They say the only safe tan is a fake tan - but in the wrong hands it can still be a disaster. Yes, we're talking mottled limbs, muddy knees, stained palms and faces so orange they glow in the dark. But don't bin that bottle quite yet.Some people, (no names mentioned - Katie Price - oops!) think you can never be too tanned. But, while we're all in favour of the healthy glow you can get from a bottle, there's a fine line between a golden tan and the sort of OTT look that suggests you had a Marmite bath.
Self-tanning is the fastest growing section of the health and beauty industry and is worth a staggering pounds 100m. As a result, there are now more sophisticated tans on the market than ever before.Gone are the days when you woke up after applying your tan the night before to find yourself orange and streaky and with more fake tan residue on the bed sheets than on your body. If you choose your self-tan carefully and learn how to apply it correctly you can go from pale to bronzed in just a few hours without a streak in sight. Here’s a few tips to help you achieve the perfect golden glow.
THE RIGHT WAY TO FAKE IT
Six tips to avoid turning orange this summer
1. GENTLY exfoliate your whole body before applying. Do this a couple of hours before you start to allow the skin to settle down.
2. WORK from the feet upwards, taking your time using upwards and circular motions. Get a friend to help with your back.
3. BEFORE the cream soaks in fully, take an old flannel and wipe over knees, ankles, elbows and in between fingers and toes. This will avoid over collection in these areas.
4. WEAR old, loose clothing whilst cream dries and wait until fully absorbed before getting into bed. Stay indoors until it is fully developed as natural sunlight can streak fake tan.
5. FAKE tan usually takes two to four hours before developing. Always wait the recommended time before applying a second coat if you wish to go darker. Two thin coats will give a much natural effect than a single thick one.
6. AFTER you've tanned your entire body, remove the mitt and gloves and apply lots of moisturiser to your nails, across your knuckles and down your wrists. Carefully dot some fake tan on the back of one hand. Rub the backs of the hands together, working up past the back of the wrists. With your hands still back to back, briefly interlink the fingers. Lastly, rub the wrists together, as if you were applying perfume.
IF IT GOES WRONG
Disaster 1: It's too dark
Jump in the nearest swimming pool as the chlorine will bleach the tan, or use a tan remover like Velvotan, to fade it out.
Disaster 2: It's too orange
Don't attempt to cover it with a different tan - you'll make it worse. Either follow the advice for `too dark' or soak in the bath and scrub it all off with a rough towel.
Disaster 3: It's too streaky
If you've simply missed a few bits, use the tan to fill in the gaps. If you have dark streaks, carefully apply a tan remover to the stripes ONLY to even things out.
Disaster 4: It's too patchy
If your dry areas (elbows, heels etc) are horribly dark, cover them with a tan remover or whitening toothpaste. Don't let the remover get on surrounding lighter areas as these will fade immediately, while drier bits will take longer to lighten. If that doesn't work, shower then rub the patch with a dry towel. The smoother underside of an emery board works well too, but don't rub too hard.
Disaster 5: It's too light
Bump up the colour with an instant bronzer. Estee Lauder Amber Bronze, blends beautifully and is great for filling in gaps too.
Disaster 7: Stained hands
And of course when you apply it yourself at home, there may be times when you get caught orange-handed. If this fake-tanning disaster happens to you, simply head for the kitchen and have a cleaning session with a cream cleanser. Not only will you have gleaming surfaces but the colour on your hands will have faded too.
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