Our Best Self-Tanner for a Salon-Inspired Glow

If you’ve ever used self-tanner before, chances are you’ve had a mishap. 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). So, what can you do to avoid streaks and splotches when applying self-tanner to your body in the bathroom? 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 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 for our best self-tanner mist option from our Sublime Bronze™ line.

OUr best Self-tanner mist

The L'Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze™ ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Mist 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.

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’ve got you covered with instructions on how to use our self-tanner mist—and 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. 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. Make sure to focus on areas like your knees and elbows—they tend to absorb self-tanner color quicker, meaning that they could end up appearing darker than the rest of your body.

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 to damp skin. (Applying moisturizer when skin is damp can help lock in hydration.) Moisturizing before using a self-tanner can 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 away from the area to which you are applying it. (There’s no need to rub in the color! Remember: It’ll dry quickly.) Our self-tanner mist’s wide angle jet applicator allows you to spritz color onto hard-to-reach areas like your back. Pro tip: 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.

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. Who says you need to be anywhere near the beach for a golden glow? Next up: 6 Self-Tanner Hacks to Help You Get a Golden Glow.