I’m always game to try the latest beauty TikTok hacks. Whether it’s doing a hair detox or applying my foundation with a jade roller, I can be talked into practically anything as long as TikTok says it works. Dangerous? Maybe. But it’s also been a great way to learn some awesome beauty hacks and discover innovative products that I’ll continue using for years to come. So, when I saw people on TikTok using self-tanner to contour, I knew I had to give it a try.
“Tantouring,” or using self-tanner to contour, immediately piqued my interest because I loved the idea of not having to apply bronzer when doing my makeup. I’m not a huge fan of wearing makeup every day in general – especially base makeup – because it can often leave my skin feeling greasy by the end of the day. Plus, I have sensitive, acne-prone skin, so it doesn’t take much to make my face breakout.
When I first tried it out, I was pretty light-handed with the product application because I was nervous I was going to look like an Oopma Loopma. However, once I got the hang of it, I was a lot more generous with the product, resulting in a glow worth gushing over. If you’re a fan of high-maintenance to stay low-maintenance beauty hacks, keep scrolling to learn how to try it for yourself.
Every time I tantour, I start out by prepping my skin as I normally would pror to self-tanning. I use an exfoliating mask to remove any dead skin and then I wash my face with a hydrating cleanser. Then, I gather all the things I need for the process: a larger fluffy makeup brush to apply the tan to my face, a smaller one to contour my nose and eyes, and one with thin bristles so I can apply faux freckles.
I used to do my tantouring routine with a product that went on clear, which meant I wasn’t able to see the lines I was creating. After a lot of trial and error, I found it was best to use a product with a guide color, which is why I switched over to the St. Tropez Classic Self Tan Bronzing Mousse ($34).
I like to dispense product into the cap of the tanner until it reaches the top and use that as a palette of sorts. From there, I dip in using my fluffy makeup brush and apply the tanner to the areas I would normally apply contour: my forehead, my cheekbones, and my jawline. I also like to bring the product down the sides of my neck as well.
Next, I switch to the smaller makeup brush and I add a bit of product onto my nose and eyes to contour those areas. While you’re doing your tantouring routine, just know that things are going to look a little wild. You have to trust the process. The biggest thing to remember when tantouring is to blend, blend, blend. I like to blend the self-tanner enough that I’m able to go outside in semi-public without people wondering if there’s something wrong with my face. (Although, for the record, I do live in Los Angeles, so people don’t bat an eye at much.)
I already have freckles from spending too much time in the sun without SPF (big mistake), but if I want to add a few extra, I grab my tiny brush, dip it in the product, and lightly tap it across my cheeks and nose.
After application, I immediately wash my hands with warm water and soap to make sure I don’t have any leftover tanning product on my hands or fingers (although this is mostly avoided by using makeup brushes). Then, I wash my tools as well. From there, I let the product develop for a couple of hours before washing the color off with a mild cleanser. By the end, I always have a beautiful, subtle bronze glow where I would normally contour. To finish off my look, I like to layer on my skin-care products, fill in my brows, and add a little lip gloss.
I’ve been using this hack for awhile, and I absolutely love it. It helps me cut down on the number of steps in my everyday makeup routine because I don’t need bronzer, foundation, or concealer. I love how natural tantouring looks, and I love that it requires minimal effort. This is definitely my favorite TikTok hack so far.
Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for POPSUGAR. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for POPSUGAR’s TikTok and Instagram accounts.
