How to make your FAKE tan look REAL
The summer may be reluctant to make an appearance but those of us who keep the faith know it's on its way. And when it does come around do you really want to expose those pasty white legs to the sun? Of course not. Thankfully you don't have to as there are now plenty of great fake tan products on the market. Here we tell you how to make sure your tan looks gorgeous and real.
Choose the right shade for you
The great thing about self-tan is that even if you wouldn't normally go any other colour than a rather unattractive pink in the sun you can become the bronzed beauty you've always dreamed of being. However, it's important to be realistic. If you are very fair skinned you're going to look a little odd go out with a deep bronzed colour. Back in the day fake tan tended to come in one (rather orange-like) colour. But in recent years it has come on in leaps and bounds and there is now a huge range of tans available in a multitude of shades. Pick a colour that looks a little more natural and you'll have been believe the tan IS your own which, after all, is supposed to be the point.
Exfoliate
Our skin builds up dead skin cells every day. If you don not take the time to exfoliate these dead skins they remain on the skin's surface. This means, if you apply fake tan, the tan will simply rub off with the dead skin cells leaving your colour patchy. Exfoliate with an exfoliating glove thoroughly to ensure your skin is ready to be tanned.
Moisturise and shave the night before
Moisturised, soft skin and smooth, hairless legs are the perfect base for fake tan. However, many people make the mistake of moisturising and shaving on the day they apply the tan and this can lead to disastrous results. Shaving can irritate your skin, meaning the tan will only irritate it even more and won't go one smoothly. What's more the tan will settle in the pores on your legs leaving lots of little dark dots! Moisturising leaves the skin greasy meaning the tan will appear streaky.
Wash your hands
The whole idea of fake tan is that it appears natural. Selecting the right shade for you and applying it smoothly will be pointless if you neglect to take care of your hands and end up with dark palms and streaks in between your fingers! Be sure to watch your hands properly after application.
