Guide to Facial Self-Tanning: Great Summer Skin Minus the Sun

Facial self-tanners help to even out your complexion and can actually make your face look slimmer. To ensure you don't look like you used a self-tanner (get that lovely orange skin, or worse be two-toned), it must be applied correctly. The best process to obtain the most natural effect begins with choosing the right product for your skin tone.

For those fair skinned beauties like me, whose only real chance at a tan instead of a burn is a sunless product, gradual tanners are the way to go. Products such as, L'Oreal Body Expertise Sublime Glow, Olay Complete touch of sun, or Jergen's Natural Glow (all in fair and for face with moisturizer). The Olay and Jergen's also offer a bit of SPF which is vital to an everyday skin regime. The gradual tanners build a beautiful tan subtly over several days, making the transition much more natural. This also allows you to choose the degree of your tan.

Medium skin tones can choose either the gradual approach (great products include True Blue Spa Bronze Bombshell) or achieve more intense color in a few hours (Dior Bronze Self Tanner Natural Glow for Face or Clarin's Self-Tanner Instant Gel ).

Dark Skinned girls can use products like Estee Lauder Self Tan Go Bronze (which develops into a natural looking brown) to even out their skin tone. In a rush? Fake Bake the Face Self-Tanning lotion dries more quickly tan other formulas.

Proper skin preparation is required to obtain the most optimal skin tone after use. This process begins with a deep clean the night before. Using a cleansing mask or pore strip to unclog the pores will ensure the self-tanner does not accentuate blackheads.

Steps to self tanning success

1. Smooth
wash skin to prevent uneven application dye to dry patches. Use a creamy cleanser, then gradually exfoliate with a fine grain scrub that is appropriate for your skin type. Rinse skin and pat dry.

2. Hydrate (Skip this step if you are using a gradual tanner as it includes moisturizer)Apply a thin layer of oil-free moisturizer to your face. Wait 15 minutes absorption to occur before proceeding.

3. Apply
Squirt a pea-size dollop of self-tanner to your middle and index fingers. This helps to apply the color more precisely. Dot the self-tanner on the center of your forehead, along your cheekbones, down the nose, and on the middle of your chin.

4.Blend
Using the same two fingers, blend from the dots out toward the hairline. Pay special attention to the jaw and neckline. Allow skin to dry as directed by product.
Wash hands with a scrub to remove all tanner residue, making sure to clean palms and cuticles which may turn orange from the excess tanner.

5. Adjust. The next day, replace your foundation with a concealer and tinted moisturizer one shade darker than your regular one. Apply a sheer cream blush to the apples of your cheeks to mimic the post sun flush.

6. Add Color (if desired)
Finish the look with a shimmer cream eyeshadow in bronze or gold. With your finger, apply color from the lash line, extending to just above the crease. Apply two coats of black mascara and a sheer pink balm or lip gloss to finish.

Helpful hints

Don't use a body tanner on your face. There is a reason why they make them for both parts.

If streaks develop, drip a cotton ball in an alcohol based toner and wipe over the mistake. The alcohol will help to soften the darkened areas.

Stick to bronzy browns, soft golds and peaches which are more flattering to your newly tanned skin. Avoid cool blues, purples and some reds that can look strange.

For evening boost your tan with a powder bronzer.

If your tint is disappearing unevenly, soak in the tub for at least ten minutes, then buff patches of skin with a dry towel. Just keep rubbing until it all comes off.