You want a sun kissed summer glow - without having to bake outside
for hours. But the slathering of self-tanner you tried at home made you look
more like a streaky traffic cone than a golden goddess. Now what? Take a look
at what you can do to correct your sunless tanning mistakes.
Leaving self-tanner on your skin will only make it darker or
more noticeable. If you start to see streaks or the color is developing oddly,
get into the shower as soon as possible. Use body wash and a wash cloth to
remove the tanning product and rinse well.
While this won't reverse the existing effects, it may help
to stop the remaining self-tanner from processing.
Will sloughing off skin make your day-glow orange color turn
to a mellow a tan? While this line of thinking makes many DIY
self-tan-gone-wrong victims turn to exfoliating beauty products or loofahs, you
can't remove the oddly-hued skin. Instead, exfoliating your skin can even out
the color - making it look somewhat lighter and less streaky. To exfoliate, you
should:
- Choose
the right product. Chemical exfoliators are best for brightening your
face. Choose a physical method, such as a body scrub.
- Pay
attention to elbows, knees, and creases. These thicker areas tend to
discolor more than other parts of your skin.
- Use
a loofah. A textured sponge can help smooth your skin.
If exfoliating doesn't cut it, read on for more ways to fix
your self-tanner mistakes.
Exfoliation isn't for everyone. People with inflammatory
acne, some skin conditions, or sensitive skin may cause more harm than good by
trying this method. If exfoliating isn't an option (or doesn't work well), you
still have options.
Instead of trying to remove or reduce the appearance of the
tan, cover it up. The easiest way to cover-up a bad self-tan is with your
clothing. Choose pants over shorts or skirts and long-sleeved tops. If the
weather works against you or you have a special event to attend, use cosmetic
products to conceal the color.
Liquid body bronzers (avoid anything that has self-tanner in
it) and powders can slightly alter the color and add a camouflaging shine.
Avoid going too dark - this may just make your skin look worse. Another option
is a light dusting with a shimmer powder. These products at a subtle glisten to
your skin, detracting from the orange glow.
Put the DIY self-tanner away and start fresh. You have
several different options to get an expertly created glow. These include:
- Immediate
spray tan. Depending on the product you used and the color of the tan,
an immediate redo (by a pro) may help. A tanning professional can evaluate
your tan and recommend in-salon services to correct or cover it.
- Wait
and tan. If you just need to take a break from tanning, wait for the
color to fade and then call the salon. Instead of repeating the same
mistakes, let the professionals help you to achieve a golden glow.
- An
airbrush tan. Instead of slathering on lotion, an airbrush tan
provides precision hand-applied by a professional. This type of sunless
tan allows you to get the look you want that creates a natural color
without going to the orange end of the skin spectrum.
Sunless tan professionals have extensive experience and
expertise in applying the products they use. Before you go in for your tan,
talk to the salon staff about your recent skin mistakes, any corrections you've
tried to make (such as exfoliating or using other tanners), and what your
tanning goals are.
Do you need help correcting a self-tanning mistake?
Contact Golden State Tanning
Studio for more information.
