How to: Self Tanner

• Purchase a self tanner that is for medium-dark skin tones!  If you buy something for light skin, you will only end up ORANGE because the product is orange based, not brown.
• Exfoliate beforehand!  Color built up at the ankles, knees, and elbows are a dead giveaway of a fake tan.
• To avoid looking streaky, I recommend either a gradual self tanner, St. Tropez Mousse, or Bare Escentuals Faux Tan.  When apply, make sure you REALLY work the product in and your body is moisturized and exfloliated so the tanner doesn't catch on to dead skin cells.
• If you are applying with your hands, wash your hands afterwards to avoid orange hands.  I suggest wearing gloves.
• You want to start from your legs and work your way up because if you start on the top and work your way down, when you bend over, you can get lines on your stomach.
• If your body natural tans different colors in different areas (ex. thighs lighter than legs), apply more to areas where you need the color more.
• For knees, ankles, and elbows, I suggest using the left over residue so you don't get patches from the product catching on the dead skin cells.
• When in doubt, apply less.  It is much harder to get self tanner off than to put more on.  
• Always let the product dry longer than it says on the tube because who wants orange clothes?
• If you are too orange or uneven, I suggest you exfoliate with a brown sugar scrub.
• To maintain a glow, apply your self tanner everyday or every other day if it is a gradual tanner.  If it gives off a good color in just 1 application, I suggest doing it either once or twice a week.