How to Self-Tan at Home and Get Professional-Looking Results

After you’ve finished applying the rest of your tan, take a small makeup brush (one that you’re happy to use only with self-tanner) and “swipe the tan under the natural contour of your cheekbones, where the shadow naturally falls,” says Bolder. Then, move along the jawline and even the sides of the nose. Anywhere you put contour or bronzer makeup works as a tantouring area. Once you wash off the tan, you’ll be left with subtle bronzing in those areas that accentuates the contours of your face.

Let your self-tanner develop

While the self-tanner develops (or as I like to say, marinates), leave it be. If you can, allow your tan to dry between 5 and 10 minutes before getting dressed (this is your time to shine with a solo dance party or self-love affirmations in the mirror). When that’s done, put on

loose, dark clothing, and try to avoid sweating as this can cause patchiness. In the warmer months, to avoid a sweaty situation that messes up the tan under my arms, I apply loose powder after the tan has dried. This is not a pro-approved tip, but trust me, it works.

While the self-tanner develops, avoid washing your hands too soon after application, otherwise you risk getting tan lines on your wrists. Read also recommends using a straw when drinking to avoid creating a pale upper-lip area. Follow the timeline as advised by your self-tanner brand. Typically, for a mousse product, it’s between three and eight hours for a fully developed tan.

Take a post-tan shower

If your self-tanner has a color guide, after the formula has developed, you’ll need to wash it off (unless you want to stain everything you touch). While in the shower you’ll be able to see this bronzer wash down the drain, but don’t worry, you’ll still be left with a natural-looking bronze.

During your first shower, experts recommend you avoid oils or heavy soaps; you can even just rinse with water before carefully patting yourself dry with a towel. If you don’t have a tan with a color guide, technically, there’s no need to wash it off. But these same rules should apply for your first shower after application.

You may find that some of the color-guide residue will linger, even after a shower, so bear this in mind if using white towels. And taking care to avoid overzealous scrubbing in the shower extends beyond the initial rinse-off: “You want to be gentle whenever you’re washing your body,” says Cory.

Post-tan top-ups

Maintaining your faux glow is all about strategic moisturizing. Yes, we’re that serious about our self-tan. “Hydrated skin holds color longer”, says Nkosi, so do moisturize daily after you’ve washed off your color guide and are left with your sunless glow.

Many pros suggest using a gradual tanning lotion, like Jergens Natural Glow + Brighten Daily Moisturizer, every couple of days to maintain the depth of your fake tan. This is a great tip for topping-up your sunless tan on vacation without having to start from scratch.

The same goes for your face, which is where you’ll find tan fades the quickest. A tanning mist, such as the St. Tropez Mist and Saltyface The Face Set, are great for touchups, as well as for correcting any missed areas or mistakes.