Hi friend! I am so excited to hangout with you for a bit and talk about something that quite honestly, scares some people. Self tanning! I am going to tell all about my self-tanning routine and spill ALL the secrets. Plus I have a discount code for you!

For those of you who don’t know, I actually work full time in product development and marketing for a self tanning and skincare brand(s)! I do everything from work with our chemists to develop the formulas, to collaborating with our creative team to design the packaging and then I go out and tell people about the goodness.

With that being said, I have a LOT of tips and info when it comes to self tanning! I asked you on Instagram what questions or fears you had about self tanners and I compiled them all into this post + more! If you want to know all the secrets then just keep reading.

MY SELF-TANNING ROUTINE

Step 1:

Shower + shave + exfoliate
- My favorite is the Body Buff from California Tan Sunless. It is only sold in professional salons and spas!
Apply self tanning primer
- I use the VARI Beauty Blue Color Enhancing Primer to add hydration and to color balance the redness in my skin!
Put lotion on ONLY dry spots (elbows, knees, heels, hands + feet)
- This can be any lotion you have in your bathroom!

Step 2:

Apply two light coats of tanner on body
- I have been using the VARI Beauty Dark Exotic Vacay Tan Foam! It is infused with Collagen + Probiotics and is extremely hydrating. You can take the quiz on their website to find which color is best for you!
Leave the hands and feet last!
- This helps make them look natural and not too dark.
Wait 5 minutes to put clothes on
Apply Facial Tanning Serum on face and neck!
- I do this 3-4 times a week to build and maintain natural color!

Step 3:

Shower after 4 hours with only a rinse, no soap
- After your first shower, be sure to use a sulfate free body wash or soap. See below on why that is SO important. :)
MOISTURIZE!
- My go to is the Glow Extender from California Tan Sunless. Smells amazing!

use code “AMARA20” on VARI Beauty to get 20% off your routine!

Self Tanning 101

How does a self tanner actually make you tan?

Without going into too much detail and boring you, I will keep it short and sweet. There is an ingredient in self tanners called Dihydroxyacetone which is also known as DHA in the tanning world. It’s not the same DHA that’s in baby formula so don’t worry! Basically it’s a reaction that happens when this ingredient combines to your skin’s proteins! It’s actually really interesting because a lot of people think it’s a dye but in reality, it’s a reaction!

Will I be orange?

Oh the dreaded “o word” that TV shows and the internet has burned in our brains! Cue the scene from Friends where Ross goes tanning and looks like a Oompa Loompa. Self tanning has evolved so much over the past 5-10 years. The self-tanner I have been using lately does not make me orange! I use the Dark Foam and I LOVE the color it gives me. My biggest piece of advice is figure out your skin tone and undertone before you choose your self-tanner.

What is the difference between tanning drops, tanning foam and tanning lotion?

The biggest difference is just the application method! I personally like foams the best because I feel like they are the easiest to apply and give me the most even tan. I like lotions as well because you apply it just like your regular moisturizer so the room for error is slim haha. I think the drops can get a little messy since most of the time you have to mix them with a moisturizer and then I get nervous that I am going to do it wrong or mess it up haha.

How do I tan my face?

I recommend finding a facial tanner! I have been using the Facial Tanning Serum from VARI Beauty because it is more of a skincare item and it gives more of a natural glow. It’s made in mind to use alone so you don’t have to worry about mixing it with a lotion or anything. I use it a couple times a week to build natural color! Not to mention it makes my skin so soft too.

How do I not get weird lines on my hands and feet?

Love this question! I always apply my color with a tanning mitt (which I highly recommend) to make sure everything is applied evenly. I wait to apply tanner to my hands and feet very last. I take the left over product on the mitt and sweep it on my hands and feet! That way I am not overdoing it and getting super dark hands. I use the washable self-tanning mitt from VARI Beauty!

PRO TIP: Once you’re done applying, take a pump of lotion and blend from your wrists to your hands. Same with your ankles to your feet/toes. This will help with not getting harsh lines. Just be sure to rinse your palms so they’re not dark!

Can I workout when I have self tanner on?

Girl, you can still live your life when you have self tanner on! But I will caution you that the more you sweat, shave, exfoliate, etc… the faster the tan will fade. My advice— if you are tanning for an event, say a wedding or a girls weekend, workout first and then shower and apply your tan after. Sometimes it just takes a little planning ahead haha so just be cautious! You can absolutely work out wearing self tanner, just be aware of when you need your tan to look its best!

How long does it last?

This all depends on how you take care of your tan which I will touch more on the next question! When using VARI Beauty, your color is the best day 1-3 because you’ve showered a couple times and the color is in it’s most natural form! 3-5 days is usually good color but you may see some fading. 5-7 days you can usually still see some color but it usually has faded a bit.

I feel like my tan always fades fast… is there a way to make it last longer?

This is one of my favorite questions because it is pretty easy to make your tan last longer! Like I said earlier, your tan can fade for a number of reasons (how many times to sweat, shave, exfoliate) but the best thing you can do to keeping it fresh is to moisturize! I always moisturize with my Glow Extender morning and night when I have tanner on. Your skin is holding in the color which makes it dry so this is KEY! Something simple can go a long way.

Do I need to do anything specific before I put the tanner on?

YES! What you do before you apply your tan is one of the most important steps. Just like when you use skincare or makeup, you don’t just use one product. You don’t take a shower and put on your foundation right away! You have to prep it. Same idea for self-tanning!

First you always need to shower and shave before you apply to have a clean slate. Then exfoliate with an OIL FREE exfoliator like the Body Buff. Honestly, one of the most important things so make sure your skin is even as possible. I emphasize the oil free because this can create a layer or barrier on the skin and not let the color soak trough and apply evenly. No one wants to be splotchy!

Last prep step is to use a prep spray. Think of this as a primer for self tanning! It hydrates your skin and allows your color to not only apply evenly but last longer and develop darker. I use this Blue Color Enhancing Primer!

I always get confused… how long to I have to keep it on before I shower?

Every brand is different so I highly recommend reading the back of the bottle! For my VARI Beauty self-tanner, we have a 4 hour shower time which is amazing. You can sleep in it if you want but that doesn’t mean it’s going to make you darker.

Once you are in the shower, you may see some brown washing down the drain. Don’t worry! That is not your tan. It is just the cosmetic color that’s used to help you see where you’re applying it on your body!

PRO TIP: The first shower after you apply your tan, simply rinse. DO NOT USE SOAP! This will help your color develop. After your first shower you are free to use soap just make sure it is sulfate free so it doesn’t strip your color! PS- Dove soap is the worst for sunless color so I highly recommend finding a sulfate free option.

*screen shot or pin this image to save as a quick checklist while you apply your color!*

What other questions do you have on self-tanning?! Comment below or shoot me a DM on instagram so I can answer them for you! I know this was a lot of info but I wanted to be sure and get all your questions answered. Feel free to come back to this post as you are buying/applying your color. Can’t wait until next time!

SELF-TANNING 101 + Q & A