My 5 Favorite Self-Tanner Tips: In Recognition of Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month? It sure is. And to recognize this important issue, we at the Beauty & Style channel are focusing our May Theme Day on just that.

Since the sun is the largest contributor to skin cancer, I’ve taken a pledge to take major precautions outdoors and to completely stay away from indoor tanning beds. But I still want that healthy summer glow. How to? Sunless tanners, of course.

Self-tanners can be tricky. They can often appear orange-y, look streaky and stain your clothes. But let these tried and true tips be your guide the next time you apply a sunless tanner and your tan will be as natural as spending a day on Miami Beach.

Tip #1 - Do not shave your legs for several hours before applying a sunless tanner, since this can be irritating to your skin.

Tip #2 - Do not use a self-tanner in a steamy bathroom (or on hot skin). The warming of the tanner can make it drip and become streaky – not a great idea during application.

Tip #3 - Try using a sponge paintbrush (available at hardware stores) to apply self-tanner to your own back. Remember to rinse and dry the brush before use.

Tip #4 - About 5 to 10 minutes after applying self-tanner, rub thicker-skinned areas like feet, knees and elbows with a little lotion to lighten the effect. You might also try applying tanner to the tops of your feet and hands with a makeup sponge for better control.

Tip #5 - If your belly button gets too dark after self-tanning (which is a definite possibility), rub it with a cotton swab dipped in lotion. If this doesn’t work, rub it with a cotton swab dipped in liquid eye makeup remover.

Great tips, huh? Of course, one thing to remember is, if your self-tanner does not already have sunscreen in it, you must apply sunscreen yourself. Sunless tanners will not provide protection to your skin unless specially formulated with an SPF.

Do you have any other self-tanning tips to share? Do you think you’ll give sunless tanning a whirl this summer? Let me know…

Sources: Sunless.com
About.com Skincare