For years, many men have chosen to take the fake tan route. Why not, right? Everyone deserves convenience, including men. More than anything else, men also need to enjoy the benefits of having an artificial tan. So, it’s no surprise that more and more men have become advocates of this tanning process.
Consider this article as a treasure trove of information on all things self-tanning. Here, we discuss different tanning essentials. From tips to how often you need to use such products, we got them all covered. Even better, we want you to avoid committing self-tanning mistakes so get your pen and paper to note them all. Alright, ready? Let’s get started.
Reasons why men use self-tanning products
Let’s be honest. A good percentage of men are fans of fake tanning. No disrespect and judgments. To each his own as they say. Self-tanning is well-loved and supported by females. So why can’t men do, too? At present, even products and services are more inclusive. Of course, this includes the infamous self-tan regimen.
Here are reasons why men love these products:
Fake tan looks as natural as it can ever be
Because of expected product innovation, fake tans do not look fake anymore. During its start, many people complained about looking orange. For the most part, they looked unnatural, even grotesque to look at. Humans are not meant to have an orange complexion, plain and simple.
It’s great that product development soon ensued. Year after year, fake tanning achieved an uber-realistic look and appeal. Whether the tan is a result of a visit to the salon or through the use of a product, the realism is uncanny. So, why won’t men take notice of such an improvement?
There are products that are designed for men
Men are different from women, at least in a biological way. Thus, men’s skin needs special ingredients so products work best. Before, self-tanners catered to women since they are its avid users. As men appreciated these products, manufacturers are fast to address the need.
The good news is that now, there are products like Man Tan made for men. It is great in many ways. First, men find it more comfortable to use products that they can call their own. It does not feel awkward using a product that says “Made for men.” Come on, how can men go wrong with a name like “Man Tan,” right?
Second, it has an AminoTan component that works perfectly with men’s skin. Because of this, the product stays longer on the skin. Also, its natural ingredients don’t irritate the skin. It blends well with the men’s skin that it all ever does is give them a drool-worthy and gorgeous tan.
Self-tanners are available with a masculine scent
This is one of the reasons why men stayed away from self-tanners before. They feel awkward because they smell like flowers after use! Yes, funny as it may seem but it does affect how men present themselves in general. Well, this is a thing of the past.
With self-tanners formulated for men, the scent becomes an essential component. Instead of the usual floral notes, tanning products for men often come with a woodsy and/or musky scent. It smells light but does not take away the machismo and bravado they wish to still have.
Man Tan is one of the products that let men smell like men. It comes as no surprise that men gravitate to this brand since its introduction to the market. With the right ingredients and scent, men can’t go wrong in using this product.
Fake tan is a lot safer than direct sun exposure on laying in tanning beds
Skin experts and dermatologists are unanimous in asking everyone to avoid sun exposure. More so, they are quick to discourage both men and women to stay away from tanning beds. Why? Because both tanning ways expose the body to ridiculous amounts of harmful UV rays.
But, some people disagree with these recommendations from experts (especially the use of beds). For them, they claim it is much safer than being under the sun. Since they are not exposed, sun protection takes place. Wrong. Tanning beds emit UV rays which may even be more dangerous than what the sun throws at us.
Self-tanning products only go skin-deep. For one, they use natural ingredients that don’t expose us to UV rays. It also does not need us to be under the sun for that sun-kissed glow. All it takes are a few applications. That’s it.
Steps in applying self-tanning products
Great! So you are now even more convinced to use self-tanners with its benefits. Moving on, learning how to apply these products the right way is essential. Though easy, it still needs a little bit of practice. There are steps to follow to ensure that the products leave a lasting effect on your skin.
Step One: Tidy up your beard, if you have one
To some, this may be a problem. But, it’s one trade-off that’s worth it. First, shaving your beard makes you look a lot neater and more presentable. Second, your facial hair gets in the way of the self-tanner. It’s your skin that needs tanning and not your beard. It’s as simple as that.
Step Two: Always remember to exfoliate
Like your facial hair, dead skin cells from all over your body prevent the self-tanner to work. It is important for the product to be in contact with the skin. This you need to get rid of any skin impurities. Exfoliating is one of the best ways to deep cleanse your skin so don’t skip this step.
Step Three: Protect your nails
At least men can breathe a sigh of relief when it comes to this step. As men, it’s unsanitary to see long and untrimmed nails. But, if you choose to have a slight gap between your nails and nail bed, use protection. The product may leave stains on your nails. It may look like dirt. So this does not happen, use tanning mitts.
Step Four: Choose a self-tanner that’s ideal for your skin tone
These products’ formulations respond well to a specific skin tone. For best results, the self-tanner should match your complexion. This is necessary so the tanning process is in-sync with your skin’s progression.
You risk looking strange and a bit peculiar if you skip this step. For more information, check out different product reviews online. Also, don’t ever be shy to ask the tanning representative if you have further questions, too.
Step Five: Start at the bottom and work your way up
It is easier to start from the legs as you move to your upper extremities. Let’s start there. Also, this way of application presents some level of control. How? Applying the tanner first on the legs makes it easier to correct any mistakes made. At least you can cover/hide such application irregularities.
Step Six: Go easy above the neck
What’s above the neck? Of course, your face. Needless to say, the face is what people notice first. You need to attract the right kind of attention when out on the beach or hanging out. By right kind of attention means having an even tone. The tan on other parts of your body should match the face.
This is why it is important to practice restraint when dealing with the face. Too much application may make your tan several shades deeper or lighter than the rest of your body. Experiencing this predicament is nothing short of embarrassing.
Step Seven: Wait for the formula to dry
As a general rule, tanning products need time to dry. Otherwise, it will stain your clothes. The time depends on the product you choose to buy. It can range between 5 and 10 minutes. Some can go shorter while others may need a longer time. Don’t forget to read the product instructions to avoid any mishaps.
But, know that there’s a product that makes you put on your clothes right away after application. Man Tan is an incredible and state-of-the-art self-tanner that dries quicker than others. Its special ingredients work an instant as it comes in contact with the skin. This way, you save valuable time.
Step Eight: Moisturise
Whether you choose to use self-tanners or not, moisturising is a vital skincare step. The skin needs to keep its natural moisture to avoid irritation and breakouts. Also, tanning products stick to well-moisturised and healthy skin.
Use your favourite moisturiser that is gentle on your skin. There are brands that boast mild ingredients that promote moisture accumulation. Also, there are self-tanners that already moisturise the skin upon application. So, is it fine to skip moisturising because of this? It all depends on you.
But, for best results, still, opt to go diligent on the moisturising step. Your skin will thank you for it. At the end of the day, it doesn’t even take a lot of time to moisturise the skin, right? It is important to have a holistic approach to tanning. Don’t only care about that natural sun-kissed glow. Think about the health of your skin in its entirety.
Top tanning products for men
It is great that men have a lot of choices for self-tanning. Over the years, different products evolved to provide ultimate convenience. Also, these products have their own characteristics. As such, men choose which ones work best for them.
Here are some of the top tanning products available for men’s use:
Self-tanning oil
For many years, tanning oils are among the favourites of many. But, during the earlier years, women were the top users of the product. So, its characteristics appeal to women more than anything else. When self-tanning became popular among men, it was inevitable to make it designed for them.
Oils have a thicker consistency. This means it has the ability to stay longer on the skin. The tanning results in a more robust outcome. Also, the use of tanning oil is not advisable for those with oily skin according to experts. It may produce more oil which makes the skin look shinier than usual. Breakouts and other skin irritations may occur as well.
Know that for the most part, tanning oils became popular with men because of one thing. Want to take a wild guess? Well, bodybuilding! Ever noticed how bodybuilders remain so tanned and greasy? Both the tan and grease accentuate their muscles. Most of the time, tanning oil for men makes its way at the stage more than the beach.
Self-tanning serum
Serums share similarities and have differences when compared with tanning oil. Like the oil, its consistency is rich and thick. The difference is that serums get absorbed by the skin right away. Oil has the tendency to keep its greasy consistency even after application.
You have to observe a little precaution when using tanning serums. Since it gets absorbed by the skin fast, its effects may show sooner than expected. Don’t make some tanning faux pas which makes things a little bit complicated. Don’t worry, we will discuss them in detail a little bit later.
Self-tanning lotion
Like the oil, this product for men’s fake tan in lotion form has been available in the market for many years. It is one of the more popular self-tanners because of the following reasons:
– Wide availability in stores. As such, both men and women have easy access to it.
– It is more affordable. Since there are many brands that offer the same product, its price remains at a competitive level.
– Lotions moisturises the skin, too. Men, especially, get to have their skin moisturised while achieving that gorgeous tan.
Self-tanning mousse
The mousse could be one of the most recent innovations in tanning. It can deliver the best fake tan for men. Because it came in later than its predecessors, it has more unique characteristics. As such, more men prefer to use the mouse over the products listed above. Why is this so?
– Mousse has a lightweight consistency making it easier to apply.
– There are products of this kind designed for men which do not make them smell feminine.
– Ingredients are natural which do not harm the skin in any way.
– Some products like Man Tan get absorbed by the skin fast. So, you can wear your clothes right away after application. Remember, only a few products let you do this. The general rule of thumb is you need to wait for the product to try before wearing something.
– Full control is possible. This means you can achieve the kind of tan you want depending on the number of application layers.
How often should you use the product?
Know that self-tanners work by reacting on your dead skin cells. The outer layer of the skin has these cells. Every single day, we shed off these dead layers to give way to a new and rejuvenated skin. In general, new epidermis forms in give or take 40 days.
Since these products adhere to the outermost layer of the skin, it comes off as you shed the dead cells. Compare this with dying your hair. As new hair grows, your natural colour appears bumping off the dye. This is what happens to your chosen self-tanner.
So, what’s the magic number?
It pays to follow what the packaging says. The manufacturers know their product so well so do what they instruct you to do. For the most part, self-tanning products recommend reapplication after three days or so.
But, for a high-quality tanner like Man Tan, it stays in the skin a little longer. Their tanning mousse has AminoTan making it ideal for those who don’t want to apply it over and over again. Also, their advanced ingredients make the tan fade in a natural way.
Self-tanners have DHA or dihydroxyacetone as an active ingredient. This ingredient takes care of the tanning action. The dead skin cells react to this ingredient making it appear darker or tanned. It takes about a week before the effect fades. It is good to know that tanning happens while being healthy.
Mistakes and solutions when applying tanning products
Don’t ever get discouraged. You are not expected to get tanning right the first time. Know that you are not alone. Many men also commit mistakes. The good thing is that there are solutions to these mishaps. Read on to see what you can do when encountering any of these issues:
The tan seems too dark
First, you may have underestimated the entire application process. Eyeballing the amount of self-tanner may have been more than what it’s supposed to be. Again, don’t fret. There is a solution to this predicament.
If you are anywhere near a pool, go have a dip. The chlorinated water lightens the colour. If you are nowhere near a pool, the best thing to do is to take a shower and exfoliate. The scrubbing action should rinse off most of the tan. As you scrub, the extra tan wears off, too.
You are close to looking like a walking traffic cone
In other words, you look orange. No one wants that! If this happens, it’s fine. You only need to use some bronzer. But wait, how on earth will you have that? Well, this is your only hope so go get one. Use this experience as a valuable lesson.
Next time, test the chosen product by applying a small amount onto your hands. If it looks orange or if the colour is off, then that’s the wrong product. Take your time and you will find one that’s best-suited for your skin tone.
You can’t reach your back!
Yes, we understand. You are not an Elastic Man or a cartoon character blessed with double-jointed flexibility. It is normal for you to not reach all parts of your back. In this case, look for a tanner that has a nozzle applicator. This way, it can go upside down to have access to those hard-to-reach areas.
It also won’t hurt if you ask for help from a companion. Your partner? Buddy? Anyone is fine as long as this person can spray your back with even coats or layers. If you live solo, invest in a back applicator.
Spending extra is out of the question? Then let out your inner MacGyver. We are sure you can make things work. With a little bit of imagination, you can have the solution to your application problem.
Hands and body colour mismatch
This is one of the most common mistakes committed by first-time self-tanners. Luckily, you don’t have to figure out the solution alone. As this happened many times, tried and tested ways to solve this problem.
Of course, we want to make things easier for you. Follow this instruction as it may be the solution you are looking for. Check your cupboard for these two easy-to-find ingredients: baking powder and lemon juice. Combine both lemon juice and baking powder with water until it becomes a paste.
Rub the concoction into your hands for about two minutes. For best results, leave it on for another minute. After about three minutes, wash it down with warm water and a clean cloth. This should even out your complexion. If you are not satisfied yet, repeat the process until you are fine with the outcome.
In conclusion
Self-tanning is not intimidating. With constant practice, you can do the entire process with ease and confidence. Don’t forget to refer to this guide for important reminders. At least now, you come wealthy with tanning knowledge such as:
– Benefits to using self-tanners,
– Simple steps to follow when using tanning products,
– Top self-tanning products for men,
– Frequency of application for best results,
– Mistakes and their simple solutions.
At the end of the day, using the right product is essential. Man Tan is a product that you should try. Many Man Tan reviews capture the very essence of this product. Get the best fake tan with the use of the best self-tanner available. You owe it yourself for investing in the right self-tanner that’s sure to give amazing results.