It’s tempting to want to lay in the sun for hours on end in hopes of developing a golden glow, but a quicker and much safer method is to just apply self-tanner. If you’re not yet skilled in the art of the perfect faux tan, there’s no time like the present to learn and no one better to take advice from than professional airbrush tanners. Read on for self-tanning tips from Sophie Evans, St. Tropez skin-finishing expert, and Courtney Claghorn, founder of SUGARED + BRONZED. Start with clean, dry skin. One common mistake that people make is applying moisturizer all over their body pre-tan. “Moisturizer will make your self-tan color lighter,” says Evans. “Apply a non-oil-based moisturizer to dry, problem areas like elbows, knees, hands and feet only.” This is because, as Claghorn explains, “oils can repel DHA, the active ingredient in sunless tanning formulas.”Smooth, don’t rub on the formula.It’s important to blend thoroughly, but don’t overdo it by rubbing the formula into the skin. “This actually causes the self-tan to break and streak,” says Evans. “Always use enough so that the tan can be easily smoothed onto the skin and absorbed and developed evenly.” To ensure a streak-free finish, Claghorn recommends using a tanning mitt instead of your bare hands for application. “Apply self-tanner in circular motions and use the color of the formula as a guide (if there is one) to ensure there aren’t streaks,” she says. One formula that makes application a breeze is the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Water Mousse. It has a foam texture that smooths onto skin and absorbs quickly. 
