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Do you want an even, natural tan without streaks or annoying spots? Our step-by-step guide explains the perfect process. From preparation to aftercare, you'll achieve a flawless result.
Self-Tanner Skin Preparation: Why It's So Important
Proper preparation is crucial for a streak-free application of your self-tanner. Well-prepared skin absorbs the product evenly and creates a harmonious overall look. Without this foundation, unsightly spots and unevenness often occur.
Exfoliation and Hair Removal: The Right Time
About 1-2 days before application, you should perform a gentle, oil-free exfoliation. This removes dead skin cells and creates a smooth surface. Why is this so important? Because rough areas absorb the product unevenly and thus cause spots.
Ideally, perform hair removal the day before. This allows your pores to close again and prevents the self-tanner from accumulating there and appearing darker.
- Use a gentle exfoliant: Choose oil-free products to avoid irritating the skin.
- Shave or wax the evening before: Give your skin time to recover.
- At least 24 hours apart: This prevents skin irritation.
Good exfoliation before self-tanner and a 24-hour waiting period ideally prepare the skin. For the whole body, our detailed guide for full application will help you.
Clean and Dry Face Before Self-Tanner
About 15 minutes beforehand, wash your face thoroughly with lukewarm water and a mild cleansing gel. Rinse off all residues completely and gently pat the skin dry. Specific tips for the face can be found in our special guide for the face.
After drying, apply a light moisturizer and wait about 30 minutes. If your T-zone still looks oily, gently blot it with a cotton pad. These steps and prior exfoliation ensure perfect application.
Which Care Products to Avoid Before Application?
Oil-based lotions and rich creams can form a barrier on the skin. This prevents the tanning agent DHA from absorbing properly. Therefore, avoid heavy care products before application to guarantee an even tan.
Do not use serums with vitamin C or strong acids at least one day before. They could react with the bronzer and interfere with its absorption. A clean skin surface is the best preparation for an even self-tanner.
Magic Tan® Self-Tanning Drops
- ✓ Vegan, dermatologically tested, for sensitive skin
- ✓ Mix-it-into-your-cream principle, dose intensity yourself
- ✓ From Switzerland, approx. CHF 0.30 per application
How to Use Self-Tanning Drops Correctly: Step-by-Step
Now it's time to get practical! With the right dosage, you can transform your daily care into a perfect tanning routine in no time. Using self-tanning drops correctly simply means: With little product, you achieve an optimal and even result.
Dosing Tanning Drops: How Much Is Right?
It's best to start with a few drops and then adjust the amount to your skin type. For fair skin, often only two to three drops are needed initially for a natural result. If you want to apply more, you can always do so later without any problems.
For your face, which is particularly sensitive, usually two to four drops are sufficient. For the legs, because the area is larger, it's better to use six to eight drops. This way you avoid overdosing and uneven spots on the skin.
| Body Zone | Number of Drops | Intensity |
| Face | 2–4 drops | Light to medium |
| Each Arm | 3–4 drops | Medium |
| Stomach, Chest, Back | 4–5 drops | Medium to intense |
| Both Legs | 6–8 drops | Intense |
Mix Drops and Apply Evenly to Body
Never apply Magic Tan Concentrate undiluted: Otherwise, you risk spots and an unnatural look. Instead, thoroughly mix the drops with a pea-sized amount of your oil-free moisturizer in your hand. This is exactly what matters when you want to apply self-tanning drops correctly.
Then distribute the mixture with gentle, circular movements from your feet upwards. On dry areas such as knees, elbows, and ankles, use less product consciously, as they absorb it faster. A soft glove ensures a clean application and prevents stained hands.
Apply Self-Tanner to Face Without Stains
Start in the middle of your face and then work your way outwards with gentle movements. Pay particular attention to a good transition to the neck, so that no color difference arises there. This requires a little patience and a good touch.
Leave out your hairline and eyebrows completely to prevent too much color from settling there and appearing darker than desired. After you're done, let everything absorb for 10–15 minutes: This prevents stains on clothing and makes the result last longer.
Self-Tanner Development Time, Care, and Tip for Long-Lasting Tan
After application, proper care is crucial for your tan to last as long as possible. The ideal development time determines how natural the result on the skin ultimately looks. With a little patience, you can enjoy your tan for up to a week.
Self-Tanner Development Time: When to Shower and Sweat?
After applying self-tanner, you should avoid showering or sweating for several hours. During this time, DHA binds to the top layer of your skin and develops the tan. One of the most important self-tanner application tips: Always let the product dry completely before getting dressed.
Afterwards, you can carefully wash off the remaining self-tanner with lukewarm water. Initially, avoid soap and only gently pat yourself dry after showering.
- First few hours: Absolutely avoid water and sweat, as the color is still developing.
- Shower later: Use only lukewarm water and gently pat the body dry.
- No sports: It's better to avoid intense sweating workouts on this day.
Correctly Using Concentrate: Recognizing and Correcting Errors
Despite careful preparation, small mishaps can happen: This is completely normal. Correctly applying self-tanner concentrate also means recognizing and solving such problems quickly. Unsightly edges usually occur due to too much product or not completely dry skin during application.
If unexpected spots appear, a mild scrub often helps to even out the complexion again. After applying self-tanner, you should always wash your hands thoroughly. A practical tip: Store your Magic Tan® in a cool place and clean your hands immediately after application to avoid dark spots on your fingers.
Magic Tan® Self-Tanning Drops
- ✓ Vegan, dermatologically tested, for sensitive skin
- ✓ Mix-it-into-your-cream principle, dose intensity yourself
- ✓ From Switzerland, approx. CHF 0.30 per application
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply self-tanner if my skin is still damp?
No, absolutely not! Wet skin often leads directly to patchy areas and unsightly edges. It's better to wait about 15 minutes after showering before you start applying self-tanner.
Always dry yourself thoroughly before starting the application. Moisture blocks the effect of DHA, which can make the applied layer completely uneven. A little patience is really worth it here.
How long does the tan last if I use Magic Tan® Natural Tanning Drops correctly?
With good, oil-free moisturizing care before and after application, you'll stay beautifully tan for about five to seven days. After that, the skin naturally exfoliates and the color slowly fades.
To make your tan last, simply repeat the application every seven to ten days. And drink plenty of water: this helps the color to stay put from the inside.
It's best to only use mild cleansers to ensure the results last. Otherwise, aggressive peeling products with acids will wash off the tan much faster.
What do I do if I've applied too much self-tanner and the result is too dark?
Immediately after application, you can quickly wipe some away with a damp pad. If you've already developed the full color, a gentle scrub can save you: for example, mix one made of sugar and olive oil.
Or you can use a soft scrub to lighten the areas that are too dark. Otherwise, just wait until your skin renews itself naturally over the next few days.
This will take a little time, but this way you won't lose the entire tan immediately. Next time, start with fewer drops and reapply if necessary.
