Here’s how to get the perfect fake tan

Looking streakier than a rasher of bacon? Here’s how to get the perfect fake tan…

It’s a question every 16-year-old girl has asked as she stands in front of the mirror, staring in horror at her newly orange skin, patchy knees and streaked hands. It’s a beauty experience we’ve all been through – and continuously go through – in the pursuit of bronzed, summer skin. And even if we’ve mastered the art of using a mitt or established the line between brown and orange, the world of tanning is still, let’s face it, a little intimidating. But fear not! Avoid a tanning faux-pas this summer with our step by step guide on how to get the perfect tan, courtesy of tanning expert and founder of Sienna X, Nicola Matthews.

Step 1

Prep: exfoliation

The secret to a perfect tan lies in a good foundation, so taking the time to prep your skin is key. ‘To guarantee a natural, flawless finish, ensure you use an exfoliator before applying any tanning products as this clears off loose skin cells to give you a longer-lasting colour,’ explains Nicola. We love Katherine Daniels Gentle Oil and Salt Exfoliator.

Step 2

Prep: moisturising

Your Achilles heel when it comes to tanning is dry skin, as this prevents your tan from going on smoothly. The solution? ‘To help you prevent the tell-tale sunless tanning signs, apply a moisturiser, such as the Sienna X Radiance Body Balm, over your elbows, knees and feet,’ Nicola advises. ‘Its gentle moisturising properties prevent tanning solutions from clinging to dry skin areas, giving you a more natural look.’

Step 3

Legs

Now that your skin is fully prepped and primed, it’s time to take the plunge. A mitt is best for application as it gives even, streakless distribution. We love the Solait Tanning Mitt from Superdrug. ‘Dispense two pumps of tan onto the mitt. Firstly, apply to the lower legs, distributing the tan over the front and rear of your calf. Massage in and down towards the ankle area and up to the knee area,’ explains Nicola. ‘Next, dispense three more pumps of tan onto your mitt. Distribute the tan evenly all over the front and rear of your thigh down towards (but not over) your knee area. Repeat on the other leg,’ she continues. Struggling to decide which tan is best for you? We love the St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse, and Nicola recommends the Sienna X Dark Glowing Self Tan.

Step 4

Midriff

‘Moving on, dispense two pumps of tan to your mitt,’ Nicola advises. ‘Distribute the tan over your midriff before gently massaging into your skin in circular movements, blending into your sides.’

Step 5

Arms

We’re halfway there! What next? ‘Dispense one to two pumps of tan onto your mitt. Distribute evenly over your whole outer arm and over your shoulder too. If you want to copy a natural tan, take care not to rub too much into your inner arms or elbows,’ says Nicola. ‘For inner arms and elbows, add a small amount of barrier cream to the palm of your hands and rub in to the remaining tan on your hands. Massage the diluted tan into the inner arm and blend into the outer.’

Step 6

Hands

Even the most experienced of tanners fall victim to orange, patchy hands. They’re the hardest part to get right due to the amount we use and wash them. So how can we get it right? ‘Using the remaining tan on the mitt, add a small amount of moisturiser and then gently sweep over the back of your hands, including your thumb and fingers,’ Nicola says.

Step 7

Face

This is perhaps the scariest part of self-tanning. After all, if it goes wrong, you can’t hide it. So how can we nail it first time? ‘For your face, pump out a pea-sized amount of tan into the palm of your hand. Then add the same amount of moisturiser and mix the two together. Distribute evenly over your face. Then using gentle circular motions rub in gently, not forgetting around your ears,’ explains Nicola.

Step 8

Finishing touches

You may be tempted to stop at step 7, but don’t get complacent. There’s one final but extremely crucial step: ‘Using a cleansing wipe, remove any excess tan from your lips and eyebrows,’ Nicola adds. And voila, you’ve transformed into a bronzed beach babe in eight simple steps. You’re very welcome!