Help! My Tan is Streaky!
I’ve always been a little timid when it comes to sunless self tanner. I tell myself it’s because I love my alabaster complexion, but really I’m afraid of turning orange or ending up looking like a zebra (even though I’d take orange and streaky over a sunburn or tanning bed any day). I’ve seen a lot of friends show up to the beach with streaky legs, bright orange feet, and splotchy arms from getting their tan on at home. I know I’m not alone in my tanner fears, so I reached out to Sophie Evans, St. Tropez skin finishing expert, to tell me exactly how to avoid and fix a streaky tan.
Moisturize dry areas
Before applying your self tanner, make sure you rub a regular lotion into dry areas like your elbows, knees, and hands. “These areas tan a lot darker than the rest of the body due to the difference in the skin so it is very important to moisturize,” says Evans. She cautions that moisturizing your entire body can make the tan develop lighter, so just stick with hydrating these strategic areas. When it comes to maintaining your tan, moisturizing daily will help. “Use a moisturizer that is compatible with a self tanner,” she says. “Avoid oils and citrus-based products, which can break down the color of a tan.”
Use enough of the product
One of the biggest self-tanning mistakes people make is not using too much product, but actually using too little. “Streaking and uneven patches occur when you don’t use enough product and the skin is over rubbed,” says Evans. If you’re using an applicator mitt to apply your tan (mitts are particularly great at distributing foam and gel formulas), make sure that you have enough on the mitt so that the product glides on easily. “As long as the skin is covered, you cannot go wrong,” says Evans. “The skin can only absorb a certain amount of the tanning agent, so as long as skin is covered, it will develop evenly.”
Grab the baby oil
“If you need to fix a mistake fast, the quickest way is to apply baby oil to the darker area and leave for 10 minutes,” recommends Evans. This trick works best for dark marks and streaks. After 10 minutes, scrub your skin with an exfoliator and then use a hot, damp washcloth to buff over the skin. Another one of Evans’ tricks for getting rid of dark spots: Use hair removal cream. Apply the depilatory with caution using a cotton swab to the darker area and let it sit for half of the recommended time. This will help to tone down the area. But be careful — if you leave the cream for the full time, it can create lighter patches. “We want to make the skin match, so half the time is recommended,” says Evans. (Remember: Hair will come off wherever it is applied, but on dry areas like elbows or ankles this shouldn’t be a problem.)
Too orange? Jump in the pool
If you end up looking like an Oompa Loompa after you apply your tan, there is a fix — and it’s a good one. Evans suggests taking a dip in the pool. The chlorine in swimming pools can help remove your tan (on the other hand, if your tan is perfect, try to avoid chlorine pools). If a quick swim isn’t an option, grab St. Tropez Tan Remover and jump in the shower. This will remove your tan completely if used within the first four hours of application, and will lighten the color when used after four hours.
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