How to Use a Self-Tanner Mist for a Spray Tan-Inspired Glow

If you’ve ever used self-tanner before, chances are you’ve had a mishap once or twice. Unless you’re a pro, it can be pretty easy to mess up—and that means you could be left with streaky, patchy color. But using a self-tanner is the best way to get that sun-kissed glow you crave year-round (yep, even in the middle of winter). And besides, who has the time or the money to get a professional spray tan every other week? Not us. So, what can you do to avoid streaks and splotches when applying an at-home spray tan to your body? Well, it’s time to talk about using a self-tanner mist. Here, learn all you need to know about self-tanner mists, from how they work to how to prep your skin with a sugar scrub and a moisturizer to how to use them for a gorgeous summer glow any time of the year.

WHAT IS SELF-TANNER MIST?

You know how celebs always look perfectly bronzed on the red carpet? Usually, it’s because they’ve had a professional spray tan. Consider a self-tanner mist a salon-inspired version of this. Only instead of having someone else spray color on you, you do it yourself from the comfort of your own bathroom for an even, smooth tan. Like the sound of that? Keep reading to learn about our best self-tanner mist plus our top application tips.

OUR BEST SELF-TANNER MIST

The L'Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Mist, which comes in Medium and Deep shades, offers salon-inspired airbrush tanning results at home. The self-tanner mist has a 360° wide angle jet applicator that provides continuous coverage for a 100-percent natural-looking tan. It’s a super-fine mist that applies evenly and dries quickly. The good thing about this self-tanning mist is that it makes it easy to evenly apply self-tanner onto hard-to-reach areas, like your back and shoulders, because of the spray nozzle.

HOW DO YOU USE SELF-TANNER MIST?

Never used a self-tanner mist before? No problem! You’ll ace the application in no time. We’re sharing instructions on how to use our self-tanner mist—so pretty soon you’ll be covered with a gorgeous golden color!

Step 1: Cleanse and exfoliate your skin

Pay attention: This is the most important prep step! Dead skin cells can build up on the surface of your skin, and this buildup can cause self-tanner to appear splotchy when you apply it. This is because self-tanner naturally clings to areas of dry skin, like elbows and knees, so you’ll want to be sure to exfoliate from head to toe beforehand. To do so, use a gentle scrub cleanser in the shower to slough off dead skin cells from the surface of your skin before using your self-tanner mist. Remember to pay extra attention to those areas that tend to get dry so they don’t end up darker than the rest of your body. You can also use a gentle face scrub, like the L'Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Smooth & Glow Grapeseed Scrub, to exfoliate your face before you tan your visage.

Editor’s note: Need a refresher on all things exfoliation? Here’s How to Exfoliate from Head to Toe.

Step 2: Apply moisturizer

The next step in your journey to perfectly bronzed skin? Moisturizing, of course! After you’re done exfoliating in the shower, gently towel off and continue the self-tanner prepping process by applying a hydrating moisturizer onto damp skin. (Applying moisturizer when skin is damp can help lock in hydration.) Moisturizing before using a self-tanner will also help the color go on evenly, so don’t skip this step.

Step 3: It’s time to mist!

Hold the can of self-tanner mist at arm’s length and spray onto your skin. Apply the self-tanner mist sparingly around high absorption areas: we’re talking knees, elbows, and feet. Bend your knees to keep skin taut while applying the self-tanner mist to help get an even application. Don’t forget to hit your back, too—it shouldn’t be an issue thanks to this mist’s spray nozzle. When you’ve applied an even layer of self-tanner to all the areas you want to tan, don’t rub in the color.

Step 4: Wait it out

Time is your friend when it comes to getting a flawless-looking faux tan from a self-tanner mist (or any self-tanner, for that matter). While you might have the urge to throw on your clothes before your self-tanner is fully dry, this could result in a splotchy finish—and even stained clothes. Yikes! So, after you’ve finished misting yourself, wait a bit. Once the self-tanner has dried, put on loose clothes to help prevent staining.

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THE LOOK OF A FAKE TAN?

You can use our self-tanner mist daily until you reach your desired level of color and then once or twice a week to maintain it.

If you don’t think a self-tanning mist is the right self-tanner for you, don’t worry, we have plenty of other options! Check out our article, The Best Self-Tanner for Every Situation.