It's officially fake tan season… well, for some of us it's always fake tan season but many people only reach for a bottle when the summer months arrive. With that in mind, we're sharing our top tanning tips to make sure all our seasonal, and seasoned, tanners are walking around sporting their best bronzed selves this summer...
Stay Away From Deodorants & Perfumes
For a few hours before, and after you apply your fake tan make sure to avoid using deodorants or perfumes. Why we hear you ask? Basically, they can stop your tan from adhering and developing properly which can leave you with a patchy tan, and not only that but they can turn some tans green! And no one wants to be out here looking like Dipsy from the Teletubbies.
Scrub A Dub Dub
Make sure to exfoliate the night before you plan to tan. This is to make sure any old fake tan is fully removed and that any dead skin cells are gone to make your tan apply smoother and last longer. Not exfoliating beforehand can lead to a patchy tan that doesn't last very long, as when your dead skin cells fall off they'll take your tan with it. We love the
Rose & Caramel Purity Excel 60 Second Tan Removing Scrub as it makes light work of sloughing off old tan and leaving skin feeling silky smooth.
Hydration Is Key
For areas that are still dry after exfoliation, you'll need to make sure to intensely hydrate them in order for the tan to not cling. Areas such as ankles, knees, elbows and knuckles are usually drier and also more creased, making them the most common places that your tan will bunch and end up looking too dark and patchy. Using a thick moisturiser will make all the difference in those areas, and a firm fave at JML HQ is the
Weleda Skin Food.
Use The Correct Tools
We've all seen the images on social media of people using old t-shirts, towels and even towels to apply tan, and it turning into a disaster –that's because you should always use the correct tools for the job. Tanning mitts are a must-have for a streak-free smooth application, and if you don't have anyone to help you tan those hard-to-reach places, then the
Bondi Sands Back Applicator is a must-have.
Keep Wipes Handy
Having a reusable makeup remover pad and some micellar water (you don't want anything oil-based) to hand will help to remove any mistakes quickly before they start to develop. It's perfect for cleaning up nails, cuticles and the palms.
Hairdryer Antics
We've all had those hard-to-dry tans where we have to do laps around the garden to try to dry them quickly – our poor neighbours. A quick and simple tip for this is a hairdryer! Keep one handy to dry your tan on a low heat setting to take the tackiness away. Once the tackiness has gone let the remainder dry naturally. Do you have any top tips for fake tanning? We'd love to hear them.
