DIY Self-Tanner Gone Wrong? What You Can Do Now

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.