Tips for Tanning for Your Prom

Sitting in the sun--or a tanning bed--is a major no-no. Make bronze from a bottle as natural as bronze from the beach with these top tips.

Take some time. Don't apply self-tanner when you're in a hurry. A rush job can cause streaks and spots. And definitely don't apply the day of the prom; 2 or 3 days before is better.

Always exfoliate. Use a body scrub, loofah or plain-old washcloth to remove the top layer of dead skin cells and help self-tanner spread on more smoothly and last longer. Pay extra attention to rough areas like hands, wrists, elbows, knees, wrists, ankles and feet.

Defuzz first. Shaving gets skin even smoother than exfoliating; do it before applying self-tanner not after, which can remove some of your color.

Moisturize smart. Moisturizer prevents self-tanner from soaking into skin; use it only on areas you don't want to get unnaturally tan like heels, ankles, tops of toes, knee caps and elbows.

Go with gloves. Orange palms are a dead giveaway that your tan isn't natural. Snug, disposable drugstore gloves can help keep palms clear.

Even it out. Rub hands together after putting tanner in your palms to spread the solution evenly in each hand.

Smooth on circular. Once self-tanner starts soaking into skin, use circular motions to spread it around; different directions help blend better than linear lines.

Work your way up. Doing your upper body first can cause streaks or spots when bending over to apply to your lower body. Start with your feet and legs and work your way up.

Follow the sun's lead. When self-tanning your face, apply where sun would hit naturally--nose, cheeks, middle of the chin and forehead--then blend by moving toward your hairline.

Practice patience. Wait 8 hours after tanning before putting on lotion, showering, and sweating or wearing tight-fitting clothes. Wait 3 hours before applying makeup.

Extra credit: Use lots and lots of lotion! After the 8-hour mark, moisturize skin like mad! Self-tanner is dehydrating, so lots of lotion will make color last a lot longer.