How To Get The Perfect Faux Tan

I have been getting asked a lot here lately about my tan. I have a faux tan which is just a fancy way of saying that it is fake. Getting the perfect faux tan can be daunting, but it is easy with a little practice.

I am thrilled so many of you think my faux tan looks natural. I’ve looked for a long time for products that look natural and don’t have a heavy lingering odor.

I have used a lot of self-tanning products, but most of them have some drawbacks. I have a slight allergy to fragrances, and some odors will give me a headache. Finding a natural-looking self-tanner that leaves me looking tan without a headache has been difficult.

If the “smell” is not a factor for you, finding a non-streaking product is still a problem. No matter how adept you are at applying a self-tanner, you run the risk of having a “spot” that is either too dark or too light. Here are my steps to help you look your best in achieving a perfect faux tan.

Shower and Exfoliate For A Perfect Faux Tan

Shower. Shave. Exfoliate. In order to get a smooth and streak-free tan, you need to rid yourself of any dead skin that is on your body. Showering and shaving are not enough. I purchased an exfoliating mitt, that takes off dead skin, but there is a cheaper option. Purchase a box (or bag) of raw sugar, and put it in a waterproof container in your shower. Put a small amount in your washcloth, and rub it over your body. Completely rinse the sugar off, and you are set. Make sure you scrub lightly; you don’t want to irritate your skin. Tree Hut has a wonderful line of sugar scrubs that exfoliate and hydrate, and they smell wonderful.

If you don’t like the mess the raw sugar leaves in your tub, I also you a pumice stone (use very lightly) to remove dead skin, an old faux tan, and on the heels of my feet.

Moisturize Is Essential For A Perfect Faux Tan

I have extremely dry skin that flakes, cracks, and is all around yucky. I need to moisturize more often than I do, but when I finally get around to using lotion, I use La Roche-Posay Lipikar Triple Repair Moisturizing Body Cream. After I shower, and use my hands to rake the remaining water off my skin. I will then apply the lotion all over my body. After I am covered in the lotion, I dab off the remaining water with a towel. It may take a few minutes to completely dry. OR why put on the lotion, then put on the self-tanner? Why not do this process in one step? I put a small amount of each in my palm and then let them mix on my body. The lotion helps the tanner to flow smoothly and helps to reduce streaking.

This would be the amount I start with for each leg. I squirt some lotion and then add approximately the same amount of self-tanner. No need to mix it together, just start rubbing the concoction on your body. Let’s be honest; I REALLY must like you, gurls, to show an up-close pic of my leg. I know you can’t un-see this, but I have to see it daily. Here is the glob before I start to rub it in. Doesn’t this look wonderful? It reminds me of walnut stain. You know, the color your hands turn when you have been picking up walnuts off the ground.

What Are The Best Self-Tanners?

Which self-tanner should you use? It all depends on what you are looking for from a self-tanner. Do you want a gradual tan or one that shows immediate color? Are you a beginner, or have you been self-tanning for while?

Gradual Self-Tanners That Will Give You A Perfect Faux Tan

Patience is not one of my virtues. I’ve tried to use gradual tanners, but I can’t stand to apply daily and wait for the tan to eventually show up. However, this is the best way to get a perfect faux tan if you are a beginner since they are forgiving and don’t show as many missed spots as bronzing tanners. Plus, your friends and family aren’t shocked to see you one day all white and pasty and the next day with a gorgeous bronze body. All of these gradual self-tanners are highly rated, and I’ve used a lot of Tan-Luxe and St. Tropex products, but in bronzers, and they work great.

Self-Tanning Drops For A Beautiful Glow

Drops are a newer self-tanning product. They are easy to apply since you add them to your existing lotion. Plus, you can control the amount of darkness you achieve by how many drops you add. Once again, this is a little too slow for me, but I do like using drops for my face.

I’ve used drops from all three of these brands. Tan-Luxe has several items to choose from; the Face and Body drops give you great color and are easy to use. I like that you can control the color by the number of drops you add to your moisturizer. I always start with only a few, and then I adjust the amount over time. Before using any product, you should always do a small test area to make sure you aren’t going to have an allergic reaction.

Isle of Paradise drops are some I used for my face, but I didn’t see enough color, so I gave them to my daughter. She loved them, so maybe I should give them another chance. Also, Drunk Elephant Bronzing Serum is a product that is extremely popular and hard to find.

L’OREAL Sublime Bronze is a good self-tanner. I use the medium natural tan. The only drawback I have is the smell, remember, I am sensitive. If the smell doesn’t bother you, then this is a decent product at a reasonable price. LORAC TANtalizer is a good tanner that I bought at Ulta. I went to Ulta, asked the sales clerk for their best tanner, and this is what they recommended. It has a beautiful color, but it washes off in the shower more than some of the other products I have used. The first time I used it, I was shocked at how brown the shower water turned. Of course, there is still product left on your body, but I don’t like having to apply tanner more often.

Self-Tanning Bronzers For An Instant And Perfect Faux Tan

I love using SUN Laboratories by Gissee and Loving Tan 2 HR Express Mousse. Both have great color and a relatively light scent, and the wash-off residue is small.

You can see the difference immediately. It will actually darken a little more in the next couple of hours. If you want more color, just add another layer. After three or four days, put on another layer. Do this till you get to your desired color. You will want to use a tanner mitt to keep the palms of your hand from looking black. If you prefer to use your hands, wash them afterward with soap, then use a washcloth to dry your hands. The washcloth will be damp, so take it and go in between your fingers. You don’t want extra tanning lotion to “pool” in crevices. Also, very lightly wipe off your wrist, elbows, knees, and ankles. These are problem areas where pooling can occur. Let tanning lotions dry completely before you put clothes on. I usually put on a robe while it dries. Don’t wear white! Even though the lotion is dry, it may still rub off a little.

I hope this answers a lot of your questions about applying a self-tanner for a perfect faux tan.

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Psalms 139:13-14

¹³ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.