Summer is coming, and with it comes the goal of reaching that beautiful tan of the season. Whether for a party or even just to start the holidays in a big way, the self-tanner came to help us to be at our best! But beware! It is not easy to use this miracle successfully!
Today I bring you some tips on what to do and, especially, what NOT to do when it comes to applying self-tanners.
But let's start with the first step: choose the type of product. Currently, there are options in wipes, spray, or cream. Some of them can also have different intensities. So, I recommend you to be very attentive to the intensity. For beginners, it is always better to try a less "shocking" product first, which easily hides beginner's mistakes (such as staining color). Even though I am not a beginner, I always opt for light intensity, in order not to gain an orange tone and not to change color completely from one day to the next. This ensures that my tan will be more natural and beach-related.
Wipes are best suited for when we want to tan just one area (like the face, for example). It is not easy to achieve a uniform tan on the body with only wipes, and it would also become an unnecessary expense!
The spray is spectacular for professional use, as, for example, in a beautician, with the appropriate material and help from another person. At home, without help and without experience, it is the perfect recipe for an aesthetic disaster!
Finally, we have the self-tanning cream. This is, without a doubt, what I advise, not only because it is simpler (and economical) to use, but also because of the incredible result that we can easily obtain, without leaving home. The Vichy self-tanner is excellent for the face and body. It is a product with medium intensity, being the perfect example to use with some of my tips.
We shouldn't be afraid to try it, because the main advantage of the self-tanner is that it has a short duration effect, so if it doesn't go well, we can always try again! But in order to achieve the best result possible at first, I advise you to put the cream after leaving the bath (preferably after a good exfoliation), because at that time the skin is cleaner, uniform and receptive to the product. In order to spread evenly, I always suggest that we divide our body into 3 parts: face, trunk, and limbs (arms and legs). This way we will not forget any part of the body and pay more attention to the critical areas (neck, ears, elbows, back of the hands, groins, knees, heels, and top of the feet). For the back, it is always valid to ask someone for help, as long as the person wash their hands VERY WELL when finishing the application.
This takes me to the next step on what you should take care of: always wash your palms very well! I don't even know how to describe hands with a self-tanner, so it's best to really believe that it's not pretty to see.
In the face area, the application can be more complex. We can always choose not to put on the face and use makeup, for example. If you decide to apply it to your face, always try not to get too close to the eyes. Don't forget to apply it to your ears and bring the product to your eyebrows and hair roots as close as possible.
The absorption of the product is very fast, but we must always be patient and wait until we are sure that the skin is dry before putting on the clothes. How sad it would be to be so careful with the uniform application and then ruin everything with the clothes (and how sad it would be to ruin clothes unnecessarily). The tip that I can give to the most impatient is to pass a cotton pad on the last area of the skin where the product was applied, before dressing. If it is clean, it is safe to dress! After putting the product on, it is not advisable to bathe for the next eight hours, as it may leave stains on the skin.
In short, the application is not difficult if we are always focused on the final goal: tanned skin, with a natural and UNIFORM look. Do not give up at first, being a master in the art of tanning can bring many advantages when we least expect it.
If you see that it is not for you, you can always try other types of products, such as skin preparers for the sun, which will speed up your tan at the time of sun exposure. Giving up is not an option! 😊
Thank you and see you in the next tip!
Sara Moreira Ferreira
