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Spray tans are an incredibly easy way to add a little glow and contour to your body without it being too obvious. However, self-tanner can get messy—very messy—and usually ends up on our clothes, bedsheets, and even furniture. So how do we apply it evenly and keep it on our skin, and only our skin?
"You can prevent self-tanner from getting on your clothes by keeping your skin hydrated, and avoid using tanners with granules and sulfates, which dry out your skin," says esthetician Rachel Lee Lozina.
We reached out to Lozina and three other makeup and tanning experts, who shared their secrets on how to apply self tanner without getting a drop on your clothes. Keep reading for the best tips on how to effortlessly apply self tanner.
Meet the Expert
- Rachel Lee Lozina is a New York State Licensed Esthetician, Laser Technician & Oncology Esthetician, and founder of Blue Water Spa in Oyster Bay, NY.
- Sophie Evans is a St. Tropez skin finishing expert.
- Carolina Gonzalez is a celebrity makeup artist who works with Behati Prinsloo.
- Jamie Greenberg is a celebrity makeup artist and spray-tanner whose clients include Kristen Stewart and Rashida Jones.
Choose the Right Product
When choosing a self-tanner, Lozina says that you should definitely look at the ingredients.
"Self-tanners should have nourishing ingredients such as cocoa butter, coconut oil, vitamin E, and jojob—these moisturizing ingredients help maintain the hydration level in your skin to maximize tan retention," she says. in short, the more hydrated your skin is, the longer your tan will last. Her pick is Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer, which is an in-shower body lotion that hydrates and locks in moisture when skin can best receive it.
Second to the ingredients is the color self-tanner that will best complement your skin tone, as Lozina says that self-tanners usually come in several color choices. "It’s best to start with a lighter shade if you’re a beginner—you can always add more, but if you choose a shade too dark for your skin tone, it won’t look natural. If you feel it’s too light, you can always re-apply but if you choose a shade too dark to start with, you have to wait for it to fade," she says.
Byrdie Tip
When using self-tanner, make sure you apply a barrier between your skin and rough spots like elbows and heels. Applying a moisturizer or oil keeps the tan from sticking to these areas.
Wear Self-Tanner as Makeup
"Self-tanner is great because, unlike bronzer, you don't have to keep applying," explains celebrity makeup artist and spray tanner Jamie Greenberg, who recommends VersaSpa Monterey Bronzing Mist for its moisturizing and fast-acting results. "Your whole makeup routine is easier if you have self-tanner on—you don't have to do as much makeup to achieve a healthy glow."
Makeup artist Carolina Gonzalez adds, "A self-tan lasts longer than makeup! So that's one reason. But it's actually less about bronzing the skin and more about perfecting the skin—giving a bit of color to warm it up and even the skin tone while hiding any redness, dark marks, visible veins, and even cellulite. For those who don't want to use self-tanner, St. Tropez One Night Only collection, which is a wash-off formula and has no DHA, can really last you through an event. It has special technology so that it won't smudge if you brush up against something, or when you sweat. It looks completely natural, so no one knows it’s a body bronzer, they just think it's your skin.
"On the face, you can get away with less foundation or even no foundation with a nice glow, so it makes my job as a makeup artist much easier. It's the same for the body. When I did Behati's makeup for the Met, she was going to be wearing white, so it was important to warm up her skin a bit and give her a sun-kissed glow," says Gonzalez, who used the One Night Only Finishing Body Gloss on Prinsloo.
Byrdie Tip
Don’t forget your daily SPF. While using a self-tanner can act as a very slight buffer from the sun’s exposure, you can still get a tan, so don't neglect the sunscreen.
Let It Dry (Fully)
"St. Tropez formulas dry in 60 seconds and will not stain sheets," notes St. Tropez skin finishing expert Sophie Evans. "The self-tan takes eight hours to fully develop, so I recommend tanning before bed and sleeping in dark clothing."
Gonzalez likes to give it a bit more time, just to be safe. "Give it time to dry, five minutes should do the trick. I like the St. Tropez Tan Applicator Mitt best for the body, but for your face, apply with a kabuki brush, a makeup sponge, or with your fingers in circular and patting motions."
"If you want even more peace of mind, you can also use a fixer spray to set the tan." My personal favorite is Kiko Milano Makeup Fixer but Evans swears by an old-school, super heavy-duty fixing spray only sold in beauty supply shops.
Stay Put During the Development Period
"During the development time of the self-tan, refrain from heavy sweating and gym sessions," Evans says. "Sweat can not only cause staining, but it can wreck your tan during the development stage. If you are scared of sweating, use baby powder to keep the skin dry and the tan in place. Once the tan has developed, and the first shower has happened, the self-tanner will not transfer at all."
She continues, "Your skin is the canvas and the tan is the paint—make sure you have the best canvas to work on. Exfoliate well beforehand with a scrub that is non-oil based. Oil can leave residue on the skin that can interfere with the self-tan development." A self-tan will work off the pH balance of the skin. Exfoliating and washing eight hours before will allow your pH to neutralize for maximum development.
And if you do happen to get self-tanner on something other than your skin, Lozina says the fastest way to remove the product from clothing is to use shaving cream. "I recommend Men’s Barbasol; the more old school (white and foamy) the better!"
