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All of us have experienced that mortifying feeling of arriving on our holiday to find the beach teeming with beautiful, bronzed bodies wiggling along in perfect little bikinis, and suddenly becoming all too aware of our glaring whiteness. They’re not wearing sunglasses because of the weather, a little voice in our head says, it’s because of the dazzling paleness of our skin! Okay, maybe this is a bit of an exaggeration. It’s hardly mortifying not to look like you’ve had an accident with the Ronseal (in fact, quite the reverse), however it can’t hurt to give yourself a little bit of a headstart before you hit the beach. Self-tanning can be a tricky business, however. One wrong move and you’re stuck with the appearance of an oompa loompa that’s been left out in the rain. There are, therefore, a few precautions you ought to take to ensure a completely even, natural-looking tan.
Choose Wisely
Gain recommendations from friends as to which brand of self-tan to use. Don’t rely on magazines to deliver the right brand advice, as they are, more often than not, promoting a particular brand. Your friends are your best resource, here. And, while you’re getting their advice, also be sure to take note of how good they look, tan-wise!
Bag Yourself the Right Accessories
Along with the actual tanning lotion or spray, you’re going to need a few extra bits for the tanning regime. Firstly, a pair of latex gloves. The last thing you want is to be given away by a pair of Tango hands, and even if you wash hands thoroughly after application, this won’t save you. Gloves are a must. The next thing you’ll need is an applicator mitt, which will help ensure your tan is nice and even. Thirdly, get hold of a buffing mitt, for use after application. This also helps to spread the tan evenly and prevent any variation in shade over different parts of the tanned area.
Give Yourself Time
We’re all busy, it’s true. Especially when prepping for a holiday, there’s so much to get done! Washing, picking outfits, packing, booking your airport transfers, sorting the house out so it’s not a hell-hole to come back to post-hols. Nonetheless, if you want your self-tan to go well, you can’t hurry it. Make sure you’re relaxed, and thorough. Wait until your body is dry before dressing, and then wear dark, loose clothing so you don’t run the risk of staining a favourite item.
Exfoliate & Moisturise
Before you go near the tanning lotion, for goodness sake, exfoliate! I cannot emphasise the importance of this enough. No exfoliation means a guaranteed horror-show, patchy tan. And you do not want that. Pay particular attention to elbows, knees and ankles, as these can be real trouble areas. Then, moisturise. It’s best to keep up a routine of good exfoliation and moisturisation whether tanning or not, and if your skin is already well-prepared from this routine, you stand a better chance of attaining a winning tan. Moisturise before you tan, and allow the moisturiser to totally soak in before whacking on the tanner.
Mind the Face
If you’re planning on tanning your face, too, approach this with caution. Dab a touch of Vaseline over eyebrows and hairline to prevent tide marks and spaniel brows! Also, be sure to choose a tanning lotion that is designed for use on the face, or you could end up with a nasty breakout of spots or a rash.
Have Emergency Measures in Place
If it all goes wrong, make sure you have some self-tan remover on standby. This product is not as easy to come by as the tanner itself, but will be a godsend if something goes awry with your tan and you need to abort mission pronto!
Maintenance
Once you’ve done the deed, the work doesn’t end. You still need to keep that tan maintained, even if you’re not planning on further tanning ventures. Gentle daily exfoliation and lots more moisturising will ensure that, as your tan fades, it does so uniformly, not leaving patches as it goes.
So that’s it. By following these simple tips, hopefully you’ll be able to strut down to the poolside with confidence, giving the distinct impression of a natural, effortless summer glow that gives nothing away of the bottle it came from.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
