Fake tanning SOS: how to fix mistakes
It's shorts weather, but as ever, the safest and chicest way to tan this summer is to fake (and not bake) it. But bottle bronzing isn't completely risk-free... so what do you do when fake tan disaster strikes?
Firstly, there are several ways you can minimize the risk of messing up your fake tan in advance. These include properly prepping by shaving, exfoliating and moisturizing the skin (especially dry patches like elbows) to get it lovely and smooth before starting the process. Also, the importance of wearing gloves or tanning mitts cannot be stressed enough -- your palms will thank you.
Choose a softer shade of tan to begin with and remember that you can always top up to go darker -- it's much easier than trying to undo it all once you resemble an Oompa Loompa.
If you follow the above tips you should be fine and sporting a healthy glow in no time. However, here are some emergency solutions for those times when it doesn't quite work out:
The disaster: stained hands
This is one of the most common fake tan errors... Your body looks great but your palms are five shades darker than the rest of you and your fingernails are even worse. Self tan remover products like Bronze Buffer's Self Tan Remover sponges, which soak up excess product that gathers in hard-to-reach places, and Model Co's Tan Remover Exfoliating Body Scrub can both help to correct mistakes. If you don't have any of these in the house and it's truly an emergency, then lemon juice and salt made into a DIY scrub are a popular antidote. Vlogger DearJoy8 recommends rinsing your hands with washing powder to rid yourself of stains, while lifestyle blogger Tati goes even further and suggests spraying glass cleaner on your palms if you're really in a tight spot, although we don't necessarily advocate these methods.
The disaster: streaky face
Tanning the face is a tricky business. If you've got streaks then you can try to "fill in" the paler patches using towelettes like Tarte's Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Self Tanning Face Towelettes to even things out. An alternative option is to use makeup to draw attention away from the base -- for example, by creating a colorful and dramatic eye look. Don't attempt to use dark foundation to hide your mistakes -- it will only look worse.
The disaster: orange clothes
The easy way to protect your clothes (or towels, or bed sheets) from fake tan is to wait until you're completely dry before getting dressed. This could involve using a hair dryer if you're in a rush. Additionally, using an old duvet cover like a sleeping bag will protect your bed linen if you're leaving your beautiful tan to soak overnight.
So there we have it: go forth and tan fearlessly.
