From our guest blogger, Emma from Escentual.com:)
Self Tannning dos and don’ts
Even though it is summer by name, the
changeable weather means it's not always summer by nature. This
doesn’t mean that you have to forgo your customary summer glow,
however – cheat your way to bronzed skin with our guide to fake
tanning...
Do...
Shed the old
Before you even think of tanning, you
need to prep the skin properly at least a day before. This means
getting rid of all the dead skin cells and rough patches of skin on
the body, and ensuring a really even surface before adding your
colour. Not only will your skin feel really smooth and supple, but
your tan will look more natural and will apply with greater ease.
Choose a formulation that will gently
buff the body rather than intensively scrub it, unless it is winter
or you suffer from excessively dry skin. Products with natural
scrubbing agents such as jojoba beads or sugar are ideal, and are
also kinder to the environment than those with plastic microbeads.
Restore the balance
Buffing your skin in this way will take
away some of its natural oils, so it is important to restore the
balance. Envelop your body in the moisture of a body lotion, cream,
milk or butter: the choice is yours depending upon the condition of
your skin. A body lotion or milk is ideal as they have a finer
texture and sink into skin without a trace, although elbows and knees
will probably need the more intensive hydration and protection of a
cream or butter. Like your exfoliating routine, you need to do this
at least a day before so that you don’t inhibit and dilute the
development of your tan when it is applied.
Don’t...
Cut corners when applying
The biggest problems with self tanning
are the various streaks and patches of dark colour that occur with
rushed application. Reserve a good chunk of time for getting your
false tan routine right; that added effort results in a
longer-lasting, more natural looking colour.
Avoid streaks by applying your tan in
methodical, wide, sweeping motions that overlap each other. This will
cover a large area while working to buff any lines in. When you’re
done, buff any residual lines with a dry tanning mitt (an old sock
works just as well!). Another worry when applying false tan is
patchiness. Dehydrated skin absorbs fake tan more readily than skin
that is properly moisturised, so if you have scaly patches of rough
and dry skin these can appear darker than the rest of your body.
Avoid this by properly exfoliating and moisturising the body as
outlined above.
Fail to prepare your environment
Stains inevitably occur when tanning,
especially on the hands. Avoid this by wearing gloves or a tanning
mitt, and then washing hands immediately after application. If you
have left it too long and your hands are truly stained with product,
use a hand scrub to tone down the colour.
Staining clothes and furniture is
another worry, and this can happen both during and after the tanning
process as your colour is drying. Avoid this by properly covering all
surfaces before you start tanning, and by using dark towels. Ensure
skin is properly dry before putting your clothes back on or climbing
into bed.
Emma loves the sun, but living in
Britain means taking a practical approach to tanning. She writes for
Escentual.com, a skincare retailer stocking all the best brands from
Givenchy
to Guerlain.
