15 Genius Self-Tanner Hacks That Will Make Your Fake Tan Look Perfectly Even and Sun-Kissed (2025)

I don’t need to be the one to remind you that sunbathing and tanning beds are two of the worst things you can do for your skin. But as someone with fair skin, I fully understand the urge to fake a little color once tank-top season hits and your limbs look ghostly.

The good news? You can get a believable glow the safe way—aka with a self-tanner, right from the comfort of your bathroom. That said, I won’t pretend it’s always foolproof. Unlike a professional spray tan, at-home formulas require a bit of preparation and experience to get a streak-free, just-got-back-from-a-tropical-vacation finish.

So, after more patchy feet and orange fingers than we care to admit, Cosmo's beauty team rounded up 15 of the best self-tanning tips and some of our favorite products to use. Ahead, our tried-and-true hacks to help your faux tan look smooth, naturally sun-kissed, most importantly, free of orange patches.

1. For an even tan, exfoliate your body from head to toe before applying any self-tanner.

To prevent your tan from looking splotchy and fading unevenly, use an oil-free exfoliator (oil creates a barrier between your skin and the tanner and will leave it streaky) before getting started. Kristyn Pradas, a celebrity spray tan expert, recommends exfoliating skin and shaving with a new razor the day before or the day of tanning to further exfoliate and smooth your skin.

2. After showering and exfoliating, apply an oil- and fragrance-free lotion to your hands from your wrist to your fingertips, on the backs of your heels, and on your elbows and knees.

These areas tend to be dry and will absorb more pigment than other areas of your body, causing unevenness. If you have large pores or dry skin, you should also apply a moisturizer on your face 20 minutes before applying your self-tanner, Pradas says.

3. Stick tape to the bottoms of your feet when using a spray self-tanner to cover your skin in case you step in excess residue.

One clear sign of a fake tan: orange spots on the soles of your feet. Painter's tape or gaffer tape is thick yet simple to remove when you're finished.

4. Always apply tanner in a cool, dry area to keep yourself from sweating.

It's important to exfoliate and rinse off before you tan to remove any dead skin cells (which cause unevenness), dirt, oil, and anything else that might create a barrier between your skin and the product. However, you'll also want to leave the steamy bathroom before the application process. Here's why: Humidity, water, and sweat can break down the self-tanner, creating a streaky mess, so move cool, dry place instead.

5. To successfully apply tanner in your knuckle creases, bend your fingers so your hand looks like a claw.

Think about it: You don't walk around with your fingers straight all day long, so make sure you're covering all the nooks and crevices on your body that might show when you move your hands or fingers around.

6. Skip over your elbows and ankles when applying tanner to your arms and legs.

Because the skin on these areas will soak up more of the product, skip them during your first pass. Then, go back and brush over them lightly with remnants of the tanner left on the mitt, blending the tanner well to prevent the color from looking too concentrated.

7. Contour your cheekbones with a small brush and a self-tanner that's made specifically for your face.

Applying tanner to your face can be a little intimidating because, well, it's your face. But if you keep the product concentrated right below your cheekbones, under your jawline, and on the sides of your forehead—and then a thin layer over the rest of your face—you'll create a subtly contoured effect that won't look like you just slapped a bunch of tanner on. Learn exactly how to do it here, and keep scrolling for our favorite face tanners.

8. Use a sponge or brush to blend the tanner on your hands.

After applying the tanner, lightly blend out the product with a sponge brush (like the kind you get at the craft or hardware store). This evens out dark spots and prevents any streaks from appearing after the tan develops. Pradas also suggests doing this in between your fingers, toes, and on your knees, which tend to crease and often need blending.

9. Scrub the palms of your hands with an exfoliator after you've finished applying your self-tanner.

Scoop a small amount of scrub onto the middle of your palms and gently rub your hands together. Even if you use a mitt to apply your tanner (Pradas says a mitt is the best way to ensure your tan is streak-free and your palms remain colorless), it's easy to make mistakes when the product is still wet. The grittiness of the exfoliator will help remove any leftover tanner that may have gotten on your skin in the process. Whatever you do, don't submerge your hands in water. Instead, follow the next step to get the remaining grit off your hands.

10. After you exfoliate the underside of your hands, rub your palms with a makeup wipe to remove the exfoliator.

The last thing you want to do while allowing your self-tanner to dry and develop is get your skin wet. Instead, use a makeup wipe to clean your palms a bit. Pradas also suggests using a facial toner to help swipe away any tanner from your palms.

11. Use a cotton swab or makeup wipe to remove the tanner on your nails and cuticles.

After you've applied the self-tanner carefully and evenly all over your hands, go back and remove the product from your nails and cuticles. One by one, gently rub each fingernail and toenail with a wipe or cotton swab until the product is gone to prevent stains.

12. Instead of waiting for your tanner to dry when you're in a hurry, lightly dry your skin with the cool setting of your hair-dryer to speed up the process.

This is so much easier than standing in your bathroom naked and literally waiting for paint your tanner to dry.

13. Lightly pat areas such as your armpits, elbows, and knees with baby powder to prevent the product in those areas from creasing.

After your self-tanner is dry and before you put your clothes back on, Pradas suggests dusting powder over areas prone to creasing or sweating while the product develops.

14. Line your bed with a dark flat sheet, so you don't have to change the bedding every time you tan.

If you self-tan often and your tanner of choice has a guide color, you're familiar with the annoying stains the tanner leaves behind. Although self-tanner residue will come out in the wash, changing the sheets every time you tan is a pain. Instead, try a bed protector or line your bed with a dark sheet or towel to sleep on for easy clean up.

15. Use a gentle body wash and oil-free lotion to maintain your tan.

Oil-based products will make your fake tan fade faster, so skip all products with oil while trying to preserve your tan. Also, stay away from exfoliators and opt for gentle cleansers to allow your tan to fade evenly and naturally.

Meet the expert:

• Kristyn Pradas is a celebrity spray tan artist and the founder of Pradas Glow. She's been the spray tan artist behind several Victoria's Secret Fashion shows, and has tanned celebs including Addison Rae, Sofia Richie-Grainge, and more.