foam on the glove and run it over your entire back and other hard-to-reach areas in a very simple way.

11. 

    Spread the self-tanning foam on the glove evenly by applying it to the center of the glove before folding the glove in half. With this trick, you will be sure that you have applied less self-tanning product to the "critical" places, such as the face, hands, elbows, knees and feet, with the tip of the glove, which results in a more natural and even tan. It will also reduce your worries about applying self-tanning foam to your face in the same amount you would apply to your thigh, for example.  See our GLAM TAN glove for easier and even application of self-tanning products. 

12. To blend the self-tanning foam with the skin on your hands, use a makeup brush (e.g. our kabuki brush). After applying the self-tanning foam, lightly blend the product with the skin using a kabuki brush. This will even out dark spots and prevent the appearance of streaks after your skin gets a  nice tan. We also suggest that you do this between your fingers, toes and on your knees, which often tend to crease.

13.  After you finish applying the body self-tanning foam, do a short hand scrub. Put a small amount of scrub in the middle of your palms and gently rub your hands. Even if you use a glove for applying the self-tanning foam (which is the best way to ensure that your tanned skin is free of streaks and your palms remain colorless), when the self-tanning product is still wet, it is very easy to make a mistake. The granular structure of the exfoliator will help you remove any leftover of self-tanning foam that may have entered the skin on your palms in the process. It is very important that you do not aspirate the product with water alone. Instead, follow our advice to make sure you remove the remaining foam residue from your hands.

14.  After you exfoliate your palms, rub them with a make-up remover wipe to remove the exfoliator. The last thing you want to do while waiting for the self-tanning foam on your body to dry is get your skin wet. That is why, instead of rinsing the peeling with water, wipe your palms a little with a make-up wipe. To remove the remnants of foam from your palms, there is another way - use a face tonic that can also help you to help remove any self-tanning product from your palms.

15.  Use a cotton swab or make-up remover wipe to remove the self-tanning foam from your nails and cuticles. After applying the self-tanning foam carefully and evenly on your hands and feet, go back and remove the product from your nails and cuticles. Using a stick or tissue, gently rub your fingernails and toenails to prevent stains.

16.  If you are in a hurry, instead of waiting for your skin to dry after applying the self-tanning foam, gently dry your skin by cold adjusting the blow-dryer to speed up the process. We agree that this is a lot easier than standing naked in the bathroom and literally waiting for the foam to dry. 

17. 

    To prevent self-tanning foam from creasing under the armpits, elbows and knees, lightly pat these areas with baby powder. After the self-tanning foam dries and before you put your clothes back on, we suggest that you apply baby powder to the areas that are prone to creasing.

18. If the product has not completely dried on your skin, and you applied it before going to bed, we advise you to put dark bedding and a sheet on the bed, and wear darker clothes, just in case so that no stains remain. After the first shower, the top layer of the product that "didn't get caught on the skin" will be removed, so you don't have to worry about stains on your bedding or clothes later.

19.  If your tan still fades unevenly, use a body scrub to speed up the removal process. Before re-applying a new layer of self-tanning body foam, remove all the old tan using a body scrub. (See our Sugar, Matcha ili Coffee BABE body scrub). 

NEW! La PIEL GLAM TAN collection for body and face self-tanning.

• self-tanning body mousse
• glove for easier and even application of self-tanning products
• hyaluronic self-tanning face serum

REMEMBER! As is the case with makeup, no one can immediately become a professional in applying self-tanning products. It takes time and technique, but also patience. But don't worry - self-tanning products will provide you with a perfectly tanned complexion ALL YEAR ROUND!