Building your summer glow: a guide for beginners

As you get older, you really start to weigh the pros and cons of all of that time spent out in the sun tanning. Sure, we all love a healthy glow, but now that I am older and using more skincare products that warn against sitting in the sun, I am really evaluating the need for that tanning time.

Last summer, I was forced to sit under an umbrella at the beach because of the medication I was on. But I didn’t want my legs to look pasty during shorts season. Although trivial, it’s nice to have a healthy glow that makes it seem you have seen the sun.

I’ve tried a couple of products at this point, and there has been a lot of trial and error, which my family and friends can attest to. And now as many of us are locked down in our houses, I know more and more people are attempting to self-tan at home.

I thought I would break down the basics- which products I use, what you need to get a perfectly toned and even tan, and how to avoid mishaps like orange hands.

What you need

• Exfoliators: Before you apply any self-tanner, you must exfolitate. Let me explain why- if you apply tanner over dry, dead skin, then the product just clings to that causing uneven and falky patches or hyper-pigmentation. Personally, I like to shave and use a silicon exfoliator + body exfoliator to remove dead skin prior to applying my self-tan. I also just purchased this mesh loofah to try- a Black-owned and Brooklyn-based company.
• Self-tanner: There are a couple of options here- drops, lotions, foams, sprays, or oils. Personally, I prefer the drops over anything else, but lotion would be a second favorite. I have not ventured too much into foams. My favorite two drops are the Tan-Luxe drops and the Isle of Paradise drops, both in Medium/Medium Dark. I am very fair skinned naturally, and I still think the light is too light. I also like the Isle of Paradise tanning butter lotion.
• Lotion: If you are going to use tanning drops, then you need to mix them into a lotion. You want something that is easy to spread, but also hydrating, as the ingridents of many tanning products tend to dry out your skin. I reccomend the Kiehl’s Creme de Corps because it sinks right into the skin and isn’t super scented. Even if you do not use drops, you want to use lotion the days after you tan, simply to keep your skin hydrated so the tan lasts longer.
• A mitt: DO NOT attempt to tan without a tanning mitt, regardless of which type of product you use. That is how you end up with orange hands. Tanning mitts simply allow you to place the product on something other than you hands so that you can get a more even application without staining the rougher skin on your hands. I like this one from Amazon for working with lotions, drops and sprays.
• Baby/Makeup wipes: Baby wipes or micellar wipes are a great way to remove any excess products that you might have placed during the tanning process. Water can create weird smudges or drop mark, but baby wipes allow you to wipe proudct away evenly. I also recommend wiping around your eyebrows, upperlip and sideburns if you self-tan your face to remove build-up that gets trapped in the hair.

The process

Start by exfoliating in the shower. You will want to exfoliate any area that you plan to use self-tanner on. Personally, I like to exfoliator by placing a scrub on the silicon brush and then gently rubbing in circles. I follw that up by shaving my legs.

When you come out of the shower, make sure you dry off completely. You could also wait and do this a few hours later, depending on what you prefer. Put some of the tanning lotion into your mitt. I use about 4-5 pumps per leg, and 3-4 pumps for each arm, chest, and stomach.

Drop in an equal amount of drops as you did pumps. So if you did 5 pumps for your lotion, put in 5 drops of tanner. I gently squeeze the mitt together to mix, and then place it on the area I plan to tan. If you are doing your leg. pop a bit on the calf and a bit on the thigh.

When you rub the tanner in, make sure you go in circular motions across the entire area. This will prevent harsh lines or streaks. Rub in a circle continously, evne if it feels like there isn’t any product on the mitt, trust me, there is. Continue over each body part. Do your ankles, feet, knees, elbows and wrists last, when there is barely any product left. You just want to skim over these areas as they are more prone to dead/dry skin, and therefore, will soak up the product faster.

Let your lotion soak in for a few minutes before you put your clothes on. I would say at least 3-5 minutes; do the rest of your skincare or hair/makeup while you are waiting. Some tanners have longer wait times- that’s why I don’t use them, frankly.

Personally, I do not use self-tanners on my face. Some of them can cause breakouts, and it’s just not worth it for me. I have used the Tan-Luxe facial drops, and I like them. But for my daily glow, I prefer using the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-pollution drops. They are a game changer, and also have skincare benefits. Just mix in a small, 1/2 pump with your face lotion or SPF.

Personally, I like to do this before I go to bed, so that I am putting loose pajamas on over top, and really give it time to sink in and hydrate. Then I wake up with a healthy glow. The next evening, without the exfoliation steps, I apply a second round of tanner after my shower. I personally like the way the Isle of Paradise builds over two days. Here are my results:

If you have questions about self-tanner, let me know in the comments below. Although it can be tricky at first, don’t be discouraged after your first flop. Exfoliate, and start over again. Most importantly, don’t forget to use spf daily! That is something you will not regret the older you get.