As the days get warmer and the beach body reveal looms, many people will be considering liposuction or a tummy tuck ahead of the sunny spell. Cosmetic surgery is popular these days, but tampering with your assets is not the only way to improve your body confidence.
That’s right. A self-tan can give you that beautiful sun-kissed glow you’ve been dreaming of and help you feel beautiful in your own skin – without surgery! It’s quick and easy to apply, but here are several tips to ensure you achieve a flawless, natural-looking complexion.
- Remove perfume and moisturizer. Before you apply any sort of tanning product, make sure your skin is as clean as possible. According to celebrity tanning expert and sienna X Brand Ambassador, James Harknett, perfumes and moisturizers can dilute sunless tanning creams and stop the color from taking properly. So, always shower before beautifying. It’s also worth exfoliating gently to remove dead skin cells, as this will allow the product to tan your skin evenly – without those dreaded dark patches.
- Start afresh with a new product. Whether you’re going on holiday, or just want to look your best out on the town, a decent self-tan product could be just what you need, but always remove an old color before trying something different. If you don’t, the existing shade (which might have faded in certain areas) could interfere with the new product and leave you looking patchy, streaky and generally multicolored. Not cool. If you are building up your color with a gradual tanning cream, follow the instructions carefully.
- Less is more. The good old mantra “less is more” definitely works in the tanning world. A color that is too dark can give your beauty secrets away, so choose something that looks natural against your skin tone. This is particularly important if you’re changing product or applying a cream/spray for the first time, as it will help you to avoid a self-tan faux pas. What’s more, you might want to buy an even lighter color especially for your face just in case things don’t go to plan.
- Don’t self-tan in a hot environment. Whatever you do, don’t apply self-tan in a hot environment, for example, your bathroom after you’ve taken a shower. There’s a high chance you’ll sweat and the perspiration around your forehead, neck and upper lip can leave your skin looking somewhat patchy. Instead, find a nice cool environment and take your time applying the product evenly. You can’t rush the tanning process so relax, unwind and make an evening of it.
There are many ways to look good these days, from having a nose job to undergoing a breast enlargement, but surgery-free beauty options like self-tan can also boost your confidence – so long as it’s applied properly.