Where would we be without the beauty godsend that is self-tanner? Pale, pasty, and possibly sickly-looking, that’s for sure. But like many beauty products, self-tanner can be a double-edged sword: Those skilled in application can achieve golden goddess status with one sweep of a self-tanning mitt, while others less apt are left with streaks and blotches (and — worst-case scenario — a telltale orangish hue). The whole point of self-tanner is to look like you aren’t wearing any, after all, yet so many variables (lack of time, lack of skill, and lack of patience) can contribute to a less-than-stellar final result. Cue the resigned sigh.
With this in mind, we recently caught up with charming and knowledgeable self-tanning master James Read at Violet Grey. As he filled us in on the latest launches from his eponymous bronzing line (the Tan Perfecting Enzyme Peel Mask, $22, and Tan Extending Sleep Serum, $45, sounded especially intriguing), we realized our opportunity and issued him a challenge: to go beyond the “exfoliate beforehand” guidance and surprise us with self-tanning advice we’ve never heard before. Well, Read delivered–and then some (no surprise, considering Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Ellie Goulding turn to him to get their glow on). From frozen peas to electric shavers, keep scrolling for nine life-changing self-tanning tips!
Tip #1: Erase Mistakes… With Curdled Milk
You may have heard that rubbing a lemon wedge over self-tanning streaks can lighten them up–but that definitely doesn’t apply to the skin on your face, which is much more sensitive and can react badly to that much acid (trust us… don’t do it). The solution? Read says to DIY a curdled milk mask. “Put a little lemon juice into some milk, then place a lemon wedge in,” Read says. “Leave it in for about an hour, allowing the milk to curdle and form a paste.” He explains that the lemons activate alpha-hydroxy acids in the milk, so you can put it on your face and leave it on for about 15 minutes. The result? A gentle DIY method to strip the tan off your face and leave you with a glowier complexion.
RELATED: 5 Easy Fixes for All Your Self-Tanning Nightmares
Tip #2: Use Ice Cubes to Ward Off Breakouts
We know by now that ice should have a permanent place in our beauty routine–but did you know you can use it in your faux-bronzing regimen, too? “Before you tan, you can rub an ice cube over your face to seal your pores,” Read says. “Then, pat dry with a tissue and apply your self-tanner–the ice closes your pores, so your pores don’t get blocked by the self-tanner and you run less risk of breakouts.” This is especially helpful for anyone who breaks out easily or is prone to acne flare-ups.
RELATED: Puffiness, Meet Your Match: The Ice Roller
Tip #3: Squeeze Your Tanning Mitt
A tanning mitt helps distribute product for a more even, natural-looking finish. But is your technique on point? Read suggests applying the product–whether it’s a mousse or lotion–onto the palm of your mitt and then clenching your hand so the mitt folds and the product presses into the top half of the mitt. Then, apply it to your body using only the top part of the mitt. “You’re diluting the tan and making it thinner,” he says. “This is especially important if you’re applying it to your face–this way, you’re lightly buffering the tan onto your face without it being too dark. Only small amounts are going on, and you’re only getting a thin layer.”
RELATED: How To Apply Self Tanner Like A Pro
Tip #4: Involve Moisturizer
For tanning newbies, applying a bunch of bronzing product to your face might seem intimidating. If you’re especially pale or just wary about the final effect, Read suggests applying moisturizer to your face before you tan. “Moisturizer slightly dilutes the tanning product and makes the effect lighter,” he says. However, if you’re using an overnight tanning product, like his line’s Overnight Sleep Mask Tan Face ($38), he says you won’t need moisturizer–if you’re super dry, you can wait five to 10 minutes and allow the product to absorb, then “seal it in” with your nighttime lotion.
Pictured: Glossier Priming Moisturizer ($25)
RELATED: Should You Exfoliate More or Less in the Summer? We Explain
Tip #5: Mind Your Hairline
Nothing is worse than streaks of darker spots along your hairline–a dead giveaway that your glow is faux. To keep your color even, Read says to dip a cotton ball into toner and then rub it along your hairline after applying your self-tanner. “This will make the fade fainter and more natural,” he promises.
Pictured: Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic ($29)
RELATED: Exclusive: Australian Model Lara Bingle on Faux Glowing the Right Way
Tip #6: Plan Ahead and Layer
Here’s an inside secret: The best way to get a natural-looking glow with self-tanning products is to layer. “I’ll plan ahead and layer my tanning over a few hours,” Read says. “I’ll put one layer on then wait 30 to 40 minutes, then put on a second layer and wait another 30 minutes, then I’ll apply a third layer. After four to five hours, I’ll wash it all off–it gives me a really nice base and really natural color.” He also says that using this method prevents buildup, so your tan is smooth, even, and doesn’t fade or build up in random spots.
Pictured: James Read Gradual Day Tan Face ($34)
RELATED: The Best Self-Tanner, According to the Internet
Tip #7: Use an Electric Shaver
So you finally achieved a gorgeous glow–but now can’t shave your legs. Oops. To keep your legs smooth without stripping your carefully placed color, Read says to use an electric shaver. “It just takes off the top layer of hair and doesn’t remove the tan,” he promises.
Pictured: Panasonic Close Curves Ladies Wet/Dry Shaver ($23)
RELATED: 5 Genius Tricks That Will Change Your Shaving Game Forever
Tip #8: Seal Your Pores With Frozen Peas
Another tip for smooth, silky-looking legs? Grab a packet of frozen peas and run them down your legs before applying a self-tanner like James Read’s Gradual Day Tan Body ($45). “This will seal the pores in your legs, so you don’t end up with those annoying dots after self-tanning,” he says.
RELATED: Celebrities’ Favorite Places to Get Spray-Tanned in L.A.
Tip #9: Get Creative With Applicators
In a perfect world, you would have someone who loved you enough to apply self-tanner to your naked back whenever you so needed. If this isn’t the case, you can still achieve an even, smooth tan on your backside–just get creative. Read says you can wrap a tan applicator mitt on the end of a wooden salad spoon or backscratcher and use that to apply the product, or even use a mini paint roller. “Take a paint roller, squeeze your product out into a bucket, then rub it over your back with the roller,” he says. “It makes it much easier to apply!” Looks like we’ll be heading to Home Depot for our next beauty run…
More From Byrdie:
5 Awesome New Ways to Self-Tan
I Gave Up Coffee–Here’s What Happened to My Skin
10 Things Girls With Perfect Skin Always Do
13 Crazy Awesome Uses for Vaseline
How I Learned To Fall Asleep In Under 1 Minute
How To Look 10 Years Younger, Instantly
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Does your eyeliner constantly crumble while putting it on? Our friends at You Beauty recommend leaving it in the freezer for 15 minutes prior to applying your makeup. It should glide along your lash line seamlessly after that.
If you’re out of shaving cream, lather your legs with conditioner instead of soap. Conditioner will soften the hair on your legs making it easier to shave (and it will leave your skin feeling extra silky).
Source: You Beauty
Rinsing your hair with beer helps restore moisture to your locks while using vinegar will up the ante in shine. Soak your hair in either liquid (not at the same time) for a few minutes, then rinse with cold water.
Source: You Beauty
For curlier, flirtier lashes, the experts at You Beauty recommend heating your lash curler with a hair dryer for five to eight seconds before curling them.
The experts at You Beauty recommend massaging an ice cube over your face until it melts. Do it every night before bed and keep fat cells, acne and wrinkles under control.
Before applying nail polish, wipe nails with an acetone-based cleanser. Essie Weingarten, founder of Essie Cosmetics, told the pros at Redbook that cleaning excess dirt, oil or moisturizer from your nails will ensure that the polish adheres properly.
Follow the rest of these tips at Redbook and your perfectly polished manicure will last for a week and a half.
Apparently Pepto-Bismol isn’t just a stomach soother, it can also be used as a facial mask. It contains bismuth subsalicylate, which is commonly found in facial creams. In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Dr.Frances Jang, a dermatologist at Skinworks, recommended spreading two teaspoons of Pepto-Bismol on your face, then letting it dry for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
Wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine. Even when it’s cloudy. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 80 per cent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays pass through the clouds.
It’s easy to forget about your elbows, but they need just as much protection and care as other parts of your body. Cure dry elbows by massaging Bio-Oil onto them daily. You’ll see and feel softer elbows in at least two days.
In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Popie Poulos, hairstylist and owner of The Salon, recommends rinsing your hair with a mixture of chamomile and fresh lemon juice instead of conditioner to permanently lighten your tresses. Allow your hair to dry while sitting in the sun or use a blow dryer — the heat will lighten your locks.
In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Dr.Frances Jang, a dermatologist at Skinworks recommends using raw potato slices to soothe your eyes. She says they are astringent which means they help decrease water retention and they also contain the enzyme catalase which helps lighten dark under eye circles.
First, wash and peel a potato. Cut two slices and place one on each eye for 10 minutes. Lay down, relax and let the potatoes work their magic. Rinse the eye area gently with lukewarm water when you’re done.
We love walking out of the salon with a fresh blow out, but how do you prevent your locks from going limp in the days after? The experts at Allure say plan early. Your hair naturally secretes oil so be two steps ahead and spray your roots with dry shampoo before you start producing oil. This way the dry shampoo will absorb any moisture before it weighs down your tresses. Also make sure you protect your hair from moisture (rain is sure to ruin your mane) and touch up your blow out in the morning using a hair dryer and round brush. It will give you an instant boost of volume.
The trick to achieving a chiseled celebrity-like face is to contour (Angelina Jolie cheekbones, anyone?). Your face is three dimensional so applying foundation in a single tone will only make your face appear flat. Add a highlighter to areas of your face that would usually catch light but create enough shadow to emphasize your jaw line and cheekbones. For tips on how to contour your face according to its specific shape, visit Total Beauty.
Makeup sponges help you apply make up, but not without a cost. They usually soak up more liquid foundation than what ends up on your face. The result? You’re wasting foundation and constantly buying new sponges. The fix? Get a foundation brush. You waste less foundation and it allows for a more even and precise application than a sponge would.
Giving yourself a natural glow avec blush is an in look for spring. But you’ll want to avoid brushing on too much (lest you look like a clown). So always start your blush line two finger widths away from your nose and only apply it on the apples of your cheeks. This will ensure you create a natural glow without going overboard.
Spritz an old toothbrush or a clean mascara wand with hairspray, then brush brows and style them as desired. Even the most hard to tame brows will fall in line with this trick.
Source: Yahoo Shopping
Adding extra eye fringe amps up the glam instantly. First, take your falsies and loosen them by gently flexing the eyelash band, then curl your natural lashes to make sure your falsies line up with your actual lash line. Apply glue on your falsies using a Q-tip. Using tweezers (or finger tips if you feel that gives you more control), place your falsies as close to your lash line as possible. Let your lashes dry for a minute before you add a coat of mascara (this is optional).
Source: Makeup.com
You’ve heard it before — don’t pop your zits! The folks over at Daily Glow suggest applying a bit of toothpaste to a pimple before bed and washing it off with warm water when you wake up in the morning. They say that toothpastes draws impurities out of clogged pores and dries the skin with shrinks the pimple. Opt for organic toothpastes rather than gel toothpastes which don’t work as well.
Do you start the morning with matte, fresh-looking skin only to find that by the time 5 p.m. rolls in you’re a shiny mess? If you have oily skin then blotting papers are a beauty godsend. Don’t use powder to soak up the oil. Using too much periodically throughout the day will make your skin appear cakey because you’re just layering makeup on top of more makeup. Opt for blotting papers instead. They will soak up all the oil. We love We love Sephora’s blotting papers.
If you’re out of makeup remover, use body lotion to get rid of makeup. It works especially well on tough mascara.
If you’re tired of having thin, pursed puckers, extend your lip line using a neutral-toned lip liner. Then apply lipstick over top. Be careful though — don’t extend your lip line too much.
Curl your lashes both before and after applying mascara for longer lashes. You may want to re-curl them throughout the day to get some extra lift, just remember to be gentle when you apply pressure with your curler.
No, no, no! Don’t pop your zits. Not only does it increase the chance of scarring, it’s also likely that you will worsen the blemish and spread bacteria to other places on your face which could give rise to another breakout.
If you’ve just had your hair dyed, the last thing you want is for the colour to fade. One surefire way to prevent such a mishap from happening is to use a deep-conditioning treatment once a month. This will help lock in colour and has the added benefit of staving off dry and damaged locks.
Flat irons are amazing tools with multiple uses. Not only can you use it to straighten your hair, you can also create tight curls or soft romantic waves.
Dry, flaky, chapped lips are the worst canvas for lipstick. To ensure that your puckers are in perfect pout condition, the experts at The Beauty Department recommend exfoliating your lips. To do this, apply lip balm to your lips, then using a toothbrush or clean mascara wand, scrub your lips (don’t be too rough). Then, use a tissue to wipe away excess flakes and voila! You’ll have a perfect pout in no time.
Who doesn’t love a spa day? If we could go every day, we probably would, but that would also put a dent in our wallets. A quick, easy and cheaper indulgence is to put your favourite lotion in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Make sure the oils in your lotion don’t separate and that it isn’t too hot. Apply it on to your skin and enjoy!
Source: Bella Sugar
Exfoliation is an important and easy way to buff away the dead skin cells that cover up your skin’s natural glow. Use a light exfoliator, like the Daily Microfoliant from Dermalogica, to freshen your face daily.
When choosing a foundation, test a product on the skin near your jawline. And be sure to do it in natural light. This will ensure the foundation tone you choose for your face isn’t too different from the natural shade of your neck. We really love Makeup Forever’s Invisible Cover HD Foundation because it comes in so many shades.
Don’t throw away your old mascara wand, it’s still got a few uses left. Clean it and use it as a brow brush instead. You might even find it handy around the house — use it to unclog sinks or clean tough to reach areas in your home.
Source: A Thrifty Mrs
What’s worse than having to wear a skirt with absolutely no time to shave your legs? We’ve all been there. The hassle free fix for this is to wearing pantyhose or tights (try a patterned pair for something new). It will disguise stubble as well as any blemishes on your stems.
Before you tweeze, make sure you soften your skin by dabbing a cotton ball soaked in warm water or cream. When you start tweezing, do so in the direction of your hair’s growth.
Source: Yahoo Shopping
If you want to camouflage some strands of grey hair on the go, the folks at Real Simple suggest using mascara if you have dark hair. For blondes or redheads try dusting your roots with bronzing powder.
Save money on your beauty routine by taking care of your feet on a daily basis. Simply scrub your foot with a pumice stone each morning in the shower. Once you step out and dry off, apply a moisture cream to your feet. This will increase the amount of time you can go without a pedicure and will keep your toes healthy and fungus-free.
We absolutely love dry shampoo, especially Klorane (we use this brand religiously). It absorbs excess oil on your strands and scalp and keeps your mane looking clean and fresh. If you don’t have dry shampoo, try washing just the top of your head (or wherever there is oil), with regular shampoo followed by a quick blow dry. Your tresses will look as good as new.
Be beautiful and environmentally savvy while you’re at it. Recycle your old beauty products by shipping them to Terra Cycle (you can download their pre-paid UPS shipping packages online so it’s completely free). They’ll take your old beauty products and transform them into something new.
The experts at Beauty Is My Duty say that you should never pump your mascara (i.e., moving the wand up and down in the tube really quickly) because it will only allow air into the tube which will cause your mascara to dry (and ultimately shorten its lifespan).
Before applying bronzer or self-tanning lotion, mix a drop or two of the solution with moisture cream. Blend using your finger or a Q-tip then apply to skin as you would regular moisturizer. This will ensure the cream blends in — and covers skin — evenly.
This probably sounds crazy, but using an oil-based product to remove makeup or excess dirt from your skin can actually improve your epidermis’ condition. Why? Over-cleaning stimulates the sebum glands, which causes skin to over-produce oil. Using oil-based products will have the opposite effect.
There are only two options for your nails — with nail polish or without. Do not allow your nails to be caught somewhere in the middle (there is nothing worse than nails donning chipped red nail polish). Even if you think no one else will notice, trust us, someone will.
Sometimes less is more. Don’t slather your face with moisturizer because it will take 10 minutes or more to be absorbed by the skin before your face is ready for makeup. In an interview with Real Simple, Susan Evans, a dermatologist, said the best way to apply face cream is to blend a dime-sized amount on your cheeks, nose, chin and forehead instead of moisturizing heavily.
Make sure you clean your makeup brushes regularly to avoid a buildup of makeup residue and bacteria. You can purchase makeup brush cleaner from a drug or beauty store, or you can simply use shampoo and conditioner to clean your brushes as you would your own hair. Clean brushes guarantee a super smooth and even makeup application every time.
Apply a product containing azulene or witch hazel to help reduce the swelling and redness that’s associated with ingrown hairs. From there, coax the ingrown hair from its location with a pair of tweezers (don’t pull it out, though — this will only make the ingrown hair regrow in in the same way later).
Don’t rub your hair dry with your towel; it will cause your hair to frizz. Instead, before getting out of the shower gently squeeze excess water from your hair. Then, wrap your hair in a towel and pat it dry to absorb any remaining moisture.
Do you really need all those supplements? It’s true the healthier you are, the healthier your skin and hair will be. But popping supplements without discussing them with your doctor can do more harm than good. Why? Because mixing certain vitamins and minerals can have the opposite effect of what you’re hoping. Talk to your physician before popping any pills.
If you run out of nail polish remover, you can remove cracked or chipped nail polish by applying a clear top coat to the nail and removing it promptly with a cotton ball.
Don’t douse yourself with perfume before you leave the house (you don’t want to bombard other people’s nostril with strong smells). Just because you can’t smell it doesn’t mean other people won’t be able to. If you wear it every day, chances are your olfactory sense has just become desensitized to the scent. Only spray or dab perfume on select spots like your knees, wrists, base of throat, and behind your earlobes.
Add a top coat to freshly painted nails, and then again once they are dry. This makes your nail polish less likely to chip and will ensure it lasts longer.
In order to remove product build-up from locks, use a clarifying shampoo once a week. This will also help prevent dandruff and other annoying hair/scalp conditions.
Our best beauty tip? Smile! It’s the most beautiful asset you have. Where it every day.
Our best beauty tip? Smile! It’s the most beautiful asset you have. Where it every day.
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