When deciding between gradual and instant self-tanners, it's important to consider your skin type, your lifestyle, and how quickly you want to achieve your desired tan. Gradual tanners allow for a more natural, buildable tan, while instant tanners offer faster, more dramatic results.
It's safer to tan in the early morning or late afternoon. Tanning Goals: - For gradual tanning, shorter sessions (10-30 minutes) are recommended, allowing your skin to adjust and reduce the risk of damage. Skin Protection: - Always use sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, even while tanning.
If you want to minimise the chances of a getting a streaky tan, use a gradual self-tanner which provides a more authentic and flattering result.
Moisturise EVERY day after application to maintain a soft skin texture and prolong the tan colour. Everyone's skin cycle is different but most outer skin cells shed every 5 to 10 days so don't be shy of starting the gradual tanning process again after a couple of weeks. No self-tan will ever last longer than 10 days.
While gradual tan is more likely to apply and fade evenly, it is still possible for your gradual tan to go patchy. It'll all depend on the quality of the gradual tan you're applying, how much you've prepared your skin before applying gradual tan, and how well you care for your new glow.
You can shave after tanning without removing all your newfound colour. Just make sure you wait at least 8 hours, so your tan has had time to develop. Then shave with gentle pressure, using a brand-new razor and an oil-free wash or shaving foam that won't break down your faux glow.
But Wong says it's unlikely that any skin aging effect would be pronounced. "The human studies so far have found that DHA mostly reacts in the top layers of the skin, which are dead. In skin aging, the concern is excessive free radicals forming deeper in the dermal layers of skin where collagen and elastin are."
The initial development of your gradual tan will take place over the first 2–4 hours after application, so you should avoid showering during this initial period to allow your tan to develop properly. After this, showering every day should not make your tan slower to develop.
It can be tempting to forego exfoliating or cleansing your skin properly before tanning, but then you risk a streaky tan! As our skin cells all turn-over and shed at different times, it's vital that you start with a fresh canvas so that your tan is applied evening and won't go streaky or patchy.
We recommend avoiding swimming for 6 - 8 hours after applying your tan to allow it to develop fully on your skin. Once your tan has developed you can swim, however seawater and chlorinated pools may result in your tan fading faster.
Ardell Body Drench Quick Tan Instant Self-Tanner
Kim Kardashian flashed her own bottle of Body Drench when showing off her travel makeup bag — and she definitely knows a good sunless tan! If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course.
If you fake tan before bed and shower in the morning, you probably wake to orange-tinged sheets, unless you sleep on a large, dark coloured towel. Applying the tan earlier in the day will give the tan time to absorb and prevent it discolouring your linen.
In an interview with Redbook, Jennifer Aniston revealed that her favourite self-tanning product is the L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Tanning Towelettes, she says: "I like the L'Oréal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes.
Is 30 minutes a day enough to tan? It depends on your skin type. Those with fair skin likely need a bit longer, while people with darker skin may only require 15-20 minutes daily. Start slow and gently build UV skin tolerance over multiple sessions for the best color development.
After extensive testing, we determined the highest rated self-tanner to be the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse. It's an airy mousse that's easy to apply and blend and leaves you with a natural-looking glow. You can also customize the depth of color based on how long you leave it on your skin.
Gradual tanning lotion works by reacting with the amino acids in the top layer of your skin, which causes it to darken. The colour change is gradual, as the DHA takes time to develop. This means that you can control the depth of your tan by applying the product once or twice a day until you reach your desired shade.
Step 2: Reach for your gradual tan
Apply your chosen gradual tanning moisturiser with your hand or a mitt, smoothing carefully from the legs upwards. We recommend using circular motions to ensure all areas are evenly covered.
Squeeze the mousse onto a tanning mitt and apply it to the body in smooth, circular motions. Top tip: to avoid orange patches, go light on the ankles, elbows, knees, knuckles, and nose. These areas are the most absorbent and will darken quickly. The more mousse you apply, the deeper the tan will be.
It is easily applied, smells gorgeous and most of all, it works. My skin feels soft and the tan starts to work almost instantly. After a few hours i have a natural looking golden tan. It doesn't stain bedding either.
Gently buff away excess tan
Immediately after applying your chosen tan, use the Mitt to blot away any excess tan by gently rubbing darker patches on the skin. Top Tip: To prevent a patchy tan and product from settling onto dry areas, always moisturise with an oil-free moisturiser just before applying fake tan.
Dove Summer Revived Light to Medium Gradual Tanning Lotion For Face and Body All Skin Types 75ml 4.6 out of 5 stars, average rating value.
“Fake tanning is safer than using sun beds or sunbathing which has the risk of sunburns and premature photo ageing and risk of developing skin cancer in the future,” says Dr Zokaie.