Mature skin can often be more difficult to self-tan, as there will be more UV damage, lines, wrinkles, wear and tear, dark spots, and dry patches from age.
While this is all incredibly normal for mature skin, it can pose some problems when self-tanning.
Self-tanners work by reacting with the top layer of the skin, with DHA darkening the color of the skin to result in a tan. The results are always better if the skin is even, smooth and hydrated. The more smooth and even the skin, the more natural-looking and flawless the tan will be.
So what is the best self-tanner for mature skin? St. Tropez Classic Self-Tanning Mousse is an amazing choice for mature skin. When applied with a tanning mitt, it will cover the skin evenly and won’t bring more attention to spots or age spots. Exfoliate and moisturize before applying, and be sure to blend outwards from any areas of discoloration.
Many women over the age of 50 are worried that a self-tan might highlight wrinkles and fine lines, and even result in dark spots seeming worse.
While it is true that self-tanners can highlight these conditions, there are ways around it. The right preparation, care, and self-tanning product can help make mature skin seem nearly flawless with a self-tanner.
Prepping Mature Skin For A Self-Tan
Below is the step-by-step guide to preparing your mature skin for a self-tanner.
Gently Exfoliate
It is recommended that you exfoliate before a spray tan. However, with mature skin, it is a good idea to stay away from a heavy exfoliator.
It is important to smooth out the skin, focusing on the drier areas such as knees, elbows, ankles, and feet, but smoothly to not cause any more damage to the skin.
Exfoliators with salicylic acid are best for mature skin. It’s important to apply exfoliating products before you apply self-tanner as the acid will affect the tan if it is applied on top of a self-tanner.
Dermalogica has an amazing micro exfoliator that is gentle on mature skin and can be used before self-tanner.
Moisturize
You should also moisturize before a self-tan, but not too close to the self-tan that the moisturizer acts as a barrier for the self-tanner reacting with the skin.
Focus on moisturizing mainly in the drier areas, such as elbows and knees, so that they do not look patchy when the tan does develop.
Moisturizing the skin will give it the extra hydration it needs, which is always a good thing, but even more so vital for mature skin that might be prone to drying out.
Dry skin will not hold a self-tan well, and it will fade quickly if not kept nourished and hydrated.
It’s important that the moisturizer you apply before self-tanner is oil-free. This moisturizer from Dermalogica is the perfect lotion for mature skin and won’t interfere with the self-tanner.
Does Self-Tanner Cover Fine Lines and Age Spots?
No self-tanner will ever be able to completely hide dark spots and fine lines, however, a warm tone all over the body and face can make them seem less visible on the skin.
The tan will take attention away from the blemishes and make the skin appear evener.
It is important to keep using a moisturizer over dark spots, even after applying the self-tanning product.
This will help stop the self-tanner from darkening the blemishes too much and will help keep the skin healthy and supple to make the tan appear smoother and more natural-looking.
Use A Gradual Tanner To Minimize Age Spots
If you are nervous about the self-tanner accentuating fine lines and dark spots, you might want to choose to use a gradual self-tanner.
These self-tanners do not give an instant dark glow, but instead, build an even and natural-looking tan after several days.
This gives you the control to decide how dark you want your tan to be, and the option to stop using the self-tanner if it is bringing out flaws in your skin.
Most of the gradual self-tanners can be used as a daily moisturizer as well, so they have the added benefit of nourishment and hydration for the skin.
The only gradual self-tanner on this list is SAMPAR’s tined moisturizer, which actually doesn’t contain any DHA, so it gives mature skin a soft glow that isn’t overpowering.
The 5 Best Self-Tanners For Mature Skin
Choosing the right self-tanner for your mature skin will your best bet in achieving an even tan that helps to smooth in lines and spots, giving you a flawless look.
1. St. Tropez Classic Self-Tanning Mousse
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St. Tropez Classic Self-Tanning Mousse is the best for mature skin as well as dry skin. If you have noticed your skin drying out as you age, you can check out this article.
This formula works without a tanning glove, but for my mature friends out there, I highly recommend that you invest in a tanning mitt in order to blend this tanning mousse flawlessly into your skin.
This formula dries quickly, usually within 60 seconds after application, which means you don’t have to stand naked in your bathroom forever waiting for it to dry.
If you have sun spots or age spots, be sure to blend the product outward from each spot. If properly applied, it does not enhance the appearance of the spots and will cover your skin evenly.
You will have a golden glow within 4-8 hours of application, after which you can hop into the shower if you wish. One application is all you need to have a tan that lasts for up to 10 days. Of course, you will notice some fading during that time, but the fade is even and gradual, so you won’t look patchy.
The addition of ingredients such as Jojoba Oil means that your skin will stay hydrated for up to 24 hours after applying the self-tanner to your skin.
2. SAMPAR Golden Glow Singlow Tinted Moisturizer
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The Cosmakeup Golden Glow from Sampar is a moisturizing cream that gives the skin a sun glow effect daily and helps to prolong the radiant shine of your skin.
It is a 24-hour hydration cream that is tinted with a bronzer to stimulate a natural glow daily.
While this isn’t a standard self-tanner with DHA, the ingredients in this tinted moisturizer increase melanin synthesis by up to 32% to promote a bronzed look, without the need for tanning in the sun.
The reason I love it for mature skin is that it can be used on all skin types and skin tones and is a great option to replace your daily moisturizing cream.
Build the tan you want by applying the cream daily. It is cruelty-free and non-comedogenic. Another bonus for mature skin is that it contains and has an anti-pollution shield that protects your skin from additional damage done by the environment.
Even though it is in smaller packaging, a little goes a long way to give you a hydrated summer glow that is fully under your control.
3. Beauty By Earth Self-Tanning Lotion
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Beauty By Earth offer one of the gentlest self-tanning lotions out there, with organic and natural ingredients working together to give you nourished and smooth-looking skin.
The vegan sunless tanning lotion is all-natural and transforms skin to a gorgeous summer glow, smoothing out blotches and dark spots.
For my mature friends out there, I’d say that this lotion does a great job of smoothing out any discoloration on the body, but be careful when applying this to your face.
It has the potential to darken age spots and sunspots on your face, so you may want to opt for the tinted moisturizer from SAMPAR for your face and use this self-tanner for your body.
The tanning lotion can be used on all skin types, and added ingredients such as Shea Butter, Green Tea Extract, and Coconut Oil care for your skin, while the active ingredients help it tan gradually to your desired tone.
Free from parabens, phthalates, and chemical active ingredients, the sunless tanning lotion from Beauty By Earth is caring for your skin and offers it all the hydration it needs to hold its new tan beautifully.
Mature skin often needs a little more care and love, and it will get all of that from these wonderful organic and natural ingredients.
4. Bahama Tan Organic Self-Tanner
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The Organic Self-Tanner from Bahama Tan has been created to be used on both the face and the body, allowing you to use one product without any hassle.
The lotion is tinted brown to help you see where you have applied the self-tanner, and any spots you may have missed.
The tan develops into a medium shade and does well to blend in dark spots and hide fine lines.
The tinted guide is water-soluble, so it will rinse away during a shower, leaving the active ingredients to develop your skin into a darker, bronze tan.
Made from caramelized organic sugar, the guide does not contain any stains or harmful dyes.
Ingredients such as Argan Oil, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, and Monoi de Tahiti deeply moisturize and hydrate skin, giving it a smooth and even looking finish. The Level 2 medium shade can be used on both light and medium skin tones.
This is a reliable product with great added ingredients which only help to make your self-tan look more incredible.
5. Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tan Liquid
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Self-tanning is made so much easier with this Fake Bake liquid, which is applied with a spray bottle.
Using ingredients such as DHA, DMI, and erythrulose, the tanning liquid works to develop a tan aligned with your natural skin tone, producing a tan that looks similar to your shade.
The liquid lotion has been formulated to be streak-free and non-patchy when applied, so you can be assured of an even, golden tan each time.
While there is no moisturizer in the product, you can use your own favorite daily moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.
The benefit is that the self-tanner dries a lot quicker than others, as there is no need to wait for the moisturizer to sink in. This leads to a minimal risk of staining clothes and other linens around the house from a product that has not dried.
Fake Bake helps to give you a flawless tan which is truly the perfect highlight of your natural skin tone. This results in a natural-looking tan that keeps lines and wrinkles hidden under a gorgeous glow.
Final Thoughts
Having mature skin should never stop you from treating yourself to a gorgeous summer tan, free from damage done by UV rays. While there might be a few obstacles to overcome, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots, there are ways around this, and there are some great products out there that will blend in the tan to your natural skin tone, creating a flawless-looking tan that brings out your youthful looks!
