Fake-tanning tips
Do you want to have golden, gorgeous skin this summer but want to avoid the sun? The answer is to fake it and here's our tips on how to get it just right.
Prepare your skin
Begin by exfoliating your body. This will remove any dead skin cells. Important areas to focus on are the hands, feet, knees and elbows as these are the areas where the skin is most damaged and can often be areas where tan becomes blotchy and streaky. There are many exfoliating products on the market so pick the one that is right for you. Some products may leave your body slightly oily if so make sure you wash this off before you begin as this can lead to a patchy tan
Know your skin tone
It is important to choose the right product for your skin tone. There are a large range of products on the market and whether your using a gradual,medium or dark tanning product it's important to pick the right one for you. If your not sure about your skin tone try popping into some of the major high street retailers, they will often offer a free consultation where you are under no obligation to buy. They also keep you details on record which comes in handy when your looking for future products.
Caught orange handed
A tell tale sign of a do it yourself job is bright orange hands, Not sexy! There are a number of application mits or gloves in a wide price range. You dont need to spend a fortune and often a pair of plastic gloves can be sufficent. Try using a small facial sponge for the smaller more sensitive areas.
A helping hand
Unless your an olympic gymnasit it's unlikely that you'l be able to reach all areas of your body effectively, you could tan with a friend and help each other or if your lucky enough to have a willing partner to do those bits that you can't reach. But remember the gloves or they won't help you again.
Moisturise
It's very important to moisturise the day after tanning. Again there are many products for different skin types. Try to use a moisturiser that doesn't contain oil as this can sometimes remove tan. You may have to try a few different products until you find the one thats right for what you want. Continue to moisturise dailey.
Try to avoid baths for a while. Take showers using non-oily soaps. Try to avoid getting too sweaty as this can cause streaks. Also don't apply perfume to the skin as it contains alcohol which makes the tan fade.
