How to Tan Faster Than Ever with Sunless Tanner

Do you find yourself wondering how to tan faster? Maybe you have a dress that’s going to show off your legs or are prepping for a beach day. The tricky thing is, you shouldn’t be trying to speed up the tanning process with oils or reflectors. Laying out in the sun or using a tanning bed already puts you at risk of sun damage—and you certainly don’t want to speed that up. Luckily, you don’t have to put your skin in danger or wait forever to achieve your tan goals. All you need is the right self-tanner, and you can get a fake tan overnight! Below, learn how to tan fast with the very best L’Oréal Paris self-tanners.

STEP #1. EXFOLIATE YOUR SKIN

Before you tan, you need to properly prep your skin. The first step? Exfoliation! This will remove any dead skin cell buildup from your body and create a smooth, even surface for your tan. Exfoliate from head to toe with the help of a body scrub or loofah.

STEP #2. SHAVE TO PERFECTION

If you like to shave your legs or any other area on your body where you would also be applying self-tanner, now’s the time to do so. Take care to get a clean, smooth shave while you can. You won’t want to shave right after your sunless tan develops, as the razor can remove your hair and the color at the same time, which can cause uneven color in certain areas.

STEP #3. LOAD UP ON MOISTURIZER

Next, pick up a hydrating moisturizer or body lotion. Smooth it onto your body, taking care to focus extra moisture on drier areas like your knees, elbows, and ankles. Give your moisturizer of choice some time to absorb skin before moving onto the next step.

STEP #4. PICK YOUR SUNLESS TANNER

Not all self-tanners are created equal! To get a faster tan, you’ll want to look for options that have a fast-developing formula. Take your pick from the following, depending on just how fast you’d like to have a gorgeous tan.

For an instant tan…try the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist Medium Natural Tan. Inspired by professional techniques, the super-fine 360-degree continuous mist coats skin evenly with the wide-angled jet applicator and dries instantly, allowing for ultra-even application and natural-looking, streak-free results in a matter of minutes.

For an instant bronze that’ll get deeper over time…try the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion Medium Natural Tan. This self-tanning lotion has a tinted guide color that provides an instant bronze glow with subtle shimmer while you wait for your streak-free sunless tan to develop.

For an overnight tan…try the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Water Mousse. This long-lasting tanning mousse develops in four to eight hours—so you can use it if you want to get tan overnight! The invisible, hydrating formula will leave you with a sun-kissed glow and even finish.

STEP #5. APPLY YOUR FAKE TAN

Now, let’s talk sunless tanner application. The application process all depends on the type of sunless tanner you’d like to use, but as a general rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to apply lightly to drier areas of your body, like your knees and elbows, and to wait until the self-tanner is fully dry before putting on clothes. Also, make sure to wash your palms right away to avoid self-tanner hands!

STEP #6. WAIT IT OUT

While you can use certain self-tanners—like the tanning spray—for an instantaneous tan, many take at least a few hours to develop fully. Use this time to focus on other beauty tasks—like organizing your makeup bag—or to catch some shut-eye while you wait. Just make sure you aren’t doing anything that involves sweating (like working out or spending extra time outdoors in the summer sun) until your tan has developed, or you could end up with some streaks. No thanks!

Now that you know how to tan faster with sunless tanner, how about making sure you avoid self-tanner mistakes? We’re all guilty of them! Here are 10 Self-Tanner Mistakes You Could Be Making.