Up until now, we’ve been giving our best bits of perfect self-tan advice to women. This time, we’ll be addressing the men who want that golden glow just as much but have been deprived of TLC from tanning blogs.
Is there a difference between the two? You bet. Some men are not fans of shaving or waxing body hair, and that makes a huge difference in preparing the canvas for the perfect self-tan. Some are just rookies to beauty routines and have no clue as to where to start. If these descriptions sound like you, you’re in luck – this self-tanning guide is made just for you.
1. Do a patch test when trying out a new shade or product.
If you’re a budding self-tanner, chances are you have zero idea how a certain shade will look on your skin. If you’re not willing to be adventurous, find a spot on your body that people normally won’t see and do a patch test. This will help you test the colour of the tan as well as to see if you have any skin sensitivities to the ingredients.
Don’t forget that tanning lotions tend to develop over several hours so we recommend waiting at least six to eight hours before deciding on your golden hue.
2. Go for mousse.
Creams are nice but when it comes to self-tanning with body hair, mousses are our best bet. Tanning mousses tend to be lighter on the skin and leaves body hair unbothered. It also is pretty fool proof to apply so less mistakes equals a happier tanning session.
We recommend: Bronze Bliss Medium Tanning Mousse
3. Go for a gradual glow.
If patch tests aren’t your thing, or if you’re still in the experimental stage of figuring out how deep you can go, we recommend going for gradual tanners. Gradual tanners are self-tanners that develop a bit more conservatively – but the upside is you can build on the colour. Just mix them in with your favourite moisturiser and choose your custom hue.
We recommend: Skinsation Gradual Tanning Lotion
4. Exfoliate like you’ve never exfoliated before.
A lot of men aren’t used to the idea of exfoliating, but in the world of self-tanning, exfoliating is key. Not exfoliating before self-tanning is basically asking for a patchy, uneven, and even streaky tan (think sanding down a surface before applying paint on it).
Fun fact: the active agent in self-tanners, dihydroxyacetone or DHA, also sticks better to the skin after a good exfoliation.
5. Target those dry bits with some moisturiser.
Dry patches of skin love self-tanners and will drink that DHA up like a desert met with rain. Make sure to pay special attention to those areas when moisturising, because the more product they absorb, the darker and more uneven they will appear. These areas are usually ankles, heels, elbows, wrists, and knees.
We also advise taking a quick look at other areas that have been problem spots for you and giving it extra TLC.
(to be continued)