It's official, self-tan season has arrived. Thanks to our handy guide to self tanning, you can wave farewell to orange palms, cornflake elbows and a patchy finish...
17
Apr
Katherine Chambers
From sidewalk to catwalk, the tan is here to stay. Whether you’re prepping your pins for a night on the town, or simply enhancing your day-to-day glow, a boost of bronze is a sure fire way to leave you looking and feeling radiant.
To ensure a natural-looking tan without the dangers of sun exposure, just follow our self-tanning tips.
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Hair Today…
Anything that removes hair will remove tan too. If you’re looking to banish the body hair, make sure you do it at least 24 hours before tanning. This also means the skin has time to calm and the pores have time to close.
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Exfoliate
When it comes to tanning, preparation is key. Exfoliating the skin before you apply your tanner ensures the optimum canvas. Invest in a primer, body scrub or exfoliating mitt and your skin will thank you for it! Removing old and dead skin cells not only creates a smoother surface, but means your colour will last longer too.
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Keep it Clean
You may think moisturiser’s your friend when it comes to tanning, but this only applies to aftercare! Before tanning make sure you remove any trace of perfume, deodorant or moisturiser. A clean surface means nothing blocking your chosen tanner from working its magic. Tan should be applied to clean and dry skin, then once the colour’s developed you can moisturise to your heart’s content. In fact, moisturising once your tan’s developed can even make it last longer!
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Goodbye Dry
Dry skin, the enemy of a great fake tan. While you shouldn’t moisturise before tanning, this rule doesn’t include those pesky dry areas; elbows, ankles and knees. The blocking effect of a moisturiser is actually your friend when it comes to avoiding dry areas absorbing too much tan. Simply wipe a light brush of moisturiser over these areas before tanning.
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Top Tools
Applying your tanner with proper tools will ensure a flawless finish. Always apply using an applicator mitt or roller. If you’re using a mitt, pump the product onto your skin and apply in sweeping motions. Start at the ankles and work your way up to avoid creasing and leave dry areas like knees and elbows until the end. This way you can use the excess tan left on the mitt, rather than putting a fresh dose of tan directly onto dry areas of the skin.
Want to find out which self tanner’s the one for you? Read more on The Highlight.
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