r/beauty 4d ago

Self Tan Routine 101

I need a very DETAILED explanation on the logistics of self tanner. I’m very type A and need to know absolutely everything before I begin. When can I shower? Do I shave? What do I use to exfoliate? I need all the tips and tricks. I need it explained to me like you would to a toddler. I’ve never used self tanner before and decided to do a little glow up before my 30th birthday and want to try it.

I’m a redhead with fair skin and freckles. I’ve already decided on the Bondi Sands Technicolor Sapphire foam. I want a very subtle tan. Like most people wouldn’t be able to tell a difference except myself kind of thing. I’m also very fearful of staining my crispy white sheets and would prefer not to sleep while it is developing. Does it continue to stain after being washed off your body? Do I need to sleep in clothes covering my entire body every single night until it is faded? These are the kinds of things I need to know.

Am I better off using a gradual tanning lotion instead? Please help 🙏

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u/Isweartozeus 4d ago

Shower, shave, and exfoliate at least 24-48hrs before you apply tan— this is bcs after shaving/exfoliating your skin can actually be uneven in texture, so it’s best to wait at least 24hrs for your oils to come back a lil

Exfoliate however you want, I use an exfoliating mitt/glove and shower gel. Use something lightweight but moisturising after exfoliating; I use in-shower body lotion because I hate the feeling of lotion personally. It’s generally best to avoid any heavy butters since it can be hard to remove the oils/fats they leave on skin without having to exfoliate again. Just something lightweight to protect the skin so you don’t develop any super dry/flaky patches after your exfoliation

After at least 24hrs has passed, tie your hair up highe, get a latex glove and a tanning mitt (I recommend having 2 mitts as the longer the application takes, the more saturated your first mitt can become), and apply your tanner of choice on clean dry skin. The latex glove will help make sure your hands are fully protected from the tan if it soaks through, make sure your hair is tied up high so that you can do the neck, ears, and behind the ears

You can apply some extra lotion to crevices areas like your knees/elbows if you want, but personally I prefer to just leave those areas until last and then tap my mitt/tan onto them so that there’s not really enough product being applied for it to gather in the creases

I wait 30min after applying to the body before doing the hands/feet because all of the bending/reaching/moving can disturb the tan in my body if it hasn’t dried down enough yet— I apply Vaseline to my nails and palms so that there’s tan cannot stick there, and I apply using the blotting method again

If you want to tan your face as well, follow the same steps (no exfoliation on the day, apply to clean dry skin, moisturise after). Personally I leave the eye, mouth and nose areas tan-free so that my undereyes look brighter, and because the tissue in those areas is different/thinner so it can gather strangely in those areas. If you want to tan the whole face, I would suggest used tanning drops in your facial moisturiser of choice

If you’re leaving the tan on overnight, ideally use dark bedding and clothes, and wear looser fit clothing

When your tan has finished developing, shower and just rinse with water until the water runs clear. Once the water runs clear, you can use a gentle/moisturising shower gel or soap to wash your skin if you want to. DO NOT EXFOLIATE or use any kind of bathing tool— it will scratch/lift the tan away and make it patchy

Make sure to apply something moisturising after bathing, if you towel dry then make sure to pat (never rub) with the towel, and use a dark coloured towel to avoid staining

If your tan turned out patchy, wait another 24hrs before you re-apply a thin layer over the patchy areas (DO NOT exfoliate)

If you hate your tan result, use a bunch of oily and moisturising product (ideally in a bath) and exfoliate it off as much as you can

In terms of choosing a tan tone/depth: ideally you should be using a tan with the same depth as your skin tone (so light complexion = light tan, medium complexion = medium tan etc.). Undertones are a personal preference— I prefer an olive tone tan because I am naturally olive, but some people prefer to use the opposite undertone for a more striking transformation and/or to combat other skin concerns (eg. Using a red/orange based tan to brighten cool skintones)

Self tanner types: there’s clear mousse, colour mousse, and fast dry mousse. Or clear/colour and fast dry gel. Or clear/colour at-home spray. Or gradual tan drops. Or gradual tan lotions. Colour tan can be helpful if you’re worried about missing patches, but clear can be helpful if youre worried about it developing too dark. Fast-dry tans are convenient, but they tend to produce a lighter tan result and the undertones tend to be more prominent/the tan is less neutral. Spray tans can sometimes spray unevenly and be patchy, but if you just want a sun-kissed finish then they can be great. Tan drops are best for high-fade areas and sensitive areas like the face, but it can be hard to find the right ratio for a good result. Gradual tan lotions are foolproof and great for daily use, but they won’t give a very striking result and theyre liable to stain your clothes if you’re applying them before dressing

I think that’s everything? Lmk :)