Self-tanners have come a long way in the last decade. They are easier to use, have more natural looking tones, and have better wear. Still, we get a lot of clients who have hesitations when thinking about trying a faux glow. The image of a streaky, deep carrot orange body is still imprinted in our minds. However the self-tan waters are not nearly as scary as they once were, and we have the tried-and-true method for jumping in today.
Our LUX girl (and self-tan veteran) Amanda demonstrates St. Tropez Self Tan for us with her tips and tricks. She chose Self Tan Bronzing mousse to give her arms a medium glow that is perfectly sun-kissed.
Step 1: Exfoliate. Dry skin will absorb more tan and can create discoloured patches. Pop in the shower and use a hearty body scrub to prep your skin for even colour. Though you’ll need to avoid oil-based scrubs, they can create a barrier on your skin and prevent colour from developing properly. Caudalie Divine Scrub is one of our faves.
Step 2: Dry and prep. Towel dry and make sure your skin is a sparkling canvas for colour. If applying Self Tan to your face, use a lightweight moisturizer to line your hairline, eyebrows, nostrils and lips to keep your tan where you want it.
Step 3: Apply! Most formulas of St. Tropez are best applied with the application mitt. This creates a seamless, buffed, blended colour that keeps your hands stain free, plus it is most efficient with your product.
First timers will find the bronzing mousse to be the most user friendly. Use about one pump per arm, 2 pumps per leg.
PROTIP: When applying over knees, elbows and knuckles, bend them to ensure product is applied to all creases and areas for even colour.
If tanning your entire body, start from the bottom up; feet, ankles, legs, tummy, back, then arms. Don’t forget to apply to your hands as well, you don’t want your tan to stop at the wrists!
PROTIP: When applying colour to hard-to-reach areas, flip the mitt on your hand backwards and blend away!
Step 4: Develop. Let your tan develop on your skin for 4-12 hours. The longer you wait before rinsing, the stronger the colour and longevity will be. Don’t worry when you see the bold colour as you apply. What you see right from the bottle is a guide colour to make sure you’ve covered every nook and cranny. This will rinse off in the shower.
PROTIP: Apply Self Tan before bed and let develop overnight. Hop in the shower in the morning to rinse (only with water) and enjoy your new sun-kissed glow the next day.
Step 5: Maintain. Depending on application and formula, your tan should last between 2 and 10 days. To prolong your glow keep skin moisturized with a lightweight formula, and use an oil-free scrub to exfoliate for an even fade.
With the right steps, prep and a little patience, you can help yourself to a flawless summer glow. St. Tropez is our favorite self tanner that has a wide range of formulas and color depths so you can get the tan that is purely tailored just for you.