THE FOUR STRUGGLES OF A FAKE-TAN ADDICT (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM)
Oh, the glories of a good fake tan. When I first starting delving into the cocoa-scented world of bronzed beauty, there were many ups and downs. For anyone new to the false tanning community, (Welcome! We're glad you're here) don't be afraid. Think of me as your Le Tan Master. Here are some common mistakes and downright disasters that may arise while you slather on your Loving Tan on a Thursday night, and some quick tips to prevent them from happening.
1. "Why am I three different shades of bronze? My tan is SO patchy!"
Girl, we have all been here. In my humble opinion, if you didn't start of with a few fake tanning experiences that left you looking like a brown and beige snake about to shed for the summer, you really haven't lived as a FTA. (Fake tan addict - Yes, we totally deserve our own abbreviation)
There is a two step process to avoiding this common disaster, exfoliate and moisturise. The trick is to make sure your skin is a uniformed texture. The rule of thumb is 48hours preparation. You need to begin to exfoliate in the shower, shave anything you so choose, and load on the body butter two nights in a row before you tan.
Surprisingly enough, I have found the cheapest of exfoliating gloves work the best. Here is a link to my personal favourite. They don't last very long, so I prefer to buy a few at a time. They work a charm in removing a buildup of dead skin cells, old tan, dirt and grime that may be a barrier blocking you from that bronzed goddess you deserve to be. A great product I've found is Johnson's Baby Oil. Apply this on freshly shaved, exfoliated, DAMP skin, and your skin will feel like its drunk a tall glass of water by the time you shower the next morning. You're ready to slather your Bondi Sands, gal.
2. "Oh, my God. My hands/feet. My hands/feet are so dark."
This seems to be a common reoccurrence for me, especially. My fellow QF friend, Venetia, has seen this first hand. (I snickered at this pun)
Right before you bronze up, lather commonly dry areas (Feet, hands, knee caps) in a thin moisturiser (I like this one). What I've learnt works best, is of course using a tanning mitt. This works as a great applicator to smooth over your favourite mousse. Here is my favourite one. In the event of a gloveless disaster, make sure to wash your hands immediately after application. When you wake the next morning, soak a cotton round in lemon juice, and rub away at any tan that may have developed on your lovely paws.
3. "My fake tan barely lasts a week!"
Think about everything your skin faces in an average day. Pollution, the sun, water, fabric, sweat, dirt... The list is endless. Of course, your skin will naturally fade your fake tan just as it would a real one. The experts advice in extending the longevity of your tan is to keep your skin hydrated.
If you're looking to keep your tan on for a fortnight, you'll need to consider everything you place on your skin. Keep your moisturisers and soaps as oil based as possible, as these products will keep your skin hydrated and you run the least risk of stripping your tan off. If you absolutely must shave your legs, switch your soap/shaving cream for hair conditioner. These products tend to have less chemicals that will eat away at your glowing pins... and voila, a 14-day tan! (NB: Most oil based moisturisers will NOT provide SPF. Make sure you slip, slop, slap ladies!)
A personal tip, invest in a foundation a few shades darker for when you're at your darkest. As you wash your face daily (*Crosses fingers*), and your hands (*Finger crossing intensifies*), your tan is going to rapidly fade off these areas. Keep a hand cream in your bag, use it whenever you remember.
4. "OK - I'm addicted. But keeping up a tan is expensive. How do I upkeep a nice false tan on a student budget?"
Beauty babes, this is where your Youtube Makeup Guru obsession comes in handy. Search any of your favourite gurus, and add "Fake tanning routine" to the end of your search. Head down to their video description, and BAM, a discount code magically appears. I tried this process with Shani Grimmond, and found myself 20% off Bondi Sands as a result.
Once you've gotten yourself a bottle-with-a-bargain, you can save money buying in bulk. Places like iHerb, give a discounted price that means you'll save yourself $$$ in the long run by buying multiples in the one order. Plus, it's $6 shipping. You're welcome. At the end of the day, keeping up a nice glow year round comes with a cost. What costs more, is Australia's national cancer, Melanoma. The costs overall of a nice pseudo-glow outweigh the chances of a sunbake gone wrong, ladies. (Again, don't forget your SPF!)
Now you're ready to smell like cocoa butter all year round. Until next time - go forth and be glowing!
(P.S If you're bed sheets are white, you're going to need a lot of bleach tablets)
