Stress-Free Self-Tanning: How to Apply like a Pro

If, like myself, you have finally discovered (okay, admitted to) the sun's damaging properties and keen ability to make photos from your thirties look suspiciously like Aunt Gertrude at seventy-two, you've likely walked the hopeful and determined path of the self-tanner. Read the following tips to find out how to make self-tanning lotion work for you instead of against you and avoid those seasonal phone calls to friends and family posing the ultimate self-tanning query, "How orange is too orange?"

1. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Shower with an exfoliating scrub, concentrating on rough, dry areas like elbows, and ankles. As far as store bought exfoliating products go, I absolutely love Freeman's "Totally Juicy Grapefruit Sugar Body Buffer." Not only does it smell delicious, it's wallet-friendly at $4.99 a pop and you can find it at almost any drug store. Be sure to shave your legs, too!

2. Wear Gloves. If you put them on now, you won't need to hide your hands in them later. They're your best bet to protect fingers and palms from getting too much exposure while you lotion up your body. Take them off at the very end and apply a thin lotion layer to the hands once you're done with the rest.

3. Do a Practice Round. I can't stress this enough, whether the tan you're trying to achieve is for a special event or just everyday wear. Apply a thin layer of tanning lotion every two to three days. Trust me, you're better off having lighter color for a while than sporting head to toe clothing mid-July to hide blotchy limbs. Plus, if the color comes out a bit too orange, it takes less time for your skin to lose the tint.

4. Be True to Your Skin Tone. If you're naturally fair, don't be over-ambitious with color selections. Save yourself some drama and major streaks by leaving the deep mocha lotions at the store until you've built up a base color. It's best to build gradually from light to dark to get the most natural-looking bottle tan.