We caught up with celebrity tanner Nichola Joss to get the lowdown on her star-filled client list, her top tanning tips, favourite beauty products and top beauty advice.
SMI: You are known as a celebrity tanner, who have you worked with through the years?
NJ: Liz Hurley, Kate Moss, Elle Mc Pherson, Victoria Beckham, Hugh Jackman, and Matthew Williamson.
SMI: What has been your career highlight so far?
NJ: The Oscars!
SMI: Who is your beauty icon?
NJ: Sophia Loren - the epitomy of beauty for a woman of her age.
Angelina Jolie – fabulous features, beautiful skin and great cheekbones.
Cate Blanchett - ethereal beauty and amazing skin.
SMI: What are your top tips for applying the perfect fake tan?
NJ: 1. Preparation - This should be done the day before or the morning of the treatment. Skin needs to feel soft and smooth in texture, use a body polish to get skin smooth and silky and soft to the touch. Skin should then be moisturised and massaged.
2. Take your time – apply product carefully – by doing this you are giving yourself the best ever even tan for your skin type/colour - it will also make it last much longer.
3. Always exfoliate and moisturise.
4. Always use a mitt - Make sure all nail beds and cuticles are covered with Vaseline or cream and remember to go over palms, soles of feet in-between toes, ears and nose with a wipe. A little tip- a dusting of talcum powder into creases of knees, elbows, bums and neck area will ensure that the tanning product will not line or rub away and sweating can affect these areas.
5. Start at the feet and work upwards and outwards.
6. Applying more product rather than less will ensure better coverage and less chance of streaking as the skin will more likely be covered more effectively, the excess colour and cosmetic colour guide will wash off, leaving perfectly covered tanned skin.
7. Maintenance- always moisturise/exfoliate.
SMI: What are the most frequent tanning disasters you see?
NJ: Hands and feet.
SMI: What kind of products do you recommend for pale Irish skin?
NJ: Everyday St Tropez Gradual Tan – as it’s not too intense and gives a natural colour.
SMI: As well as being a renowned tanner, you are also known for you facials. What sets you apart from other facialists?
NJ: My complete understanding of biology of the body. I have also developed a unique lifting, sculpting and contouring massage method which lifts and tones facial muscles giving more definition to the face stimulating muscles encouraging to sit more contoured which thus improves sagginess of the jaw and brow areas.
SMI: What is your favourite:
Moisturiser – St Tropez Body Butter (Body) and Lancome Hydrogen (Face).
Cleanser – Shu Uemura Oil Cleanser.
Perfume – Chloe or Antonia’s Flowers of East Hampton.
Foundation- Mac Mineralize SPF 15.
Lipstick – Mac Lip Gloss in Lustre with Christian Dior Crème de Rose lip balm.
SMI: What are your top five desert-island beauty products?
1. Carita Progressive SPF 50 (face).
2. Ambre Solaire Light and Silk SPF 30 (body).
3. Clarins Orchide Oil for the face.
4. Kerastase Hair Moisturising Mask.
5. Lancome Hypnose Mascara.
SMI: What is your favourite make-up look for night?
NJ: Skin with luminating product so light reflects off skin and gives radiance and a dark heavy smoky eye.
SMI: And finally, what's the best beauty advice you've ever received?
NJ: Don’t smoke.
