We all love the look of sun-kissed skin. But with the threat of skin cancer, it's not a good idea to spend hours baking in the sun. The best way to get a good tan is to fake it!
Choose wisely
There are a number of self-tanning products on the market. Choosing the correct colour for your skin tone is vital. If you are pale, opt, for a pale colour and gradually build it up until you are happy. Try a test patch to gauge if in fact it is the correct colour. Try Clicks Sun Protect Tan Enhancer, St Tropez or Caribbean Tan.
Prepare your skin
Before applying self-tan, it's essential to exfoliate first. Concentrate on elbows, knees, ankles, hands and feet. Try a body scrub and exfoliating gloves for extra help. Try Caribbean Tan Exfoliating Scrub.
How to apply
Make sure you're 100 percent dry. Don't, apply the product in the heat of the day or in a steamy bathroom, as the product will run and streak. Be sure to apply self-tan with mitts or gloves as it gives a smoother finish and prevents your hands from turning orange! Concentrate on one area at a time, using circular motions.
Tanning tips
- To get rid of excess product, have a shower a few hours later or the next morning. If you have dark spots, use a small brush to gently scrub over that area.
- If you're going to wax or shave before tanning, make sure you do it more than 24 hours before to avoid product seeping into open pores.
- Reapply the self-tan colour as you feel the need (it generally starts to fade after four days as your skin sheds a dead surface layer).
- Moisturise your skin the night before. The most common cause of an uneven tan is dry skin.
- Your tan won't get, darker the longer you leave it. What you, see is what you get.