Keeping Your Glow – A Guide to Applying Self-Tan
With the summer sun on its way out for the season, topping up your tan is going to take more than 10 minutes in the garden, and you might be wondering how you’re going to hold on to that golden glow.
Self-tan is a simple and safe solution that will help you stay sun kissed, whatever the weather. Our self-tanning tips for beginners will help you apply your self-tan evenly and give you smooth skin with a beautiful tan.
Pick Your Product
Fake tan and self-tanning moisturisers are very different things and a tango with the wrong type could leave you underdone or overdone. Reading the label carefully to ensure you have what you were aiming for, as well as following the instructions will help you achieve exactly what you want.
Cleanse and exfoliate
Cleansing is a must. Dirty skin that still has other product on it will not tan evenly no matter what else you do.
Exfoliation will make sure your skin is fresh and free of debris to keep your tan smooth and even. If you are a regular user of fake tan, exfoliation is even more important, as it will remove any leftovers and stop patches occurring.
If you are planning a hair removal treatment around the same time, this should be done before tanning, so as not to ruin the effect.
Moisturise
Although a lot of self-tan products contain some level of moisturiser, many also contain perfumed ingredients which can dry your skin. A little once over with your regular favourite can keep your skin soft as well as catching those delicate areas where you can’t apply self-tan.
Tanning time
Fake tan is designed to work in a single use and may be better if you don’t have too long to achieve your desired shade. It should be applied with a mitt and in small amounts for even coverage.
Gradual tan works more like your regular moisturiser and builds up the colour until you reach your shade. This should be applied daily with hands.
For areas such as hands, feet, elbows and the backs of your knees, taking them one at a time and trying to keep them straight until the treatment is dry will help prevent darker patches where the tan is clogged. We also recommend small amounts of product used in long, sweeping movements towards the ends of your hands and feet, as this prevents excess building up where you can’t remove it.
There are some areas that are almost impossible to reach without help, so asking a friend to tan your back, or failing that, tying a mitt to a long handled loofah or brush can help you get all the important areas covered. Once you’re dry all over, you’re ready to get ready.
