Dear Sarahk,
I am 59 years old and have been 'using' self-tanners since they first came out on the market. Any self tanner will work on my body, arms, chest, legs, et al. However, there is not a one that works well on my face. I have always wondered why this has been happening to me and none of the replies to your query would make any difference to me if I used those techniques, tips or tricks. I know the folks are trying to help, but I worked for Lancome, Estee Lauder, Christian Dior and several other higher end cosmetic lines and none of those self tanners even when made 'especially' for the face have worked for me.
My Father built in ground shot gunite swimming pools and we had a large pool that he built in our back yard. My Mother used to tell me that we were in that pool from age 18 months on up until I can remember for the majority of the day. I know that my face was burned each year and peeled at least once usually more than that during the Season.
I wondered if my 'melatonin' in my face had 'reacted' so many times, that as I have gotten older, it simply is not stimulated by a self tanner. Now, this is only a theory, and could be a bunch of 'hooey', but I shall continue on my quest to find out the answer to this question. The self tanners as well as the facial self tanners do absolutely nothing to impart color to my face.
Good Luck to Us All!