There’s nothing like bronzed skin to create the illusion of glowing good health and to disguise a multitude of flaws, from spider veins to cellulite. Follow these tips to create the perfect ‘faux glow’.
1. Prepare your skin
The drier and thirstier your skin, the more self-tan product it will absorb, so be sure to exfoliate well beforehand using a good scrub. Once you’ve dried off, apply a little body lotion to those especially dry bits, like your ankles and knees. If you quench them with something hydrating first, they’re less likely to suck up excess amounts of self-tan and turn darker than the rest of your body.
TRY: The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Scrub
2. Find your fix
Most self-tan brands serve up a selection of shades, so it's easier to find the right one. As a general rule of thumb, lotion and cream formulae provide a lighter colour result, while liquids and mousses develop a little darker.
3. Master the process
The best piece of advice for a first-time self-tanner? Invest in an applicator mitt. It makes a huge difference when it comes to creating a smooth, even-looking tan and it really does speed up the application process. It also eliminates the problem of stained fingernails and palms – the classic rookie mistake.
Try these tanning products:
If you’re short on time: Consider a product that gives immediate temporary colour that will gradually develop into a tan with successive applications. Clicks SUNProtect Self Tan Instant Colour Spray comes in light, medium and dark.
If you're in a hurry: Try Australian Gold Instant Sunless Spray. It delivers a rich bronze shade and contains hydrating ingredients to keep your skin glowing.
If you’re after a bolder shade of bronze: Anything from Caribbean Tan’s C-shade selection will fulfil your, ahem, darkest desires.
Self-tanning safety notes
It is important to remember that self-tan products don’t protect your skin from the sun, so don’t forget to apply sunscreen over your new glow. It’s not just about skin cancer; SPF is also your best bet against the visible signs of ageing, such as wrinkles, brown spots and loose skin.
And if you’re thinking trying the tanning bed instead, think again. Tan-bed users are 74% more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never visited a tanning salon. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, there are more cases of skin cancer as a result of indoor tanning than there are of lung cancer as a result of smoking.
IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com