8 Fake Tan Tips You Didn't Know You Needed

Its so secret that a lot of girls, and boys, are fake tanning nowadays but instead of just applying your tan directly, follow these tips to get the best tan outcome you could possibly get.

Firstly, it goes without saying to use a good branded tan. My personal favourites are the Doll Beauty tan, Coco and Eve and Bali body. There are many, many brands of fake tan around and its important you find the brand that works best for you and use a shade that you are comfortable with. So, when you find your perfect tan, follow these 12 steps to get the best finish for your tan.

1- Baby oil

Firstly, before applying your tan, you must prep your body. Most people will just quickly exfoliate and then slap on the tan. But, for a smoother outcome, run a warm bath and add a small amount of baby oil to soak in. This will ensure your body is baby smooth allowing the tan to apply nice and evenly onto the skin. Of course still make sure you exfoliate when you're in the bath to, this will make sure all the dry and dead skin is removed from the surface. Ensure to do all of this 24 hours before tanning and you need to allow time for your pores to close.

2- Moisturise

After a soak in baby oil and an exfoliation of the skin, make sure you moisturise the dry areas. for example, your elbows and knees. These are the areas the tan will stick to the most but by moisturising, you will help prevent the tan from clinging to give it a nice, even spread. I have always used E-45 as it is unscented and is recommended by doctors for dry skin.

3- Shave

When applying fake tan to you need to ensure the skin is soft and smooth, so be sure to of shaved legs, armpits etc before hand. Like exfoliating, do this at least 24 hours before applying tan otherwise the tan will fall into the open pores leaving a dotted look around the area.

4- Good quality mitt

Of course when applying tan you must wear a tanning mitt, it sort of goes without saying. However, you need to make sure the mitt is good quality to ensure your tan goes on streak free. A velvet tanning mitt is always the better option although they are slightly more pricey, it is definetley worth it. My personal go-to tan mitt is the Doll Beaty velvet mitt as its thick to prevent the tan from seeping through to my hands as well as giving a good, streak-free finish to the tan.

5- Face

When it comes to tanning the face, I would recommend a smaller mitt to apply the tan and maybe even buy a facial tan rather than using the body tan. Using a tan specifically designed for the face will be slightly lighter and less harsh as well as providing as smoother finish. Using a tinted moisturiser is also just as good and its a lightweight way to add a little colour to the face and will also help prevent breakouts or pore clogging

6- Baby powder

One of the worst consequences of tanning is the transfer, and if you're anything like me and sleep on white sheets, its even worse. But, there are ways to prevent major transfer on the first **** and this is baby powder. Sprinkling some baby powder over the body and lightly buffing it in with a powder brush will dry up the residue and help prevent the tan transferring from your body to your sheets or clothes. 

7- Tan shirt

Another way to avoid transfer onto sheets and clothes is to have a 'tan shirt'. This t-shirt should be something cheap and/or old that you don't mind staining. Ensure the shirt is oversized and baggy so that it doesn't stick to the tan and be prepared for it to always look and smell of tan!

8- Rinse

Lastly, when rinsing the tan you want to do it in in cool water, not hot. Avoid using scrubs or strongly scented body wash as it can affect the finish look of the tan. Just allow the water to run over your body until the water is clear.

By following these 8 tips, your tan should look at its best giving you a streak-free, bronzed body.