Q&A: What's Your Secret to the Perfect Tan?

Being tan has just kind of always been a part of my orbit. As a kid, I was constantly outside swimming, dancing, or playing so always ended up just having a great tan. As an adult, it’s a little harder to get that perfect tan without risking skin and sun damage. The only tanning I stand by at this point in my life is sunless tanning and thankfully there are good products that help get the exact intended results. It honestly feels like I have spent years trying every tanning product under the sun and I have been able to narrow down a list of my absolute favorites.

My current tanning routine pretty much involves getting a professional spray tan but maintaining it with my at-home products so it lasts a little bit longer. Since that’s not something others may be into, here are my favorite self-tan products and how I typically use them.

A few other tricks I’ve Learned:

• Use a tanning glove: This may sound like a no-brainer, but you’ll be thanking yourself later. Remember to wash it between uses so you’re not getting tan on your hands unexpectedly.

• When in doubt grab rubber gloves: No matter how hard I wash my hands, when applying a lotion version of tanner I somehow dye at least one part of my hands. I started using rubber gloves and removing them to avoid any large mishaps.

• Makeup brushes: A simple way to apply self-tanner to your face or spot treat places is with a makeup brush. Sure, tanning companies make brushes you can purchase to get a more accurate tan, but I have found a simple kabuki or face brush can apply it just as easily. I use these mainly for my face, hands, and feet - the places you want to apply less fo a more natural look.

Blurring body glow

+ Lux Unfiltered, $44

I use this Blurring Body Glow when I go out to cover imperfections and add a freshly bronzed look to my skin.

body exfoliator scrub

+ Lux Unfiltered, $36

This is my favorite scrub for removing old tan to get a fresh base. It smells great and leaves my skin super soft and moisturized.

Self-tanning face moisturizer

Tan-Luxe, $49

The face is one of the areas the tan fades the quickest. I toss this on before bed a couple nights a week to just refresh the color in my face.

Conditioning body cream

+ Lux Unfiltered, $38

I use this conditioning cream almost religiously especially when I get out of the shower. It smells incredible and it keeps my skin moisturized, soft, and prevents cracks in my tan.

The BODY SERUM

Nécessaire, $45

This is a newer addition to my routine, but I love putting this on at night before bed. There is no fragrance, it dries quickly, and helps improve the look and feel of my skin.

self-tanning drops

+ Lux Unfiltered, $44

I do a couple of these drops as part of my morning skincare routine. They really help to maintain color and add a little extra oomph to my skin and makeup routine.

tan eraser + primer

Tanologist, $18

This is my secret weapon because accidents happen. I use this eraser + primer to remove any accidental spots especially on my fingers and wrists. It’s super easy to get to these spots with a little scrub brush and help the color fade.