This summer the UK has seen a scorching heatwave swiftly followed by some rather stormy and unpredictable weather. With many of us staying in the UK for our holidays, with no guarantee of sunshine, sales of self-tanning products are on the up. The danger of sunbed use has also been highlighted recently, which may explain why more people than ever have decided to tan the safe way and get their bronzed glow from a bottle.
In the past I’ve avoided self-tan because of the tell-tale smell and sometimes streaky finish, but technology has taken a huge leap forward and there are some great new brands. The rise in sales is no doubt a sign that tanning at home is now far easier to do and gives a better finish. The result is a gorgeous tan that won’t damage your skin.
Self-Tanning tips:
- Always exfoliate skin before you start and every couple of days after tanning
- Moisturise elbows, knees and ankles before application. These dry areas can absorb excess tan and this is when marks can appear
- Allow plenty of time for the product to dry; 10-15 minutes should do it
- Inexperienced tanners may feel more confident starting with a gradual tan moisturiser built up with several applications
Customer favourites:
A tinted lotion for a smooth, even tan.
Labelled 'The Ultimate Self-Tan' in Grazia's Summer 2009 Beauty Awards.
Lancôme Flash Bronzer Anti-age Golden
This sheer finish bronzer can be used wet or dry.
Celebs love St. Tropez tanning products.
St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan Body
Rated 10/10 in a GMTV tanning product test
Tanning for men
Not to be left out, men are using fake tan in a new and inventive way too. Instead of spending hours in the gym to get a washboard stomach, men are indulging in a new tanning treatment being dubbed the ‘Wimp’s Revenge’. The process from St Tropez to get spray on abs involves two self tanning treatments, administered 24 hours apart by experts at the Debenhams Beauty Hall.
St Tropez’s James Read, resident celebrity spray-tanner at Debenhams, Oxford Street explains how: “The first gives an overall light golden glow to the body. Carefully applying the second, darker layer shades areas of the body to create an optical three dimensional effect”. It’s the same technique employed by painters, who use dark and light colours to create the impression of depth in their pictures.
So gents… will you be ditching the gym for a spray tan this summer?
Tags: Beauty & fragrance, body, Self-tan, Spray tan, St. Tropez, Summer, tanning
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Bullion
