A Guide To Perfect Looking Fake Tan

Since Christmas I don't think there has been a time that I haven't worn fake tan. I always feel 10x better when I wear it so I've decided to make it a regular part of my beauty routine. I've made quite a few mistakes when it comes to all things tanning, so I thought I would share my experiences and my top tips for the perfect looking fake tan...

THE ESSENTIALS

1) Disposable/ latex gloves
2) A fake tan mit/ old sock (I will explain later)
3) Your fake tan of choice
4) Exfoliating gloves/ exfoliating body brush
5) Body butter / body moisturiser
6) Body scrub

THE STEP BY STEP GUIDE
Skin Prep
Before fake tan goes anywhere near my body I always make sure to prep. I start off by using exfoliating gloves and a good body scrub, at the moment I have been loving the Hempz Pomegranate Body Scrub*, this is enriched with hemp seed oil so it removes any dead skin whilst leaving my skin feeling soft and hydrated - love love love this stuff! Another favourite is the Soap and Glory Breakfast Smoothie Scrub, it smells amazing and really does get rid of any flaky/ dry skin.

After exfoliating I move on to moisturising, if I'm fake tanning straight after moisturising I'll take something a little thinner in texture, if not I'll use a body butter and I'm currently using the NSPA Fruit Extracts Rich Body Butter*. I adore this as it doesn't feel greasy or tacky and absorbs into the skin fairly quickly for such a thick body butter, it reminds me of The Body Shop options except a fraction of the price which I'm all for!

I will usually exfoliate three times a week to keep on top of removing old fake tan and then moisturise every day, doing this stops the fake tan coming off awkwardly after around 5-6 days and it stays looking fresh.

Tanning favourites and application
Onto actually fake tanning, there are so many different types of fake tan you can buy and I've tried pretty much all of them. I love using gradual tanner when it comes to the summer months, my favourite is Dove Summer Glow in the medium/ dark shade. The only issue I find with gradual tanner is not being able to see where you put the product, there's always that risk of waking up to find that one white streak you missed! I still follow the same exfoliating and moisturising process mentioned above when using gradual tanner.

At the moment I've been using the St Moritz Mousse tan for a more intense look. I have tried St Tropez but found this to be just as good, if not better! This is an instant tan that develops on the skin in around 5-10 hours and it also has a guide tan so perfect for beginners as you can see exactly where you have applied the product. I usually apply this in the evening and then shower it off the next morning, admittedly this doesn't smell great when it has just been applied, but once showered the typical tan smell has pretty much gone. I always go for medium and that leaves me with a really natural looking tan, not at all orange or overly tanned.

I always think someones hands are the biggest giveaway as to whether they're wearing fake tan or not. I've been that person with brown arms and white hands before - it ain't a good look. I've found the best way to do my hands is to wear a disposable glove, you can pick up a pack of 100 for around £1 and then the tan never sinks through the applicator onto my hands. After applying the tan to my whole body I can then go back to the hands and apply a small amount so it blends more naturally.

When applying a mousse tan I used to use a tanning mit but found they never fit well and not only make it difficult to actually blend the tan in but it would just absorb all the product and make a mess. Now, I just use a sock! Not only does it mean I can blend the tan in seamlessly but it's cheaper and far easier and I can just throw it in the wash afterwards. When it comes to applying a gradual tanner I just wash my hands after applying it and then apply a drop on the back of my hand and rub the backs of my hands together and blend down my arms.

I apply fake tan usually 3 times a week just after I have exfoliated and I've found this to work well for me. I don't actually tan my face at the moment and just use makeup so my skin matches the same colour as my neck.

For a quick fix
When I need to be tanned and don't have the time to wait for gradual tanner or the St Mortiz tan to develop there are a few products I turn to. The Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Express Tan is my go to for when I'm in a rush, this is double the price of the St Mortiz tan however it smells amazing and it does give an even more intense tan, it also has a guide colour but develops in just 1 hour! Another favourite is the Soap and Glory The Righteous Body Butter Sun Kissed Tint, if you're going on holiday and want to add a glow to your complexsion aswel as a tan then this is perfect. It has more of a red undertone so looks incredibly natural, also perfect if your have dry skin as it's moisturising too. Although this does wash off straight away, so if you know you're going to be near water I would give this a miss as it will start coming off.

SHOP THE ESSENTIALS/ MY TANNING FAVOURITES

Top tips
1) Don't forget to go around your ankles and feet with the tan
2) Try and apply tan in natural day light or good lighting if possible
3) Keep your skin hydrated
4) If you shave your legs don't apply fake tan straight after doing this as it will settle into where the hairs were
5) Whatever you do, don't tan the palms of your hands...

If you are a fake tan wearer I would love to know your favourite products and tips for the perfect tan...

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