Nothing makes me feel more like myself than a sun-kissed glow. The difficult part is obtaining that glow. We all know that too much time in the sun, even with sunscreen, can cause severe damage to your skin. So one of my go-to options is self-tanning.

Fun fact: I worked for a tanning salon (yes, I was essentially that Jersey girl) for over 8 years, plus I was a spray tan artist for about 4 years. So I can tell you all the facts about how to get that perfect self-tan at home.

I have used a ton of self-tanners, and while I do rotate through them all, one of my favorites is the Loving Tan 2 HR Express Self-Tanning Mousse Dark. I especially love the 2-hour express because it is quick, and I love the dark color because I want a deeper tan, but they also have medium. Both are mousses with a color guard on them, so you can see where you are applying the mousse, making the application so much easier. Another great thing about the guard is that when you shower, the color will come off, but your tan is still activating, and you will achieve your tan in 24 hours. I typically tan about once a week, and a bottle will last me about eight uses.

With this specific bottle, you can wash off the color guard 2 hours after you apply it, and it will still work to give you color for 24 hours. Be sure to read the instructions for your product, as they vary per product.

I apply my self-tanner at different times during the day. Either in the morning and allow it to sit on my skin for 8 hours. I apply it overnight and sleep with it on. Or I apply it and rinse it off after 2 hours. If you do sleep in it, be sure to wear dark, loose clothing. Although there is one great thing about loving tan—it does not transfer!

Here are the steps to my routine:

Shave the day before

Exfoliate your whole body the day before. Be sure to focus on the dry areas—elbows, knees, and ankles. Be sure your old tan is removed too, so you can achieve an even application. I get a kit off Amazon; it comes with a body mitt, a face mitt, and an exfolaitor. 

The next day, I will self-tan. Before you self-tan, make sure to moisturize any dry areas—knees, wrists, elbows, ankles—anywhere where you typically get dry. The lotion acts as a barrier, so those areas do not absorb a lot of color.

Apply tanner, follow directions, and typically do a circular motion. Again, it’s great to use a self-tanner with a color guard so you can see where you apply your lotion and don’t miss any areas.

Getting the back can be difficult; I usually ask Gene, or I apply lotion to the back of the mitt and reach my back that way. Another easy solution I have heard is to use a back applicator, which works wonders. I have this one in my cart and will be purchasing it soon. Essentially, you put the lotion on the applicator and apply it by sweeping it across your back. It looks easy enough.

Hands and feet can be difficult to apply to as well! I use a Kabuki brush and pump one pump of the mousse onto the brush and blend it into my hand or foot. I do one hand at a time and just rub in circular motions. One key takeaway when applying it on your hands is to make a loose claw and separate your fingers so you can get in between your fingers and in between your knuckles so you are all one even shade.

I use two products for my face. I use this Face Tan by Loving Tan when I self-tan weekly. I apply it with a small mitt and rub it in. I leave it on for the same amount of time as I do my body, depending on the day. But I also use St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist throughout the week, as my face tends to fade a lot quicker because my skincare can strip some of the color. What is great about this mist is that I just spray it on like a setting spray, and it applies evenly, with no streaks or missed spots. It provides such a beautiful glow!

Some after tan tips to help preserve your tan:

Use a lotion that does not have any fragrance or alcohol; alcohol will dry out your skin, making your tan fade faster. You want your skin to be hydrated. I love my First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream.

Don’t shave every day; every time you shave, you’re also getting rid of dead skin cells, and those dead skin cells also fade your tan! So when you shave, you’re shaving off your tan!

Any self tanning questions leave them down below!