Self tan

The difference between our four self tanners

Our self tanning series consists of the quartet The Classic, The Lotion, The Mousse and Self Tanning Sun Body Lotion SPF 30. Four different self tanners packed with lovely summer vibes.

Here you’ll get to learn the individual self tanners – and discover your personal favorite.

Drops, lotion, mousse or the one with SPF?

Rudolph Care's self tanning series consists of The Classic, The Lotion, The Mousse and Self Tanning Sun Body Lotion SPF 30. All four self tanners leave your skin with a gorgeous and natural summer radiance - yet possess individual qualities.

The Classic is self tanning drops for both face and body, made to be mixed with your daily facial cream and/or body lotion. The Lotion is a two-in-one self tanner and body lotion, providing both glow and nourishing, active care for the skin. The Mousse is a light self tanning foam for the body, which can be used on top of your body lotion or body oil. And Self Tanning Sun Body Lotion combines self tanning effect with effective sun protection.

How to use

The Classic

Step 1
Face

To achieve an even and beautiful glow with the self tanner drops A Hint of Summer – The Classic, we always recommend you prepare the skin with a gentle exfoliation. Use Açai Facial Scrub Mask for your face.

Mix 1-3 pumps with your day or night cream and apply it to your face – be extra careful around your jawline, eyebrows and hairline.

Step 2
Body

Exfoliate your body before applying self tanner. Preferably use Açai Body Scrub. This gives you a soft and even skin surface without any dead skin cells.

Mix 4-6 pumps with the amount of body lotion or body oil you usually would use for the body part you are applying. Carefully distribute and remember to be extra cautious around elbows, knees, and ankles. If these areas are extra dry, moister with extra body lotion before using A Hint of Summer.

Thoroughly wash your hands after use. Within 2-4 hours, you’ll see the light and bronze radiance develop. Repeat the routine for 2-3 days, should you like a more intense glow – experiment slowly and remember to allow the product to develop.

Tip

I’m the quintessential anxious self tanner type. I’m worried that the color ends up streaky or too intense – that’s why I love A Hint of Summer – The Classic. It’s so easy to blend with your cream, that nothing can go wrong.

Camilla Schjelderup, skincare expert at Rudolph Care

How to use

The Lotion

Step 1

Before applying A Hint of Summer – The Lotion to your body, we recommend exfoliating your skin with Açai Body Scrub, leaving it soft and with an even surface - that way, you’ll get the most natural glow.

Moisturize extra dry areas like elbows, knees and ankles before applying self tanner.

Then go ahead with The Lotion and apply all over your body or to that specific area you want glowy. We advise using the same amount of lotion as you would applying your daily body lotion – preferably a smaller application if you have a fair complexion.

Continuously wash your hands, after legs/buttocks, after stomach/back and following shoulders and arms. That way, your hands will not darken before you finish the application.

Step 2

The glow develops within 2-6 hours, but you’ll instantly feel how The Lotion nourishes your skin with active and natural ingredients. With a high level of antioxidants, buckthorn and açai both strengthen and nourish, whereas oils from seeds of organic pear, aloe vera and cucumber moisture the skin.

Tip

Lotion is ideal for everyone uneasy about how many drops of A Hint of Summer to mix to their body lotion. This is made easy for you. And couldn’t be more convenient.

Camilla Schjelderup, skincare expert at Rudolph Care

How to use

The Mousse

Step 1

To obtain a beautiful glow and even result with A Hint of Summer – The Mousse gently exfoliate and remove dead skin cells with Açai Body Scrub, leaving the skin silky soft.

Apply body lotion or body oil, enabling the mousse to distribute evenly. Moisten elbows, knees and ankles generously as these areas tend to be extra dry and pick up color easily.

Then apply The Mousse all over your body or to that specific area you want glowy. Use 2-4 pumps per body part, depending on the desired level of radiance. The Mousse is our most intense self tanner product, so give yourself good time carefully distributing the product.

Continuously wash your hands, after legs/buttocks, after stomach/back and following shoulders and arms. That way, your hands will not darken before you finish the application. Let the product absorb entirely before getting dressed. If you like a more intense glow, repeat the routine for 2-3 days – go slowly and remember to allow the product to develop.

Step 2

The glow develops within 2-6 hours, but you’ll instantly feel how The Mousse nourishes your skin with active and natural ingredients. Açai actively revitalizes with its unique concentration of antioxidants, vitamin C and E, omega 6 & 9 and minerals, whereas aloe vera nourishes and hyaluronic acid increases the smoothness and elasticity of the skin.

Tip

Choose your self tan favorite based on the kind of self tanner type you are. The Mousse requires a bit more careful application, but it’s fantastic if you want an instant glow. It’s the one with the most intense color.

Camilla Schjelderup, skincare expert at Rudolph Care

How to use

Self Tanning Sun Body Lotion SPF 30

Step 1

To obtain a beautiful glow and even result with Self Tanning Sun Body Lotion, we recommend exfoliating your skin with Açai Body Scrub, leaving it soft and with an even surface - that way, you’ll get the most natural glow.

Moisturize extra dry areas like elbows, knees and ankles before applying self tanner.

Then apply Self Tanning Sun Body Lotion 30 minutes before going out in the sun. Be careful when applying to ensure even distribution over the body. You can also choose to use Self Tanning Sun Body Lotion only on the legs if they need summer glow, and protect the rest of the body with regular sun protection.

Let the product dry completely before putting on clothes and remember to wash your hands afterward to avoid self-tanner on your palms and between fingers. The glow builds gradually, so apply over the following days for a more intense tone.

Supplement your sun protection with another sun product without self-tanner during the day if you spend a long time in the sun, swim, sweat, or use a towel to dry.

Step 2

The glow develops within 2-6 hours, but you’ll instantly feel how Self Tanning Sun Body Lotion nourishes your skin with active and natural ingredients and protects it from the sun's UVA & UVB rays.

Tip

I'm a bit too restless to lay out in the sun and get a tan, but Self Tanning Sun Body Lotion SPF 30 gives me the exact sun-kissed glow I dream of without having to "work" for it. Additionally, I never tan on my legs, so here it helps me to wear shorts and dresses.

Camilla Schjelderup, skincare expert hos Rudolph Care

10 self tanning tips & tricks

1. Prepare your skin by exfoliating before using self tanner. Exfoliating both face and body boosts cell renewal and removes dead skin cells, leaving your skin with a smooth, even surface that can more easily absorb the effect of the DHA molecule, which gives the skin its glow. The better you clean the skin, the better the result. Exfoliate your face with a gentle facial scrub and the rest of your body with a body scrub.

2. It is important to moisturize your skin well before applying self-tanner. Dry areas take on color more easily, so pay special attention to knees, elbows and ankles before you start. On the face, it is often the skin around the bridge of the nose that requires extra moisture. When you use A Hint of Summer – The Mousse, we recommend that you apply body lotion to your entire body before using. This gives the best result as the mousse does not moisturize the skin in quite the same way as the other self-tanners in the series.

3. If you have recently used a peeling product with fruit acid, such as retinol or AHA, on your face, the self-tan color will not adhere to the skin as well. Therefore, consider whether retinol and AHA can wait until another day when you are not using self-tanner.

4. When applying self tanner, start from the bottom and work your way up. This gives you a better overview. Start at the feet, moving up the legs and towards the stomach, chest and arms. Finish with the hands, neck and face.

5. Some believe that it is best to apply self tanner in circular motions, while others prefer to rub it in. Do what you find most natural.

6. If necessary, wash your hands with Exfoliating Soap between applications to each part of the body. This will prevent the color from settling in the skin between your fingers and on the surface of your palms. If the color has settled in a particular area, use a wet, warm washcloth or half a lemon and rub the affected area until any stains have disappeared.

7. If the result is not quite what you wanted or if the color has settled more intensely in certain areas, shower and exfoliate your skin.

8. Exercise care when applying self tanner around light eyebrows.

9. Let the product dry completely before putting on clothes. Self tanners can stain fabrics if not completely absorbed into the skin beforehand. If time is of the essence, use a blow dryer on the skin to dry it faster. You can find good advice on dealing with stains and streaks in the self tan part of our FAQ here.

10. Start well in advance and build up your glow over several days. For example, if you are going to a party on a Saturday, start the treatment on Thursday at the latest – preferably a week before. Use your favorite self tanner three days in a row until you have achieved the desired glow intensity. Take a break and, if necessary, refresh the glow on the evening before your event.