Once upon a time, there was a girl. She was living through a global pandemic and thus, she only ventured outside on rare occasions (such as to cross the stretch of lawn between her house and her car in order to embark on a Trader Joe’s run, or to walk her dog around the block). And, as these things go, she grew very pale from a near-complete lack of sun exposure. She was pasty. Her family laughingly described her complexion as a “moon tan”. 

 

It’s me. That girl is me.

 

In the dead of winter and in the middle of a pandemic, it’s totally understandable that many of us are suffering from a lack of Vitamin D and UV rays. Being tan isn’t an end-all-be-all solution to boosting self-confidence, but it sure can help! Even if we can’t be on a sunny beach vacation right now, with a little help from self-tanner we can look like we just returned from one, which might help us feel the good vibes that accompany a post-vacay bronzy glow.  

 

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: by no means does a tan (or lack thereof) define you, or how beautiful you are, or how valuable you are. Everyone is beautiful, and everyone is valuable, no matter what! But if you decide that a bit of a tan would boost your confidence, we say more power to you. We also say, do it correctly so you don’t look like a blotchy cheeto. Find a happy medium at least. With that being said, here are some do’s and don’ts of self-tanning:

 

Don’t shave right before you tan. This actually goes for hair removal across the board. By removing your hair in advance, you ensure that any nicks or open hair follicles caused by shaving or waxing have time to calm down and heal. This will reduce any irritation that may occur, and can also keep your tan from being blotchy or soaking into some areas more than others. 

 

Do exfoliate beforehand. This is self-tan 101 essential knowledge but we thought it was worth reiterating in case you haven’t heard it before. Applying a tanner over dry, flaky skin will cause your tanner to flake off with said flaky skin. Have we said “flaky” enough times? Anyways, exfoliating will create a smooth canvas for your tanning solution of choice, and will make the entire process much easier. Many self-tanners come with a mitt tanning and exfoliating mitt, but in case you’re in the market, WWD listed their 10 favorite exfoliating gloves here.

 

Don’t apply tanner to wet skin. This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you’re soaking wet, your tan won’t stick. It’s as simple as that. A shower to exfoliate beforehand is a great idea, but when you’re done make sure that you towel off completely. Your skin should be 100% dry – any leftover moisture will dilute your tanning solution and will leave you looking streaky. No thanks! To add a bit of moisture back into your skin apply a light layer of moisturizer before you tan, but allow it to soak in completely before adding any product.

 

Do use a mitt. How you apply your tan is personal preference, but mitts are far and away the easiest way to do it. Mitts allow you to apply your tanner smoothly, evenly, and quickly. They help distribute the product over your skin so that you don’t end up with a concentration of it in any one place. Starting from your legs and working your way up your body, spread the product with smooth, even strokes. And don’t forget your hands and feet!

 

Don’t over-tan. Sometimes this is easier said than done. Waking up and realizing you were a bit too heavy-handed with your product is really not fun. It will fade, yes, but those first few days of looking a little ~crispy~ may not be your finest. To avoid this, start light on the application. Tanning products are buildable, so you can add layers as needed. You cannot, however, subtract them.

 

Do your research! Our final, and most important tip, is to do your own research beforehand, especially if you are a beginner. There are several types of self-tan formula, and one may work better for you than another. Mousses are lightweight and usually develop gradually. Towelettes are travel-friendly and usually mitigate the mess of lotions and mousses. Waters and mists are hydrating and are great if you want to start light. Lotions are easy to apply and go on with a smooth finish. 

 

Being a self-tan beginner can be daunting, but it is a bridge that can very easily be crossed. We hope this helped address some of the common mistakes that are made by first-timers, (and second- and third-timers) everywhere! 

 

Here are some of our staff’s self-tanner faves: