How to Apply Self Tanner to Armpits, Chest, and Sensitive Areas

Why You Should Exfoliate Your Armpits and Chest Before Self Tanning

Applying self tanner to areas like your armpits and chest can make a huge difference in how even your overall tan looks, especially when you're wearing tank tops, swimsuits, sports bras, or anything that leaves those areas exposed. But these areas can also be more sensitive, prone to sweating, and easily affected by products you may already have on your skin.

For Toni, the key to getting an even, natural-looking tan on sensitive areas comes down to preparation. After years of self tanning and dealing with sensitive skin herself, she's learned that what you do before applying your self tanner can be just as important as the product you use.

Her biggest rule is simple: make sure your skin is clean, exfoliated, and free of other products before you apply your self tanner.

One of the biggest mistakes Toni sees people make is not exfoliating their chest and armpits thoroughly enough before applying self tanner.

These areas can collect sweat, deodorant, lotion, body oils, and other products throughout the day. If you apply self tanner directly over that buildup, it can interfere with how evenly the tanning product develops.

Toni recommends using an exfoliating mitt to thoroughly exfoliate your chest and underneath your arms before tanning.

The goal is to create a clean, smooth surface for your self tanner to develop on.

Don't Forget to Shave Your Armpits

If you shave your armpits, Toni recommends doing that before applying your self tanner. Shaving can remove surface skin cells and can also leave your skin temporarily more sensitive, so timing matters.

Give your skin time to calm down before applying your self tanner rather than shaving immediately before tanning.

Don't Apply Self Tanner Over Deodorant or Lotion

This is Toni's number one rule for tanning sensitive areas.

Do not apply self tanner over deodorant, lotion, or other products that are already sitting on your chest or underneath your arms.

Those products can act as a barrier between your skin and the self tanner. That can interfere with the application and may contribute to the color breaking down faster or fading unevenly.

Deodorant is especially important to remove from your armpits before applying self tanner.

Toni recommends making sure there is no leftover deodorant residue, lotion, or other product on the skin before you begin.

Why Product Residue Can Affect Your Tan

Think of your self tanner as needing direct contact with your skin. If there is a layer of deodorant, lotion, or other product sitting between the formula and your skin, you're no longer applying the self tanner directly to a clean surface.

For the most even result, start with clean, dry skin.

Can You Use Self-Tanning Mousse on Your Armpits and Chest?

Yes. Toni personally uses self tanning mousse on her chest and underneath her arms, and she recommends treating these areas as part of your normal full-body tanning routine.

There's no need to automatically use a completely different type of self tanner just because you're applying it to your armpits or chest.

Toni's preferred approach is to use a mousse over her entire body, including these areas, and then add additional moisture to her chest after the tan has developed and been rinsed.

Add Gradual Lotion to Your Chest After Rinsing

If your chest tends to get dry, you can use a gradual tanning lotion after you've rinsed your self tanning mousse.

This gives you two benefits: you're moisturizing the skin while continuing to build or maintain your color.

Just make sure you're following the development and application instructions for the specific products you're using.

How to Self Tan Your Armpits

Your armpits can be one of the trickier areas to tan because they're naturally prone to sweating and they're frequently exposed to deodorant.

Toni's process is simple:

• Shave your armpits ahead of time.
• Thoroughly exfoliate the area with an exfoliating mitt.
• Make sure all deodorant residue has been removed.
• Do not apply lotion or deodorant before self tanning.
• Make sure the skin is completely dry.
• Apply your self tanning mousse evenly to the area.
• Allow the self tanner to develop according to the product instructions.
• Apply deodorant again only after you've completed your tanning routine and the product has developed according to its directions.

The biggest mistake is applying self tanner over leftover deodorant. Start with completely clean skin instead. For other spots that are tricky to reach on your own, see our guide on applying self tanner to hard-to-reach areas.

How to Self Tan Your Chest

Your chest should be treated much like the rest of your body when applying self tanner.

Start by thoroughly exfoliating the area. Make sure there isn't any lotion, body oil, or other product sitting on the skin.

Apply your mousse evenly across your chest and blend it carefully into the surrounding areas so there isn't a visible line between your tan and your natural skin tone.

Once the self tanner has developed and you've rinsed according to the product's instructions, you can apply a gradual tanning lotion if you want additional moisture or a little more color.

What About Sweat-Prone Areas?

It's true that sweat can cause self tanner to break down faster. Your armpits are naturally one of the areas where you may notice more sweating, especially during workouts, hot weather, or physical activity.

However, Toni hasn't found this to be a major problem when using the self tanning mousse she helped formulate.

In her personal experience, the color fades naturally and evenly, including in sweat-prone areas. She doesn't notice her armpits fading dramatically differently from the rest of her body.

That's one of the things Toni values most in a self tanner. When the color eventually fades, she wants it to fade naturally rather than leaving obvious patches or uneven areas. If uneven fading is something you've dealt with elsewhere on your body too, our guide on preventing orange hands and feet covers similar prevention principles.

Toni's Experience With Sensitive Skin and Self Tanner

Toni isn't speaking about sensitive skin from a distance. She personally deals with very sensitive skin and can experience razor bumps, rashes, and irritation after shaving.

Because of that, she's learned to be particularly careful about what she puts on her skin after shaving.

One of her biggest discoveries has been giving her skin time to calm down before applying self tanner.

Give Your Skin Time to Calm Down After Shaving

Toni personally gives herself about four to five hours between shaving and applying self tanner.

Rather than immediately putting tanning products on freshly shaved skin, she allows her skin to settle down and gives razor bumps and irritation time to subside.

This has become an important part of her personal tanning routine.

If you experience irritation after shaving, consider giving your skin some time to calm down before applying any tanning product. Everyone's skin is different, so pay attention to how your own skin responds.

Be Careful With Fragrance If You Have Sensitive Skin

Another lesson Toni has learned from her own skin is that heavily fragranced products can cause irritation for her.

She has found that products with a lot of fragrance can trigger rashes, so she generally chooses low-fragrance or fragrance-free products whenever possible.

This is one reason Toni appreciates a self tanner that doesn't have an overpowering fragrance.

If your skin is sensitive, don't assume that because a product is designed for the body it will automatically agree with your skin. Pay attention to how your skin reacts and consider choosing formulas with less fragrance if that's something that tends to bother you.

What Happens If You Scratch Your Skin After Self Tanning?

This is another area where Toni has personal experience.

Because razor bumps can sometimes make her skin itchy, she occasionally scratches her legs after applying self tanner. In her experience, the self tanner she uses still fades normally and doesn't create strange patches simply because she has scratched her skin.

That said, everyone's skin and self tanning formula can behave differently. If your skin is irritated or actively inflamed, it's always better to let it calm down rather than aggressively scratching or rubbing the area.

Toni's Sensitive-Area Self-Tanning Routine

After years of self tanning and learning how her sensitive skin reacts, Toni keeps her routine relatively simple.

• Exfoliate your chest and armpits thoroughly.
• Shave your armpits ahead of time rather than immediately before tanning.
• Give your skin time to calm down after shaving if you're prone to irritation.
• Remove all deodorant residue before tanning.
• Don't apply lotion, body oil, or other products to the areas you're tanning beforehand.
• Make sure your skin is completely dry before applying self tanner.
• Use your self tanning mousse over your entire body, including your chest and armpits.
• Allow the self tanner to develop according to its instructions.
• After rinsing, you can use a gradual tanning lotion on your chest if you want additional moisture or color.

The One Rule Toni Never Breaks

If you only remember one thing from this entire article, Toni's advice is simple: don't put self tanner over other products.

Make sure your deodorant, lotion, body oils, and other products are completely removed from your sensitive areas before you apply your self tanner.

Those products can create a barrier between the tanning formula and your skin, potentially causing the color to develop differently, break down faster, or fade unevenly.

Clean skin gives you the best starting point.

The Bottom Line on Self-Tanning Sensitive Areas

You don't have to skip your armpits, chest, or other sensitive areas when you're self tanning. In fact, including them is important if you want your overall tan to look seamless and natural.

The biggest difference comes from preparation.

Exfoliate thoroughly. Shave ahead of time. Give sensitive skin time to calm down. Remove all deodorant and lotion. Then apply your self tanning mousse to clean, dry skin.

And if you're someone with sensitive skin like Toni, pay attention to the products you're using. Low-fragrance or fragrance-free options may be a better choice if heavily fragranced products tend to irritate your skin.

Self tanning doesn't have to be complicated. When you prepare your skin properly and give the formula a clean surface to work with, you can get an even, natural-looking tan from head to toe, including your armpits and chest.

If shaving irritation is something you deal with regularly, not just around tanning, the Rendon Center has more on what causes shaving irritation and rashes and how to manage it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Tanning Sensitive Areas

Can I put self tanner on my armpits?

Yes. Toni personally applies self tanning mousse to her armpits as part of her full-body tanning routine. The most important step is making sure the area is thoroughly exfoliated and completely free of deodorant and lotion before applying the self tanner.

Can I put self tanner on my chest?

Yes. Your chest can be treated like the rest of your body when self tanning. Exfoliate the area, remove any lotion or other products, make sure the skin is dry, and apply your self tanning mousse evenly.

Should I shave before applying self tanner?

Yes, but Toni recommends giving your skin some time to calm down after shaving if you're prone to razor bumps or irritation. She personally waits about four to five hours before applying self tanner after shaving.

Can I wear deodorant before applying self tanner?

It's best to remove deodorant before applying self tanner to your armpits. Toni recommends making sure there is no deodorant residue left on the skin because it can act as a barrier between the self tanner and your skin.

Can I use lotion before self tanning?

Toni recommends avoiding lotion on the areas you're tanning immediately before applying self tanner. Lotion and other products can create a barrier that may interfere with how the tanning formula develops.

Can I use gradual tanning lotion after self tanning?

Yes. Toni likes using gradual tanning lotion on her chest after she has applied and rinsed her self tanning mousse. It can provide additional moisture while gradually building or maintaining color.

What if I have sensitive skin?

If you have sensitive skin, pay close attention to how your skin reacts to different products. Toni personally prefers low-fragrance or fragrance-free products because heavily fragranced products can cause irritation for her. If your skin is irritated after shaving, give it time to calm down before applying self tanner.