As the sun finally begins to show and we are ready to peel off the layers there is a sudden splurge in the self-tan market. But how many of us wake up the next morning wishing we had been just a little less liberal with the innocuous looking cream which has now left deep brown patches in all kinds of places? It does not have to be this way. With a bit of practice and the right products, self-tan can be the perfect solution to a golden glow without the risk of lying in the sun.
Beauty therapist and founder of Bronze Couture, Kassy Lucas, shares some words of advice on how to achieve the perfect tan.
PREP YOUR SKIN: There is no perfect tan without the perfect base to apply it on. Most tanning mishaps are because the skin was not prepped properly before application. Before application skin must be thoroughly exfoliated to remove and old dead skin, natural skincare range A’kin have a super sandalwood, sweet orange body scrub (€18.85) for removing dead cells.
Never wear any make up, deodorant, perfume or moisturiser before tanning as these can react with the tan and cause an unsightly result. In some cases it is advisable to use a moisturiser but this must be water based and perfume free. It can be applied just to specific areas that are overly dry such as ankles, elbows knees etc. If your skin is very dry all over apply the moisturiser and allow it to dry before tan application. This should only take about 10 minutes.
PICKING YOUR SHADE: As much as we all would like to be the perfect, deeply-bronzed goddess we need to face it -if we have typical, pale, Irish skin we need to choose a shade to suit our skin tone. For those of us not used to tanning it is preferable to build up the tan, and as such opt for a gradual tan! By using this we also allow for mistakes as they are not as easily noticed with a lighter tan and can normally be corrected with the second application.
For those of us who favour certain brands which do not have a gradual tan fear not, simply mix your favourite tan with an oil-free moisturiser and apply this way as it gives the same effect. For a deeper glow there are plenty of other options, in particular using a spray mist. If after one application you are looking for a darker shade you can simply reapply.
The most common mistake is over-applying tan with one application and this causes DHA overload, giving the unsightly orange glow! Be advised, if you do choose to go a lot darker than your natural skin colour you will need extra attention with aftercare to prevent patchy fade off.
AVOID STAINING: To avoid staining of the hands always use a tanning mitt or glove. If you apply with your bare hands the tanning agent can grip to the palms even after it is washed off leaving you with tanned palms. I always recommend wearing full length pyjamas to bed if you are applying your tan just before bed or perhaps use a single duvet cover and sleep inside it to protect your own sheets. The reason for this is during the night we can transfer tan from one area to another without realising. Our hands can touch our face, legs and arms transferring tan to the palms once again and this is a look we need to avoid. Don’t be afraid to shower off the tan properly once it is developed so it doesn’t leave streaking.
BEST BRANDS: There are so many brands out there at the moment it is hard to choose. However I recommend opting for the organic tan over traditional chemical laden ones where possible. Decadence Spray Tan Mist (€14.99) is a new certified organic and guaranteed Irish! Tru Bronz (€14.79) is a very popular Australian tanning product from sunscreen experts at Hamilton and it is created using a walnut extract so provides a nice natural bronze colour. Given the Australians are so protective of their skin in the sun; it’s usually a good guideline that their sunless tans are good.
MAINTAIN YOUR TAN: Moisturise moisturise moisturise, this cannot be emphasised enough. By moisturising you are lengthening the life of your tan. It also prevents uneven fade off. By preventing your skin drying out you are ensuring the tan fades perfectly. Avoid long hot baths, saunas steam rooms and swimming. These all speed up the exfoliation process of the skin, while exfoliation is useful it is not something you want to encourage when trying to prolong your beautiful glow.
AFTERCARE: A big misconception is people think that when they have a tan applied it protects skin from the sun. This is completely untrue, false tan provides no protection so keep this in mind and use a sunscreen, however avoid oil based sunscreens as oil will remove your tan! NeoStrata (€40.80) has a great daily moisturiser, Daytime Protection SPF 15 that includes protection. To keep your beautiful glow it is recommended reapplying your tan weekly.
