At this point, with vast media coverage and many horrifying news stories, it's pretty much common knowledge that whilst the sun feels good on our skin, it actually doesn't do much good at all. In fact, it's very, very bad for our skin (insert sad face here). For this reason, it's incredibly important that we protect our skin thoroughly at all times - even when it's cloudy.
Yep, that's right, those powerful sun rays still worm their way onto our skin even when it's cloudy, which is why so many people burn more when it's overcast - little interesting fact for you there...
Anyway, as most of you probably now know, I returned home from a fabulous 11-day break in Tenerife on Saturday, and so I've been enjoying lots of beautiful sunshine.
I really do enjoy relaxing in the sun, but no matter what, I always ensure that I reapply my sun cream regularly. Those quick dips in the pool might seem harmless at the time, but unless your sun protection is entirely waterproof, the chlorine from the pool will almost immediately strip your skin of any protection.
Now, I do tan, but I also get lots of freckles on my face, too, so I always make sure that I am tanning safely. In order to tan 'safely', it's essential that you apply a sun cream that's got a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor). In Tenerife, the highest factor we used was 30, but I've been known to use 50 in the past, too.
And, at all costs, I would always advise steering well clear of any oils or anything below SPF 15, especially at the start of your holiday. Oiling up on the first day of your holiday will make your skin burn, causing premature aging, and costing you a heck of a lot on aloe vera gel two days later. Not cool.
Of course, some people don't tan at all, which I understand can be incredibly frustrating. We all have that one friend who comes back from their holiday just as pale as they went, but in this day and age, there's nothing wrong with that at all! The way I see it is that these people can either embrace their natural beauty, or, if they do wish to look a little more golden, to invest in a good bottle of the fake stuff!
So, first things first, my biggest 'must' when it comes to tanning is buying a GOOD bottle of tan. And for me, there are two brands that are better than all the rest put together - cult classic, St Tropez, and celeb favourite, Fake Bake. Typically, I tend to restock on St Tropez more than Fake Bake, but both are fab, and promise to leave your skin golden, as opposed to orange or green.
Okay, so you're reading up on how to apply your tan, and it all seems pretty easy. Basically, mousse + mitt = job done, right?
Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
The secret to a gorgeous glow that lasts is great preparation and maintenance. Don't worry, it's nothing too complex, but if you don't do it properly, your tan may fade unevenly or simply won't last as long.
So, how should you prepare? Well, the main key to success here is exfoliation. Using either exfoliating gloves or an actual scrub, before applying any tan, make sure you give yourself a thorough all over exfoliation to ensure that your skin is silky smooth and supple. This process will help slough away any dead skin cells or dry patches that tan may otherwise cling to, causing unsightlt patches.
Once scrubbadubdubbed, it's all about lathering on that gorgeous moisturiser or body oil. My favourite moisturiser to use before tanning has to be the original Palmers Cocoa Butter. You can pick this stuff up for about a fiver, it smells great, and it really does leave skin feeling sensational. Once you're all scrubbed, smooth this cream on, allow to dry a little, and then pop on some loose-fitting clothing which you can leave on overnight.
By the time you wake up, you should be feeling quite literally incredible. Seriously, you won't be able to stop stroking your own legs. Three words: So. Damn. Smooth.
But, now it's time for the exciting bit - the tan.
After showing, allow your skin to dry completely. I usually wait 1-2 hours to ensure that there are no traces of water in my pores. Then, I grab my tanning mit and get to work. Mixing it up in strokes and circular motions, I apply the tan to my skin until I have covered everywhere.
As a top tip, I would recommend starting at the bottom, and working your way up. If you do your arms and your stomach first, you'll be 'leaning' over any tanning that you've already done, whereas if you start with your legs, you won't. When it comes to hands and feet, I use the last bit of tan remaining on the mitt, and quickly stroke this on at the end - you don't want to over-apply and end up with two orange gloves and socks.
Once you're done, allow the initial tackiness of the tan to ease off a little, before putting on some fresh loose-fitting clothing 15-20 minutes later. Your tan should take between 4-8 hours to fully develop, at which point you can rinse away the indicator layer (top layer), and say hello to that gorgeous golden goddess you've been waiting to meet!
In order to maintain your tan, simply moisturise every day after you shower, and exfoliate gently every three days until you feel it's time for a top-up.
I hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any more questions you'd like to ask about tanning, I'm definitely the girl to offer the advice, so feel free to drop any questions you may have in the comments box below.
In the meantime, I look forward to hearing how you all got along with your tanning!
Lots of love,
Grace x
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