Self Tanning Tips: How to Prevent an Uneven Tan

It's winter and yet celebrities are photographed sporting a glowing tan that not only makes them look healthier, but more beautiful and a lot younger than their real age. Of course, Hollywood is not the only place wherein people look perennially tan. Everywhere you go, teenagers, yuppies, and men and women from all walks of life can be seen sporting the sun kissed glow of a natural tan. How is this possible? The indoor tanning industry has recently seen the emergence of the sunless tanning sector—it's not only cheaper, but you can also do it at home.

Self tanning through the application of sunless tanning products can certainly give you that vibrant aura that you get from a natural tan. You can look and feel healthier, younger and more beautiful just by using sunless tanning home kits. However, there are also risks to using sunless tanning products; and one of the most important things that you don't want to happen is getting an uneven tan. What do I mean by this? An uneven tan occurs after an improper application of tanning lotions, creams or sprays. Your skin will look darker in some parts or you will have blotches of tanned areas. In other words, you will get the opposite of what you are trying to achieve as your skin will not only look unhealthy, but you will also look silly and funny.

Now, this is not to say that self tanning at home is not safe and effective. There are ways to prevent uneven tanning from happening. Here are some simple and very useful tips if you plan on using sunless tanning products:

1. Read the instructions that come with the sunless tanning product carefully. There are a lot of varieties to choose from when it comes to self tanning products. There are lotions, creams and sprays. Each product is different and is applied differently. So please read the instructions carefully before applying the sunless tanning solution in order to prevent uneven tanning. If you have questions, don't be hesitant to refer to their websites or call their hotlines. It's better to be safe than sorry.

2. Exfoliate and moisturize. Sunless tanning products, although applied topically, are not like regular lotions and creams wherein you just need to apply it whenever you want to. If you want an even tan, you need to prepare your skin for it. By this, I mean that you need to exfoliate in order to make your skin smoother and to moisturize for your skin to better absorb the self tanning lotion. DO NOT exfoliate and moisturize just before applying the sunless tanning product of your choice. You need to do this every day for at least three days before you use the sunless tanning product. In this way, you can evenly apply the product on your smooth skin and your skin will absorb the self tanning lotion in an even manner.

3. Be patient. Remember that after application, sunless tanning solutions need to stay on your body for better absorption for a certain number of minutes, depending on the product you've chosen. You can't get into contact with anything wet and take a bath. Don't be impatient. Wait an extra five minutes (in addition to the number specified on the self tanning lotion) to make sure that your skin has fully absorbed the tanning lotion.

Sunless tanning— is truly a safe, effective and cheaper way to get that tan that you want all year round. BUT you need to be careful during application. Remember to read the instructions carefully and follow the necessary preparations you need to do before applying the self tanning product. Do not use shortcuts as they will only lead to an uneven tan—which is the last thing that you want.