How to Use Self-Tanner to Avoid Streaks
If you’ve been wondering how to use self-tanner at home, this is the perfect post to learn. I love self-tanner because it’s so much safer than tanning in the sun. Plus, self-tanning formulations have come such a long way in the last ten years. They are so advanced now and you’ll find that you don’t get streaks as much as you might have previously with older iterations of self-tanner.
The success of your self-tanner will depend on proper prep and application. If you learn the proper way to use self-tanner, it’ll help create a smoother, longer-lasting, and more natural-looking finish. In this blog post, we are going to dive deep into what self-tanner actually is, how self-tanner works, what to use when applying it, how to apply it, and when the best time is to use it on your skin.
How to Use Self-Tanner
Applying self-tanner involves more than simply putting the product on your skin. The best results are going to come from proper preparation, careful application, and consistent aftercare. When figuring out how to use self-tanner, you will learn that it becomes a lot easier once you practice and apply it onto your skin a few separate times.
What Is Self Tanner?
Self-tanner is a cosmetic product that’s designed to temporarily darken the skin without harmful sun exposure. Most formulas contain an ingredient called dihydroxyacetone (or DHA). It’s a simple carbohydrate usually derived from plant sources like sugar beets or sugar cane. The DHA reacts with the outer layer of the skin to create a tanned appearance on your face and/or body.
How Does Self Tanner Work?
DHA is the primary active ingredient
It’s pretty rare to find a self-tanner that doesn’t contain DHA. This is the key ingredient in most self-tanning products. And the amount of DHA can really vary with each product, depending on how deep you want your tan to look.
Results develop over several hours
There are so many different types of formulas on the market now. Some self-tanning formulas promise to develop a tan in just a few hours. Others will develop fully overnight. And then there are other, gradual formulas that promise to develop over the span of a few days. These ones are more customizable because you can stop using the self-tanning lotion when you’ve reached your desired color.
Color continues developing after application
Some self-tanners (like the mousses) come out brown and will make your skin look a little bit darker upon application. Other self-tanners are clear or are lotions, and you won’t see the color develop until hours after application.
Fades naturally with skin cell turnover
All self-tanners are meant to fade naturally with skin cell turnover. Some will fade more gracefully than others. You might find that some self-tanner formulas are a bit splotchy as they fade, but this is pretty rare. Especially with the advancements in self-tanning formulas these days.
Proper skin prep affects final results
It’s really important to prep properly for self-tanning application. Otherwise, you could end up with a splotchy, streaky mess. Below, we will cover how to properly prep your skin for self-tanner application.
What To Use When Applying Self Tanner
Self-tanning mitt for even application
I used to use a self-tanning mitt a lot for applying mousse-based self-tanner, but I haven’t used one in quite a while. A lot of the formulas I use these days don’t require a mitt, which is nice. However, a lot of the mousses still require that you use a mitt to spread the formula around your body. It’s a good idea to use the mitt because it will help spread the formula evenly across your skin to avoid streaking, and it will also prevent orange palms!
Gentle exfoliator before tanning
I like to use an exfoliator all over my body before applying a tan. But some folks like to use it on just the spots that typically get splotchy. These include your knees, elbows, feet, and hands.
Lightweight moisturizer for dry areas
Before you apply a self tanner (unless its a gradual tanning lotion), you should apply a lightweight body lotion to your knees, elbow, feet, and hands to prevent the formula from streaking.
Body wash without heavy oils before application
The worst thing you can do is wash your body with a ton of oils before applying self-tanner. Oil will prevent the self-tanner from penetrating the top layer of your skin, and could cause streaking or just not allow the tanner to work properly.
Makeup brush for hands, feet, and face blending
I’ve never used a makeup brush to apply tanner on my hands and feet, but I’ve definitely used it to blend out self-tanner on my face. Make sure you wash your makeup brush after you’ve used it with self-tanner!
How To Apply Self Tanner
Step 1: Exfoliate your skin
Before you do anything else, you want to remove dead skin cells and exfoliate your entire body. This is one of the most important tanning tips I can give you that makes the biggest difference in how your tan turns out. Use a body scrub or exfoliating mitt all over, paying extra attention to your elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. Do this at least 24 hours before applying your self-tanner so your skin has time to settle.
Step 2: Moisturize dry areas
Apply a lightweight moisturizer to your knees, elbows, hands, and feet before tanning. These are the areas most prone to absorbing too much product and looking unnatural. This creates a barrier that prevents the self-tanner from soaking in too deeply in those spots and keeps your overall tan looking even. Just make sure you’re using a lightweight, non-oily formula and letting it fully absorb before moving on.
Step 3: Apply your self-tanner
If you’re using a mousse, pump a small amount onto your tanning mitt and work it into the skin in circular motions, section by section, starting from your legs and working your way up. Work quickly and blend thoroughly at every section to avoid harsh lines, and always wash your hands with soap and water immediately after (or use a mitt the entire time) to prevent your palms from turning orange.
Step 4: Blend carefully at the joints
Your knees, elbows, ankles, and wrists are where self-tanner most commonly goes wrong, so give these spots extra attention. Use whatever product is left on your mitt after covering the surrounding area to lightly blend over these spots rather than applying a full amount of product directly to them.
Step 5: Use a makeup brush for tricky areas
For your hands, feet, and face, a makeup brush gives you so much more control than a mitt and helps blend the self-tanner seamlessly into these trickier areas. Just make sure you wash your brush thoroughly after use so the self-tanner doesn’t stain it permanently.
Step 6: Let it dry completely before getting dressed
Give your self-tanner at least 10 to 15 minutes to fully dry before putting on any clothing to avoid transfer and streaking. And whatever you do, avoid sweating, getting wet, or washing the area for at least six to eight hours so the DHA has enough time to fully develop.
When Is The Best Time To Use Self Tanner?
Honestly, the best time to apply self-tanner is in the evening. And I say this from years of personal experience. Applying it at night gives the formula the full overnight window it needs to develop without any interference from sweating, showering, or general activity, and by the time you wake up, your tan will have developed beautifully. Just make sure you wear loose clothing (bonus points if it’s dark) to bed and put a dark towel over your pillow in case there’s any transfer overnight.
That said, if you’re using a gradual tanning lotion, timing is a little more flexible since these formulas are designed to be used daily and don’t have the same strict development window as a traditional mousse or drops formula. Applying it right after your morning or evening shower works perfectly well and just becomes a seamless part of your regular routine.
Want to know the difference between a spray tan vs self tanner? Check out my blog post for more info!
