By Hannah Powling
Fake tan is the quickest way to get a summer glow without going abroad or baking yourself in the sun’s powerful rays – it is the best way to get a little colour, and fast.
Fake tan can sometimes be tricky to apply and there are so many to choose from too! But here are a few Fake Tan Hacks that’ll get you out of any trouble, and ensure you get the best, most natural, and smoothest fake tan ever. Here, we got some brilliant tips from the beauty experts at Hairtrade and being a tan fanatic myself I have found some of these to be extremely useful..
1. Use a sock as a tanning mitt
Save some money on those overpriced tanning mitts (I haven’t had a good experience with the cheap ones either!) – by using a sock instead. A sock is a good texture for buffing in your fake tan and will be the best thing to avoid getting orange hands. Even better – use a black sock so you can just wash it without having to throw it away due to extreme staining!
2. Find the right fake tan for your skin tone
A big fake tan mishap you can make is going too dark, which can leave the colour looking obviously unnatural and any streaks are far more visible on the skin. There are many tans that come in an array of colours – so pick wisely. Those of you that are impatient – try not to go for a shade that is too dark – it is best to build up rather than try to be too ambitious! It’ll be worth it. Try testing out a small patch of the tan before use to check it’s right for you.
3. If you’re not a fake tan fanatic – use a mousse
If you aren’t a pro fake tanner – lotions that aren’t coloured straight away when applied can be hard to tell whether you’ve evenly applied them, leading to streaks/darker patches where too much has been applied. To avoid this, opt for a mousse or a mist instead.
4. Use baking soda or toothpaste to correct streaks
If you do find yourself with any pesky streaks, make use of these handy household numbers to repair the damage. Rubbing a mix of baking soda and water on the streaky spot helps to remove uneven colour. Orange hands aren’t the best look either – especially if it all gathers in between your fingers! But if you find yourself with hands that look embarrassingly tanned the best way to get them back to normal is to rub toothpaste on them.
5. Remove all traces of deodorant, perfume and oil before tanning
Traces of products on your skin will create a barrier, so your tan won’t be able to sink in as easily, or evenly.. Tan right after you shower – so your skin is nice and clean, and spray on your deodorant after tanning too.
6. On that note – Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate
The key to an even tan is to exfoliate properly before application. Exfoliating whilst you shower or bath helps to remove the drier skin that causes darker patches, so be sure not to skip this step.
7. Moisturise your dry spots too
Ever noticed that your knees and elbows gather more tan than other parts of your body? Drier parts of the skin tend to hold onto the tan more – avoid this type of mishap by keeping skin well moisturised as well as exfoliated – focusing on areas such as your elbows, knees and toes which tend to dry out easily.
8. Avoid wearing tight clothing whilst your tan is developing
Wearing tight clothes immediately after tanning causes the colour to rub off or move around. Avoid leggings if you can – and opt for something a bit baggier. Dark clothes are also a good call to avoid stains on the fabric.
9. Fake tan at night
Understandably, you don’t want to tan at night because you’re worried about dirtying up your bed sheets, but this is a good time to tan. This way, the product has the right amount of time to sink in properly and you don’t have to worry about what to wear or about the weather that day (I know I’ve definitely been caught out in the rain just after fake tanning..not fun). Perhaps get some dark coloured, or old bed sheets out for your tan.
12. Avoid your face
The ingredients in standard fake tan aren’t made for the more sensitive skin on your face, so can sometimes cause breakouts or dry skin. Either use a specific face-friendly fake tan or just add a bit of extra bronzer when doing your make-up to keep your skin happy.
13. Apply in bright light..and get some help!
Make sure you can see what you’re doing! If you tan in a dimly lit room, you might not see some uneven parts, and your skin will look a different colour to when you step outside into the sun. Avoid the embarrassment of going over the top with the colour too by tanning in a bright light. Possibly get another pair of eyes to check if there are any streaks you cant see – and if youre lucky enough get them to do areas you that are hard to reach, like your back – for an added bonus.
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