frentanyl
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I'm making this guide as there is not another good guide dedicated solely to self tanning (which is actually quite a broad subject and easy to mess up if not done correctly)
Why you should be using self tanner:
Colouring is more important than most people think and is often overlooked. Having a good, healthy tan can ascend you up to 1 PSL depending on your starting point (natural skin tone). Many guys who look OK don't stand out nearly as much when they're pale. The examples below show how much it can ascend you.
It also makes blemishes, rosacea, acne and other skin issues far harder to see... it also makes your teeth appear whiter. You get (almost) instant results; it is very cost effective, and you don't have to risk getting cancer or aging your skin by sitting in the sun or a tanning bed for hours (which is also a waste of time)
.
What does self tanner actually do?
Self-tanner works by reacting with the very top layer of your skin rather than sitting on the surface like makeup (no blocked pores!). The main ingredient is DHA, which interacts with amino acids in the dead skin cells that make up the outermost layer of your skin.
The reaction produces a brown pigment, giving the appearance of a tan. Because the colour develops on the surface layer, it doesn’t block or clog pores like makeup.
Do not think of it as something that is 'on' your skin, instead, it subtly changes the colour of your skin cells themselves! As your skin naturally sheds and renews, the tan gradually fades away over several days, up to a week.
Drops, foam, lotion or spray?
I have tried out a lot of different types of self tanner, and I can confirm a tanning foam is the best way to go. That said, I will give you a quick breakdown of the other options below:
Tanning foam: Apply to skin for an overnight tan.
Pros: Instant tan! Looks great if done right.
Cons: Can look uneven (only if you don't follow this guide!)
Tanning drops: Mix with moisturiser to get a gradual tan.
Pros: Natural look.
Cons: Takes a long time to work, less obvious results, can look patchy.
Tanning lotion: Gradually builds colour as you moisturise with it daily.
Pros: Natural look.
Cons: Takes a long time to work, need to use daily.
Tanning spray/mist: Sprayed on skin to create a light tan.
Pros: Easy to do.
Cons: Hard to see where you're applying, leading to patchiness. Results are too subtle.
What products do I need?
You only really need 3 products:
The main mistake people make when it comes to self tanning is buying the wrong product. This is what puts people off self tanning as they are worried they will look orange/fake.
Do not fear! I have the solution:
The best way to avoid a fake look is by buying a self tanner with a GREEN undertone... Sounds weird, I know, but green undertones cancel out red or pink tones in your skin, creating a natural, bronze tan.
Tanners with an orange undertone can make your skin look fake or overly warm, especially if you’re pale. The green base balances your skin tone, helping the tan develop into a realistic, sun-kissed colour.
You can try any tanning foam you want and experiment with shades - just make sure it has a green undertone. Below are some of the products I would suggest that worked for me. I have a medium skin tone. Not too pale, not too naturally tanned. You don't need to be too worried about getting the "exact right" self tanning shade, because they are normally broken down into 'light', 'medium' and 'dark' - for most people medium will work best.
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam Light Medium
St. Moriz Advanced Colour-Correcting Mousse Medium
Bali Body Self-Tanning Mousse Medium
The tanning mit is needed to evenly spread the tanner around. You can use your finger for your face (as I explain below), but for your body a tanning mit is a must! Make sure you wash it and store it in a clean place to prevent it causing acne (it won't cause acne as long as you keep it clean and free of any dust)
As for exfoliators, any physical one is fine. Do not use a chemical one, it must be a scrub.
How to use:
The tanner will take about 6-8 hours to develop, so do this before you go to bed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step 1: Preparation
Shave your face around 6-12 hours beforehand if you're normally clean-shaven.
Wash your skin with water and a cleanser to remove dirt.
Use an exfoliating scrub on all areas you are applying the self tanner. This removes dead skin and will prevent patchiness. It is vital you do this on your face. I suggest doing it on your body too, but that's less crucial.
After washing off the exfoliating scrub, ensure your skin is BONE DRY. It will look patchy if your skin is damp.
Moisturise areas of skin which get dry. Do this very lightly! Do not apply moisturiser all over, only if you need to in dry areas (nose folds, elbows, knees)
Avoid applying deodorant before tanning, as it can react with the DHA and turn green temporarily.
Step 2: Application
Shake the tanning foam bottle and squirt a bit onto your index finger. Spread this around your face evenly. Keep doing this (a few coats is normally enough) until your face is evenly coated, taking extra care when applying around the hairline, lip line and nose folds. You can avoid your eyes/eyelid area for now. Once your face has an even coat wash your finger with soap and warm water immediately. If you don't then you'll have a tanned finger for a few days which will look kind of ridiculous.
Now at this stage you might be thinking "WTF WHY AM I GREEN/BROWN?!" --- do not worry. The brown you see is simply bronzer (they add this to help you see where it's going so that it's not patchy) The bronzer will wash off later. The greenness comes from the undertone. This will fade to a natural bronze colour once the tan has developed.
Next, take the tanning mit and squirt some more of the product onto it. Press the mit together to spread the product in the mit. Then pat your face (including eye area) evenly with the mit. This will prevent any patchiness and prevent the product building up in one place. For your ears, lightly brush the mit across the front and back to simulate how your ears would naturally tan.
Make sure the tan on your neck (front and back) blends well with your face!
Use the mit to apply to other areas you want to tan. If you are tanning your face then I would suggest you also do your neck, arms and body. Legs are optional if you're not going to be wearing shorts.
When applying to your hands, use the mit and do one hand at a time. Make sure you bend your fingers (make a claw hand gesture) to prevent the tanner from getting stuck in skin folds on your fingers. Blend well between your hands and arms.
Small mistakes can be fixed with a damp cotton pad or makeup wipe before the DHA develops.
Step 3: Development stage
After 20 mins the tanner and bronzer will cling to your skin and shouldn't easily come off. You can put some loose clothing back on (shorts and a big t shirt will work fine)
Now all you need to do is go to bed and sleep for 6-8 hours while your tan develops!
Avoid sweating, touching your face or getting your skin wet for best results.
Step 4: Washing it off
When you wake up, shower quickly with lukewarm water. Do not use shampoo or shower gel. If the water is too hot it could cause the DHA or the dead skin layer it’s reacting with to come off, which means less colour develops and your tan may appear patchy or lighter than expected.
You might notice a lot of the tanner coming off in when you shower. This is normal. It is not the DHA, but instead the bronzer that they add to help you see where you've applied it.
Pat your skin dry with a towel, do not rub it as it could cause DHA or the dead skin layer to come off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your tan will continue to deepen slightly over the next 24 hours.
Wait 12 hours before using cleanser, moisturiser, tretinoin etc for best results.
To extend your tan, moisturise daily with a gentle, fragrance-free lotion and avoid long hot showers or exfoliating too early.
You will need to reapply this every 5-7 days. This may seem annoying at first, but as you do this more, it will become easier and quicker to do on a regular basis. Most natural sun tans only last 2-3 weeks and cause skin cancer, aging, and waste your time by having to sit around in the sun.
FAQ:
Will I look orange? - Only if you use the wrong product (see my product recs above)
Can I still use [skincare product]? - Yes.
Can I still use topical tretinoin? - Yes, but wait 24 hours after washing off the tanner before using tret. Also, tret will cause your skin to shed faster, so you might need to reapply the tanner more often.
Will it come off in my bed sheets? - Some of the bronzer might come off, but it easily washes out. Most of it should 'stick' to your body about 20 mins after applying.
I see a lot come off when I shower it off, is that normal? - Yes, that is just the bronzer they use to help you see where you're applying it.
My tan doesn't look deep enough, what do I do? - You can apply the product again for a second coat the following night if it did not develop enough in 24 hours. Maybe go for a 'dark' foam next time, but ensure it has a green undertone.
Why you should be using self tanner:
Colouring is more important than most people think and is often overlooked. Having a good, healthy tan can ascend you up to 1 PSL depending on your starting point (natural skin tone). Many guys who look OK don't stand out nearly as much when they're pale. The examples below show how much it can ascend you.
It also makes blemishes, rosacea, acne and other skin issues far harder to see... it also makes your teeth appear whiter. You get (almost) instant results; it is very cost effective, and you don't have to risk getting cancer or aging your skin by sitting in the sun or a tanning bed for hours (which is also a waste of time)
What does self tanner actually do?
Self-tanner works by reacting with the very top layer of your skin rather than sitting on the surface like makeup (no blocked pores!). The main ingredient is DHA, which interacts with amino acids in the dead skin cells that make up the outermost layer of your skin.
The reaction produces a brown pigment, giving the appearance of a tan. Because the colour develops on the surface layer, it doesn’t block or clog pores like makeup.
Do not think of it as something that is 'on' your skin, instead, it subtly changes the colour of your skin cells themselves! As your skin naturally sheds and renews, the tan gradually fades away over several days, up to a week.
Drops, foam, lotion or spray?
I have tried out a lot of different types of self tanner, and I can confirm a tanning foam is the best way to go. That said, I will give you a quick breakdown of the other options below:
Tanning foam: Apply to skin for an overnight tan.
Pros: Instant tan! Looks great if done right.
Cons: Can look uneven (only if you don't follow this guide!)
Tanning drops: Mix with moisturiser to get a gradual tan.
Pros: Natural look.
Cons: Takes a long time to work, less obvious results, can look patchy.
Tanning lotion: Gradually builds colour as you moisturise with it daily.
Pros: Natural look.
Cons: Takes a long time to work, need to use daily.
Tanning spray/mist: Sprayed on skin to create a light tan.
Pros: Easy to do.
Cons: Hard to see where you're applying, leading to patchiness. Results are too subtle.
What products do I need?
You only really need 3 products:
- Self tanning foam - $10-20
- A tanning mit - $5-10
- Exfoliating scrub - $5-10
The main mistake people make when it comes to self tanning is buying the wrong product. This is what puts people off self tanning as they are worried they will look orange/fake.
Do not fear! I have the solution:
The best way to avoid a fake look is by buying a self tanner with a GREEN undertone... Sounds weird, I know, but green undertones cancel out red or pink tones in your skin, creating a natural, bronze tan.
Tanners with an orange undertone can make your skin look fake or overly warm, especially if you’re pale. The green base balances your skin tone, helping the tan develop into a realistic, sun-kissed colour.
You can try any tanning foam you want and experiment with shades - just make sure it has a green undertone. Below are some of the products I would suggest that worked for me. I have a medium skin tone. Not too pale, not too naturally tanned. You don't need to be too worried about getting the "exact right" self tanning shade, because they are normally broken down into 'light', 'medium' and 'dark' - for most people medium will work best.
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam Light Medium
St. Moriz Advanced Colour-Correcting Mousse Medium
Bali Body Self-Tanning Mousse Medium
The tanning mit is needed to evenly spread the tanner around. You can use your finger for your face (as I explain below), but for your body a tanning mit is a must! Make sure you wash it and store it in a clean place to prevent it causing acne (it won't cause acne as long as you keep it clean and free of any dust)
As for exfoliators, any physical one is fine. Do not use a chemical one, it must be a scrub.
How to use:
The tanner will take about 6-8 hours to develop, so do this before you go to bed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step 1: Preparation
Shave your face around 6-12 hours beforehand if you're normally clean-shaven.
Wash your skin with water and a cleanser to remove dirt.
Use an exfoliating scrub on all areas you are applying the self tanner. This removes dead skin and will prevent patchiness. It is vital you do this on your face. I suggest doing it on your body too, but that's less crucial.
After washing off the exfoliating scrub, ensure your skin is BONE DRY. It will look patchy if your skin is damp.
Moisturise areas of skin which get dry. Do this very lightly! Do not apply moisturiser all over, only if you need to in dry areas (nose folds, elbows, knees)
Avoid applying deodorant before tanning, as it can react with the DHA and turn green temporarily.
Step 2: Application
Shake the tanning foam bottle and squirt a bit onto your index finger. Spread this around your face evenly. Keep doing this (a few coats is normally enough) until your face is evenly coated, taking extra care when applying around the hairline, lip line and nose folds. You can avoid your eyes/eyelid area for now. Once your face has an even coat wash your finger with soap and warm water immediately. If you don't then you'll have a tanned finger for a few days which will look kind of ridiculous.
Now at this stage you might be thinking "WTF WHY AM I GREEN/BROWN?!" --- do not worry. The brown you see is simply bronzer (they add this to help you see where it's going so that it's not patchy) The bronzer will wash off later. The greenness comes from the undertone. This will fade to a natural bronze colour once the tan has developed.
Next, take the tanning mit and squirt some more of the product onto it. Press the mit together to spread the product in the mit. Then pat your face (including eye area) evenly with the mit. This will prevent any patchiness and prevent the product building up in one place. For your ears, lightly brush the mit across the front and back to simulate how your ears would naturally tan.
Make sure the tan on your neck (front and back) blends well with your face!
Use the mit to apply to other areas you want to tan. If you are tanning your face then I would suggest you also do your neck, arms and body. Legs are optional if you're not going to be wearing shorts.
When applying to your hands, use the mit and do one hand at a time. Make sure you bend your fingers (make a claw hand gesture) to prevent the tanner from getting stuck in skin folds on your fingers. Blend well between your hands and arms.
Small mistakes can be fixed with a damp cotton pad or makeup wipe before the DHA develops.
Step 3: Development stage
After 20 mins the tanner and bronzer will cling to your skin and shouldn't easily come off. You can put some loose clothing back on (shorts and a big t shirt will work fine)
Now all you need to do is go to bed and sleep for 6-8 hours while your tan develops!
Avoid sweating, touching your face or getting your skin wet for best results.
Step 4: Washing it off
When you wake up, shower quickly with lukewarm water. Do not use shampoo or shower gel. If the water is too hot it could cause the DHA or the dead skin layer it’s reacting with to come off, which means less colour develops and your tan may appear patchy or lighter than expected.
You might notice a lot of the tanner coming off in when you shower. This is normal. It is not the DHA, but instead the bronzer that they add to help you see where you've applied it.
Pat your skin dry with a towel, do not rub it as it could cause DHA or the dead skin layer to come off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your tan will continue to deepen slightly over the next 24 hours.
Wait 12 hours before using cleanser, moisturiser, tretinoin etc for best results.
To extend your tan, moisturise daily with a gentle, fragrance-free lotion and avoid long hot showers or exfoliating too early.
You will need to reapply this every 5-7 days. This may seem annoying at first, but as you do this more, it will become easier and quicker to do on a regular basis. Most natural sun tans only last 2-3 weeks and cause skin cancer, aging, and waste your time by having to sit around in the sun.
FAQ:
Will I look orange? - Only if you use the wrong product (see my product recs above)
Can I still use [skincare product]? - Yes.
Can I still use topical tretinoin? - Yes, but wait 24 hours after washing off the tanner before using tret. Also, tret will cause your skin to shed faster, so you might need to reapply the tanner more often.
Will it come off in my bed sheets? - Some of the bronzer might come off, but it easily washes out. Most of it should 'stick' to your body about 20 mins after applying.
I see a lot come off when I shower it off, is that normal? - Yes, that is just the bronzer they use to help you see where you're applying it.
My tan doesn't look deep enough, what do I do? - You can apply the product again for a second coat the following night if it did not develop enough in 24 hours. Maybe go for a 'dark' foam next time, but ensure it has a green undertone.
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