Self Tanning Preparation?
Any self tan is only as good as the prep done before it was applied! So it’s really important to get it right.
Moisturise! Dry skin & tanning do not mix! If tan is applied to dry skin the result will often be that crocodile skin look (not ideal) & the tan will also go patchy quickly. So make sure that you moisturise in the days leading up to tanning with Coconut Body Milk so that when you apply your tan you give it the best chance.
A thorough exfoliation of the entire body is essential, concentrate particularly on any rougher areas, including elbows, knees, heels, hands, feet & neck. Make sure that you are using an effective exfoliating glove such as the EcoTan Exfoliating Glove or scrub such as Himalayan Salt Scrub.
Make sure you do your exfoliation the day before not just before you tan! 24-48 hours is ideal timing. The product needs some dead skin cells to work with so if you exfoliate just before your result will not be as effective
Make sure that you your skin is free from all products prior to applying tan. Any products on your skin will act as a barrier to the tan, which we don’t want, think white armpits from deodorant, eek!
Tips for Self Tanning
Its no secret that I prefer a spray tan but sometimes that’s not possible & a self tan will get you through, but there are some things that will help you get it right! Here are my top tips:
It takes practice! the first time that you try a self tanner I would recommend doing a test run or patch on an area that you won’t see, so you can test the colour on your skin as all skin is different.
Take your time applying your tan.
2 coats are better than 1, even if you are wanting a lighter tan, 2 light coats will ensure a more even coverage than 1 heavy coat & that no are areas are missed.
Allow the product to dry before dressing or going to bed.
Avoid water & sweating while the product is developing.
Go easy on areas that tend to go darker, think elbows, knees, hands & feet. These will naturally go darker so use less product on them.
All skin is different & will take to tan differently so if you use a product & the result is too light, try using more product next time, generally the more product that you use the darker the result. Some products you can also customise the result by adjusting the wash off time, see individual product descriptions for this information.
Wash your palms!! If you don’t use a tanning mitt carefully wash your palms as soon as you are finished so they don’t get stained, so important!! For mousse or hempitan, use a glove!
Follow the directions in the products section or on the packaging as the application for some products may differ.
Apply your tan 2 days prior to an event. Tans can take 24-48 hours to fully develop so don’t be disappointed if your tan seems to wash away, give it time to develop.
The first rinse is just a rinse! When you rinse off the tanning product according to instructions on your packaging make sure that this is a quick rinse in the shower with luke warm water & no products. Your developing tan is sensitive in those first 24hours & a hot shower with products can actually prevent it from developing.
