How to: Apply, Remove and Maintain Fake Tan

Today I come to you with one of my favourite beauty tricks- sunless tanning. Living in the UK, there is never a chance to maintain a beautiful sun kissed glow, so instead I need to get a little help from fake tan. When I first started experimenting with tan over 3 years ago, I had no idea how to apply or remove it properly to give me the best looking tan. In addition to that, I hadn't a clue how to maintain a sunless tan once applied, and only recently have found the perfect routine.

There are so many great fake tanners out there and one that is suitable for everyone. For myself, I like a deep tan and one that is going to last, instead of washing off in the shower. Some tanners allow yourself to build colour, this is great for beginners as you can gradually tan and achieve the desired colour of tan you would like to be. Other tanners are wash off and are great for an immediate bronze. My favourite is long lasting tanners, where I only need to re-do every 5-7 days. It must also be remembered that fake tanners come in a variety of forms; mousses, lotions, creams and sprays. For me I achieve the best faux glow using mousses as they are easier to blend, which avoids those pesky streaky lines.

Below are my favourite products to use, however feel free to use lighter shades or different formulas to suit your preference.

Instant Tanning Formulas

Splash the Cash:

Loving Tan Ultra Dark Tanning Mousse $39.95 http://au.lovingtan.com/buy/deluxe-bronzing-mousse-ultra-dark-for-self-tanning/DBMUD120

Stash the Cash:

St Moriz Dark Tanning Mousse £4.99 http://www.stmoriz.co.uk/index/dark-instant-self-tanning-mousse

 

Preparation

1. Once having picked a tanning product that works for you, next comes the preparation. To achieve the best tan, you need to create a smooth canvas. Removing hair from legs, underarms and any other areas you wish, should be done the night before you wish to tan. However, if tanning at night, removing hair in the morning should give the pores enough time to close before applying the tan.

2. Exfoliate!! By far this is one of the most important tips. No matter what your skin type is, it is key to exfoliate. By exfoliating you are removing the dead layer of skin, which will avoid your tan from looking patchy. Using a wash cloth and/or a scrub will help thoroughly exfoliate the skin. Pay particular attention to drier areas, such as elbows, knees and ankles as tan sticks to drier areas easier.

My favourite products to exfoliate are;

Frank Body Original Coffee Scrub £11.95  https://uk.frankbody.com/collections/skincare/products/original-coffee-scrub

Tan Eraser Tan Removal Mitt £6 http://www.taneraser.com/

Application

1. Moisturise your dry areas. By applying a thin layer of moisturiser to those pesky dry parts of our body (ankles, knees, elbows, etc) will allow a more natural, flawless tan. Also applying a little moisturiser to your hands will allow the tan to blend more naturally and won't be a dead giveaway that you are fake tanning.

2. Put on latex gloves. A pair of these will stop your hands from turning brown, even if using a tanning mitt. By using gloves and a tanning mitt this will achieve a flawless faux glow with no harsh lines. Recently, women have being using a mini paint roller to apply there fake tan.

3. Start from the bottom up, apply the tan to the feet, legs and torso, working in small circular motions. Standing next to a full body length mirror will help ensure you don't miss any areas. Remember to read the instructions on the box before beginning, as some self tanners come with guides on how much to apply to the body.

4. When reaching the chest and face, looking in a mirror can be beneficial. I tend to use the excess left on my mitt for my face, however if you want a product that is specifically for your face there is loads to choose from on the market.

5. The back can be the hardest part, however if you do not have someone to help you, spinning the mitt round so the tanning part is on the back of your hand and applying the tan this way can help.

6. After finishing off your arms, I like to take my gloves off and lightly sweep the excess that is left over on the tanning mitt over my hands, spreading my fingers wide apart.

7. Wait! After applying give yourself at least 10-15 minutes for the tan to dry. I like to do my fake tan at night so I can get dressed and jump into bed and rinse the tan off in the morning. Remember to wear dark clothes as fake tan will stain, however usually always comes out in the wash. I would recommend waiting at least 8 hours before rinsing the tan off.

Maintaining

A crucial part I used to forget to add into my fake tanning routine is the maintenance. For myself, I will have to exfoliate my tan off on the 6th or 7th day after applying it. In between then I will moisturise myself. Just like regular tanning from the sun, fake tan dries out the skin. By adding moisture back into the skin this will help the tan from becoming patchy and appearing scale like. My favourite moisturisers can vary massively, however this does not need to be an expensive product. One specifically tailored for dry skin will give your skin the best benefits if you are an avid fake tanner.

Removing

Whether you are starting the process again or just need rid of the faux glow, there is easy ways for removing fake tan. Steeping in a hot bath and using exfoliating products can help with the removal. Adding oils to the bath will help with the breakdown of the chemicals in the fake tan and will although the tan to come off easier. Going for a swim can also help with the removal of fake tan: the chlorine in the water will break down the tan and once again soften the tan making an easier removal. Lemon and sugar will also help when used with a exfoliating glove, however do not panic scrub if all goes wrong, it is better to use these tricks above so the tan can come off evenly with no harm done to your skin.