Did you ever applied fake tan and you weren’t really satisfied with the way it came out on your skin? I’m not talking about streaks, sometimes tan just doesn’t develop enough and the color doesn’t get deep and dark enough so I decided to talk to you about how to make fake tan darker.
Contents
The first thing when you are trying out self-tanner is picking up the right self-tanner and the most important, the right shade for you. This is where most people get a little bit scared since they don’t want to look like an orange.
Different brands sell a variety of shades; my personal favorite is Bondi Sands brand, which has all sorts of products even gradual self-tanning foams and lotions. However, when I started using self-tanner I started with shade DARK and then upgraded to ultra-dark and I never looked back.
- Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam is a lightweight, tanner that’s simple to apply and gives a flawless finish, every time. Simply smooth on the weightless self tanning foam for an even, streak-free, bronzed tan.
- Our unique, salon quality formula is enriched with aloe vera and coconut, for the ultimate natural, bronzed glow.
If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Different self-tanning shades
Light/Medium shade
If you’re afraid to start using self-tan, just start using Light/medium shade which is not going to give you that dark and deep tan, but you’re probably going to get a healthy-looking tan, but trust me you’ll probably going to upgrade sooner or later. If you would like to deepen that color, apply it twice, but why not just buy a shade that’s darker instead?
- NATURAL LOOKING TAN - This green-based solution counteracts the fake orange tan look that can often be an issue with other self tanners. Apply Californium at night and shower in the morning to achieve a natural, gorgeous glow without streaks or blotches.
- SAFE SUNLESS TAN - Californium is perfect for lighter skin tones, and is the best way to get a healthy, natural glow for up to 7 days without exposing your skin to harmful UV rays that can cause premature wrinkles and skin cancer. Californium contains as many natural and organic ingredients as possible for the safest tan possible.
- Our most iconic, fool proof and natural-looking tan. This tinted tanning mousse is easy-to-apply, streak-free and adapts to your skin tone for up to 10 days wear with no self tan smell. Best for first time tanners or trusted results time and again
- Get a trusted natural golden tan with St.Tropez Classic sunless tanning mousse. A long-lasting, lightweight and 100% clean fake tan with an instant hint of tint. Providing 24 hours hydration, our self tan formula is quick drying and non-sticky
- FLAWLESS SELF TANNER - Create a flawless, quick tan with gradual, natural-looking color for gorgeous skin and blended color for fair to medium skin.
- INSTANT SUNLESS TANNING - Lightweight, airy tanning mousse enhances your natural skin tone to mimic results from the sun.
If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Also read:
What Is The Best Self-Tanner For Fair Skin? (5 Favorite Ones)
Dark shade
As I said I started by using the dark shade and it was perfect for me for the first experience with self-tanner. I still remember being so excited to start and see myself being tanned for the first time, I’m not really overreacting, I’m a redhead and I don’t even want to start on how we never really get any tan.
We’re just red and then go back to being pale. I remember being a little bit scared, but that fear vanished as soon as I saw how healthy and bronzed my skin looked like the next morning.
I used shade dark for a year, but then quickly decided to upgrade. It’s funny how quickly you want to see more or you just expect more from a self-tanner. I was just curious of how different the dark shade actually was from ultra-dark so I decided to give it a try.
- NATURAL LOOKING EXTRA DARK TAN - This green-based solution counteracts the fake orange tan look that can often be an issue with other self tanners. Apply Onyx at night and shower in the morning to achieve a natural, gorgeous deep bronze glow without streaks or blotches.
- SAFE SUNLESS TAN: Onyx is perfect for light, medium, or olive skin tones, and is the best way to get a healthy, natural extra dark tan for up to 7 days without exposing your skin to harmful UV rays that can cause premature wrinkles and skin cancer. Onyx contains as many natural and organic ingredients as possible for the safest tan possible.
- ✔️ATTENTION!!! Applicator mitt and tanning brush sold separately. The greenish/gray color you see after application is just the color guide to ensure smooth and even blending of the mousse. This will completely wash off in the shower and it is NOT your actual tan. Your tan will be noticeable the next day and be darkest on day #2. It will look like a completely natural sun tan and will last about 5-7 days. To avoid getting stains on your hands please use our deluxe self-tanning applicator mitt.
- ✔️SUN KISSED WITHOUT THE SUN DAMAGE: Do you love that bronzed and beautiful exotic glow, but are terrified of wrinkles, sun-spots, sun damage or worse… skin cancer? Then Bronze Tan is for you! Say goodbye to skin damage and hello to a new and tanner you.
- 1 hour violet based dark tan mousse that knocks out orange tones. when you’re ready to come over to the dark side (in an exotic rich dark tan).
- You obviously want something exotic, steamy, and different from allll the rest. well darling, we can promise a dark tanning experience you won’t soon forget. just sign your name on the dotted line and let’s get started on that funky time 😉
If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Ultra-dark shade
I have to say ultra-dark was on a completely new level. When I started, I was worried about how it will look on me since I am pale but it leaves your skin with the healthiest deep sun-kissed tan! It’s absolutely amazing and I am using it for two years now.
Whenever I tan, people keep asking me if I have sunbathed somewhere, and that’s the effect you want to give. I’ve used a lot of self-tanning products but Bondi Sands just gives the ultimate natural sun-kissed tan.
- Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam is a lightweight, tanner that’s simple to apply and gives a flawless finish, every time. Simply smooth on the weightless self tanning foam for an even, streak-free, bronzed tan.
- Our unique, salon quality formula is enriched with aloe vera and coconut, for the ultimate natural, bronzed glow.
- NATURAL LOOKING, SUN KISSED SKIN WITHOUT SUN DAMAGE OR CHEMICALS. The world's first 100% Natural DHA self-tan body treatment with full skin care benefits. Transforms your skin without any of those nasty streaks or blotches for a beautiful natural looking, golden glow with no orangey tones.
- ANTI-CELLULITE & ANTI-AGING WITH ZERO NASTIES. This lightweight mousse delivers an instant bronze glow that is fast drying and develops in just 2 hours to a long-lasting tan. Infused with raw virgin coconuts, botanicals and amino acids to hydrate, blurs pigmentation and stretch marks to perfect your skin. Created using our unique Cellushape technology enriched with powerful natural antioxidants like fig, banana, papaya and cocoa to improve signs of aging.
- PALE TO EXOTIC ULTRA DARK IN JUST 3 HOURS: This violet based, lightweight tanning mousse is formulated to develop into a deep and natural, ultra dark and exotic Mediterranean tan without the wait. Inspired by the beaches of Niece, Cannes and St. Tropez, and the best tan ever in as little as 3 Hours! Or leave up to 8 hours for an even deeper dark. Easy to apply for flawless, streak-free results every time.
- BENEFITS OF OUR VIOLET BASE SELF TANNER : The customized violet base of this exquisite tanning mousse provides color correcting benefits that neutralize any yellow undertones, eliminate the orange and deliver a flawlessly deep, rich and exotic dark tan every time. Color guided, easy application makes your home tanning experience as good as a professional spray tan.
If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
How to make fake tan darker?
Gradual tanning lotions and mousses
If you would like to deepen the tan you already have you have many choices, one of them is using the right products. I would recommend using a gradual tanning lotion or even better, mousse to deepen and maintain a healthy-looking tan, streak-free.
I work out (almost) every single day, I would not say I have the hardest workouts, but I do sweat during them, so that means the tan will fade away quicker than usual. What I do is hop in the shower and when I dry my skin up with a towel I wat for about an hour just to give my skin time to recover a little bit and then put on either the gradual tanning mousse, or the gradual dry oil, both from Bondi Sands.
- With Bondi Sands Liquid Gold your skin will be left with a golden glow that is touch dry in seconds. The dual action formula hydrates skin while developing into a natural, flawless tan.
- This oil is enriched with argan oil to leave skin moisturized & features a spray nozzle for mess-free application.
If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
It works miracles but I personally use them the first three or four days of my tan, just because I get rid of my tan on the fifth day.
Apply it twice
When you wake up the next day and see your tan has not developed as it should, I would recommend either to wait for a day, just to see if it’s going to develop more or not and if it doesn’t, do another coat of tan in the evening. You don’t have to exfoliate, just apply lotion on dry parts of your skin (ankles, knees, elbows, around and under armpits) and start applying another coat. Then put on your pajamas and go to sleep and I bet tan will get deeper and darker the next day.
Just remember, when you go into a shower the next morning, don’t scrub or shower for too long. You also don’t need to use any lotion, just use water and rinse it through your body. You don’t need to have a whole spa day. And the same goes when you come out of the shower, use a towel to absorb the moisture, you don’t need to go all crazy with it, and then apply a bunch of moisturizer.
Also read:
How To Self-Tan Your Back? (With or Without a Friend)
Why Does Self-Tanner Smell? Can I Make It Less Smelly?
Maintain it properly
When it comes to maintaining your tan, I would recommend using body lotion 2-3 times per day. The lotion will nourish your skin and help your tan develop even more. I really recommend using the Bondi Sands body lotion. It’s the most amazing lotion I’ve ever tried and it’s not only maintaining your tan, but it also leaves your skin as soft as a butter!
- Bondi Sands Body Moisturiser deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin
- Enriched with Vitamin E and Jojoba
If you click Buy on Amazon and make a purchase, I'll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
I recommend using it for maintenance, but not when it comes to applying lotion on dry parts before you start tanning just because is a little bit more buttery and heavy. You should use a light moisturizer whenever you’re applying it on dry parts before starting the tanning process.
Give it a time to develop
I know it’s kind of weird reading to give your tan time to develop, but it’s true. First of all, I never used a tan that says 2-hour express and got the deepest tan after the usage before. Even when it says 2-hour express I still put on my pajamas and sleep with it just because it will develop more. I understand if you’re in a hurry, but I would suggest you tanning a night or two nights before an event.
Also read:
How Long Does Self-Tanner Take To Dry? (Express vs Normal)
How Do You Get Self-Tanner Off Clothes & Sheets? (Explained)
I noticed my tan looks amazing the second day after I tanned. It’s really true when they say that tan is developing every single day more and more before it gets patchy. But
Talking about time, I personally take off my tan 2 days before I apply a new one. Some people are in shock if I really stay pale for 2 days and the answer is absolutely yes! That’s still my natural skin color and I’m not ashamed of it.
What I’ve noticed when waiting two days before a new application is that the tan develops amazingly and that’s just because I gave my skin additional time to rest from all that scrubbing. I give this advice to all women or men when they first start applying self-tan. If you’re going to apply it the same day that you scrubbed off the old tan, your skin will be far more irritated and sensitive and the tan won’t develop, trust me, I’ve tried it all and learned my lesson. So just give it time and you’ll get the most amazing bronzed looking tan.
However, if you’re in a hurry and you still need to apply self-tan the same day as you did exfoliation, I would recommend doing a quick cold shower in the end, before you self-tan. That way your pores will close faster and the skin will be prepared for a coat of your favorite self-tanner.
Also read:
When To Use Self-Tanner Before An Event? (If in a Hurry)
What is Tanning Lotion with Bronzer? (3 Best Ones)
Conclusion
If you see your tan did not develop enough I hope you now know what to do. If you see it didn’t develop, wait just for a day because tan usually develops even more over night, as I said the most amazing tan day is the second one. Use gradual tanning mousse or lotions to nourish and give your tan a little boost. Preparation is the key to the most amazing tan you could ever imagine. To maintain your tan, use moisturizer 2-3 times per day and that’s it!
How Long Does Self-Tanner Take To Dry? (Express vs Normal)