01 Feb How to Achieve the perfect fake tan

Having a golden tan can instantly transform one’s self. It can trim inches from your waistline and give you a more youthful appearance. It is a confidence booster for many women including myself. If you want to protect yourself from the damaging effects of the sun, the only safe tan is one that comes from the bottle. The tanning technology has changed dramatically and there are even more products to choose from. New tanning formulations dry quickly, show up instantly and can be washed off within the hour.

1: Prep: Preparation is the key when wanting to achieve the perfect fake tan. It’s important to use the proper tools to ensure your tan is long lasting. You must exfoliate. This is probably the most important part of fake tanning. You want to create a smooth, even surface to lay down your tan. Using an exfoliating mitt and your favorite exfoliator is the easiest way to lift dead skin cells and buff away dry, flakey skin. J Bronze Exfoliating Mitt $9.95

Once your skin is cleansed, exfoliated and dried, moisturise your ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and knuckles. These areas over-absorb the colour and get too dark, making your tan look unnatural. The Body Shop Body Butter $24.95

Tip: Make sure to shave your legs at least 24 hours prior to tanning. Shaving the day of your tan will make it harder for your skin to absorb the solution and your legs will end up with less colour than the rest of your body. Shaving while having a tan on will also strip the colour.

2: Choosing the right product: With so many options out there it can almost seem impossible to pick the right fake tan. Personally I have found that mousses are the easiest to apply when doing it yourself. My two favorite fake tan’s are Bondi Sand’s light/medium and dark mousse $19.95 I will usually mix these to give me the perfect colour. My second favorite is J Bronze Dark Tanning Mousse $34.95 this colour is perfect and creates a really natural looking tan.

3: Application: The most expensive tanner won’t look natural unless you apply it correctly. Using a tanning mitt is essential when applying fake tan. Model Co Blend Buffing Mitt $12 is my favorite go-to mitt as it fits my hand perfectly. Perfect for girls who have small hands like myself.

You want to work in sections when applying the colour. Start from your calves and work your way up. Using circular motions to apply evenly to the skin. I always do my hands and feet last with whatever product is left over from the mitt. This will ensure your hands and feet don’t get too dark, another obvious feature of an unnatural looking fake tan.

4: How to keep your tan looking flawless for days: when applying a tan we want it to last for about a week, and that can be sometimes hard if we don’t look after it. To keep it looking flawless take cool short showers, when drying yourself pat don’t rub. Towel’s can take off your tan. When beaching it protect your tan and skin with a high SPF sunscreen. To ensure it lasts extra long use a gradual tanner. This will protect your tan and keep it moisturized and hydrated as well as giving it a little extra colour. Pure Tan Pure Bronze Gradual Tan SPF 15 $17.95