Easy Fixes for the Worst Self-Tanner Mistakes

3. “I changed my outfit, and now the untanned areas show!”

This is a common problem, and here’s why. Many women over 50 who DIY tan do so in bits and pieces on an as-needed basis, depending on what they wear. For example, some do a “T-shirt-and-jeans tan” and apply self-tan tanner only on their face, neck, chest and forearms. Others use a gradual tanner on their face and real self-tan on their arms and legs from the knees down — just enough for a summery midi dress. That’s a mistake, since it leaves no room for wardrobe flexibility. Those who do self-tan with a swimsuit in mind often forget that necklines and strap width and placement vary from suit to suit.

My advice? If you’re going to self-tan, dive in and do it head to toe for a care-free summer, whether you go the gradual tanner route with a body tanner like Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk ($16, target.com) or Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer, Fair/Medium ($13, cvs.com), or a full-strength self-tanner. How much to cover? Imagine wearing a strapless swimsuit with a low back. If you never wear a two-piece suit, there’s no need to do your midriff and belly.

And last but not least, there’s a quick fix. A temporary wash-off, transfer-resistant bronze body makeup will stretch any spotty self-tan enough for a party, an event or a special dress. Try Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer Waterproof Glow Drops for Face + Body ($34, sephora.com) or Vita Liberata Body Blur Leg and Body Makeup in Medium ($39, amazon.com).

4. “I skipped my back because it’s hard to do.”

(From left) EcoTools Good Tan Self-Tan Back Applicator; L’Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Self-tanning Mist in Deep.

AARP (Target, 2; CVS)

Backs are awkward to reach for most people. Some self-tan devotees suggest inserting a spatula in a tanning mitt, securing it with a rubber band and using this to apply and blend self-tanner. The EcoTools Good Tan Self-Tan Back Applicator ($13, target.com) is a better solution, with its long handle and firm, smooth brush. It also comes in handy for legs! Or just switch to a self-tanner mist. Ones with a 360-degree nozzle like the L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Self-tanning ($17, cvs.com), Dolce Glow by Isabel Alysa Self-Tanning Mist ($26, nordstrom.com) and Sunnee BAEskin BAEside Sea Spray Self Tan ($30, ulta.com) swivel in all directions, which makes getting the back (and any other hard-to-reach spots) easy. All you have to do is bend forward at the waist and mist your back. Blending is simple, just like washing, since the product is superfine. I suggest doing all sunscreen sprays — tinted and untinted — in the shower, so that random misses (and they do happen!) won’t stain the walls, rugs or towels in your bathroom.

5. “My face tanner stained my eyebrows and hairline. Now what?”

(From left) Vaseline Healing Jelly Original; Simple Kind To Skin Facial Wipes; Clarins Self-Tanning Face Booster Drops; Sephora Collection Instant Bronzing Drops.

AARP (CVS, Target, Macy’s, Kohl’s)

Women with light hair and brows — blonde or gray — need to be careful when self-tanning their face. If you’re applying a full-strength facial self-tanner, it’s a good idea to apply a barrier cream, like Vaseline Healing Jelly Original ($8, cvs.com), along the hairline and over the brows before starting; and/or use a damp washcloth or facial cleansing wipe like Simple Kind To Skin Facial Wipes ($7, target.com) to dab away any hairline and brow mistakes before they set.

The most foolproof method to avoid stains is to mix tanning drops like Clarins Self-Tanning Face Booster Drops ($37, macys.com) or Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Drops Self-Tan Serum ($13, walgreens.com) into your daily moisturizer. This provides color control along with extra hydration, and also prevents color from pooling in expression lines at the forehead, between the brows or in lower face grooves that extend from nose to mouth. Just slip on a hairband while applying till it dries; five minutes is all you need.

6. “My feet, hands and knees give my self-tan away.”

(From left) Neutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream with Hyaluronic Acid for Normal to Dry Skin; CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Skin with Hyaluronic Acid; Aveeno Sheer Hydration Daily Daily Moisturizing Lotion.

AARP (Target; CVS, 2)

A real tan has no distinct edges or random dark concentrations of color. However, your feet (including heels), ankles, hands, elbows and knees tend to be drier and more textured, creased or wrinkled than other spots. This means they work like a sponge to soak up extra self-tanner, which results in an obviously darker color in these areas. It’s the opposite of missing spots.

You can avoid this mistake by applying a oil-free moisturizer like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream with Hyaluronic Acid for Normal to Dry Skin ($14, target.com), Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion, Unscented ($13, walgreens.com) or CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Skin with Hyaluronic Acid ($17, cvs.com) allover daily to tackle the dryness, adding an extra coat to every one of these “grabby” spots right before applying tanner. This helps dilute the tanner just enough in the problem spots. 

When applying tanner, skim over these areas, keeping the application lighter than for the long, broad areas of your legs and arms. Be sure to blend the tanner with your legs straight and with bent knees, hands straight and with a clenched, clawlike fist. This avoids extra product from getting stuck in creases, nooks and crannies. 

7. “I rushed tanning and didn’t wait the suggested six to eight hours to shower.”

So, you ended up with an uneven or underdeveloped self-tan. One of the toughest parts of self-tanning is sitting around waiting for the color to develop. For those in a hurry, express tans are designed to expedite the process. Some, like St. Moritz 1 Hour Fast Tan Lotion ($14, target.com), Bondi Sands 1 Hour Express Self-Tanning Foam, Fragrance Free ($30, walgreens.com) and Isle of Paradise Express Self-Tan Mousse ($32, kohls.com), let you customize your tan’s color by the time it takes to develop. Thirty minutes to an hour will produce a light, sunny glow; two hours gives you a bronzier look; and anything after that (up to three hours) provides a deep tan. Showering stops the process at your desired tan level. You can even do a sweaty activity, like pickleball or golf, after the short first phase without worrying about perspiration and heat streaks. Make sure that your first shower after tanning is a cool one, and avoid using any scrubs.

8. “My self-tanner still shows leg veins and discolorations.”

(From left) Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Spray in Tan Glow; Dermablend Quick-Fix Body in Honey.

AARP (CVS, Macy’s)

The mistake is expecting self-tanner to work as leg camouflage. What self-tanner does is diminish the contrast between your overall skin tone and discolorations. This gives a blurred effect, somewhat like tinted sheer stockings. But does it totally hide brown spots, broken capillaries, splotches and veins? No.

One solution that works for women still bothered by leg discolorations is to apply a self-tanner (gradual or regular) to minimize the color gap, and then apply leg makeup on trouble spots for extra coverage. This is easier than it sounds. Just choose a bronze makeup, like Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Spray in Tan Glow ($16, cvs.com), which has six possible “tan” shades that are all water- and transfer-resistant; St. Tropez Instant Glow Face & Body Bronzer Makeup in Medium/Dark, Light/Medium ($25, ulta.com), also transfer- and water-resistant; or a transfer- and smudge-resistant makeup stick like Dermablend Quick-Fix Body in Honey ($32, macys.com), which comes in nine skin-tone shades, to cover isolated veins and dark spots right over self-tanner. All come off in the shower with soap and water.

9. “I don’t need a sunscreen over self-tanner.”

(From left) Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Lightweight Sunscreen Spray SPF 30; INNBeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 43 in Medium.

AARP (CVS, Kohl’s)

So wrong. So dangerous. Your self-tanner may provide a golden bronze, just-back-from-a-beach-vacation look, but it isn’t doing anything to protect your skin. There’s absolutely no SPF barrier against UVA and UVB rays. 

If your goal is to save your skin without breaking down the faux tan (which heat and sun will do), opt for a lightweight formula like oil-free Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Lightweight Sunscreen Spray ($14, cvs.com), Hawaiian Tropic Weightless Hydration Water Mist Sunscreen for Body SPF30 ($17, walgreens.com) with hyaluronic acid, or INNBeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 43 ($35, kohls.com), which has a bronze tint to complement a self-tan and leaves no white cast.

10. “My self-tanner stained my white jeans.”

(From left) Tanologist Self-Tan Water in Medium; Levi’s Women’s Classic Straight-Leg Jeans in Simply White.

AARP (CVS, Kohl’s)

Oops! This is a problem no one ever talks about. Going to bed or getting dressed too soon can stain white and light clothing and bed linens. Tackle it ASAP, because the longer the stain sits, the harder it is to remove. 

Here’s a method I use. First, try saturating the stain with cold water by holding it under a faucet. Next, dip a household sponge in a mix of warm water and dishwashing liquid, and dab away. Work from the side where the tanner stain originated. (Inside out on jeans and tees, for example.) Rinse again with cold water, then launder as usual. Cold or warm water is fine. Check the stain before putting the item in the dryer or hanging it to dry in the sun, since heat will set any residue that remains. If a stain on white tees or jeans is still visible, try adding some bleach. And if summer means wearing lots of white basics, stick to a clear self-tanner that’s transfer-free, like Tanologist Self-Tan Water in Medium ($23, cvs.com) or Tan-Luxe Express Water Hydrating Self-Tan Water ($48, ulta.com).

And here’s one last tip: If you’re in a real hurry to get dressed, opt for loose black clothing (never white), and use your hair dryer on the cool setting to accelerate the drying enough to reduce the tackiness on a freshly self-tanned body. Also, consider changing your bed linens to a dark color for the season.