Fake Tan

A healthy glow is a great confidence booster but with many of us keen to avoid those sun-inducing lines and wrinkles, the best way to achieve a great looking tan is to fake it! If you've been hiding away under the black opaques for the past few months, our tanning guide can help you achieve a lovely bronze glow that will take you right through from Spring - Summer.

The low down on fake tan

Fake tan has been around for years and there are now stacks of options for bronzing our pins - from quick tanning towels and lotions you use at home to the more pricier options of spray booths and hour-long treatments at your local salon. Whichever method you decide to go for, it's important to a) select the correct product for your skin type and b) get the application right! Even the most expensive fake tan will end up looking shoddy if the application process is more along the lines of 'slap it on and go' so it's essential to take your time and apply it carefully for optimum results.

It's also important to think about the 'type' of tan that will suit your skin.

Tanning towels are great for fairer skins for example, as the colour is quite light and natural-looking, whilst olive skin tones can carry a much darker, more intense lotion like those offered by St. Tropez. Alternatively you could play it a bit safer with one of the many tan-infused moisturisers. These are basically a 50/50 blend of tanning lotion and body cream and can be applied each day to build up a natural looking tan. They come in different 'shades' to suit different skin tones and are much lighter on the purse strings compared to many other self-tan products. Johnson's Holiday Skin and Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion are both pretty fool-proof and are excellent products to try if you're trying fake tan for the first time.

Getting a good result

Naturally some fake tans are better than others but the final look is really down to the application process and how good you are at acquiring an 'even' result. Although this might take practice, there are a few simple rules you can follow to increase your chances of a natural-looking, streak-free tan.  

1 - Shave your legs and exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Dry, rough patches of skin are a major no-no as the fake tan will cling to the surface of the skin resulting in unsightly orange patches. Use a body brush or exfoliator if you have one, or go for a DIY skin booster with a rough cloth all over the body. If your skin has been fairly neglected over the past few months, try exfoliating a few times before to apply the tan to give your skin a chance to soften.Netmums tip: If you're prone to dry skin, you might find it takes a few attempts to get an even coverage as the skin will take time to soften. You can speed up the process by exfoliating those areas more often and applying a skin-softening cream It's also advisable to shave or wax the night before to give your skin a chance to settle.

2 - Use moisturiser. Apply cream to your exfoliated skin and let it dry completely. You can add extra cream to dry areas to speed up the healing process but it's best to do this a few hours before so it doesn't prevent the tan from working properly.

3 - Use Vaseline on your nails, hairline and any rough patches to avoid staining and keep the colour even.

4 - Take your time! Rubbing the tanner into your skin like a woman possessed will only result in that orange WAG look. The best way to achieve a natural looking tan is to rub the lotion in gently and attempt each limb one at a time, only moving onto the next section when you're satisfied that the skin is evenly covered.

5 - To avoid streaky clothes and skin, wait around 5-10 minutes before putting your clothes back on, likewise avoid any strenuous activity immediately after application!

Mums' tips Don't overdo it on areas like knees and elbows, I always apply on these areas and then literally wipe it all off with an old sock. You still get colour but without those tell tale crusty orange ankles. When applying tan to your face, I use a small sponge, available from any make-up counter, just make sure you don't overdo your neck in comparison.

Maria- I've got lots of dry skin on all those classic areas like my knees, ankles and elbows, so I always mix a bit of the tan with moisturiser to soften the colour and avoid looking tangoed. It works a treat every time.

Netmums article May 2010

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information given in this leaflet is accurate, not every treatment will be suitable or effective for every person. Your own doctor will be able to advise in greater detail.