The Perfect Wedding Spray Tan: Get Your Glow Fast With These Five Tips

The dark tan may be out of style, but lots of brides still want to give their skin a little extra oomph by getting a spray tan. Here's what to keep in mind to make sure yours looks nice and even and not at all orange.

1. Exfoliate at least two times per week starting several months before your wedding day using an oil-based exfoliant. (Her favorite is Epicuren Cinnamon Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub.) Exfoliation gets rid of dead skin cells that may prevent your wedding day tan from looking even and fresh.

2. When your skin is healthy and hydrated it holds a fake tan longer and better, so moisturize every day after your shower. Just avoid lotions that contain alcohol or anti-aging ingredients, as they tend to dry out the skin. But on the day of your spray tan, make sure you do not apply any lotion beforehand (or makeup or deodorant, which can also contain oils that keep the tan from soaking in). Your skin should be clean, dry and free of any products.

3. Always do waxing before your spray tanning appointment. Doing this afterward can make the tan come off in those areas.

4. Book a trial appointment, maybe on the day of your engagement or bachelorette party. There are many different types of spray tanning solutions and techniques so it's best to find the one that's right for your skin.

5. For the most foolproof results, splurge on a tan administered by an experienced technician, not a session in an automatic spray-tan booth, where your results may be less even and realistic.

Outrageous Tanning Myths, Facts and Crazy Stories You've Just Gotta Read to Believe!

While every industry has its crazy stories and bad press, it seems that ours always tends to be in the spotlight.  From negative press to bad (and flat out wrong) education and facts to the plain crazy (Jersey Tanning Mom.....), the indoor tanning industry just can't catch a break!    And, maybe it's the years of UV exposure, but it seems like the water cooler gossip for us keeps getting weirder and weirder.....we have a lot of strange clients who do strange things...so sit back and relax for "Glow Tanning's Myths, Facts and Crazy Stories".

COMMON TANNING MYTHS
True or False:  You have to wait at least 4 hours after tanning to shower.
When using a lotion with bronzers, like
Luminary, it's important to wait at least 4
hours before rinsing to allow the bronzers
to develop.

Answer: Depends.  The tanning process takes place beneath the skin's surface, so showering won't affect that at all.  The only outside factor here is whether or not you used a lotion with bronzers.  DHA bronzers (self-tanners) take a minimum of 4 hours to develop, but should ideally be left on the skin for 8-12 hours (or longer if possible-up to 24 hours before rinsing).  So, if you're spending money on a lotion with bronzers, like Luminary 25x, then showering immediately afterwards, you're literally washing your money down the shower drain too!

True or False: A girl was tanning for prom, and tanned at 4 different salons for 20 minutes each, then died later that day because her internal organs overheated.
Rather than overexposing your skin by overdoing it,
try a self-tanning spray like JWOWW's Dark
Instant Sunless Spray to give you immediate
color without the risk of burning.

Answer: False.  This is the most common urban legend in our industry, but there is no way this could have happened.  She would definitely be sunburnt after tanning this much in 1 day, but the reality is that UV rays don't penetrate past the skin, so the notion that her insides would be "cooking" is ridiculous.  Anybody looking for fast color is better off getting an airbrush tan, or trying a product like JWOWW's Dark Instant Sunless Spray.

True or False: You can tan while pregnant.

Answer: True.  While you should ALWAYS consult your doctor on this sensitive issue, the main reason why pregnant women don't tan is overheating and comfort.  When you get hot during a tanning session, the baby gets hot too, and then you're both uncomfortable.  Try using a unit with better fans and a shorter tan time, like the Starship stand-up, to keep you and the baby comfortable.  People are also worried that the UV rays penetrate the skin to the baby, but since UV rays don't penetrate past the skin that's not an issue.  But again-this is a sensitive issue that should ALWAYS be discussed with your doctor.

True or False: UVA/high pressure units are "more gentle" on the skin, while others are just "reddening" units and are much worse for your skin.

More More More by Designer Skin contains
Moisture Splurge Hydrating Bronzers and
Aloe Vera for intense hydration, and is gluten
free, paraben free and not tested on animals.
Answer: False.  People have been so poorly educated (or not educated at all) on UVA vs UVB rays for such a long time now that they actually believe this.  I can't stand when I overhear people spreading incorrect information on tanning.  UVB rays are the rays that stimulate the production of melanin (skin's pigment), and UVA rays are the rays that deepen the melanin (pigment), so you need both in certain amounts to develop, deepen and maintain a tan.  UVB rays can lead to sun burn if overexposed (which is why they've developed the "reddening-only" reputation) while UVA rays can lead to dry sagging skin (the leathery look), fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.  So, everything in moderation! 

Hempz Vanilla Plum Herbal Body
Moisturizer contains 100% pure natural
hemp seed oil, plum oil, shea butter,
ginseng, natural extracts, and
vitamins A, C and E.  Paraben free,
gluten free, 100% vegan.
Protect your skin from the signs of aging by applying a good, hydrating tanning lotion, like More More More, prior to each session, and using a tan extending moisturizer, like Hempz Vanilla Plum, 1-2 times daily.

True or False: Indoor tanning is safer than outdoor tanning.

Answer: False.  Both indoor and outdoor tanning have their risks, but the benefit of indoor tanning is that you are in a controlled environment with time limits and exact knowledge of UVA/UVB exposure, so the chances of overexposure are minimal compared to being outside.

True or False: Indoor tanning lotion can be used outside for sun protection.

Answer: False.  Indoor tanning lotion can be used outside for tanning purposes, but it contains no SPF so it won't prevent burning.  **NEVER EVER EVER USE OUTDOOR TANNING PRODUCTS ON A TANNING BED.  Ingredients in the outdoor tanning products break down the acrylic, leading to cracks and a weak acrylic.  It also clouds the acrylic, which means less light shines through so the beds won't be as strong.

True or False: Having a base tan will help prevent burning if I'm out in the sun, even if you're not super dark.
If you're going to be outside for an extended
period of time, make sure you use an SPF product
 to prevent sunburn.  This SPF 8 spray gel by Australian
Gold dries quickly, is sweat/water resistant and gives
 an instant golden brown glow with a small amount of
cosmetic bronzer.  Available in SPF 8, SPF 15 and SPF 30+.

Answer: True.  A tan is the body's natural defense against sunburn and overexposure, so by having a base tan prior to something like an outdoor/beach vacation helps prevent you from burning.  It also increases the effectiveness of SPF products by 2-4 times, so a broad spectrum SPF 15 becomes a true SPF of 30-60! 

Funny, Crazy (and sometimes nasty) Stories!
Crazy stuff happens everywhere, but there's something about being alone in a dark room that brings out some weird behavior in people.  Here are a few funny stories!

"There is this one client who always tans after the gym, which is fine, but she always leaves HUGE chunks of wet tissue on the floor.  At first, we thought it was a one-time thing, but the next few times she came in she did the same thing!  I don't think she does it on purpose, but we can't figure out what she's in there doing with the tissue, and more importantly why she leaves the big nasty chunks behind!  We now have a pop-up note in her file to go and take the box of tissue out of the room before she goes in it."

"This one guy went into room 1 and a few minutes later opened the door and was standing in the doorway, asking me for eyewear, COMPLETELY NAKED!  He didn't even attempt to hide his stuff.  We had cameras put in because of that guy."

"We had to take the trash cans out of the rooms in Ann Arbor because people kept peeing in them!  I finally made the executive decision one day when 3 separate people peed in them, and the weird thing was that all of the clients who did it that day were women!  I wanted to chase them outside with the pee-filled trash bags yelling, 'Excuse me miss, you forgot something here!'  People can be so gross."

"A few years ago in Clinton, someone pooped behind one of the beds and used the trash can to cover it up.  Seriously.  We had to shut down that room until somebody came to replace that section of carpet."

"One night, a client took a room apart.  Like, completely apart.  She took tissues out of the box and ripped them up all over the floor, took apart the air freshener and left the pieces all over, sprayed deodorant all over the walls, wadded up the towel and stuck it in the corner, and hid the 'This Bed Has Been Sanitized' sign and the head rest.  Even if you were upset about something, wouldn't you think to handle it in a more mature way?

"I swear, people save their explosive diarrhea for our salon.  I can't even begin to describe where I've cleaned poop splatter from.  I don't know what people are doing in that bathroom, but they're disgusting.  They wouldn't leave their own house or office bathroom looking the way they leave ours."

"It really irritates me that some people think that we're inferior or uneducated because we work at a tanning salon.  Actually, running a tanning salon is a lot more difficult and requires a lot more knowledge than half the jobs out there!  My favorite thing to do is correct some snooty client when they start spouting out blatantly wrong information tanning."

"One day last spring when I first started at Glow, we were having some trouble with our timer that controls all of the beds, and if you didn't close out of a computer pop-up when you turned on the main computer, none of the beds would work.  Because I was new, I was overwhelmed and forgot this so on this busy Sunday beds weren't turning on.  This one client went absolutely crazy in a way that was beyond normal.  I called Cynthia, but she was driving from Clinton, which was 30 minutes away, but she said to shut off the open sign and hide behind the desk until she got there.  In the meantime, this crazy lady started freaking out, crying hysterically and then started kicking trash cans around!  Another client happened to be at the front desk and put crazy lady in check, but it was still very stressful.  Turns out that everybody has had issues with this one client.  Apparently she had a nuclear meltdown and started crying and SCREAMING because she broke a nail when she was in a level 2.  Glad I wasn't the only one!"

"A client-turned-employee-turned-client pooped into one of the trash cans, took the bag out and walked it back to the bathroom, put it into the bathroom trash can, left it there and left the salon without saying anything.  Some people."

"One time, a girl came in to tan after going to happy hour, and completely passed out in the bed after it shut off!  She had been in there for 35 minutes, and her friend and I were frantically pounding on the door, trying to wake her up!  Just as I was grabbing the ladder to scale the wall to throw something at her to get her attention, she woke up.  Another time, a client came in to tan late at night before closing, and she fell asleep in the bed!  She couldn't hear me trying to get her attention by messing with the music and pounding on the door because she had her iPod on!  She finally woke up 20 minutes later!"


"This year for prom, a girl called asking if we offered spray tanning.  At the time, we didn't, so I told her no.  She started telling me all of the reasons why she needed it done, like she used a self tanner and it's blotchy and she needs it evened out...and then she asked me if I was sure that we didn't offer it.  Um......yeah...pretty sure...So then she's like, 'Well, can't YOU just spray me?'  I told her that I wasn't certified to provide that service and that I've NEVER done it before, and she was like, 'That's ok, it can't be that hard!'  I told her that I would not be willing to practice on her because it probably wouldn't be that helpful in correcting her blotchy self-tanning job, and then she asked me for a list of other tanning salons in the area and what they charge for spray tans.  All I can say is LOL!"

Tanning Safety Tips Everyone Should Follow

Are you interested in giving your skin a warm, healthy glow? If so, you might be considering spending some time in the sun so you can get a beautiful tan. Before you head outdoors or to the tanning bed, however, you should keep these 5 tips for getting a healthy tan in mind. That way, you can look great while taking care of your body at the same time.

Tip #1: Know Your Skin Type

Before you start tanning, you need to have a good understanding of your skin type. The reality is that some skin types are more prone to burning that others and you want to make certain your skin doesn't get burnt in the tanning process. In fact, most experts will agree that moderate tanning is perfectly safe so long as it doesn't lead to a burn. Be certain to select the tanning lotion that is right for your skin type and to monitor the duration of your tanning session so you don't overdo it. For the most part, a tanning session should never last longer than 15 to 20 minutes. This way, the UV rays will not have time to penetrate deep down into the skin.

Tip #2: Keep Your Skin Clean

Before you start your tanning session, it is also best for you to clean your skin so it is free of perfume, makeup and deodorant. Cleansing your skin is an important step as it will make you less prone to sunburn.

Tip #3: Moisturize Your Skin

Before and after your tanning session, you should moisturize your skin thoroughly. This way, your skin will be more receptive to the tanning session while also remaining well-protected and healthy.

Tip #4: Give Your Skin Time to Recover

Although you may be anxious to head back out the beach or to the tanning bed, you should be sure to give your skin some time to recover between tanning sessions. Ideally, you should wait at least three days before your next tanning session. This way, your skin will have the time it needs to synthesize the melanin in preparation for the next tanning session.

Tip #5: Keep Your Eyes Protected

Whether you are tanning outdoors or in a tanning booth, you need to take steps to keep your eyes protected. If you are tanning outside, you should wear a hat and a pair of sunglasses to keep your eyes protected. If you are tanning at a booth, on the other hand, you should wear tanning goggles at all times.

How to Acheive a Flawless Base Tan

Lets face it. A nice tan makes you look and feel superb. A great bonus, it can obscure unappealing cellulite and also make you seem leaner!

In case you are going on a excursion or you simply choose to appear great for an event that's coming up, it's fundamental to set up a base tan.

Here are some 10 indoor tanning steps to support you reach a good base tan with no finding burned*.

By the way, for anybody who is hesitant about making use of an indoor tanning bed but need to get yourself a tan, look at a UV-free spray tan like Mystic Tan.

Often, the steps below will guide guide you through the UV indoor tanning progression:

1. Be careful if you're on any prescription medications: blood pressure medications, antibiotics, skin color difficulty medications are just a few categories of drugs you preferably will need to not be taking in case you are tanning or spending lots of time outdoors. Refer to the photosensitizing medication chart in your local tanning salon to become sure the medications you will be taking aren't listed. These medications can effect the final results of one's tanning, making it much more tough to tan and you also are extra prone to burning.

2. Generally use a excellent high quality indoor tanning lotion. It will guide your skin tone to absorb the UV, which will aid inside tanning practice. You will discover also special ingredients that stimulate melanin production, such as Tyrosine, which will give you the most out of just about every tanning session. Your skin color tends to dry out throughout the tanning course of action and if you ever really don't use a great top quality indoor tanning lotion, your skin color will scrub faster, become much more dry and flaky, and you also will lose your tan faster. So the bottom line: for a deeper, dark, longer lasting tan, you have to use excellent indoor tanning lotion. It's perfect to utilize indoor tanning lotion right away earlier for your session or 1-2 several hours earlier is even superior for those who can. Applying it ahead of time allows your skin color to absorb the lotion greater so you may get the finest final results from your tanning session.

3. Utilize after tan lotion too to take care of your pores and skin and maintain it moisturized. Apply it two times daily at a minimum to keep your skin color happy, after from the morning and again at night prior to bed. This also can enhance your tan and make it longer lasting- the essential to a great tan is healthy dermis!

4. If you're just starting point to tan, don't forget to launch out conservative. Whatever you do, you never wish to burn- you cannot tan on top of the burn and also you will ought to begin above. The old saying "I generally burn initial after which I tan" is totally false, it basically will not ought to be this way. When you burn, your skin tone is telling you that it is acquiring as well much sun, and then you might peel. So commence out with a low number of minutes and work your way up. If you've fair skin tone but do have the ability to tan, you have to not go additional than 6-7 minutes your very first time in a standard 20 minute tanning bed (also recognized as a Level 1 tanning bed). For stronger beds with shorter tan times, you would go for even much less minutes.

5. Go the moment each and every 24-48 hours to create your base. Depending on how properly your dermis is doing, you are able to decide whether it is easy to go the moment a day or after each other day. A fine rule of thumb is if your epidermis is not pink within the 24 several hours right after your session, you may probably go once again the next day not having any predicament. If your pores and skin is pink, feels dry and itchy, or you get yourself a rash, this can be a signal that you simply went for as well a lot of minutes and need to have to take a break until it feels far better after which start off around once again.

6. When you develop up your base, you seriously really don't require to tan as generally. So depending on the variety of bed you're applying, you need to only go 2-3 times per week to keep your tan, even much less in stronger beds. This is where I see many individuals go overboard, tanning every single day when it's in reality not required. Lots of people today enjoy the relaxation time that tanning gives, but tanning too frequently can and will speed up your aging system and potentially result in other pores and skin ailments above a long period of time. Just like everything else in life, moderation is crucial!

7. Wear eye goggles at all times! Countless consumers believe that putting a towel around their face will block the UV rays, but it doesn't and repeated UV exposure can bring about major eye problems later in life. Would you rather be blind or have lighter eyelids? I believe I would pick the latter, but that is just me. For your own safety, please wear the eye goggles!

8. Since indoor tanning won't require the use of the bathing suit, use a towel to cover those 'sensitive' areas that don't see the sun quite typically if you prefer to tan all over. During the beginning, test covering those areas for fifty percent the session and see how it goes. Gradually it is easy to remove the towel earlier and earlier until you never have to have to use 1 anymore. The towel acts as a filter but won't absolutely block the UV rays, so you happen to be still acquiring the tanning practice started.

9. To stay away from obtaining creases or pressure tanning lines, you will need to move your limbs into distinct positions throughout your session. For that to begin with fifty percent, have a shot at laying down with both arms extended above your head and legs apart. For the second fifty percent, bring your arms down following for your sides but away from your body, and re-position your legs by raising 1 knee slightly for a half of the remaining time, after which the other leg do the same thing.

10. Look at to prevent wearing make-up, deodorant, or other perfumes earlier to tanning. Some of these things can make your skin tone more sensitive and possibly have a bad reaction with your epidermis when exposed to UV. When you wear plenty of deodorant, you may well notice that you simply aren't tanning too around your armpits, and you have to get rid of this prior to tanning.

When it comes to tanning, every single person's pores and skin kind is diverse and final results will vary. Consult with your local tanning salon for a epidermis kind analysis (from a Smart Tan Certified Tanning Consultant) which means you can obtain a great idea of exactly where to get started in.

Avoid Overtanning With These Top Seven Tips

The time has arrived for you to shed you layers of winter clothes and reveal your beautiful bare skin. I know what you're thinking yes I may look a little pale, but I'm just going to slap on some fake tan and I'll look as good as new again. But we're here to tell you to STOP!! STOP!! STOP!! Don't apply any tanning lotion or spray tan until you read this first....!!

Applying sunless tan to poorly prepared skin is like applying lipstick to dry, cracked lips... And we know that is just not a pretty sight to see. So make note of these tips as these can make the difference between looking like a bronzed babe or a pealing lizard.

1. Wax or shave before applying your sunless tan: Waxing or shaving your legs is a very good way of removing your dry skin cells. Also, by doing this before you apply your sunless tan you won't have to worry about this for the next few weeks and you can rest assured that your sunless tan will look even and vibrant. Sadly, if you decide to wax or shave your legs after you've applied your tanning lotion or spray tan - we guarantee your tan will be removed at the same time, leaving your skin looking very dry and patchy - Not a good look. Don't risk it, step 1: Wax & Shave.

2. Exfoliate, exfoliate, and exfoliate: Using a gentle exfoliates, concentrate on exfoliating all of your skin from head to toe. Mix the exfoliate with a little water and apply onto your skin in a circular motion. This removes dirt and dry skin, leaving your skin looking clean and clear. As your tanning lotion and spray tan will be applied on your face, arms, hands, chest, legs and feet make sure you exfoliate each area carefully. Depending on how dry your skin is, you may need to repeat this exfoliation process over 2-3 days or until your skin has returned to its normal condition. Step 2: Remove dry skin cells and cleanse your skin - Exfoliate.

3. Balance pH: During the exfoliation phase, don't use any harsh scrubs/ soaps that will strip your skin of its natural pH balance. The best way to have that perfect tan, is for your skin to look and feel great before you even apply your sunless tan. Step 3: Make sure you select an exfoliate which will balance your pH, not strip it dry.

4. Moisturize: Now this process may vary from person to person; If your skin is already perfectly hydrated and conditioned, then you could eliminate this step and go straight on to applying your tanning lotion or spray tan... however if you've just come out of the winter, you may need a few days of exfoliation and deep hydrating moisturizing for your skin to gain its natural radiance once again. Step 4: Give your skin back its hydration - Moisturize

OK.... So up to this point, we've simply been preparing your skin, this process could have taken you one day or one week... It doesn't really matter how long it took, it only matters that now your skin is in tip top condition and ready for your tanning lotion or spray tan. Remember the better condition your skin is before you apply your sunless tan, the better your skin will look once it is bronze.

How to Ensure Your Skin Stays Perfectly Bronzed

1. Catch streaks early If streaks do appear as your self-tan develops, you have two options. One is to scrub down the color (ideally within four hours) with a strong exfoliator like St. Tropez Tan Remover ($18, Sephora). "Scrubbing will make any unevenness less noticeable," explains Lewis. Or, tan again. "If you've botched your self-tan, you may think the last thing you want is a do-over, but the fact is, those spots and streaks are popping up in the areas you've missed," says Enochson. Simply rub self-tanner on any areas that have turned out lighter, buffing or feathering it out so as not to create more lines.

2. Fend off odor Self-tanners have a deserved bad rap for being stinky. That's because DHA's reaction with your skin also releases an odor. So don't expect that pleasant coconut-scented perfume to last. Showering eight hours after you've put on self-tanner will minimize the smell by washing away any excess DHA, says Enochson. And thankfully, technologies similar to those used to mask or eliminate household aromas are increasingly turning up in self-tanners (St. Tropez has "Aroma Guard"; Beautisol, "Pure Scent"). If you're not sure whether your pick has an odor masker (or if you still think you're smelly), Xen-Tan has introduced Scent Secure ($32, Nordstrom), a plain body moisturizer with scent-neutralizing ingredients that can go over any self-tanner and Febreze it, so to speak.

3. Skip the long swims (and showers) "A self-tan lasts between four and 10 days, till the outer layer of your skin sheds — and your self-tan goes with it," says Enochson. Anything that speeds up that natural process, including body exfoliation or long soaks, will put the kibosh on your tan. "If you're in the pool for half an hour, you're going to lose a lot of color. Limit your dips to 10 minutes, and then pat, don't rub, yourself dry," she says. If you're on a seaside or pool vacation, Enochson advises using a gradual self-tanner in place of your usual moisturizer to help keep your tan going over the course of a week. Try the Jergens mentioned above, or Nivea Sun-Kissed Firming Moisturizer ($8, drugstores); note that it's not for faces.

4. Keep skin hydrated The drier your skin, the faster your self-tan will flake off. And since DHA is dehydrating, it leaves skin especially parched. "Moisturize daily, and you'll get more mileage out of your tan," says Enochson. Plus, dryness can make your color look splotchy or uneven — not like the glowing finish you desire.

How to Self Tan Perfectly

1. Start light Dark self-tanners pack more DHA, and the higher the concentration, the greater the odds you'll end up with an uneven or streaky tan, says Sally Lewis, head of product development at St. Tropez. If you're a self-tan newbie, start with a light formulation. Once you've gotten the application down pat, you can graduate to medium or dark (which have the benefit of lasting longer).

2. Select instant color Many self-tanners also contain a DHA-free bronzing lotion or temporary tanner. These formulas have pigment that delivers an immediate glow — and, like makeup, they wash off with soap and water. The slather-on bronze gives you immediate gratification, but more important, "the color reduces streaks by showing you exactly where you've rubbed it on and where you've missed," says Norenius. Try: St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse ($30, Sephora) or Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Adjustable Self-Tan Lotion With Shimmer ($14, Victoria's Secret). Save clear self-tanners, like the classic Clarins Self-Tanning Instant Gel ($32.50, department stores), for later, when you're sure of your technique.

3. Begin at your thighs and rub the self-tanner down the length of your legs. "Start with a dollop, so that when you reach your ankles, a spot that doesn't need much self-tanner, you won't have much left," says Xen-Tan founder Dera Enochson. Then rub self-tanner on the front of your torso followed by your arms (starting with your shoulders). "Again, when you reach your wrists, the product should have thinned out," explains Enochson.

4. Tan your face, too Most body self-tanners (like those mentioned in this story, unless otherwise noted) work just as well on your face; check the product instructions. To prevent a horizontal line across the top of your forehead, rub the self-tanner up and down into your hairline, says Enochson. "Unless you're blond, that is. DHA can alter that hair color." Rub any residual self-tanner on your hands onto your ears and the back of your neck; these pale spots will stand out, especially with a short 'do. If you have any dark spots on your face, finish by swiping them with a slightly damp cotton swab, says Norenius. Otherwise, DHA will turn them darker.

5. Spritz hard-to-reach spots The easiest way to reach the small of your back: Turn a 360-degree aerosol spray upside down and mist it, says Lewis. Try L'Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist ($10.50, drugstores). Spritz your feet, too; a lotion, gel, or mousse will tend to lay on too much color.

6. Go easy on your hands Orange nail beds and dark hands are telltale signs of a bad self-tan. Once you've finished the rest of your application, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and dry them; now you're ready to apply self-tanner here. Curl your hand into a claw so the DHA will be less likely to pool in the creases of your knuckles (plus, with your hand poised in claw position, an aerosol mist will barely hit your cuticles). If you're using a lotion or mousse, rub a bit on the back of your hand and then feather out any residue onto your fingers. (And, of course, avoid your palm.)

7. Buff trouble spots Finish by wiping cuticles with a tissue, advises Lewis. Then take a dry washcloth and buff knuckles, elbows, knees, the insides of your wrists, and the backs of your heels with a few back-and-forth swipes. "It'll prevent those areas from grabbing excess product and turning extra dark," explains Norenius.

8. Opt for gradual self-tanner if you want just a hint of tan. Apply one like Jergens Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer ($9, drugstores) for three days straight, and your glow will culminate in a color similar to that of one self-tan application.