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Successful Self-tanning
When it comes to self-tanning there is a fine line between bronzed goddess and Oompa Loompa! Although most girls long for a healthy sun-kissed glow, self-tanning can all too often leave us looking like an orange mess with patchy spots and streaky lines.
Like most good things in life, self tanning is all about preparation and maintenance. Believe it or not, successful self-tanning starts 24 – 48 hours before you actually apply the tanning product itself. By following our simple tips you can be a golden goddess in time for summer!
Preparation:
1. Do a patch test. If you have particularly sensitive skin you may find it reacts to certain ingredients found in self-tanning lotions. Regardless of whether you have tanned before you should patch test any product that you have not used before. Apply a 10-cent coin sized amount of product to skin and let it develop over 24 – 48 hours.
2. Do not apply to red or irritated skin. This means waxing 24 hours, or shaving 12 hours, prior to application.
3. Exfoliate! This is critical for an all over even tan. Exfoliating will prevent patchy results and will leave you with soft, smooth skin – bonus!
4. Apply body lotion to dry areas. Applying your favourite body lotion or moisturiser to tricky areas such as knees, elbows and heels will ensure a consistent tan and prevent lines and streaks.
5. Don’t tan your hands! And by that we mean your palms. Prevent brown palms and streaky fingers by wearing close-fitting gloves or washing your hands thoroughly between applying self-tan to each part of your body.
6. Get some help. Ask your mum, sister or best friend to help you reach tricky spots, like your back. Nothing looks worse than obvious streaks where you have tried to tan an impossible-to-reach spot!
7. Tan at night. If you are self-tanning for a big event, do it the night before. This way you will prevent getting any on your clothing and won’t have to worry about it rubbing off as you go about your daily routine.
Maintenance:
1. Avoid tight clothing. This is especially important immediately after you have applied your self-tan. Tight jeans, socks, leggings, tights {and any light-coloured clothing} should all be avoided. Instead wear dark, loose items of clothing until your tan has fully developed.
2. Don’t wash it off! Wait at least six hours before you shower, bathe, swim or sweat it out at the gym. Water will stop the tan developing and the longer you allow the product to develop the darker it will be and the better it will last.
3. Exfoliate again! Exfoliate your entire body about three to five days after first applying your tan. It will be starting to fade by then and exfoliating it will ensure an even fade rather than dry, scaly patches.
4. Pat it down. After showering, make sure you pat your skin gently rather than vigorously drying off.
Top tips:
1. Oh sheet! Don’t worry if you get some self-tan on your bed sheets – it will come off in the wash. If you are worried add some Nappy-San to your washing load.
2. In a hurry? Speed up drying time by using your hairdryer on a cool setting.
3. Starting over. If you make a mistake, or your tan starts fading quicker in some areas than others it’s not a biggy! Just run yourself a nice bath and soak in it for awhile. After about 20-minutes grab your exfoliating gloves and get scrubbing! Your tan will come off easily and you can start all over again.
4. Mix it up! If you buy a self-tanner that’s a little too dark simply mix it with your moisturiser as you apply it. This will lighten the colour and ensure a nice smooth finish.
5. Remember: Applying a self-tanning product is always safer than exposing your skin to the sun. Even if you don’t get burnt, getting a tan from the sun is actually proof of damage to your skin and can cause all sorts of nasty problems including skin cancer. There is nothing beautiful about sun burn, especially when it has such huge health risks. Stick to self-tanning and you will be a sun-kissed beach babe all summer.
(7) Comments • Permalink
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haha. I should have read this before I tried tanning  great advice.Posted by MelissaW "on" 02/02 "at"04:50 PM |
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No streaks…great! Posted by Melbo "on" 12/13 "at"10:55 PM |
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I’m so fair that self tan looks ridiculous! I use gradual tanning moisturiser once or twice a week just to take off the glare  xPosted by emily.jean "on" 12/05 "at"10:09 AM |
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Do people really fake tan their backs O.o it just seems so un-natural :L Posted by Amaratay "on" 12/04 "at"11:50 PM |
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Hahaha. Ive never used fake tan i dont think i ever would! I just put derma oil on my legs and they get brown gradually & keep them moisturized with it and… brown haha. Posted by Amaratay "on" 12/04 "at"11:48 PM |
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Makes me laugh how half of the girls I know turned up to our school balls looking like oompa lumpas hahahaha self tanning to the max haha Posted by Tee_leftie "on" 12/02 "at"08:34 PM |
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go to the gold coast in australia then u will get a natraul tan but u can also get sunburnt. but self-tannning is a great idea Posted by fobo106 "on" 12/01 "at"04:38 PM |
Best of the rest
