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 THE HOLY GRILL
THE SEARCH FOR THE ULTIMATE TAN
Part 3 - SELF-TAN PREPARATION
We’ve all had our fake tan mishaps. But if you want to replace your pasty Irish pallor with a sun-kissed glow then remember… it’s all about preparation and application!
THE TOOLS:
A separate face and body exfoliant, soft body brush or exfoliating gloves, moisturising lotion, nail polish, tight latex gloves (available from chemists - be sure to get the non-powdered kind to avoid creating a brown paste on your skin).
Stop using any other tanning product 4 days before your tanning treatment. If you normally shave your legs then do so 24 hours before the tanning application. If waxing is your norm, then do it at least 48 hours beforehand. If this is your first time to wax we recommend that you do a test patch a few weeks beforehand in case of an allergic reaction.
 Start the preparation two days before your big night. Shower in the morning and exfoliate thoroughly. All remnants of old fake tan must be eradicated. But don’t be too harsh – think pink and glowing, not red raw. Don’t forget to exfoliate your face too. The Sanctuary Spa Body Scrub with natural pumice, orange and patchouli oil is great, available at Boots.
Dry off with a rough towel. You want a nice smooth surface to work with. Then lash on the body lotion – especially on the elbows, feet, wrists, and knees. Use a rich lotion like L’Oreal 24 hour Nutrilift. Give the cream a whole day to soak in so your skin won’t be too greasy to absorb the tan.
QUICK TIP: Apply nail polish to your nails (fingers and toes!) beforehand to prevent staining.
APPLICATIONThat night, before you go to bed, the fake tan application begins. Most products swear blind that they develop in 2 to 4 hours but to get the full benefit from self-tanning products you have got to sleep on it.
Legs/Torso: Put on your latex gloves and, starting with the legs, use small circular motions to apply the tan from the ankle to just below the knee of each leg. Add moisturiser to the residue on your hands and blend it lightly over your knees, feet and ankles. Wipe your nails and cuticles with a tissue. Again using circular motions, apply the tan to your thighs, torso and up towards your neck. Make sure you rub your fake tan in well – keep blending until you have covered all exposed areas evenly.
Back: Always a tricky one! Back applicators and aerosol spray tans are good if you want to try it solo, but you can’t beat another pair of hands – have your mum, sister or best friend on standby.
Face: When applying fake tan to the face, dot some in the middle of the forehead, the chin and the apple of the cheeks. Using your fingers or a clean cosmetic sponge, work it out to the edges of your face, stopping before the hairline. Add moisturiser to the residue on your hands and blend very lightly over eyelids, your upper lip, your jaw-line, and out to the hairline. When this is done, use a tissue to rub any fake tan from the hairline and a cotton bud to clean your eyebrows.
Arms: Apply to the outside of the arms, working down to wrists. Add moisturiser with the residue on your hands and blend lightly over your elbows and inner arm.
Hands: Don’t ignore your hands! After you remove your latex gloves, moisturise your hands and use a cotton pad with a little bit of tan on it. Blend from the wrist up the hand, going very, very lightly on the knuckles and keep fingers closed so that none gets in between.
From fake tan fanatics to tinters in training it’s time to get back to basics – CLEAN YOUR PALMS AND CUTICLES AFTER APPLICATION. A perfect tan looks nothing if you are flashing fanta orange palms. If you didn’t use latex gloves, you really have to scrub your palms, getting in between your fingers, even using a scrubbing brush for the muckier types of tan like St Tropez and Fake Bake.
 Apply your tan in a well-lit room, in front of a big mirror. Look yourself over in the mirror after you apply. Use a buffer mitt (or improvise with a clean white sports sock over your hand) to blend streaks. If the fake tan has gone on too thick blend it with some body lotion, a little at a time, to dilute the colour and thin it out.
OOPS!
It’s the morning after and you notice a really bad streak – this is where the old wives tales come in to play. I have heard them all! Bathroom bleach wipes – ouch! Lemon Juice – nope, doesn’t work! Toothpaste – ditto. And whatever you do, don’t fall for the gimmick creams and wipes that most of the product ranges carry. They don’t work. The only thing that might save you is a good scrub with exfoliating gloves, followed by moisturiser and another layer of tan. If you have run out of time repair the area with an instant bronzer like Rimmel Sun Shimmer or, one of Kylie’s favourites, MAC Face & Body Makeup.
FINISHING TOUCH
For that final touch, take a big powder brush and dust some shimmer powder on your shoulders, on your cleavage, and over your collarbones, where it will catch the light for a glamorous evening look. A light dusting of shimmer down the front of the shin bone can also slim the legs - I’m not promising miracles but every little bit helps! The MAC Shimmer Bronzers are excellent (especially for darker skin) as is the Revlon Highlights Loose Shimmer Powder (available in golden and dark).
Results vary depending on your colouring and skin type,
so it’s best to do a test run a few weeks prior to the big event.
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