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; two or three 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.

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 eight hours after tanning before putting on lotion, showering, sweating or wearing tight-fitting clothes. Wait three hours before applying makeup.

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

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 our tan isn’t natural. Snug, disposable drugstore gloves can help keep palms clear.

Differin Staff
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/tips-for-a-flawless-tan-for-your-prom-124844.html