When it comes to enhancing your beauty routine, the benefits of tanning drops tend to come up in conversation quite often, and with good reason. Not only do they give your skin that special, sun-kissed glow, but they help even out your skin tone as well, often helping to replace the need for sheer foundation.

In this blog, we'll talk more about what self-tanning drops are, what they can do for your skin and beauty routine, and why you should invest in the benefits of self-tanning drops from Red Aspen. Scroll down for all the juicy details!

What Are Self-tanning Drops and How Do They Work?

Right off the bat, it's best to dive into what self-tanning drops are and why so many women have fallen in love with them. In a nutshell, self-tanning drops are a highly concentrated form of liquid self-tanner. This makes them not only easy to apply, but super easy to integrate into your existing beauty routine as well.

Like conventional tanning products, self-tanning drops contain an active ingredient known as dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This is what causes your skin tone to turn brown on use. By combining these drops with a typical face cream or body lotion, you can achieve that sun-kissed, summer glow year-round. It's that easy!

Why You Should Try Self-tanning Drops

You might be thinking, "Ok, this sounds great, but do tanning drops actually work?" The answer is a resounding "Yes!" They can easily help blur imperfections in your skin, all while working to plump and nourish your skin in the process!

Packed with lots of skin-healthy ingredients like hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and vitamin E, the ultra-hydrating formulas of leading self-tanning drops work to illuminate and even your skin tone, no matter if you're blessed with a darker skin tone, a lighter one, or something in between!

Plus, you won't have to worry about that yucky, signature fake tan scent, aka the dreaded "spray tan stink." Thanks to ingredients like rose essential oil, a few drops of the best self-tanning drops will nourish your skin within just a few hours, leaving it kissed with a light, wonderfully floral scent. Best of all, these tanning drops are especially great for your face, as they won't clog your pores!

Are Face Tanning Drops Safe for Your Skin?

The short answer is yes, the chemicals in face tanning/self-tanning drops have been approved by the FDA and are generally considered safe for cosmetic use. The longer answer is that some people may be allergic to certain ingredients like DHA or fragrance. If you have sensitive skin, this could potentially lead to some pesky skin irritation or other allergic reactions.

With that being said, it's generally best to perform a patch test before committing to self-tanning drops. Read the list of ingredients on the back beforehand to ensure there are no allergies upfront. From there, you can try a few drops and see how your skin reacts. Safety first!

How to Apply Self-tanning Drops the Right Way

Just as it's easy to love self-tanning drops and the benefits they provide, it's just as easy to apply them! Here are all the steps you'll need to apply self-tanning drops the right way.

Step 1. Start Things Off with Smooth Clean Skin

Like most self-tanning products, tanning drops work best on a clean, dry surface. This means you always want to cleanse and exfoliate your face and body (wherever you plan to use them) to remove any excess makeup, oil, or impurities before you start applying the drops.

For the best results, try and exfoliate roughly 6 hours before using self-tanning drops for the first time. A good tip is to exfoliate at night before bed, as you can add the drops to your skincare routine the following morning.

Step 2. Mix the Self-tanning Drops into Your Favorite Moisturizer or Foundation

Facial tanning drops may be small, but don't be fooled. A little goes a long way! Getting an even application is super important, as the goal is a streak-free, natural-looking result that you love. This means you'll want to carefully mix the tanning drops into your favorite moisturizer or foundation before applying anything to your skin. Our Tanning Drops mix perfectly with the Red Aspen Body Cream and Red Aspen Hand Cream.

Important: Never apply tanning drops directly to your skin.

The mixing process is also fairly simple. Start by squeezing a bit of your favorite moisturizer or foundation into the palm of your hand. Give your tanning drops bottle a little shake, then gently add a few tanning drops into your palm and mix them together until the drops totally disappear.

Step 3. Apply Your New Tan

Once you have everything mixed together, it's time to apply your new tan! Remember, more drops equals a deeper, more illuminating tan. Make sure you're comfortable with the amount before applying, else you might need to rinse everything off and try again.

If you feel good about it though, gently work the mixture into your body, face, neck, and chest. Voila! A beautiful, natural glow you can't help but love!

Pro Tip: Tanning drops build over time, so using them over the course of a few days can help you get the intensity of tan you’re looking for.

Step 4. Wait Out the Results

If you've used similar self-tanning products before, you likely know they tend to take a few hours before showing results. After all, even the best facial tanning drops need some time to work their magic.

Try to avoid washing the areas where you applied the product until you can see your new tan fully develop. In fact, for the best results, you'll want to avoid perspiring or showering at all for at least 6-8 hours after application.

Step 5. Add Self-tanning Drops to Your Daily Skincare Routine

Giving yourself a beautiful, natural-looking tan takes some dedication. If spending hours at the beach isn't an option, adding just a few tanning drops to your daily skincare routine can give you the same golden glow in a fraction of the time! Best of all, you'll have something you can build upon that'll leave your skin feeling happy, healthy, and more nourished!

You can start off small with just a few drops for that sun-kissed look. Roughly 2-4 drops should do it. Alternatively, you could take things up a notch by adding 6-8 or even 8-12 drops to your moisturizer for a deeper bronze. The choice is yours! Whatever you decide, remember that everyone is different with different skin tones, so don't feel discouraged if you don't notice an immediate difference. Give the body tanning drops a chance to work their magic, and you'll see the payoff was worth it!

Step 6. Extend Your Self-tan with Exfoliation

Remember that bit above about exfoliating? That's super important. You can easily give yourself the best self-tan you've ever had, but that all goes away if you forget to exfoliate on a regular basis.

Learn to love your loofah and scrub your skin before every application. Not only will your self-tanning drops work that much better, but you'll quickly notice that all your other makeup and topicals go on that much smoother. It's a win-win!

That being said, it's also best to avoid irritating your skin, don't go too crazy on the exfoliation. Going overboard and rubbing your skin raw could easily interfere with your self-tanner. Instead, focus on just the right amount to keep your skin happy, healthy, and looking its best.

Give Your Skin Its Best-ever Glow with Red Aspen Tanning Drops

When you invest in a fake tan, you want the results to be something to be proud of. Not only that, but you want to know that the chemicals you're putting into your body are the right ones. With its skin-healthy, cruelty-free ingredients, the hydrating formula of Red Aspen's illuminating self-tan drops can help give your skin the natural-looking glow it deserves. 

Whether you're a seasoned self-tanner or a newbie to the scene, speak with a Red Aspen Brand Ambassador to learn about the benefits of self-tanning drops today!