Article: How to Make Your Tan Look Expensive
How to Make Your Tan Look Expensive
Money is quiet. So is a good tan. The glow that reads “expensive” is never the darkest one in the room - it's the most believable. Here's how to make a self-tan look less like a decision and more like good genetics.
Undertone over depth
The single tell of a cheap tan is orange, and orange is an undertone problem, not a depth one. A shade built on violet or green undertones neutralises the warmth and reads like real sun. Choose by undertone first - our shade guide walks you through it.
Go one shade lighter than you think
Expensive is restraint. A soft, lit-from-within bronze looks far more luxurious than a deep one that announces itself. Build slowly, in light layers, and stop a step before you think you're done. You can always add; you can't easily subtract.
Finish, not just colour
Luxury lives in the finish. Hydrated, smooth skin catches light evenly and makes any shade look more polished. Moisturise daily, keep elbows and knees buffed, and add a sheer glow oil for that quiet, dewy sheen.
Let the edges be soft
Nothing looks cheaper than a hard line at the wrist or ankle. Feather the colour out with whatever's left on your mitt so it fades into skin. Even, seamless, unbothered - that's the whole look.
Frequently asked questions
What self-tan shade looks most natural?
A warm medium bronze on a violet or green base reads most natural across the widest range of skin tones. More in our shade guide.
How do I stop my tan looking fake?
Choose by undertone, go lighter than you think, prep and hydrate, and soften the edges. Fake is usually just too much, too orange, too abrupt.
More from the Journal: How to choose your shade · The It-Girl Glow Report
Money is quiet. So is a good tan.
Written by B.
