Tell-tale tanning signs – how to achieve a natural fake tan

Making your fake tan look natural is easy – just avoid the tell-tale signs of tanning!

A beginner’s guide to faking your fake tan to achieve a mistake-proof result.

Nothing is more irritating than eagerly awaiting the glowing results of your fake tan only to discover you’ve got streaky areas or patches you missed.

Fake tanning slip ups are far more likely to happen if you’re tanning in a rush or if you fail to prepare your skin adequately. So make sure you relax and set aside plenty of time to tan, this way you will be able to prep your skin in the run up to your tanning treatment and provide yourself with the best possible blank canvas for your colour.

If it is your first-time tanning make sure you start off on a lighter shade of tan, this will leave you far less anxious as the colour develops and it will make any mistakes less noticeable.

Give away signs that your tan was not in fact the product of two weeks spent basking on a yacht include orange elbows and over-tanned palms. Over-applying your tan on dry areas of the body can cause more tanning product to be absorbed and thus cause darker patches to appear.

Exfoliating and moisturising the day before will smooth away any rough patches and it is always advisable to approach knees and elbows with a light touch. Use a tanning mitt or latex gloves to avoid your hands coming into prolonged contact with the tanning formula.

Tricky spots such as the centre of your back, the backs of your palms and the tops of your feet are all areas where you should pay extra vigilance to ensure your tan looks as natural as possible.

By following these simple guidelines, you too can have a natural, golden tan that will be the envy of all!