NSO beauty: Fake tanning 101

For a tanorexic (read: person addicted to fake tan) like myself, it is absolutely essential that my skin is beautifully bronzed all year round. Just as I am obsessive about applying my face every morning, my weekly fake tan routine has been fine-tuned into a 15 minute activity that I engage in every Thursday night—so I’m all good to go for the weekend ahead!

Even if you have never used a fake tanning product before, a little practice should have you bronzing it up with the best of us—and since it is now winter it is the perfect time to practice as any streaky boo boos can be easily covered up with some winter woollies!

First things first....

A good tan needs a good base, so the first step to ensure your tan is even and streak-free is to exfoliate well in your shower using a scrub or loofah to remove any dead skin cells. After you have completely dried off you are ready to begin tanning!

Spray, Mousse or Liquid?

Selecting the right product for you is quite often a matter of trial and error—I have tested many many formulas and the results achieved are often dependent on your own skin type and tone, so sometimes recommendations may turn out unsuccessfully. The easiest place to begin in selecting which products to try is to decide which type of tanning product you most like—the most common types are creams and lotions, sprays, mousses and liquids.

Personally I like to use the airbrush sprays, like ModelCo’s tan in a can or St Tropez self tan bronzing spray (the St Tropez self tan bronzing mousse is also quite good). However these can tend to be quite messy so they are best applied inside your shower cubicle where the spray can only travel so far.

From left to right: St Tropez Whipped Bronze Mousse, $39.95, Model Co Tan in a Can $45, Fake Bake Xtreme Self-Tanning Gel, $49.95, St Tropez Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion $39.95, Model Co Self Tanning Glove (set of 4), $38, all from Adore Beauty

It's all in the application...

The correct technique to use when applying the fake tan will vary depending on which formula you are using, but there is one thing you MUST do regardless of which type of fake tan you use—Always always wear thin plastic/latex gloves! This will prevent your palms from turning a tell-tale shade of brown, but don’t forget to apply some product to the backs of your hands at the end of the process.

For lotions, creams and mousses, use a circular motion to work the product into your skin as evenly as possible. You may need someone to help you apply product to your back. If you are using a spray, practice really makes perfect with this and you will need to hold the can at about a 30 cm distance from your skin and work very quickly in short circular motions to ensure the tan is applied evenly over your body. It may take a few tries but once your technique has improved the results of the spray tans are very even and natural looking.

Now just chill....

Wait until the product has dried before dressing and do not shower or allow your skin to get wet for a few hours after tanning. This is why I usually will apply my tan at night and rinse off any residue in the morning to ensure the product has had time to sink into my skin. In order to maintain your tan and help it to last longer, moisturise nightly and use a gradual tanning moisturiser after a few days to top it up. Fake tans can last anywhere from 3 to 7 days, but once it starts looking patchy it is time to scrub it off and start again!