Marina | February 8, 2014 | Beauty |

Self tanning is a great way to bring color to your skin when you have a pale complexion or when you the colder seasons enter and the cold temperature starts to draw color out from your skin. Though going to a tanning salon is one of the best options to get the most natural looking tan, doing a fake tan at home by yourself can give you just as good results, too. However, you need to know the right way of applying tan as well as some tips and tricks of the trade to achieve a natural looking tan. Here are some tips that can help you on how to make fake tan look real.

• Do a patch test – before anything else, just like with other processes that require you to apply chemical on your skin, you need to do a patch test 24 to 48 hours before you do the actual self tanning. This is a must because a patch test will let you know of any allergic reactions to the product you are planning to use. in case you develop some allergic reaction, do not use the product and try out another one.

• Don’t get yourself wet – water stops the tanning solution from developing on your skin so make sure that you keep yourself dry as much as possible at least 6 to 8 hours before you do a fake tan. Moisturize before hand, though, so you get a soft ‘glow’ after tanning. When your skin is soft and dry, tan develops better and more evenly making your fake tan look a lot more natural and real.

• Wait 3 days before you exfoliate after a tan – some tanning solutions develop quicker and some slower than others. To make sure that you tanner has fully taken effect, wait for at least 3 days before you exfoliate your skin after tanning. Exfoliating will help the tan fade away more evenly but wait until it’s fully settled in. Examine your skin after exfoliating to make sure that there are no areas with uneven tan. If there is, feel free to reapply some tanner to even it out.

• Use tanning mitts or gloves – your tan may look flawless but tanned palms can easily give it away. Make sure you protect your palms from being too tanned by using tanning mitts and gloves when applying a fake tan on your own. Most DIY tanning kits already have tanning mitts or gloves included in the package but in case you can’t find any, just use disposable gloves. Make sure to get a pair that fits tightly as a loose pair can leave streaks on tan on your skin, another tell tale sign that your tan is fake.

• Keep up with maintenance – make sure your tan stays on longer and keeps on looking natural by sticking to a maintenance routine. Exfoliate gently at least twice a week to lift dead skin cells and reapply tanner when your tan starts to lighten up or as needed. When your tan starts to look patchy, it’s time to soak up in the tub and get rid of all the color then start over again.