It may seem obvious, but if you adopt a good skin care regime all year round, you will find that it is far easier to achieve a natural looking golden skin by applying fake tan during the winter months. Regular exfoliation and moisturising is essential. Smooth, supple skin will be more receptive to applying fake tan products than neglected, scaly and rough skin.
Before starting to apply fake tan, make sure you are fully prepared. Take the phone off the hook and retreat to the bathroom. Gather everything you will need, not forgetting essentials such as a shower cap to keep your hair out of the way and a fake tan back applicator.
The importance of thorough exfoliation cannot be over emphasized. Removing all the dead skin cells will reveal fresh, healthy skin that is in prime condition for fake tan application. Once your skin is primed, apply your moisturise but – and this is key – let it sink in for at least half an hour before you start to apply your fake tan product, or the final result will be uneven. Pay special attention to your elbows, wrists, feet and knees as these areas are particularly prone to dryness, and need an extra boost of moisture. Your back should also be prepared and thoroughly moisturised, and this is where a back lotion applicator will help enormously.
A classic sign that you have been fake-tanning is orange hands – please do remember to wear latex gloves or a specially designed tanning mitt during application and wash your hands immediately after applying your fake tan.
Always apply a very small amount of fake tan to the back of your hands to ensure that they match the rest of your body.
Unless you have persuaded a friend or partner to apply the fake tan to your back, you will need to find a way to reach this inaccessible area yourself. The best way of doing so is to invest in a BackBliss fake tan back applicator. This will ensure a smooth, even distribution of the fake tan, and no-one will ever be able to guess that you have applied it yourself.
Another tip from those in the know is to apply a thin layer of Vaseline round your hairline and eyebrows before tanning your face. This will avoid the risk of tell-tale, amateur looking tide marks.
Ideally, you should not get dressed for at least 10 minutes after fake tanning. If this is impractical, make sure that you have planned your post-tan outfit with care. Loose, dark clothing is definitely the way to go, with bare legs if at all possible.
If you follow all these steps, you will find that achieving an all-over, natural-looking golden glow is easy to achieve.