Seven Steps the Flawless Fake Tan

You think self-tanner will make you look orange, so you go real tanning instead. You hate self-tanner because it doesn't give you the same "glow" as a real tan. However, by following the advice in this article, you can have a fake tan and make it look completely real!

1.      Exfoliate your whole face and body. Use a daily lotion that has AHA (an exfoliating ingredient) and use it daily for one or two weeks in advance for soft, and exfoliated skin.

2.      Next you should apply moisturizer to the driest parts of your skin, as these tend to absorb tanner better than other parts. Get your elbows, knees, ankles, toes, and knuckles.

3.      Apply your self-tanner. Choose one that goes with your skin color: light for fair skin, light/medium for skin that burns then turns tan, medium for normal tan skin, and deep dark for those with a naturally dark complexion. Put on a pair of gloves and start rubbing a small amount evenly over face and body. If you feel like gloves give you less-than-even application, use your bare hands. Lotion them regularly first, apply tan, then wash and exfoliate THOROUGHLY.

4.      Let your skin fully dry before putting on clothes, getting in bed, or going in the pool/shower.

5.      If you end up with missed spots, spray that spot with a spray-on tanner.

6.      If it is too dark in one area use a lightening product such as lemon, toothpaste, strawberries, etc. or buy a tanning corrector/remover.

7.      Go to the beach and flaunt that tan that won't give you skin cancer like all the other sun-bathing babes out there in the harmful rays. People will wonder how in the world you do it!

Six Simple Suggestions on Getting the Perfect Sun Tan

When you want the perfect tan, it’s imperative that you don’t overdo it or under do it. That being said, there are some methods that you can incorporate into your daily routine that can empower you to get that perfect sun kissed tan each and every time. While you do have artificial options of tanning – like spray on tans or tanning salons – we are talking about naturally tanning using good old ultra violet light that’s emitted by the sun. Use these six tips to make your bronze a perfect, lasting one every time.

1. Monitor the UV index: You need to be sure that you monitor the daily UV index. You want to avoid tanning during the sun’s peak to avoid getting burned or increasing your risk of skin cancer. Generally, that means you should not tan between 12-2pm every day.

2. Use a bronzer: A bronzer can help you more easily tone your skin. It will also help you to more evenly tan. Just make sure you don’t overdo it with your bronzer, lest you end up a lot more tan than you had desired.

3. Moisturize often: Your skin is made up of mostly water, about 80% actually. So when you are purposely exposing your skin to the sun, you will lose a lot of water. Make sure that you moisturize often. A good method is about every 15 minutes or so for the best results.

4. Monitor your moles and skin tags: You need to be proactive when tanning. Since tanning can increase your risk of skin cancer, you need to make sure that you are monitoring your moles and skin tags. Have your doctor fully examine your skin every six months.

5. Tan nude when possible for even tone: While you may need to do this in the privacy of your back yard, if you want an even body tone, you need to tan nude. Make sure you add extra sunscreen to those sensitive areas down there.

6. Don’t drink when tanning: Drinking alcohol will dehydrate you and make your skin a lot more prone to burns. It will also increase chances of blemishes and contracting heat related illnesses like heat stroke.

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How to Get That Perfect Fake Summer Tan Effortlessly

There is no doubt having a tan makes you feel thinner, sexier and healthier. However, these days baking in the sun is becoming increasingly unpopular as more women realize the sun's UV rays age skin faster than anything (not to mention increase your chance of developing the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma).

If you're ready to skip laying out but don't want to give up glowing skin, self-tanners are a great bet. Self-tanners can darken skin for up to a week thanks to dihydroxyacetone, or DHA.

Here we run down five tips for self-tanning your face and body:

Tip #1: Salon tans are your best bet

If you want a flawless, professional application and can afford the price, head to a spa or salon. For upward of $60, you can get one of many options: Full body exfoliation and professional application of self-tanner, airbrush bronzing (where an aesthetician sprays a fine mist of tanner over your entire body), or your least expensive option: spray tanning. You can step into a booth and get sprayed on all sides for about $20 a session or more.

Tip #2: How to use self-tanner on your face

This is a four-step process. Pull hair up in a ponytail before you start so you don't miss any parts. According to InStyle's May 2007 issue, makeup artist Scott Barnes once missed a spot on Jennifer Lopez's ear because he forgot to pull her hair up.

First, prep skin by gently cleansing and exfoliating. Skip moisturizer, which may interfere with the tanner. See "How to Exfoliate" for more information.

Step two: Apply under-eye cream. According to Barnes in InStyle, you want the color of your skin to be lighter under the eyes, it makes you look younger.

Step three: Blend a few drops of self-tanner and equal parts moisturizer in the palm of your hand then apply over face and neck. You only want to go one shade darker than your natural color.

Step four: Let color develop for three hours then follow up with a sweep of bronzer on forehead, cheeks and nose: areas where the sun naturally shines.

Don't forget: Smooth remaining tanner over earlobes and upper ears. Wash hands thoroughly. Don't skip the sunscreen.

Tip #3: How to self-tan your body

For this three-step process, start by exfoliating skin with a body scrub in the shower paying special attention to rough areas including knees and elbows (dry skin absorbs higher concentrations of tanner). Shave before you tan. InStyle suggests using a body oil, instead of shaving cream, when shaving.

Barnes suggests rubbing Vaseline on cuticles and nails. This protects your manicure and keeps fingertips and nails from staining.

Apply tanner limb by limb, starting with your legs. Apply over the shin and calf of a leg, sweeping tanner down over your ankle, foot and toes. Then apply tanner to your thigh from front to back, using the excess to cover your knee. Repeat on your other leg. For the final step, apply tanner to your hips, stomach and torso, following with your shoulders and arms. Wait 10 minutes to dry before dressing and avoid any excessive activity that will make you sweat for at least a few hours. If your tan hasn't set, sweat could cause streaking.

Bonus tips: To remove tanner from palms, without washing off product from the tops of your hands, rub palms along a wet washcloth, making sure to get in between fingers.

Give arms, legs and décolletage a subtle glow with a body shimmer.

To create fake fab abs, create a contour with the tanner. InStyle suggests flexing your stomach muscles in front of mirror, leaning to the side to see where your "ab line" is, then tracing the outside of your muscle with a bit of tanner on your finger. Do the same to the other side. Once it dries, do an all-over coat.

Tip #4: Pick the right tanner

There are several types of tanners: Tanners created just for the face, airbrush tanners, cream tans, bronzing gel, tinted tans and tan enhancers. There's body shimmer and bronzing powder. You can layer tanners as colors fade. How? Apply a lotion then follow with bronzing powder or shimmer. Just be careful not to go too dark.

Tip #5: So you messed up, uh-oh!

If you end up with a streaky tan, you can fix with an astringent toner or even toothpaste. Exfoliate to even out a patchy application. Not dark enough? Repeat the procedure. Just make sure you gave the tan enough time to develop.

Simple Tips on Keeping Your Tan During the Wintertime

You worked all year to get that perfect tan, and now the winter arrives and you are wondering how you can keep that tan. Outdoor tanners constantly face this dilemma. How do we keep our skin tone evenly balanced during the colder winter months, where laying outside and soaking up sun is the equivalent of basking in frost inside of a walk-in freezer.

Spray-On Tans

If you want an easy method of keeping your tan, you can consider spray-on tans. However, these are more like skin dyes, and won’t actually tan your skin using UV light. The major downside is that once the warmer months arrive again, you’ll basically have to start over with your natural tan or continue using artificial spray tan products.

Indoor Tanning Salons

Your best bet for sticking with your target tone is by using indoor tanning salons. You can regulate the amount of UV light you are exposed to in order to maintain your natural tone. Most offer monthly packages that enable you to enjoy unlimited tans for a flat monthly fee. With more than 22,000 tanning salons located nationwide, they are relatively easy to find.

Frequency of When You Tan

Lastly, make sure you adhere to the frequency of your tanning methods. If you don’t tan for two weeks, you will start to lose some color. For the best results, make sure that you are tanning at least one time per week to maintain your target tone. This way, you can easily stay tan year round, and enjoying basking in the sun again during the warmer summer months.

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