HEALTH BEAUTY
BRONZE
ambition
It’s official, that post-holiday feeling can wear off in as little as seven days. Dutch researcher Jessica de Bloom warned this week the feel-good benefits of a vacation disappear quickly, and unfortunately that tan you worked so hard on may fade just as fast.
With recent research from Superdrug indicating 71% of British women feel more confident with a golden glow, it’s time to encourage an everlasting tan. But fear not, you can go from pale and pasty to post-holiday glow without so much as stepping on a plane. The faux glow is safer, quicker and more dramatic than its sunny sister alternative. Just as well, considering deep, rich-coloured skin, a la Farrah Fawcett, is bang on tan trend. “Whatever the season, the dark ‘retro tan’ always looks good,” says tanning expert James Read. “There are tricks to achieve this look but it’s all about making the skin look glistening, golden and hot. Lotion
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products are making a comeback this season as they are the best formula to deliver that darker look.”
Get glowing with our expert guide. PREP PERFECT Dry, dehydrated skin is your self-tan enemy. If you want your look to have staying power, sloughing off dead skin cells is all important. “Exfoliate - this prepares a smooth base for your tan,” advises Sun-Believable tanning guru James Harknett. “A gentle scrub is sufficient to remove dead skin cells and give a good foundation for a tan to cling to.” Plan your tanning session and stay one step ahead with your hair removal. Wax 48 hours or shave 24 hours before tanning to avoid product entering open pores on your legs, which can resemble telltale spots. Moisturiser is both your friend and foe when it comes to tan prep, according to Harknett. “Don’t use a moisturiser all over your body before tanning as it works as a barrier against the dihydroxyacetone or DHA, the tanning agent that reacts with the proteins on our skin,” he says. “But do apply an oil-free moisturiser sparingly to the feet, elbows, cuticles, hands and back of heels, only. Apply a small amount of moisturiser to the base of your palm, using a semi-circular motion. This allows the tan line to naturally fade, so nobody knows you’re faking it.”