ULTIMATE GUIDE TO
staying golden, all year round |
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Escaping to the tropics during the bleak midwinter is one solution to replenishing a fading tan, though unfortunately, it is not the most accessible or cost-effective one. Self-tanning is an alternative route to staying brightly bronzed without the need for a roundtrip flight. Infamous for giving intense orange-toned results in past decades (Y2K, yikes!), the self-tan category has definitely come a long way.
Although a plethora of reliable options in various application formats (serum drops, mousses, lotions, mists, and more) are now readily available, achieving a flawless faux tan is still truly an art and a science. Bear with us, as we lay out the blueprint for building a streak-free, long-lasting, natural-looking, sun-less tan routine. |
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The goal here is to set yourself up for success. It’s a make-it-or-break-it step, really—think dolphin/seal/stingray skin. Prep is recommended to start at least 1-2 days before you plan to actually apply self-tanner and should include meticulous exfoliation, shaving and moisturizing.
Polishing your canvas to be as smooth-as-possible before applying self-tanner all over will ensure even (non-patchy) results. Do this by physically exfoliating and shaving to rid desired areas of hair, which can stand in the way of self-tanner setting properly. Shaving a day before self-tan application is recommended to avoid it settling in pores and giving a ‘spotty’ look’—self-sabotaging yourself with look-alike strawberry skin. Lastly, be sure to moisturize daily (or even better, multiple times a day) throughout this phase as hydration is key to your skin being a smooth, plump canvas.
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During this step, go forth with the deed. Prior to application though, you’ll want to make sure any moisturizer you’ve applied has completely absorbed and skin is dry to the touch. For any extra-dry nooks and crannies that self-tan tends to cling to (such as ankles, knees, knuckles, elbows, etc.), you should prime with an extra layer of moisturizer. |
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Great job, but it’s not over... yet. Want to keep your tan bright and long lasting? We don’t intend to sound like a broken record, but moisturizing consistently and frequently will help to upkeep your results.
It is important to note that while you’ve exfoliated a ton to get here, you should halt going forward to extend the life of your tan. This means avoiding scrubs, chemical exfoliant ingredients (such as AHA’s, BHA, enzymes, etc), shaving, and rough rubbing/handling of your skin until you’re ready to start fresh.
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BUFFING BAR
✓ Good for: Prep, Application
✗ Not good for: Post-care |
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Built-up dead skin cells that have set-up shop on the surface of your skin are praying on your self-tan’s downfall. Use Buffing Bar during prep and announce their eviction. Exfoliate responsibly by adjusting the pressure of your buff on rougher/more sensitive areas of your body accordingly. Evenly compressed microcrystals throughout Buffing Bar will guarantee consistent exfoliation on any area of the body it glides over.
Just in case your self-tan session happens to go awry, grab a Buffing Bar (AKA magic eraser) and buff away any ‘overdone’ areas or stubborn residue left on your hands.
Avoid using throughout post-care until your tan is in its final glory days and you are ready to start over and repeat—at which point use Buffing Bar to sand the remaining layers off.
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COMFORT CLEANSE
✓ Good for: Prep, Post-care
✗ Not good for: Application |
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To get the closest shave during prep, grab a sharp razor and use Comfort Cleanse as a shaving lubricant. The 25% glycerin formula will ensure your body stays moisturized throughout cleansing, shaving, and even after rinsing off. Dry skin = another reason for a botched tan.
Use throughout post-care for daily, non-stripping cleansing that will leave your skin healthy and happy. Comfort Cleanse doesn’t include any exfoliating ingredients (which works in your favor here)!
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SMOOTHING SOLUTION
✓ Good for: Prep
✗ Not good for: Application, Post-care |
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If prone to ingrown hair and irritation from razors, use a thin layer of Smoothing Solution post-shaving in prep.
Avoid use throughout post-care as this formula contains 10% AHA (lactic acid)—though once ready to restart the process, use it as an allover tan remover.
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SPEED SOAK
✓ Good for: Prep, Application, Post-care |
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Beyond Speed Soak being the perfect candidate to hydrate skin in prep, this moisturizer is also a superb mixing medium if your preferred method of self-tanning during application is using serum drops. Its non-greasy finish will allow the self-tanner to freely sink in, while its gel-cream texture makes the tanning cocktail easy to spread, quick to absorb, and fast to dry.
Throughout post-care, use consistently to keep skin in a wholly-hydrated state and your tan looking vibrant for longer.
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CAREA CREAM
✓ Good for: Prep
✗ Not good for: Application, Post-care |
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Carea Cream, a more-than-just-a-lotion product, holds a special place in many routines. Lightweight in texture with highly moisturizing results, it’s formulated with 10% urea—a gentle, skin-softening exfoliant. For this reason, use during early stages of prep and avoid in post-care.
Similar to Smoothing Solution, Carea Cream’s exfoliating hero ingredient makes it a great allover tan eraser; layer the two formulas for best results.
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CLEARING MIST
✓ Good for: Prep
✗ Not good for: Application, Post-care |
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Clearing Mist is formulated with BHA (1% salicylic acid)—while extremely effective in treating body acne, it is a villain in a self-tan routine. Use this medicated breakout tonic in the early stages of prep and avoid use throughout post-care.
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Seasonal farewells have been exchanged with our natural summer tans as we involuntarily embrace continual gloomy weekends. |
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If you are a faux tan enthusiast and have tips not mentioned above—please write in, we’d love to hear from you. |
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228 Park Ave S
PMB 78638
New York, New York 10003
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