Living in Boston, your summer glow won’t survive more than a few weeks after coming back to school.  If you want to make your tan last, you should get on that self tanning ~wave~. You know you’ve seen an orange girl (or a few) around campus, but I’m here to help you get that perfect sunless tan and keep it through the gray Boston winter.

Why should you trust me?  I’ve been self tanning for a while now and tried almost every type of tanning product.  Trying wipes, lotions, drops, and foams I’ve learned the do’s and don’ts of self tanning.  The product itself is definitely important, but the prep, application, and up-keep are key to developing and keeping the best sunless tan.

1. Prep

Before you put on any tanner, I suggest showering.  Although it’s not necessary, your skin is your canvas!!  The hot water from showering helps open up your pores and cleans the oil off your skin for the best application.  You also need to exfoliate and shave (optional, but if you shave after applying tanner it will start coming off your legs).  After showering, moisturize everywhere you intend to tan, especially dry elbows and legs, and put your hair up and out of the way.

2. Application (Pick Your Product!)

Wipes:  When using self tanning wipes you have to pay attention to where you are applying it first.  Most wipes are designed so that you only need one wipe to tan your entire body. It’s basically a folded-up square that you unfold as you rub it on your body.  I recommend starting on your legs and stomach and working your way up while using the last of the product on the wipe for your joints, neck, and face. Wipes are a great way to self tan if you’re comfortable trying the tricky application, but it definitely does not provide the longest lasting tan.

Favorite Wipes: L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Towelettes, Tan Towels

Lotion:  Self tanning lotion is more of a glowy way to get tan.  Lotion is great and easy to apply, especially because most people already put on lotion after showering; however, it is not the darkest tan and you need to apply daily to keep the summer glow.  If you are looking for a darker self tan this is definitely not the product type for you, but if you are a beginner it’s a great way to build up color without having to commit to a darker product.

Favorite Lotions: Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer & Face Moisturizer, Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer, CLINIQUE Self Sun Face Tinted Lotion

Drops:  Self tanning drops are a step up from lotion.  I just recently tried them and I thought they were great!  You’re supposed to mix in a certain number of drops with your lotion and apply all over your skin.  You can choose how tan you want to be based on how many drops you use. When applying the drops, I would pump enough lotion into my hand for my legs, add the drops, mix them into the lotion with my hands, and apply to the desired area.  I repeated this in sections going up towards my face where I used a few less drops than on the rest of my body and I added them to moisturizer instead of body lotion. Drops are a great way to self tan and they left me with a dewy glow because of the lotion.  My only issue was that my hands had lots of splotches of tan after use because the color develops overtime. I normally like self tanning with a mitt, which is hard to do with lotion. Definitely would not count out drops because of this, but it’s important to be aware of your hands to avoid those splotches!

Favorite Drops: Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops, Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops

Foam:  Self tanning foam (mousse) is my favorite way to tan.  I use a mitt when I apply it to avoid splotchy hands, and it helps with a smooth application.  Though you can apply self tanning foam without a mitt I highly suggest using one to make your tan even.  To apply foam, I start with my legs and work my way up to my face. I only use a little bit of product for my face because otherwise it looks overdone.  I also use my mitt to apply a little bit onto my hands and in between my fingers to keep it even. I rinse with water afterwards and end up with a great even color.  This is my personal favorite for self tanning, but feel free to let us know of other options you’ve heard of or want to hear more about! 

Favorite Foams & Mitts: Isle of Paradise Express Ultra Dark Tanning Mousse, Loving Tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse, St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse, St. Tropez Double Sided Luxe Tan Applicator Mitt, Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse

3. Up-Keep

After self tanning, it’s important to be aware of how it shows up, and when it starts coming off.  Some tanners suggest that you shower a few hours after applying it, and others you don’t need to (although I find the tan always looks the best after the first shower.)  I normally find a few dark spots once the tanner has reached full color, and I will use an exfoliating mitt, or a loofah, in the shower to scrub it off so that the color is even.  I also make sure to apply lotion all over my body after every shower because it makes the tan last longer!

With these tips I can normally make my tan last for about a week before I need to reapply. Remember to always go lighter if you’re worried about how your tan will show up, and don’t be afraid to use a cheaper tanner to start. Cheaper tanners can be just as good as more expensive ones if you know how to apply them correctly (Follow these steps!).  Although it’s definitely not necessary to be tan all the time, for me it’s a mood and self-confidence booster!