How-to (Beauty)

The best summer self-tan

How to get a perfect, smooth, totally natural-looking, full-on sun-goddess bronze—in 10 minutes or less.

file
For ultimate streak avoidance

Moisturize every bit of potential dryness or roughness before you tan. Massage cream into your feet, knees, elbows, and knuckles to keep the tanner from coming in dark and splotchy in those spots (it reaches to the protein in dead skin cells, making it bond weirdly).

Work in a well-lit area. Natural light is best, says Cindy Barshop, owner of the Completely Bare spa chain: "It's much easier to detect mistakes."

For the most beautiful shade, shoot for a color that's a bit lighter than you actually want to be, and apply it twice, says Barshop: "The darker the formula, the more likely you are to get streaks. Two lighter applications—one at morning and one at night—will give you the most flattering, genuine color."

file
The argument for sprays

They dry the fastest, so you can put on your clothes almost instantaneously—this is truly the quickest tan there is.

They reach the places you can't.

Ultra-fine mists require little or no blending.

file
For totally seamless color

Start at your feet and work upward: Going in the other direction leaves you oddly blotched all over.

To create a sexy tan line, wear a bikini bottom in a dark, stainproof shade.

Once you've blended the tanner, wash your hands like a fiend. After your hands are completely dry, squeeze a dot of tanner on the back of one hand; rub the back of your other hand against it until the tanner is blended. There are those who wear surgical gloves throughout the tanning to avoid having to wash their hands; this seems an extreme step to us, but if it appeals to you, simply perform the back-of-the-hands trick after the gloves are off.

file
Make it last

Change into something dark, loose, and made of natural fibers for several hours after you tan. "Synthetic fabrics can exacerbate any funky self-tanner odor," says Ann Marie Cilmi, director of education and development at Bliss spas. To speed the drying process, use a blow dryer set on cool. Wait at least 12 hours to reapply tanner. Any sooner and it won't take, says Cilmi: "Your skin can absorb only so much color at a time."

Don't shower for a day: It takes three to four hours for self-tanner to show up, and nine to 12 for maximum development.

If you're going to the beach, know that you will have to fix the pale splotches on your feet that the sand inevitably exfoliates off: Bring a light shade of self-tanner to fill in the gaps post-beach.

file
Tinted formulas

"For women who aren't adept with self-tanner, a formula with a tint is the way to go," adds Bliss' Cilmi. "Not only can you see where you're applying it—voilà, no streaks—but you also get some instant bronzing as a bonus."

Subscribe to Lucky

Related Links

more on luckymag.com

A Celeb-Loved Luxe Leather Bag by Treesje, 50% Off, Today Only!

Why does Treesje sound familiar?

Lucky Assistant Obsessions: Not-So-Basic Basics

From acid wash Chucks to candy pink wayfarers: what we're obsessing over this week.

Shop the Revenge Set on Gilt Home Today

Jack Porter not included.

Make Room for Fashion: The No-Fail Blouse

Even for those of us who LOVE to shop, creating a well rounded, just-stylish-enough closet season after season can become a near impossible task after…

How to Deal With Wavy Hair in the Heat

Really easy ways to combat gross hair weather.

view all