Does self-tanner hide stretch marks? (2023)

FAQs

Does self-tanner hide stretch marks? ›

Will self-tanner hide your stretch marks? The short answer is -kind of. While self-tanner can help even out your skin tone, stretch marks are more of a textural change to your skin so the tan won't absorb as much in the areas where your skin is lighter and the textured lines are.

A sunless tan is perfect for bringing a touch of radiance to your skin and building a gorgeous glow. Better yet it can hide a multitude of blemishes including spots, scars and stretch marks, making it an indispensable addition to your monthly beauty routine.

Stretch marks can be temporarily concealed with makeup and self-tanning products. To hide your stretch marks, choose high-waisted jeans or bikini bottoms. You could also consider getting a tattoo, as a tattoo artist can conceal your stretch marks with skin-colored ink.

Let's clear something up right now--a tan will not improve the appearance of your scar, and it is very likely to make it worse. It won't “blend in” your scar because the rest of your skin also gets darker. This applies to tanning outdoors, in a tanning bed (don't do it!), by spray tanning or applying self-tanner.

Covering Scars with Self-Tanner

Others notice no difference. Some users claim the tan actually accentuates the scar tissue, as the surrounding skin darkens whilst the scar tissue doesn't. Typically, small, superficial scars will darken along with your skin, whereas larger and deeper scars won't react as well.

The positive effect of a tan could be attributed to the fact that it provides a uniform light reflection with a continuous blend of light and shadow, in contrast to pale skin that is commonly associated with pigmentation differences and sharp shadows.

Like Kate Middleton, Kim Kardashian also recommends using Bio-Oil to avoid developing stretch marks during pregnancy. Beyond preventing stretch marks, Kardashian also notes that she uses Bio-Oil on her face to avoid getting wrinkles around her eyes.

Although some people will advise you to actually sit out in the sun to reduce stretch marks, this is bad advice and can be dangerous to your skin. Stretch marks don't tan, so as the surrounding areas darken, it will actually make your stretch marks stand out more.

Apply Self-Tanner

While not makeup, self-tanner is a holy grail beauty product that can help disguise the look of stretch marks. Not to mention, you'll get the appearance of beautifully bronzed skin in the process.

What is the best way to tan stretch marks? ›

Sunless tanners are one of the best ways to hide your stretch marks, by allowing them to blend right in with the rest of your skin. It doesn't matter that the scars will not tan because the self-tanner is simply used to change the color to match a more natural skin color.

A high-quality self-tanner can last anywhere from 3 days to a week. But with careful preparation and maintenance, you can get up to 10 days out of your faux glow. A high-quality self-tan can last anywhere from 3 days to a week.

Sunless tanner camouflages dimply skin and evens out the appearance of bumpy cellulite, helping 'orange peel' bums, tums and thighs to look smoother, softer and leaner.

When it comes to stretch marks, one of the most common questions asked is whether a spray tan will make them look worse. The answer is no, but there are some tips and tricks to consider when using sunless tanners on stretch marks to ensure that they don't appear even more prominent.

Using sunless tanner can help to reduce the appearance of these scars and even out the skin tone. Fake tan is a great solution to balancing out the redness of spots and scars – the warm, caramel tone suffuses the red tones, leaving behind a more balanced-looking complexion.

Scars. Sometimes the white spots are merely scars that have become more visible after tanning. These areas of the skin have lost their pigmentation due to damage to the tissue. When tanning, the scars stand out from the darker skin around them.

SELF-TANNER MISTAKE #5: YOU APPLY IT TOO HEAVILY TO CERTAIN AREAS. Areas like your elbows, knees, and ankles can be drier and rougher than the rest of your body, so you should apply self-tanner with a light touch to avoid having them become too dark.

Sweating, jumping in a pool or even taking a shower too quickly after using a self-tanner can ruin the look. Avoid streaks and premature fading by not getting your new tan wet for about eight hours after applying. When the time's up, take a warm (read: not hot) shower and rinse with clean water before lathering up.

The reason that you may actually feel better physically when you get a tan is because exposure to ultraviolet light stimulates vitamin D production. Of course it's possible to get vitamin D in your diet, but most people don't eat all the right foods to get the vitamin D they need.

Why do I look skinnier with a tan? ›

Now the reason why you look slimmer while your spray tanned is because your bone structure is now more defined, that's all it is.. as you can see in this photo above, the client's collarbone and shoulders structure is now a deeper colour than the rest of her body. Now there is shade and light.

So to keep that healthy tan glow, celebrities have flocked to self tanning products in droves. Some do spray tanning, some use self tanning lotions, gels, mousses, and creams at home. But regardless of what they use, self tanning products are now the #1 choice of most celebrities when it comes to tanning.

Kim Kardashian and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (aka Duchess Kate) are both fans of Bio-Oil for keeping skin soft and stretch mark-free during pregnancy. According to the Bio-Oil website, this product has won 349 skincare awards and has become the No. 1 selling scar and stretch mark product in 24 countries.

“It's just a change, I'm finding I have to change my style a little because nothing in my closet fits me from before,” she added. In a subsequent Instagram story, Jenner revealed she elected against having her stretch marks laser removed, instead choosing to accept them as a “gift from Stormi,” BuzzFeed reported.

Unfortunately, there's no way to get rid of stretch marks and scars completely. There are, however, a few things you can do to help fade and cover them: Many celebrities use fake tan to help even out discolouration by stretch marks and scars on the body. Body make-up is a great way to target key areas.

Maintain Current Weight, or Lose Weight

When stretch marks appear, it's most often because you've experienced rapid weight gain. To prevent the stretch marks from getting worse, stop any additional weight gain.

Do stretch marks go away when you lose weight? Stretch marks from gaining too much weight are not likely to go away, even if you lose the weight. That said, stretch marks can heal if they're still red (indicating new stretch marks). Older stretch marks that are translucent are the most difficult to address.

Tanning (indoors or outside) can make stretch marks more noticeable. The best way to hide stretch marks is with a self-tanner.

At first, stretch marks may show up as reddish or purplish lines that can look indented and have a different texture from the skin around them. Stretch marks often turn lighter and almost disappear over time.

How long do stretch marks take to fade? ›

In general, stretch marks take between six and 12 months to fade. With treatment, they often fade faster.

Forgetting to moisturise daily is one of the key reasons that your sunless tan has faded faster than you'd hoped. When your skin becomes too dry, the skin cells on the surface begin to flake off, taking your golden colour that sits within them away!

If you leave a self tanner on for too long, it can start to look patchy and uneven. No one wants to be walking around with a lingering tan. It can also cause your skin to become dry and flaky. If you're starting to see these signs, it's time to exfoliate and remove the fake tan.

If your tan is the exact shade you love and you want to keep the gorgeous glow, you typically only have to apply self-tanner about once a week. This applies to tanning solution you put on your body, which tends to be exposed to fewer products and washing than your face.

The Kardashian girls were so happy with the results of the laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation and VelaShape cellulite reduction and body shaping treatments, they continue to visit American Laser Centers.

Photoshop and body make-up

Most celebrities retouch / photoshop their cellulite. The fact is that even paparazzi pictures are retouched (contrary to popular belief, the paparazzo-celebrity relationship it's a two-way relationship). Many also use body makeup to cover cellulite in official shots.

Not only can fake tan make you look instantly slimmer all over, a bit of strategic bronzing can also easily enhance specific body parts and create the illusion of a better body. To create the appearance of slimmer legs, apply a bit of bronzer down the sides of your legs and some shimmer lotion down your shins.

While self-tanner can help even out your skin tone, stretch marks are more of a textural change to your skin so the tan won't absorb as much in the areas where your skin is lighter and the textured lines are.

Stretch marks look like lines or streaks across the skin. Stretch marks can be pink, red, brown, black, silver or purple. They usually start off darker and fade over time.

Does putting self-tanner on your face make you break out? ›

Whilst using fake tan products such as lotions and sprays can't cause the long term condition of acne in someone that doesn't already suffer from it, they can cause your skin to break out by clogging the pores, making skin oilier and introducing bacteria to the skin.

A self-tanning cream can darken both kinds. So if you've got hypopigmentation, a self-tanner can help blend the spot into your complexion. But if you've got hyperpigmentation, a self-tanner can make your spots look more pronounced.

Answer: Scars are fibrous tissue and they can't produce melanin and because they can't produce melanin, they can't tan.

Trying to "re-pigment" these scars can be time consuming and costly but it is an option. An Excimer Laser or ReLume device is used for this. Another option is to trying and lighten the skin adjacent to the white scars you have. This can be done with laser ablations of the adjacent skin.

If your scar is overexposed to UV rays given off by the sun or indoor tanning bulbs, it may become hyperpigmented. This means that the scar and possibly some surrounding skin become much darker than the natural color of the skin.

Yes, a tan will make skin appear more even, but it will not hide dark patches. In fact, it can make them look worse. "If you apply a layer of self-tanner all over, it will simply darken age spots as it darkens the rest of your skin," Evans explains.

Face tan can replace foundation if you want to take a break from makeup but still want a bit of colour to your face. They require minimal effort and won't wear off throughout the day. This is particularly helpful in the summer months, when you don't want to wear heavy layers of foundation or concealer.

Pigment spots are often a bit darker than the surrounding skin. These are nicely concealed with a self-tanner. By applying a little Vaseline on the pigmentation before using the tanning spray, you ensure that the pigmentation does not darken and the difference will become smaller.

Fake tan products work by reacting with dead skin cells. As you often find more dead cells around a pimple, fake tan can sometimes make acne look worse rather than help to hide it. You can help to prevent a patchy appearance caused by using fake tan on acne-covered skin by exfoliating before you apply it.

In other words, when you regularly use self-tanner, the oxidation happening on the surface of your skin increases by nearly double. That might mean more blackheads on acneic skin, and more oxidative stress to cause visible signs of aging.

How dark is too dark for fake tan? ›

"The golden rule with fake tan is to never go so dark that it looks well, fake. If you have red hair and fair skin, we recommend two to three shades darker than your natural skin tone.

Putting clothes on, sitting or laying down immediately is a big no-no initially. You may rub off a significant amount of product that is only just beginning to “set”. Instead, embrace your birthday suit and implement a “clothes optional” policy for an hour or two.

Self-tanner on the face can be, in a word, scary—but avoiding your under-eye area altogether is a bad idea. Apply underneath the eyelids (but not touching them) and sheer out away from the eye to keep things looking natural. Brows, on the other hand, are highly absorbent, so use sparingly.

"With all tans, apply two coats to the body and one to the face. Starting at the ankles and working your way up means that tan will be dry enough to apply a second coat after a couple of minutes; just start again at the ankles for the second layer," Jules told us.

Using sunless tanner can help to reduce the appearance of these scars and even out the skin tone. Fake tan is a great solution to balancing out the redness of spots and scars – the warm, caramel tone suffuses the red tones, leaving behind a more balanced-looking complexion.

Once acne begins to clear up, a fake tan can also camouflage any scars or areas of discolouration that are left behind — tanner almost acts like a very light foundation or concealer so you can get away with wearing less make-up (plus the effects last for up to a week!).

Self Tanning does not cause acne, however if your skin is sensitive to product application. We would recommend trying different products from our range, we have many to choose from.

When you're ready to apply your self tan, give your face a good cleanse. This removes any dirt and oil that could cause streaks or patches. After cleansing, try splashing your face with cold water to close your pores and tighten your skin for a flawless base.