How to Protect Hands From Self Tanner

Using a self tanner is a convenient way to achieve a summer glow without spending hours in the sun. One of the most common complaints self tanner users have is their discolored hands, fingernails and cuticles that can sometimes occur after application.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber or latex gloves
• Soap
• Cotton ball or baby wipes

Instructions

1. Pull on a pair of rubber dishwashing gloves or latex medical gloves. This will prevent any sunless tanning product from contacting the skin on your hands, fingernails, or cuticles. However, wearing gloves makes it more difficult to tell how evenly you are rubbing in the sunless tanner on the rest of your body.

2. Wash your hands immediately after applying sunless tanner, whether you choose to wear gloves or not. Be sure to lather up the creases in between your fingers and into the nail bed and cuticle.

3. Apply moisturizer to your hands after washing to prevent dryness.

4. Rub a little sunless tanner onto the backsides of your hands. Rub the product in by rubbing the back of your hands together.

5. Use a cotton ball or baby wipe to blend the sunless tanner on your arms and the backs of your hands toward the wrist line. This is especially important to do if you use gloves. Maybe a more significant sign that you've been faking your tan than orange palms is a fake tan line on your wrists.

Tips & Warnings

• Rub some baby oil or extra rich moisturizer onto your cuticles and nail bed before using your bare hands to apply sunless tanner. This will help prevent the tanner soaking into these areas.