There are also some lotions, such as Estee Lauder's Go Bronze, that are tinted to help you see where you've already put it on to ensure that the color is even. The tanners come in various shades and, for the most part, will darken your tan the more often you apply the product. If you're very pale, it's probably best to stick to a self-tanner in a light to medium shade. Those with darker or more olive skin tones can use a deeper color. First, you'll need to set aside some time to apply the self-tanner and let it dry.
Some users go through the process at night, then wake up in the morning with a tan.
You can do it anytime, but remember that you'll need anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to let it dry before putting any clothing on. Pettitt recommends waiting at least an hour before putting on any fitted clothing. If you want to have realistic color that doesn't look streaky, one of the most important steps is to exfoliate your skin. They put it on top of a layer of dead skin and that's why they get patchy color. The self-tanner only colors the outermost layer of skin, so the smoother the skin is to begin with, the more even the tan.