To say that fake tan is a controversial beauty product would be the biggest understatement of the century. Whether it’s a lotion, oil, mousse or a spray, fake tan is a little bit like Marmite – you either love it, or you hate it.
At some point, the vast majority of us will have experienced some form of fake tanning disaster (orange elbows, anyone?), and quite frankly, these tanning mishaps can be enough to put anyone off the stuff. As someone who has been using fake tan for years, I can completely empathise, and I can also pretty much guarantee that I’ve experienced just about every fake tan faux pas in the book. It can be off-putting, but if you do manage to do it correctly - and I promise you, it’s not as difficult as it may seem - fake tan can give you a gorgeous, safe, sunless glow and a major confidence boost to boot.
So, to help ease your fake tanning fears, I’m going to share with you my fail-safe tips on how to fake tan like a pro. So, whether you’re a faux glow virgin or you’re an expert home tanner, it’s time to wave goodbye to tangerine tinted palms and patchy legs, and say hello to a gorgeous, all-over golden glow that’ll leave you looking and feeling like a goddess. If you'd like to read more about my favourite fake tanning products, make sure you check out my post: My Must-Have Bronzing Essentials This Summer.
The Basics - AKA: The Rules Of Fake Tanning
When it comes to fake tanning, the preparation is just as important as the actually tanning itself, and this is probably the biggest misunderstanding surrounding fake tan in the book. If your skin hasn’t been buffed and moisturised, your tan isn’t going to look its best - and that’s a fact. Your skin needs to be super smooth, and for that reason, a good body scrub and moisturiser are both key ingredients. I recommend the Body Prep Scrub Pink Salt & Coconut (available to buy from Beauty Bay) for a deep exfoliation followed by the ultimate beauty cult classic (and super affordable) Palmer’s Cocoa Butter.
For the best results, I recommend prepping 24 hours before applying your tan. If you leave it any later than this, you may find that there is still some water in your pores, and any moisture has the potential to compromise the look of your tan, as well as reducing the longevity of your tan.
Applying Your Fake Tan
To avoid any tanning disasters, I recommend using a high quality tanning mit. I’m a huge fan of the St Tropez mitt as it washes really well between uses, and unlike some of the cheap alternatives available, it doesn’t fall to bits or lose fragments of foam (very annoying!). When it comes to tanning your back, there are now a range of specially designed mitts made just for your back - I know, dreams really do come true! I recommend the Cocoabrown one (Cocoabrown Back Applicator) it’s easy to use, and lasts ages. Tanned front, pale back - you are officially a thing of history.
And as for the tan itself, there are tons of glorious options out there. To strip things back a little, if you’re a nervous, first-time tanner, I’d recommend something a little more subtle, like the Palmers Gradual Tanning Cocoa Butter. This tan promises a subtle, build-able glow and it’s great for beginners. Start by applying a little, and then as you begin to build confidence with it, try putting on a little more. As with anything else beauty related, only ever apply an amount that you feel comfortable with - you can always add more later on, but getting the tan off is a much more vexing task!
If on the other hand you’re a little bit more practised and you want a deeper colour, the Vita Liberata Fabulous Mousse Dark is perfect. This smooth mousse is super easy to apply and will develop into an exotic, dark tan. What I love about this mousse is that you only need a little bit of product to make an enormous difference to the look of your skin. As this product is a ‘dark’ formula, it creates a really deep, gorgeous colour from the very first application - and the results look really natural, too!
When applying your tan, I recommend starting with a small amount and working up your body, as opposed to down (that way you aren’t leaning over what you’ve already done). Smooth strokes and circular motions both work fine, but make sure you don’t rub the product into your skin – this is how you’ll end up with patches.
Washing Off The Indicator Level
Once you’ve prepped your skin and you’ve applied your tan, it’s basically a waiting game - you’ve done all the hard work, so you can officially sit back, relax and watch as your skin gradually turns darker.
Once you’ve reached the recommended development time, hop in the shower and rinse away. Unless you’re using a gradual tanner, at this point, you’re probably going to see what looks like a lot of valuable product rinsing away down the plug hole. My advice: don’t worry. That dark, admittedly, not so hygienic looking brown water is simply the indicator layer of your tan coming off. Once all of this is rinsed away, you’ll be left with your ‘actual’ tan which will have developed underneath.
As a top tip for this part of the process, I’d advise steering clear of any gels or creams whilst your in the shower. Depending on the chemicals in these products, you may find that they compromise the end result of your tan. For the first shower, try to rinse with water only. Your second shower should be fine.
Maintaining Your Tan
In order to ensure that your tan fades evenly and you aren’t left with any dodgy, unsightly patches, we recommend a light exfoliation every three days, and an all-over body moisturise every day after showering. In terms of how to exfoliate, I find that exfoliating gloves work the best. You can apply as much or as little pressure as you like, and they’re great for reaching all areas of the body. And when it comes to moisturiser, I would always choose the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter. This product has been my favourite moisturiser for years, and it’s so affordable!
My Fake Tanning Essentials
Lots of love,
Grace x
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