Top 10 Tanning Tips
Ever wanted a perfect fake tan without streaky skin or orange hands? Bondi Sands Co-Founder and Director, Blair James shares exclusive tips on how to manage an easy streak-free tan at your own home. Keep reading to find out the number one trick to avoid any fake tan-related drama.
Tip #1: Skin preparation
This is the most important factor to achieving a streak free beautiful tan. EXFOLIATE, EXFOLIATE, EXFOLIATE. Self tan will grab to any areas of dry skin resulting in blotchy patches and your tan flaking off in the coming days.
Tip #2: Shaving
Shaving is a major part of the skin preparation process – so if you shave your legs try to do so a day before applying your tan. By shaving the day before, your skin won’t be too sensitive and reactive to the self-tan. Also shaving prior to applying your tan means you do not need to shave over the top of your tan, which can reduce the length of your tan.
Tip #3: Showering
Once you have showered and exfoliated, wait 30 minutes before applying tanning lotions to ensure that your skin is dry – this will give the tan a greater chance of adhering to the skin. Never apply deodorant, moisturiser or perfume prior to applying tanning products!
Tip #4: Face
Before applying your self-tanning product to your face run an ice cube over the nose and surrounding areas. This will reduce the size of the pores so the lotion does not get caught and result in black spots.
Tip #5: Choose your shade
Choose the correct shade for you skin. If you have fair skin and want a dark tan try 1 application of a light/medium product, then reapply if you would like more colour instead of jumping straight into a Dark lotion, which may leave your tan looking unnatural.
Tip #6: Application
Always use a tanning mitt and start with a small amount of tanning lotion, no more than the size of a 20c piece – you can always add more as needed. Gently apply in a smooth circular motion when using tanning lotions and a long fluid motion when using foams or mousses.
Tip #7: Application
Leave the rough areas of the body such as the hands, elbows, knees, and feet to last, and only use the residue left on the mitt. For example when tanning your arms apply lotion to upper arm and forearm then do elbows and hands before moving on to your legs. Refrain from adding more product for these areas, as the rough skin will grab the tanning lotion quickly.
Tip #8: Brow line
The last thing you want is for your self tan to work its way into your brow line or hair line, so apply a small amount of moisturiser to your brow and hair line prior to applying your tan to you face.
Top #9: Finger/toe nails
Wipe your finger/toe nails with a cleansing wipe to prevent them turning brown.
Tip #10: Moisture is the key for tan maintenance!
The drier your skin, the faster your tan will fade. Moisturise twice a day to extend the life of your tan. Try to avoid other factors that may dry your skin such as salty water, chlorinated water or even showering with very hot water.
Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam, Light to Medium 200ml, $19.99
