How To Prep Skin for Self Tan

How to prep skin for self tan is always a question I get asked. And there is one thing I will always say about self tan: your prep matters just as much as the tan itself.

You can buy a beautiful self tanning mousse, but if the skin is not prepared properly, it can grab in the wrong places, go patchy, fade badly, or just look far more fake than it needs to. And we do not want that.

Prep your skin for a self tanner like you would for a spray tan

If you want a better self tan result, prep properly. Not “kind of”. Properly.

First things first: you need a good exfoliating mitt.A loofah will not do the job. Believe me. It just won’t.

You need something that actually removes old skin properly and gets the body ready for an even tan. That is exactly why I sell the Sunescape Exfoliating Mitt online and in studio. I did not just decide to stock any mitt for the sake of it. I wanted one that actually works and helps give a better result.

Do your prep the day before

This is a big one.

Your exfoliation, shaving, hair removal, brows, waxing — all of that should be done the day before. Not right before applying your tan. Not ten minutes before. The day before.

That gives your skin time to calm down, settle, and stop being so fresh and reactive.

I also recommend showering at least 4 hours before you apply your self tan. That gives your skin time to return to a better pH level and helps avoid open pores and those little bits of drama the skin likes to create after a hot shower.

Before you start tanning… go to the toilet

Sounds basic. It is basic. But also very important. And always forgotten.

Go to the toilet before you apply your tan.

Because once your mousse is on, you do not want to be sitting on the toilet trying not to ruin your tan, and you definitely do not want to be washing your hands over and over once you have started. Sort yourself out first. Future you will be very grateful.

How to Apply Self Tanning Mousse

When it comes to applying self tan, I always think:

Less is more

You do not need to go wild with product. You need to apply smart.

A good application mitt helps a lot too. I will be honest, I still haven't found one I absolutely love. So if you know of one that is amazing, tell me, because I will happily try it. I am fussy.

Start with your legs

I always start with the legs first.

Why? Because once your upper body is sticky with tan, bending down again to do your legs is just annoying. So get the hardest part done first.

When doing the feet, be careful. Do not load up the mitt with too much product. Dark feet are one of the quickest ways to make a tan look obviously fake. And your heels do not need tanning either.

I use a clean kabuki brush or a soft clean makeup brush and lightly pull any leftover tan from the legs down onto the feet. Then I blend it really well with the brush.

And this is where I will say it again:

Blend. Blend. Blend.

Then move to the upper body

Once the legs are done, move to the upper body.

If you want to do two coats, I would let the legs dry a little and do the second coat on them first before starting the upper body. That way you are not bending down again once the rest of you is sticky and developing.

For the arms, go easy on the inside. The inside of the arms is naturally lighter, so if you go too dark there, it can look a bit off. Use your brush again to soften and blend.

Hands, elbows and tricky areas need less

Hands do not need much product at all.

I always pull the leftover tan from the arms down onto the hands and then blend carefully with a brush. Same idea as the feet.

Elbows are another one people overdo. They are already darker, drier and rougher. They do not need much tan at all. I usually almost skip the elbow and just blend around it gently with the brush.

The same goes for knees, ankles and any drier areas. These spots grab tan more easily, so be gentle.

After You Apply

Let the tan dry properly and wear something soft, loose and comfortable.

I love something like the long jumpsuit I have online because it covers the body nicely without digging in.

I would not wear strappy clothes, tight seams, or anything with raised patterns or rough fabric. If you are going to be sitting down for hours, be mindful of that too. Too much pressure on the bottom or backs of the legs can affect how the tan sits and can rub some of it away.

Fresh tan is needy. She wants softness, space and peace.

My Self Tan Recommendation

From the self tanning mousses I have tried, one of my favourites is the Naked Tan Dark Chocolate.

The colour is beautiful, the tone is lovely, and the lasting power is amazing. It is one of those tans that just gives a really nice result without doing weird things on the skin.

Final Thoughts

A beautiful self tan is not luck. It is prep, good products, less product where needed, and lots of blending.

So if you want your tan to look natural, wear well and fade better, remember this:

Exfoliate properly. Prep the day before. Use less than you think. And blend like your life depends on it.

That is the difference between “nice tan” and “why are my feet orange?”

Prep Skin Well For Self Tanner - Naked Tan Dark 2 Hour