I think it’s safe too say that all of us look better when we have a golden glow. We are also well aware of the serious damage the sun can have on our skin. And the last thing we want is to sacrifice our health in the name of temporary beauty.
Luckily, nowadays, we have alternatives that allow us to have the best of both worlds: We can fake a tan and maintain peak physical health. Of course, you might occasionally spot the orange girl wandering around the streets, but for the most part, you can fake a tan and look like you just came off the beaches of Brazil.
Here, now, are some the best ways to fake a tan, and some products to go with.
Fake a tan tip #1
Use a face self-tanner
When it’s still too cool to walk around with a halter top and short shorts, you can opt to give your face that healthy glow without having to tan your entire body.
The best way to fake a tan subtly without streaks and lines involves a 4-step process.
First, cleanse and exfoliate your skin. Invest in a good cleanser that contains micro-beads to ensure that you eliminate all the dead skin cells. Pat your face dry and skip the moisturizer.
Second, if your hair is long, place it in a bun so that it doesn’t get stuck to your face during application. Because you don’t want to create a drastic change in your face, blend some face self-tanner with your regular moisturizer on the top of your hand and apply the combination to your face, neck and ears. Allow it to dry thoroughly and do your best to avoid sweating until it does. Do not forget to wash your hands thoroughly after you’ve finished applying the concoction.
Third, once you’re certain that your face and its surrounding areas are dry, apply a light bronzer to your nose, the apples of your cheeks and your forehead.
Finally, do not forget to apply a sunscreen (if your moisturizer already contains one, you can skip this step). A self-tanner doesn’t mean you’re safe from the sun’s damaging rays.
Recommended brands:
Laura Mercier Bronzer
Lancome Flash Bronzer Instant Bronze Glow for the Face
Clarins Tinted Self-Tanning Face Cream
Fake a tan tip #2
Use a body self-tanner
Much like self-tanning your face, tanning your body involves a process that requires dedication and vigilant application; otherwise, you might be in for some streaking issues. Luckily, most of the self-tanner applications are very forgiving and allow for mild errors.
But if you want a virtually flawless tan, here’s your 4-step process.
First, take a shower and use a loofah or its equivalent to exfoliate your skin, paying special attention to your elbows, ankles and knees; this is where women tend to mess up their “fake a tan” look.
Second, dry yourself off thoroughly and put on some surgical rubber gloves to avoid ending up with orange palms.
Begin by applying the tanner to your leg first. Place a sparing amount of tanner into your hand, rub your hands together to get some on both and use sweeping motions to apply the tanner from the front of your thigh to the back.
Do the same with your calf and shin, starting at the top and working your way down. Use only the excess to cover your knee, ankle and toes. Move on to the next leg and do the same.
Work your way up and apply tanner to your hips, stomach and upper body. The do your shoulders and arms; again, use only the excess to cover your elbows.
Third, allow your body to dry for at least 10 minutes before getting dressed.
Finally, again, if you’re about to head out with exposed body parts, apply an SPF beforehand. Otherwise, the whole point of the “fake a tan” will fall by the wayside.
Recommended brands:
Neutrogena Instant Bronze Sunless Tanner
Bain de Soleil Streakguarde Self Tanning Creme
Coppertone Endless Summer Sunless Tanning Lotion
Fake a tan tip #3
Head to a salon
If you want to fake a tan all around, your best bet by far is to head to a salon and step into a spray booth for a minute or two.
Most celebrities, from Carmen Electra to Jessica Simpson are avid users of the Hollywood Tan and Mystic Tan booths. You can get an all over body glow and even choose how dark you want to go.
There are also tanning salons that have an esthetician on hand to spray your body down.
And you can opt to exfoliate beforehand or do so at the salon. Either way, for a full body tan that covers you from back to front, a salon tan is the way to go.
Fake a tan all year long
From summer into winter, it’s time you began taking care of your skin and avoiding the sun at all costs. And with all the advancements made with self tanner nowadays, there’s no reason why you can’t fake a tan and fake the perfect glow.
Post Title → How To Fake A Tan
