Self-Tanner Mistakes You Didn't Know You Were Making

Telltale brown wrists and knees will easily give your faux tan away. So make sure you have what the pros call a "barrier cream," which is basically a petroleum- and paraben-free simple moisturizer. "Before application, make sure hands, creases in the wrists, elbows, feet, and back of the heels are well moisturized," Evans explains. "Self-tanner can go about seven shades darker in these areas due to the skin being slightly thicker. Moisturizing prior will dilute the self-tan, guaranteeing the tan will be natural and even throughout." So once you're clean and ready to apply the formula, coat those areas with barrier cream, then wash and dry your hands to be fully prepped!

Try: Norvell ProBlend DHA Barrier Cream ($12) — not only is it petroleum- and paraben-free, but this lotion is also 100-percent vegan, devoid of gluten, and packed with natural enzymes and vitamins.