Self-Tanner Emergency? Here's How to Fix the Most Common Mistakes

If you're using a self-tanner with a guide color in it, you may find that no matter how much you massage it in, the finished look is patchy until you rinse that guide away in eight hours' time. Industry expert Nichola Joss says the best tip for making that built-in bronzer look better while your tan is developing is to go back in with a clean mitt (like the Vita Liberata Tanning Mitt [$7]) after 30 minutes and "buff" the bronzer to remove any lines or tell-tale streaks. This won't affect the results, but it'll make the temporary color that sits on top look better as your "actual" tan develops below.