from someone who doesn’t tan to the point of crazy dark, but loves to get a few shades deeper (and deal with tan lines)
Firstly, I use MooGoo’s tanning cream. It’s a gradual tan, really difficult to streak, can be applied with hands, is super moisturising and really gentle for others with sensitive skin.
I start by running a hot bath, after it’s run and really hot (and bubbly) I soak my feet in it, grab a pumice stone and my dry bush... and just go ham for at least an hour, removing all dead skin, soaking, drying, exfoliating, going between feet for as long as it takes.
{ I play music and watch Netflix while doing this, because time }
Next I’ll apply moisturiser to my feet, grab my shaving gel, exfoliating mix (White sugar, honey, coconut oil), fresh razor and a wash cloth.
I do everything, I will exfoliate everything, I’ll start with my legs and arms and then move on to the rest of my body. Then, I’ll shave, with gel, then I’ll exfoliate and shave again.
Once I’m done, I’ll dry off with a cloth as well as a towel, to buff and make sure everything is actually exfoliated.
I’ll then usually jump in the shower and wash off with a body wash... and wash my hair. After I get out, I’ll heavily moisturise.
THE NEXT DAY (I know, I’m sorry, I really do spend two days on this, but honestly, that’s because I’m really tired)
I’ll go for my normal lukewarm shower, finish with a cold rinse and pat myself dry with my towel. Then I’ll get my moisturiser and apply a tiny amount to my hands and feet, I also do my elbows if they’re really dry.
Then, I apply the tan. I start with my legs because I wear jeans all year round and they’re incredibly pale compared to everything else, then I work my way up, massaging it all in, using a little at a time and applying in thin layers.
I play music while doing this because I get bored and shows are too risky for distraction.
Because I’m in a wheelchair, I usually put down an old (bright pink) towel over my chair and apply my tan jumping between sitting on that or the side of the bath tub.
I tend to avoid sections of my arms because I wear tank tops and spend a lot of time outside, so they’re already really tan and that difference from everything else is why I started fake tanning. I usually just buff a tiny amount from my neck over my shoulders and let that do its thing, I’ll rub anything left over when I’m done from my hands onto my arms.
Once I’m fully done, I wash my hands with soap, twice, in warm to hot water. Because it’s not worth the tan issues on hands, I did that once thinking wiping it off with a damn towel (what I do for my feet, which I hardly apply anything to) would work, it didn’t.
I will then wait as long as I want for it to develop, it takes a minimum of three hours to develop (and honestly, it needs three hours to get a really light tan) but I will generally tan myself around 6-7pm and wash it off at 11-12pm and it’ll be perfect for the difference in tan I need, sometimes I’ll go longer if I fall asleep, if I tan too much, I can just buff it off with a towel.
The joy of MooGoo’s gradual tan is it’s a moisturising tanning lotion that you can gradually build up over days of you wanted and just apply like a moisturiser, go out, come back, wash it off and enjoy the tan. Then leave it a few days and restart.
This is really for those who like me, don’t want a massive difference and don’t want to mess it up. You can cut this down a lot, but it’s what I do and what I personally recommend.