Your Fake Tan Contouring Guide For An Autumn Glow

Fake tan contouring, also known as self-tan contouring, is a technique used to create the illusion of more defined facial features and a more sculpted body using self-tanning products. Similar to makeup contouring where you use shadows and highlights to enhance certain areas of your face and body, contouring with fake tan is often referred to as 'tantouring'.

Fake tan contouring can give you a gorgeously natural-looking, sun-kissed glow and enhance the appearance of your muscle definition and bone structure. Not only used on your face, tantouring techniques can actually be used all over your body - in fact, many even use it to add the illusion of abs! In today's post, we'll be learning all about how to fake tan contour!

Prepare Your Skin Properly

Start with clean, exfoliated skin. Exfoliation helps to create a smooth and even canvas for your self-tanner and ensures a gorgeously even application. You can use a body scrub or exfoliating mitts to remove dead skin cells - just make sure your exfoliator is oil-free.

It's best not to moisturise before you apply your tan, but if you don't want to skip this step (we totally get it - we'd struggle to skip this step, too!) then using a gentle yet hydrating moisturiser, like Q+A's Hyaluronic Acid Moisturiser, sparingly won't disrupt your routine. Just ensure to give it at least 10-15 minutes for your moisturiser to fully absorb before you add your tan.

Tip: Avoid retinols and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) 24 hour before you apply your tan for the best results.

Your Fake Tan Contouring Guide For An Autumn Glow

Choose The Right Product

Select a self-tanning product that is a few shades darker than your natural skin tone. You can find self-tanning lotions, mousses, sprays, or gels, depending on your preference.

We've selected a few of our faves to help you choose the best self tanner for contouring.

If you're looking for an Express Formula where you can control your own glow, then you'll love the Skinny Tan 1 Hour Express Self-Tanning Mousse. Time activated; the formula allows you to fully customise your own perfect self-tan shade from as little as one hour!

The formula is lightweight and fast drying and can be layered if your goal is to achieve a darker colour. The clever mousse is enriched with penetration enhancers that help to aid you get the depth of colour your like along with the amount of time it takes.

If you'd like to start your tan with a medium depth right off the bat, we think you'll enjoy Loving Tan's 2 Hour Express Mousse Medium.

The salon-inspired formula features an instant guide colour so you can see exactly where you've applied your tan and enjoy an instant veil of colour whilst your tan fully develops.

Fast-drying, the formula makes it super easy to get a streak-free application each time, and is perfect for light to medium skin tones.

For all our fair-skinned guys and girls, you can't go wrong with Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam in Light. This super easy to use tan gives you a beautifully natural-looking sun-kissed Australian-inspired tan and will leave your skin smelling like tropical coconut.

Tip: As with any tanning products, it's important to carry out a patch test on your forearm 24 hours prior to use. If you're struggling with damaged or inflamed skin, avoid tanning until your skin has fully healed.

Apply Your Tan Carefully

Apply your self tanner contour to the areas you want to darken. For facial contouring, this typically includes the sides of your nose, under your cheekbones, along your jawline, and along your hairline.

We recommend using makeup brushes to help you with precision and proper blending. Sigma Beauty's Sculpt + Glow Gift Set contains three brushes that will help you to add your face tan with ease.

F40 Large Angled Contour Brush – for your cheekbones.

F44 Powder Sculpt™ Brush – for your jawline and blending out into your hairline.

F03 High Cheekbone Highlighter™ Brush – for your nose and eye crease line.

For body contouring, this might involve adding your tan to the sides of your abdomen, your collarbones, and the muscles of your arms and legs. For this, you can also use brushes, but a tanning mitt, like the Skinny Tan Pink Velvet Application Mitt can come in super-handy and help you get a streak-free finish.

Blend, Blend, Blend

Blend the self-tanner well, especially along the edges of your body and hairline, to create a seamless transition between your contoured and natural skin areas.

Wait For Your Tan To Develop

Self-tanning products typically take several hours to develop fully. So, follow the manufacturer's instructions for the recommended development time of your chosen tan. During this period, avoid sweating or getting your skin wet to prevent those dreaded telltale streaks.

Maintain Your Faux Glow

Fake tan contouring is a temporary fix and will gradually fade as your skin sheds its outermost layer - this will happen faster if you regularly exfoliate. To maintain your contoured look, you might need to reapply your self-tanner every few days or as needed. Don't forget to keep your skin hydrated to prolong your tan.

Shop The Post

Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Moisturiser 75ml

Suitable for all skin types, Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Moisturiser hydrates, plumps, and helps to reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

£8.50

Skinny Tan 1 Hour Express Self-Tanning Mousse

£17.49 £24.99 30% offsaving

Loving Tan 2 Hour Express Mousse Medium

£36.95

Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam Light 200ml

£13.11 £17.49 25% offsaving

Skinny Tan Pink Velvet Application Mitt

£5.59 £7.99 30% offsaving

Want to stick around and read another post? We think you might enjoy discovering Vegan Haircare & Self Tan By Coco & Eve - one of our recent brand launches. Infused with the best tropical Balinese ingredients, these kind-to-skin formulas are made to nourish your hair, skin, and body. From a natural sun-kissed vegan self tan in a bottle to treats for your tresses, discover beauty the Balinese way.