Self tanning is not an easy feat to consider when you want to get your tanning fix done. Normally, you’d opt for sunbathing or even indoor tanning as a means to get your tan. With how easy and straightforward it is, why wouldn’t you right? Sunbathing needs only the sun and some sunscreen while for indoor tanning you’re only subjecting yourself to a shorter amount of time under the heat. Unfortunately, these methods of tanning have become quite hazardous. In fact, it’s mostly due to tanning that there are a lot of skin cancer records through the year. The worst part? It’s only rising. Consistently exposing yourself to the sun is going to height the chances of getting skin cancer if sunburn and premature aging haven’t deterred you.
Thus, self tanning has gained a following due to being the healthiest manner of getting a tan on the market. As was mentioned, it’s not the easiest since self tanners are applied to your skin. Unlike the previous mentions of tanning, you’ll have to build up the color of the tan on your skin. There’s also a big chance of turning out too orange but here are some steps to avoid that and common mishaps when doing self tanning:
- Make sure to exfoliate your skin beforehand. Exfoliating paves way to a younger skin while removing dry, dead skin cells that have accumulated on the outermost layer of your epidermis. This can also avoid uneven skin tone since dead skin can peel off in time. Additionally, younger skin can help make your tan last longer.
- Choose a self tanner that works with your skin. Self tanners are like lotions and some skin can’t handle everything. Try to test out a self tanner before purchasing them. You don’t want to end up with a bad tan or a bad case of allergies.
- Build up the color of your tan. Unlike creams or lotions, you’ll want to slowly put the tan on your skin by dabbing it with a tanning mitt. It’s always a good idea to start off light and go dark from there. This helps avoid streaking as well as getting you the right tone that you want.
- If you do end up with a darker spot, use some lemon juice. Put some on a cotton swab and gently dab the dark area. Make sure to slowly lighten it up and not rub it off. That will certainly ruin your tan.
