Many springtime and summer brides prefer to sport a golden glow as part of their makeup on the big day. A lot of British brides are naturally pale and burn easily when tanning in the sunshine. Therefore, the best results are often found with a DIY fake bake. It’s a much safer route to go down, offering the right appearance but preserving the skin at the same time.
However, many of us have heard horror stories of bright orange tan induced by a tube of the fake stuff. How can you avoid the fake look and ensure you look healthy and glowing (rather than patchy and orange) on your wedding day? Read on for our tips on how to achieve fantastic looking skin.
Practice applying your fake tan before your wedding
The last thing you want to do is try your fake tan regime in the few days before your wedding. It’s so easy to make mistakes, especially if you’ve never done it before. Practicing with a tanning agent a few times before your wedding day will ensure you have it down to a fine art. Uneven patches and streaks are common even for those who use it regularly.
Make sure you go through a couple of trial runs before breaking out the tanning solution on your wedding day. It will allow you to foresee and correct any mistakes. It also means that if you decide you don’t like the way you look, you know ahead of time.
The basic prep work
You should always apply fake tan on exfoliated, freshly moisturised skin. Exfoliation will rid the skin of any rough patches. This will make for a more even tan, as the liquid will apply smoothly rather than in patches. Apply exfoliator to your hands, legs, arms and torso. Use an oil-free scrub, or an exfoliation brush for the most even, splotch-free results. If you are using fake tan on your face and neck, then don’t forget to also lightly exfoliate these areas for a streak-free application.
After exfoliating, move on to moisturizing the skin. Apply a light, oil-free moisturiser all over your body – paying particular attention to your fingers, the backs of your heels, your elbows, and your knees. These areas tend to be drier than the rest of your skin, so it’s important to moisturise them well to ensure that tan does not come up unevenly. Allow your moisturiser around half an hour or more to sink in before applying tanner.
Research the tanning products available to you
Fake tan comes in a range of forms and products – from tinted body glow, to spray-on tan. Spend some time exploring the different products out there. Read the reviews online, like those featured on Makeupalley, to find the right product for you and your skin tone. Be sure to check the level of tan that the product offers. If you are pale then you will want to go for a tanning solution that offers a light glow. If you have darker skin, you’ll require a heavier tan.
After finding the right product, invest in a tanning mitt. This is an essential tool since it will help you apply the tanning solution more evenly. It’ll also prevent your palms from being stained orange!
Once you are all set up, it’s fairly easy to apply your product, as Instyle note:
“Use long sweeping strokes when applying fake tan, starting from your feet moving upwards and inwards from your wrists. Rub the colour in different directions to blend it well and avoid any stripes or streaks.”
Every spring and summer bride wants to look radiant in her wedding photos. Follow these basic tanning steps and you too can enjoy a golden glow.
