Self tanning mousse, cream and lotions has dye in it which is called DHA, so it will be important to remove all items away from the area where you are going to use the solution. Many people use their self tanning mousse while standing in the shower or bath tub so that the dye does not get on the bathroom floor or on any of the items in the bathroom.
Remove hair before tanning. For women, shaving your legs before you use the lotions will give you a smoother tan. Use a razor that does not take off hair below the pores. Some people find that using a hair removal solution the day before they use a self tanning mousse is very effective.
Shower using a soap that does not have oil in it. Removing oils from the body will help you to achieve a smooth tan on your body.
Self tanning mousse, cream and lotions
Read the instructions for application and maintenance of your tan carefully. Manufacturers of tanning solution include different chemicals and ingredients in the solution and there are different application requirements. However the ones on this site only contain DHA (a natural sugar which is the safest method of tanning available). It is also important to test a patch of skin with the mousse or cream to see what the effect of the solution will be.
The instructions will give you information for the type of protection to use on your hands when you apply the tanner. Some manufacturers suggest using latex gloves when applying the solution. Other manufacturers suggest putting a protective gel or coating on the palms of your hands to keep from staining your hands with the dye. Either way watch out you don’t end up with white hands at the end.
Self tanning lotions come in different shades and tones. If you have never used a sunless tanner before, you may want to start with a lighter tone to see how your skin will react to the tanning lotion. When you are comparing solutions, choose one that is formulated for people with your skin tone. A person with Auburn or Red hair will tend to tan in more red tones and will need to look to a solution that has the word “ash” in it. This dye tones red tones down and will give you a more natural look when it is used.
Most of the tanning lotions made are time activated. They will stop working after they have been on the body for a specific length of time. The instructions on the packaging will tell you how long to keep the solution on your body. It will be important to put the solution on your body as quickly and smoothly as possible. Remember that if you rub the solution into your body, it will go deeper into your pores and create a darker coloring. To avoid streaking or splotchy color, rub the lotion evenly over your body or have a friend rub the solution on for you. Where you do get a streak use a body buffer to smooth it out afterwards.
There are many excellent sunless tanner products available that will meet a personal needs and desire for a smooth and natural looking tan. However, it will be important that you test products on small parts of your body to see how they react to your skin. Once you have found the best solution that meets your needs, make sure that you get a supply of the tanner to last through at least one season. The one I’ve most success with is Joliese – and its an easy to use spray on tanner.