There was a time when sitting in the sun slathered in baby oil was “the” thing to do if you wanted to get a little color. Many gladly dealt with pain & discomfort and blistering  that came afterward.  They’d gladly declare  “I got a tan”   to anyone that would listen.   But was all that pain really worth it in the end?   Not if it put you in the high-risk category of people who develop skin cancer as a result of this extreme behavior.

Although baking in the sun is no longer the “it” thing , people still enjoy the benefits of tanning. You’re still left with throngs of  tanning beds, spray tans and, oh yes,   you can go the most affordable route and self-tan your way to a darker hue.

The concept of self-tanning creates a bit of anxiety for some.  No one  wants to looking streaky or splotchy… or ORANGE! The easiest way to get past any anxiety surrounding self-tanners is to follow the directions given on the  bottle word-for-word and to follow these tips to get a great application every time:

Cleanse/Exfoliate: When you hop in the shower make sure to exfoliate every part of your body – use either an exfoliating body scrub and/or a loofah.  Wipe in a circular motion, paying close attention to your elbows, knees and the backs of your heels.  It’s important get rid of any dead skin that, if left behind will leave a less-than-smooth surface to work with.

Rinse: Be thorough and leave no particle behind. Be diligent and rinse away all exfoliating beads and then pat yourself dry.

Moisturize: In order to get an even-looking tan you should moisturize the areas of your body that are the most dehydrated – knees and elbows, before you start applying self-tanner. If after you‘ve applied the tanner you notice that your knees and elbows are really dark, quickly apply moisturizer to lighten the areas

Application Time: Rub a generous amount of tanner into your hands and begin applying it on your body starting from the top and work downwards.

TIP: Wash your hands frequently throughout the self-tanner application process otherwise they’ll get stained!

Be Patient. Let the tanning solution set for at least four hours and then shower.

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