How to Apply a Fake Tan in 4 Easy Steps 

Step 1 - Exfoliate

If you have previously attempted fake tan and found that you got patchy uneven results the chances are you didn't exfoliate enough. Exfoliating is vital so don't even think about skipping this step - not even if you are in a hurry! The reason is because fake tan turns the outer layers of skin a tan colour so if you haven't exfoliated adequately your skin will flake off as normal taking the tan with it.

If you haven't been exfoliating on a regular basis then you should exfoliate every day for a week. Exfoliating is vital to prevent streaks and patches.

Step 2 - Moisturize

Moisturizing should be done the day before tanning otherwise it will stop the fake tan penetrating the skin. The only areas which you will want to put plenty of moisturizer on just before tanning are your knees, elbows, feet and hands.

Step 3 - Fake Tan

If you want to prevent your skin turning orange then avoid washing with alkaline soap, instead use a PH neutral soap. If the only soap you have is alkaline then wait 30 minutes before applying your fake tan to allow your skin to return to neutral.

Research each fake tanning product to find out what is best for your skin tone. For fairer skins avoid using a very dark tan otherwise you could turn orange, if you buy a dark faktan such as St Tropez make sure you mix it in with some moisturizer. Look out for a tanning product which has a tint in it otherwise you will have difficulty in knowing where you have applied it.

Apply the fake tan over your body (sparingly on areas such as hands and feet). After 5 minutes gently rub over the whole body to blend. You can use a tanning mitt if you are worried about your hands becoming too orange.

After you have applied your tanning product avoid wearing any clothes for a further 5-10 minutes. If you do have to wear something then choose clothes which are loose fitting. Also be aware that a tan can take several hours to develop so plan ahead if you are tanning for a special occasion.

If you want a darker tan then you will have to apply 2 or 3 coats - just make sure you don't apply the coats too soon after each other as this can cause flaking.

Step 4 - Maintenance

To keep your tan looking good continue to moisturise your skin. About 5 days after applying the tan gently exfoliate to prevent blotchy patches.

Visit April Kerr's fake tan website for more into on self tanning products such as Clarins.

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