Unfortunately for some people, getting that natural looking tan just isn’t an option. Maybe you weren’t born with olive skin, maybe you burn at the first hint of sun rays, or maybe all those cold winter months left you whiter than a piece of A4 paper.
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For whatever reason, sometimes a fake tan is all you need for a little pick-me-up, or maybe you want to kick-start your fab summer glow. Here is the best way to tan your body to not look like a scaly snake.
Exfoliate
First things first. Before you do anything that involves fake tanning, you’ll want exfoliate your entire body. From head to toe. Do this in the shower with an exfoliating glove (I’ve found that this works the best) and scrub all that dead skin off. The hot water and steam makes exfoliating quicker and easier on your skin.
Shave
Shave your legs and the usual parts of your body. Shaving before you fake tan is a must. When you shave your legs after you’ve tanned, it takes off and exfoliates the tan that you’ve already applied, leaving it patchy. You definitely don’t a patchy tan.
Moisturise
Now that you’re whole body is super smooth and clean it’s time to moisturise. Don’t rub moisturiser all over your body, this will prevent the fake tan from sinking into your skin. Instead, use a small amount of moisturiser on your feet, knees, elbows, and hands. These areas tend to be drier compared to the rest of your body and the fake tan will over develop in these areas. The moisturiser will stop this from happening.
Tan
Your body is ready to apply the tan! With a tan of your choice (tanning mouses are the best in my opinion), use a tanning glove (gives an even application) and rub the fake tan evenly over your body, leaving your hands and feet last. There’s not really any strategy to this, start either form your arms down or your feet up. Make sure you cover every part of your skin and rub the tan evenly.
When it comes to the hands and feet, I like to use whatever is left over on the tanning glove and buff that into my skin. This makes sure that the tan doesn’t go scaly in those harder areas. Wait the recommended amount of time, then rinse the tan off.
Aftercare
To prolong the tan and keep it fresh and scale free, moisturise your skin daily. This helps the fake tan last on your skin and keeps you looking like a bronzed babe for longer. Exfoliate your body in the shower when the tan starts to fade (usually after a week) to remove the tan. Then start again!
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Images via thebalconyrichmond.co.uk, priceline.com, and au.lovingtan.com
