A sun-kissed glow creates the illusion of vitality while simultaneously smoothing skin tone and visually dropping pounds, and gradual self-tanning products accomplish this with ease. The best gradual self-tanners allow you to build up color to your desired darkness without streaks; that is, provided you apply them correctly.
Getting Ready for a perfect Self Tan
As with normal self-tanners, even the very best gradual self-tanner requires exfoliation and moisture before you slather it on. Start with a body scrub or by lathering up with an exfoliating body poof, and then give yourself a quick shave.
Shaving naturally exfoliates the skin while removing any hairs that could cause product to collect in an unsightly way. Dry off and apply a light lotion to drier areas, including your elbows and knees. This prevents the self-tanner from absorbing too quickly, the most common cause of dark patches.
Properly Applying a Gradual Self-Tanner
A gradual self-tanner is inherently foolproof, but care during application gives the best results. Apply a thin, even layer with the palm of your hands rather than your fingertips, and let the product dry completely before you get dressed: 10 to 15 minutes is ideal. Repeat this process every day until you achieve the depth of color you want, and then maintain the look by reapplying every two to three days.
Of course, even the best preparation and application gets you nowhere without a top-notch product.
While there are numerous varieties available, the following are our top three gradual self-tanners, sure to give you a healthy, natural-looking glow:
Coppertone Endless Summer Gradual Tan Moisturizing Lotion
Coppertone Endless Summer Gradual Tan Moisturizing Lotion is the best gradual self-tanner for building a flawless, natural-looking, sun-kissed tan. It contains a gentle tanning agent that will blend with your natural skin tone and subtly develop a natural-looking darker color. It dries quickly and the pump on the top makes it very easy to use and not messy at all.
Depending of your skin tone and the desired results, you can apply it daily or every other day as you would apply a body lotion. It doesn’t have the best smell, but most of the consumers say that it smells much better than many other tanning products and the smell disappears very quickly after application.
Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion Deep Dark Color
This gradual self-tanner is the best if you wish to acquire the deepest, richest tan that is achievable with your skin tone. It goes on easily and dries very quickly. The best thing about it is that it is tinted, so you can see where you’ve applied it and easily correct any mistakes for a perfect, streak-free tan. Enriched with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E it will leave your skin softer, slightly darker and with a noticeable glow even after the first application.
Fake Bake Fair Gradual Self-Tan Lotion
Fake Bake Fair Lotion is the best gradual self-tanner for fair skin. It is specially formulated to help people with very fair complexion build a natural looking tan over time. Many consumers with very pale skin are extremely satisfied and highly recommend it.
The lotion has a dark brown color that shows where it is applied, so you can easily make corrections if needed. It is light, absorbs quickly and doesn’t clog pores. It is best to apply it in the evening, let your tan develop over night and wake up with a subtle sun-kissed glow in the morning.
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