Fake it, don\'t bake it!
sun screen,skincare,treatments,self tan
bronzed beauty
By Beauty Editor Jessica Hopper
The message that isn\'t ever going away - the safest way to showcase a sunkissed glow this summer and beyond is with a good faking session, and we\'ve got the know-how on how to faux like a pro, courtesy of our 10 toptastic tanning commandments...
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1. Thou shalt scrub
body brush,exfoliator,tanning
exfoliate
No matter how \'miraculous\' or \'realistic looking\' a fake tan claims to be, if you don\'t exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate your skin before application, you\'re looking at a finale dodgier than a reality TV reject. Why? Dry, bumpy skin results in streaks and often, a flaky fake - huge tanning no-nos! So get scrubbing, pronto.
2. Thou shalt not forget to moisturise
dry skin,fake tan,tanning
moisturising legs perfect
Fake tan needs to seep into skin like a moisturiser would in order to look A-list-tastic. So slap on the moisturiser stat if your bod is drier than Ghandi\'s flipflop. Ideally, use a deeply nourishing cream for at least three days before you apply fake tan for the best canvas, and the most convincing finish.
3. Thou shall wait and wait some more
self tan,fake tan,tanning
waiting for fake tan
Desperate to transform a lacklustre, ashen bod into that of a bronzed beach goddess? Aren\'t we all - but patience really is a fake tanning virtue, and key to going from grey to ‘wahey\'! Firstly, allow at least 10 minutes between slathering on the moisturiser and the faux tan, or you\'ll wind up both slippery and smudgy, not a good look! And be sure to wait around an hour before getting dressed unless your faux of choice says you can - no one wants an orange-streaked summer wardrobe.
4. Thou shalt not be Tangoed
self tan,fake tan,tanning
oranges tan
We beg of you, choose the right shade for your skintone, or you\'ll almost certainly end up orange. Pale, fair, sallow or olive - whatever your skin type, there\'s a tanning product to suit, so check out our guide to toning up your tan and always, always do a patch test on your wrist first.
5. Thou shalt start simply
self_tanning,beauty_products
sunkissed skin
If you\'re a fake tan virgin, don\'t just jump in ashen face first! It can take practice to faux like a pro, so why not start simply and invest in gorgeous bronzers, golden body oils and self-tanning moisturisers - all create a natural sunkissed glow without the risk of lengthy disasters or sudden tango attacks. There\'s myriad moisturisers with tanning benefits on the beuty market today, but the original and still, in our opinion, the best is Johnson\'s Holiday Skin (£4.99 for 200ml, Boots).
7. Thou shalt love thy gloves
skincare,self tan,fake tan,tanning
beauty smooth legs
If you\'re a self tan fan, then you\'ll know already that wearing a pair of Latex gloves prevents the dreaded fake tan hand - stained palms and Pete Doherty-style nails - the most common giveaway that your tan is more bottle than beachy. Handbag loves St Tropez gloves (£2.50, Boots).
7. Thou shalt not ignore the blindspots
dry skin,self tan
beauty blindspots - tanning
Beauty blindspots, like elbows, underarms, your neck, knees, hands and heels, are often overlooked when it comes to application - such a rookie mistake. Leave these areas white and you\'ll leave even the most un-skin-savvy of peeps under no illusion that your tan is fake. However, this troublesome spots are often prone to dryness and tell-tale tidemarks, so you\'ll want to leave them \'til last and go over them with a damp cotton wool pad to ensure they soak up excess product. If this does happen, simply exfoliate the area gently every day until the tan becomes even, or invest in a fab fake tan remover - the best handbag have tried by far is the St Tropez Fake Tan Remover (£15, Boots).
10. Thou shalt flaunt my faux fabulousness
self_tan,self_tanning,skincare,bodycare,tan
tanning
Now you\'ve got the look - flaunt it! Show off your sunkissed perfection with skimpy tops and summer shorts, and get out there and have a ball.
Are you a bronze goddess? Click here for our \'Fake it, don\'t bake it\' tanning special. And don\'t miss checking out the worst celebrity tans!
6. Thou shalt wash and wipe
self tan,fake tan,tanning
washing hands
Always, always wash your hands thoroughly after applying fake tan, or you\'ll wind up with stained palms and Pete Doherty-style nails! It will also rid your manicured mitts of that inevitable biscuity fake tan smell.
9. Thou shall makeover my make-up
bronzer,make-up,self tan
summer beauty
Once you\'re showcasing a seriously sunkissed and sexy glow, be sure to adapt your makeup to suit. Layer upon layer of heavy eyeshadow, matte lipstick and blush will look oh-so OTT, so swap for light textures and shimmering shades. Cream shadows, bronzers and gloss will compliment your tan, as will pale metallics and pretty peachy-beachy hues.
