Tan commandments

A tan can instantly make us feel more attractive, especially in the summer months, so here are our tan commandments, see what we did there! A tan really helps to give off a gorgeous healthy glow and boost our body confidence by making your figure look more toned and slim. Tanned skin, also helps to hide imperfections and minor flaws in your skin, promoting a clear, soft complexion.

However, unfortunately not all of us are lucky enough to naturally benefit from days spent in the sun or exotic holidays abroad so here at WHL, we have come up with some top tips for faking that summer glow with some expert advice from founder of Cocoa Brown, Marissa Carter…

The right shade
It doesn’t matter whether you are using a cream, gel, spray or mousse, it is essential that you get your shade right, otherwise you won’t achieve that natural look.

Prep!
A good tan results from priming and prepping your body beforehand. Marissa recommends exfoliating every day for 3 days leading up to application to scrub away dead skin cells, preventing  the fake tan clinging to dry, rough skin resulting in streaky, orange patches.

Go hairless
Before you start, eliminate all hair on your legs to prevent an uneven complexion from the product getting caught in the hairs. However, if you are waxing, do so at least 24 hours before hand to avoid the self-tan pooling up in follicles which may still be open and resulting in tiny dark spots.

Avoid stains
‘On the day you apply the product make sure you shower so your body is clean and apply some nail varnish to your nails so that the tan doesn’t stain and petroleum jelly is great on the eyebrow to stop the tan getting caught in the hairs,’ suggests Carter.

Avoid the spritz!
Make sure your body is free from antiperspirant, perfume or essential oils as these can interfere with the tanning product and turn your skin a funny, patchy colour.

Moisturising
Before apply the tanning product, apply an oil-free moisturiser to the drier areas of the body such as the knees, elbow, wrists, ankles, feet and hands. These areas are prone to soaking up more of the tanning products, resulting in darker areas and a fake-looking tan.

Apply evenly
For the perfect application, use a mitt to glide the product onto your skin, taking care not to over rub as this will result in an uneven tan.

Work up
To gain that natural, sunless glow start your application from the bottom and work up. Smooth on the product in circular motions from your ankles up to your shoulders, to prevent any dodgy marks when you bend over. ‘A great contouring trick to make your legs look slimmer is to apply an additional layer after the first has dried to the inside of your thigh,’ advises Marissa.

Perfect your face
Go easy on your face, dab a dime-size dollop of the product on your forehead, apples of your cheeks, the bridge of your nose and chin before blending blend outward with your fingertips.

Keep your tan
Self tans can last between four and 10 days, however, anything which speeds this process up such as long soaks will make it fade much quicker.  Also, stay hydrated to keep your skin fresh with lots of water and keep moisturising.