Once you find the perfect golden hue in a bottle, here are some tips to keep your self-tanner in place and looking its best. A great-looking bottle tan starts with preparation. When applied to skin that hasn’t been exfoliated, self tanner can look uneven as dead skin sloughs off. Start your self-tan with exfoliation and shaving. Follow with a thin application of moisturizer to areas that tend to turn darker when self tanner is applied – elbows, knees and feet. The hydration will prevent those areas from absorbing too much tanner. If you find yourself winding up with streaks, then it might be a good idea to switch to a different brand that you can see as you apply it. Many have instant bronzing color that appears right away as you spray or slather it on. Uneven color – too much on your face, not enough on your back – can be solved by having a friend or spouse help you apply. Try a powder bronzer on your face – you’ll find that if your face is the same dark tan as your body, you may tend to look older. If no one’s around to help you, try the Body Buddy (www.bodybuddy.com), a lotion applicator that can help you get the hard-to-reach parts unassisted.

If you find that an application of self-tanner makes your hands dark, then try wearing latex gloves while applying. You’ll have to at least touch up those “no-rub” spray versions by rubbing it in some places, so protect your hands. If you already turned your hands a toasty color, then try granulated detergent to scrub out the stains. An exfoliator can also lighten your hands and other boo-boos you make. Let self-tanner dry completely before dressing or getting into bed. That means staying in the buff for up to a half hour. Too much trouble? Why not consider replacing your usual moisturizer with a “glow” version that gradually deposits color? Jergens, Dove and Aveeno have great moisturizers that do double duty by leaving skin smooth and lightly bronzed.