What makes a good self-tanning routine?
A good self-tanning routine is one where it’s going to be easy to follow and remember. Also, it has to be able to fit into our busy lives and not take hours to implement.
Combining your tanning routine with a bath or shower is always going to be a good way of saving time, as the saying goes kill two birds with one stone.
What we cover in this tanning routine article has been segregated into bullet points below:
• Self-tanning routine
• What is exfoliating?
• Exfoliating before tanning
• Scrubs and creams
• Using scrubs and mitts
• Applying my self-tanner
• How do I maintain my self-tan?
• How do I top up my tan?
What is exfoliating?
So some of you may be asking the question what is exfoliation anyway? Exfoliating is the removal of impurities and old skin cells on the surface layer of the body’s skin.
There are lots of different methods for achieving this and lots of different products such as scrubs and creams that can be used. Exfoliating is a must in any tanning routine.
How do I exfoliate before tanning?
So you’re thinking of self-tanning, it’s a great option. The fact that you are reading this post tells me you are a person that likes to do things properly and efficiently. I can tell you now that when you properly exfoliate before tanning, this is what gets you the best self-tanning results that you long for.
These are my easy to follow steps on how to exfoliate before tanning:
Exfoliating steps
1. Step 1
The first step is putting your hair back or in a shower cap before you begin exfoliating is a good idea.
2.Step 2
Before you move on to step 3 please be aware that when you apply your scrub or creams, make sure any dry patches like elbows, knees, and feet, or any dry areas you may have are really worked on to smooth out that dry skin.
You want to end up with a silky smooth canvas for your self-tan to sit on.
3. Step 3
Step into the bathtub and apply the body scrub of your choice to your body dry with your mitt, the reason being when your skin is dry it will give the scrub the best chance at removing all the dead and loose skin.
Please be aware you can do the scrub or cream after bathing and shaving, but it may not get it all off. This is purely preference.
I have done it both ways and I feel I get a better result when I scrub dry.
If you are doing a scrub after bathing and shaving move on to step 5.
4.Step 4
After you have dry scrubbed you can rinse off the scrub from your body.
5.Step 5
Now on to Shaving you can do this with the shower or relax and fill up the bath for your shave. For those that choose to apply scrub after shaving and bathing, now would be the time to apply your scrub and then rinse off after.
6. Step 6
Using the shower after bathing, shaving and scrubbing to rinse any old skin and shaved loose hair off.
7.Step 7
Now you are ready to apply your self-tanning.
Scrubs and creams
In any good tanning routine, reviews will tell you how great scrubs or creams are.
A good tip before picking a face and body scrub is to check out some decent in-depth reviews to see what others have to say before you commit to buying a scrub or cream.
How do I apply my self-tanning lotion?
These are the steps I use when applying my self-tanning lotion:
1. Step 1
Before you apply the self-tan you should moisturize your elbows, knees, wrists, and ankles, this will give you an even finish. We want to moisturize these specific areas mentioned because it stops a tan build up in those areas, which is why they need extra moisturizing.
Without doing this can lead to an uneven tan with darker patches.
2. Step 2
Apply your self-tanner to your mitt or your hand and begin to apply to your skin, I myself like to work from my feet and move up to my face, but you can do whatever works best for you.
You want to make sure you work it in well to all the areas. With the hands I would try to use the excess from the arm you are doing to cover the hands this will help give a natural look and you will not overcoat the hands.
3. Step 3
You might now be asking how do I apply self-tan to my face? The way I do this is to apply the tan lightly to the face but use way less than you use when applying on your body.
Then use a kabuki brush and work the small amount of self-tanning lotion lightly around the face. You can gain a great contouring effect to the face like this.
I myself after several times doing this, like to work it around the face and really work it in more in certain areas of the face. This helps to create that lighter contoured tan look.
4. Step 4
You will find when you have done this a few time you will find the best look for yourself.
5. Step 5
After you have applied your self-tanner, you have 2 options. The first option you can rinse off the morning after you applied the self-tan.
Option 2 You can rinse off after it’s been applied and has dried the same day. With option 2 you will need to double check the self-tanner instructions to check how long you need to leave it on for before you can wash it off. Because different brands may vary.
How do I maintain myself tan?
The best way to maintain your self-tan and make it last as long as possible is to moisturize. I myself use a wet skin moisturizer for this.
I apply it after I finish my morning shower, then after I would dab dry. You can use any moisturizer you want to help maintain your self-tan, the wet skin moisturizer is just the one I like to use.
How do I top up my tan?
So now you have your beautiful tan and your thinking you would like to be wearing the tan on a regular basis. So you are going to need to top up your tan during the week or weeks.
There are a few different ways to do this but to be honest it’s really straight forward. I like not to complicate things and so I basically restart the self-tanning routine.
So once your tan has started to wear off, the easiest way to top up your tan is to just repeat the self-tanning routine process, scrubbing, exfoliating and if needed shaving.
Then re-apply the tanning process the same as before. There are plenty of ways to top up your tan, this is just the way I found to work well. You will find once you get used to the number of days the tan lasts repeating the process becomes easy to add in when you are going to shave and take a bath anyway.
