Although fake tanning is the safe way forward, it can be daunting on what fake tan to choose and how to apply it correctly, but with a little experience you'll be a tanning pro in time at all! Here's my ultimate guide on tanning preparation, what to choose and how to apply.
PREPARATION
Preparation is the most important part of the tanning process and can help give you a flawless and evenly covered application. Both exfoliating and moisturising should be done the day before you tan.
1. Exfoliate - Whether you opt for some affordable exfoliating gloves or a scrub, exfoliating the whole of the body is essential to remove any old build up of fake tan and dead skin cells. If you can't afford a decent exfoliator, why not make your own DIY one.
2. Moisturise - After you have washed off all your exfoliator, it's important to replenish with a good thick moisturiser, like a body butter.
APPLICATION
With the right tools and the right tanning product for you, the tanning process will become second nature, making look like you've spend a week in St Tropez, without the harmful rays.
3. Tools - To avoid the dreaded orange hand syndrome, it's essential you use the right tools to not only protect your hands but to help apply the tan with ease. I recommend a pair of plastic gloves, a tanning mitt for flawless application and an old make-up brush to help blend in around the hands and feet.
4. Tanning - As I mentioned before choosing the right fake tan can be a daunting task as there is so many different options out there on the market. Here's my rundown on my favourites.
Gradual Tan - Perfect for beginners and building up colour gradually. I also like using a gradual tan first as a base and then building up with a fake tanning lotion to get a great deeper colour.
Tanning Lotion - These are best left to more experienced tanners, but they generally have a guide colour which is good to make sure you haven't missed any areas.
Tanning Mousse - This a great option to get a beautiful looking, natural, flawless tan.
Spray Tanning - If your really no good at fake tanning, leave it to the professionals and visit it a salon to get a spray tan, it's quick, painless and comes in many different shades to suit your complexion.
Instant Wash Off Tan - If your strapped for time or need instant colour last minute, then a wash off instant tan is the best way forward. Rimmel is my favourite and has been for years as it gives amazing colour and comes in lots of different finishes and shades.
5. Maintaining - To get the best longevity from your tan, it's important to moisturise everyday as well as exfoliate on the fourth or fifth day to remove any unwanted tan. Finish off with a gradual tan moisturiser to top up your tan and keep the colour going a few more days.
First off I'd like to say Happy New Year and thank you to you all for you support over 2014, I hope everyone had a lovely festive period! 2014 has been a year of new discoveries and re-kindling old favourites, so I wanted to narrow this down to my Top Ten Best in Beauty for 2014 to share with you. What have been your most loved beauty and nail products you've reached for in 2014?
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Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream
What can I say that isn't good about this face cream, it's my holy grail cream and when it comes to skincare especially face cream I think it's worth splurging a bit. Yes this is a little on the pricey side at around £50 a pot for 30ml, but I never pay this price, I usually look for the cream in a gift pack or in an offer on QVCUK. With regards to the cream itself, the smell is gorgeous, very lightly and never overpowering, it has the most beautiful lightweight, fluffy texture that sinks into the skin instantly and the best thing about the Pro-Collagen is I always see a difference in my skin. This is essentially an anti-wrinkle cream for fine lines and for me this really helps delay them.
Although it can be a bind to apply sometimes, self tanning has come a long way since the streaky, biscuit smelling days and what girl doesn't like a bit of fake tan to disguise blemishes and give you a healthy, natural glow. Now I had heard a lot about St Moriz self tanning lotion, mainly because of the price, so I had to try this out and I now have become a fan of this affordable gem! The lotion is super easy to apply, non streaky and smells gorgeous, plus I always wake up with a lovely 'non-orange' glow!
If you've been following me for a while now you will know that The Body Shop Body Butters are my favourite way to intensely moisturise my skin at night. Shea Butter is my go to scent as it has a light, calming, spa like smell and does the trick every time of making my skin feel like silk. The Body Shop also released their newest scent Wild Argan Oil, which has become my joint number one along side the Shea Butter, but if they don't float your boat there is also 20 other amazing scents to choose from.
I'm usually a musky, deep dark scent kind of girl, but last year I discovered the latest edition to the Marc Jacobs Daisy family, Eau So Fresh Delight. I had always been a fan of the original Daisy perfume, but this is a lot more floral, light and fresh and I really fell in love with this as it reminds me of Spring days and is perfect as an everyday perfume, plus the packaging is beautiful.
While my favourite has always been the Batiste Dry Shampoo, when I saw Blogger Ruth Crilly had launched her own dry shampoo range that was sheer invisible I had to give this ago and boy was I not disappointed. Not only was this such a well thought out product, it's also invisible on the hair, it comes in four scents that smell like a luxury perfume, handy travel sizes are available and it's amazingly affordable!
This blusher has been my go to blush for nearly two years now, it's just the perfect suits everyone cheek shade, that's classic and goes with any makeup look. It has a mix of pinky/peach, taupe and nude which I like because they are matte and plus it smells good too!
Ok I may be late on this one, but hey better late than never and now I see what all the fuss is about, for me this is an amazing full coverage foundation that gives a flawless high definition finish, looks perfect in a picture and it lasts all day, what more could a girl ask for in a foundation.
Now for me this was all I reached for in 2014, my beloved MAC lipsticks, ok they are a little pricey but for what I consider a high end brand compared to Tom Ford or Burberry, they are at the more affordable end of the high end scale. I just love the endless colour selection, the vanilla scent and the highly pigmented colour that can transform any makeup look. My go to colours have been Cherish, Rebel, Show Orchid and Angel. http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/168/310/Products/Lips/Lipstick/Lipstick/index.tmpl
Real Techniques Core and Dup Fibre Collection
I received the Real Techniques Core and Duo Fibre Collections for Christmas last year and I haven't put them down since, they are again well thought out brushes and some of the best I've seen in a long time, especially for the price. I'm always a great believer that a set of good quality makeup brushes can transform how your makeup is applied and looks and these help me achieve the best I can with my makeup whether it be drugstore or high end. My favourite brushes are the Buffing brush, Duo-Fiber Face Brush, Contour Brush and Duo-Fiber Contour Brush. http://www.boots.com/en/Real-Techniques/Real-Techniques-brush-sets/
China Glaze Nail Polish
There's something about neon nail polish that makes me happy and the only brand that does the best shades is China Glaze. For me they are on point with every neon collection they bring out, I admit the formula is not the greatest but once you pop your top coat on, the colour sure does make up for it! My go to neon's for Summer are Flip Flop Fantasy, Shocking Pink and Purple Panic. http://chinaglaze.com/
So I know everyone always says how quick the months are going, but I seriously can't believe we are half way through 2014! My June favourites have been a bit sparse this month as I haven't really loved that many new or old products but I have a small selection for you, that I have really loved and of course a nail polish!
Happy July!
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh
I'm not really a fan of floral scented perfumes, but this is beautiful, it's fresh and perfect for Spring and Summer, I love wearing this during the day, also the packaging is bright and fun and looks amazing on my vanity!
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish
I like to spend a little more when it comes to skincare and I have been a big fan of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish for years now, I just love the creamy, buttery consistency and the beautiful aroma, I feel like I'm at a spa every day I use this.
St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Lotion
Although I love the sun, the safer option for me is fake tanning, I have tried everything and recently discovered the St Moriz line which I had heard a lot of good things about, mainly because of it's affordability and I have to say this is amazing, it goes on well and dries instantly, I will defiantly be stocking up on more of this line!
Models Own Sun Hat
My monthly favourites wouldn't be the same without a nail polish love and this month it defiantly has to go to Models Own Sun Hat from the polish for tans range, this is a beautiful crème light neon pink and is a perfect dupe for China Glaze Shocking Pink.
Revlon Lip Butter in Cupcake
I recently discovered my lip butters especially Cupcake, it's a beautiful bubble gum pink which gives a lovely sheer wash of colour and looks beautiful for the Summer.
The sun is finally here and as much as I love laying in the sun tanning, the safest option is fake tanning, although this can be a daunting and overwhelming task, it really is easy if you just follow a few simple tips!
I'm also going to show you how to make an easy and affordable Body Scrub, which I have sworn by for years, it's the only thing that truly works for me and it's cheap!
