The Guide To Getting Your Best Self-Tan Ever

The world of self-tanning can be a scary one — a world that holds the possibility of patchy body parts and orange-streaked bed sheets. But, when you compare it to the long, covered-up winter your legs have had, it's not that bad. And, while we're all for flaunting skin sans tan, sometimes you just want a healthy glow, not to mention an easier transition into shorts season.

Since DIYing a tan could easily end up a streaky proposition, we talked to Sophie Evans, brand expert and ambassador for St. Tropez, to get the nitty-gritty on what makes one good (or bad). Hint: It's all about properly prepping and maintaining the color. She even schooled one of our self-tanning-addicted editors on her biggest application mistake. (You're probably making it too.)

Go ahead, take baby steps. We promise, it's not as scary as you think.