Five Sunless Tanning Tips

As summer comes around the corner, tanning once again becomes the a popular beauty topic. And while a lot has changed in the last few months, there are still some great options for self-tanning at home. So take some time to welcome back the summer with these tips and products for creating your ideal sunless tan.

1.) Note Areas of Rough Skin Before Sunless Tanning

Rough areas of skin will naturally absorb more product. When that happens, those places will have a darker shade of tan. This is especially common around the hands and elbows. Applying less product in these places can help to balance things out.

2.) Exfoliate Before Applying the Sunless Tanner

Sunless tanners use a chemical called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that reacts with the top few layers of skin cells to produce the desired tan. Our favorite sunless tanner that uses DHA is the jane iredale Tantasia Self Tanner & Bronzer. Designed for use on both the face and body, it includes moisturizing glycerin to support a smooth and healthy texture. By exfoliating before you apply your tanner, you’ll be applying product on a fresh layer of cells, giving your tan the longest life possible. Keep in mind that exfoliating after you use a tanning product will clear away these cells, so you’ll have to apply product more often.

To accomplish this, we recommend the Céla Seed To Skin Scrub Natural Grain Polish. This body scrub is made with finely milled Amazonian cupuaçu seeds that gently exfoliate the skin. This helps to clear away surface impurities and create a more clean canvas for your tanning product to work on. More than just an exfoliator, the scrub also includes shea butter and coconut oil to balance moisture in skin. With an essential-oil blend of orange peel, cedarwood and patchouli, it’s a calming and refreshing way to get your tan started.

3.) Give Time for Your Sunless Tan to Set In

For some sunless tanning sprays and lotions, you’ll notice an immediate difference in skin tone right after you use it. But that has more to do with the tint or color of the product itself. The lasting tan that DHA causes can take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours to fully set in. Also, many at-home tanning products are designed to be used over several days so that you can build up to your tone of choice. Because of that, if there’s an event that you’re hoping to have a tan ready for, we recommend to start using the product a few days before.

4.) Keep Using UV Protection

While it might make us feel safer in the sun, a sunless tan doesn’t actually provide UV protection. This doesn’t mean you can’t go outside and enjoy your new look, it only means that it’s just as important to follow regular sun protection advice: wear protective clothing, limit sun exposure in the middle of the day, wear sunscreen of at least 30 SPF and remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours.

5.) Limit Time in the Swimming Pool

For a lot of people, part of the fun of a tan is being able to show it off at the pool. Trouble is, the chlorine in pool water can shorten the life of an artificial tan. Salt water can have a similar effect, but to a lesser extent. That doesn’t mean you can’t swim at all. It just means that if you do swim, you’ll have to apply tanning product more often.

Three of The Best Sunless Tanning Lotions

Not all tanning products are the same, and the best for one person might not be the best for every person. That’s why we’ve brought together some of the best tanning lotions and serums to make your own sunless tan at home.

COOLA Organic Sunless Tan Luminizing Body Serum

There’s no reason why your tanning lotion can’t nourish your skin at the same time. That’s why this body tanning serum from COOLA uses both shea butter and baobab seed oil. These ingredients deliver moisture as well as antioxidants, helping to prevent damage from stressors in the environment. This tanning serum also stands out because it provides instant radiance with pearlescent mica, providing a sunlit glow while building a more lasting tan with DHA derived from sugar beets. It’s an especially good choice for those who prefer more natural products, since the serum is vegan, cruelty-free and made with 70% organic ingredients.

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse

When you’re applying a sunless tanning product, being distracted by a poor smell can put a damper on the experience. This tanning mouse for the face and body addresses that concern with Odor Remove Technology, which eliminates unwanted smells and allows you to better enjoy the excitement of application. Plus, the mouse contains botanical extracts with anti-aging benefits and a moisture locking system for 72 hour hydration. Light and quick to dry, this mousse lasts as long as two to three weeks, so you can keep your ideal skin tone with less frequent reapplication.

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Glow Pad Self-Tanner for Face - Gradual Glow

The sunless tan gets even more convenient with these facial tanning pads. Each one is made with the ideal dosage for the face, neck and décolleté. Just apply in circular motions for an even tan that builds gradually within four hours. These pads also include the exfoliating power of Dr. Dennis Gross’s Alpha Beta Peel. This exfoliating action helps the tan to work more effectively, and also supports cell turnover for improved overall skin health.

Looking for other ways to keep up your skin care? Check out our blog on The 5 Best Hand Creams for Dry, Over-Washed Hands. Let us know in the comments below how you’ve been keeping up your self-care, or if there are any questions you’d like to see answered in a future blog.