A Perfect Tan?

One way to be sun safe is to avoid tanning and use a self-tanner. After seeing a co-worker with streaks down her legs, I thought I’d offer some tips for getting the perfect “tan”.

**Take a quick shower or bath (don't soak) and exfoliate your skin, either with a washcloth or body scrub. Don't over scrub, but do pay extra attention to your knees, ankles, feet, elbows, and neck. This will help achieve a uniform appearance since self-tanners grab on to dry surface skin cells. Your tan will look more even and will last longer. Now is the time to shave your legs if you have to, because you shouldn’t shave or wax your legs for a few days after the application of a self-tanner.

** Your skin must be completely dry to get the best results. Do not apply self-tanner in a steamy, hot bathroom or on a humid, hot day. The heat and moisture in the bathroom can cause you to start to sweat and the self tanner can melt and drip which will cause streaks. Also,wait until your body has cooled down after your shower. Hot skin will have the same affect.

**Apply a thin layer of lightweight moisturizer over the areas where you will be applying self-tanner. This will help the self-tanner glide on without clinging to dry patches.

**To avoid streaks on your legs when using a self-tanner , rub on tanner in a horizontal motion, rather than a vertical one.

**Wait AT LEAST 15 minutes before getting dressed. Remember that self-tanner can stain clothes. Color will show up after approximately 2 hours, not immediately.

**For a realistic-looking tan, skip body parts that wouldn’t tan in the sun, like your inner arms.

**Dilute by half on the areas prone to dark spots. Your knees, ankles and elbows are usually first to show if you don’t apply correctly. Mix half self tanner and half moisturizer for a more natural look.

**Never apply body self-tanner, tanning lotion or body bronzer to your face. Buy a special facial self-tanner. After tanning your face, take a wet cotton swab to eyebrows and rub out any tanner residue. Also, rub a moistened cotton ball across your hairline where tanners tend to build up during application. This will ensure a no-tell perfectly tanned face. Never wear foundation, face powder, eyeshadows or lipstick when applying self-tanner.

**To maintain your new tan and to make it last longer reapply the tanning product every week or every three to four days.

** To keep self-tanning color from staining nails, cuticles and palms, coat your hands with petroleum jelly.

WHEW, that’s a lot of information. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get a tan that looks like you just stepped off the plane from a vacation in Hawaii! Do you have a favorite self-tanner? Cream, Spray,Gel...?