Women inadvertently make a lot of mistakes when it comes to applying fake tan. For example, did you know you should never apply your fake tan just after you have come out of the shower? So many women do this, but it’s one of the main reasons why your golden tan turns a shade of orange! Regardless of whether you are the bride or the guest, applying a tan prior to a wedding is enough to break even the strongest of women! In the back of your mind you’re conscious of the fact that cameras will be plentiful on the day and that if there is even so much as one obvious white streak on your skin, it will forever be on Facebook for all and sundry to judge. On the other hand a great tan can compliment your entire look and leave you feeling your most confident. Don’t fret, there are plenty of tips to help you create the perfect summer colour in time for the big day!

 We all have those trouble spots where the tan gathers. For some it’s the knees and knuckles, for others its the elbows and for most of us, it’s the arch beside the armpits! To prevent this from happening, simply spread a light layer of Vaseline over the areas in question directly before applying the tan. This will prevent the tan from gathering thus leaving you free of those nasty dark patches!

 In order for the fake tan to be absorbed, your skin has to have a Ph level of 4.5%, but when you come out of the shower, your Ph level is as high as 7%. As a result of the high Ph level, you will end up with a nasty orange tan. It will also fade extremely fast because rather than seeping into the skin like it should, it will instead sit on the top layer. If you want to apply your tan after a shower, then simply run a damp wash cloth along your skin or mist your skin with water from a spritz bottle. This will bring the Ph level down somewhat and will make it perfect for a tan application. Another option is the Ph Balancing Spray created by the Irish company ‘Rockstar Tan’.

ï‚Ÿ Never apply moisturiser before applying your fake tan as it will only cause the product to slide off. Moisturise the night before, but never on the same day. Believe it or not but moisturising is actually not as important as people make it out to be! You often hear people ranting about how you have to moisturise-moisturise-moisturise in the days leading up to applying a fake tan. While for the most part they are correct, you should be aware that the perfect fake tan will only be achieved if you are hydrating your skin thoroughly by drinking a lot of water. You could have the most moisturised skin in the world but it will be of zero benefit if your skin is not hydrated from the inside because the tan wont seep in. If you increase your intake of water, you will notice a massive difference in how the tan appears on your skin.

ï‚Ÿ Another mistake people make is leaving the top off the tanning bottle. DHA, which is the main ingredient in fake tan, is quite a volatile chemical and if it encounters too much air, your could be left with a hint of green when you apply the tan to your skin. Always make sure you close the bottle when finished with it.

 People often don’t realise that a tanning spray, by its very nature, will always be darker than tanning mousse. If you want to attain a light colour, then a tanning mousse is your best option. In fact, if you are pale skinned, a tanning mousse will give you a particularly nice healthy-looking glow. If you want to achieve a darker colour however, then you should use a tan in the form of a spray bottle. While one layer of spray bottle tan should suffice, you may need two layers with mousse, particularly around the chest area.

 Do not use your hands or rubber gloves when applying tan. Instead equip yourself with a tanning mitt. They can be bought for approximately €2 in any chemist and believe me you will notice a huge difference in the results. When you apply the tan to you skin, never rub it in. Women often rub the tan vigorously, however this is a HUGE mistake. Blend it in gently but never rub it in. Basically, the less heat friction you create, the better the results.

ï‚Ÿ There is the assumption that the more fake tan you apply, the darker the results will be. This is definitely not true. Remember your skin can only absorb a specific amount. Most fake tans have a colour guide – this is the brown shade you see when you apply it, but this is not an indication as to what it will look like when its dry. The DHA ingredient is what will turn your skin brown however this won’t appear until after 14 hours. This is why there is absolutely no point in applying five layers of fake tan when your skin is really only capable of absorbing one/two layers. The other three/four layers will just wash off in the shower. You’re just wasting your tan.

ï‚Ÿ When it comes to your face, I would suggest you leave it tan-free and instead blend your make up with the colour on your neck. If, however, you want to apply some tan to your face then only do so very lightly. If you over-do the tan on your face, you will notice your skin looking quite grey when you apply foundation and powder over it. You will also run the risk of looking as though you are caked in make up which is never a good result and precisely why make up artists always tell brides not to apply fake tan to their face!

ï‚Ÿ Anything with oils or chlorine will strip a tan very fast. Oils seep into the skin and will lift the tan so make sure your moisturisers or lotions do not contain oils if you are using them on skin that has been fake tanned.

ï‚Ÿ It goes without saying that in the week leading up to your fake tan application, your should exfoliate. People with oily skin should really only exfoliate twice a week, however anyone outside that category should gently exfoliate their skin on a daily basis. Remember, applying tan to dry dead skin never has and never will make someone a golden goddess!

ï‚Ÿ When it comes to tanning, you should always aim to look like someone who has been blessed with a nice natural colour. It should not be obvious that you are wearing fake tan.

 While there are many tan removers available on the market, I still find lemon juice equally as good as any remover. Just apply it to a sponge and gently scrub the skin. As with all tan removers, it may take two showers before the tan has been removed completely. Lemon is quite drying on the skin so don’t forget to moisturise thoroughly afterwards. Coconut oil is wonderful for skin!