Self-tan is a winter essential. Ideal if you want a holiday glow before you leave home—or if you're not jetting offshore, it’s the best way to faux a healthy-looking glow during winter. Edtior Trudi Brewer shares her favourite tips and go-to tanning brand.
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Want to look more rested by tomorrow or lightly tanned before you reach your holiday destination? Say hello to the beauty of self-tan. It's a safe way to get a golden glow, and once you master the steps below, it's so easy and fits into any beauty routine. ST Tropez intelligent tanners leave a natural-looking bronze and boost the formulations with skincare ingredients that do more colour your complexion. Here's how we master a natural-looking tan - fast.
Gradual tan is our go-to
Gradual tanners are the secret weapon for making you look fresh and well-rested, and the result is so natural. Apply it three days consecutively, skip a day, and then use it on alternate days to keep a consistent glow. Gradual tanner allows you to build up colour or scale it back – that's the beauty of it. While graduals aren't new, these are revolutionary: more 'slip' makes them easier to blend. At the same time, the classic comes in light/medium and medium/dark, and the tinted offers a bronze guide colour when applied. The formulas are derived from 93 per cent natural ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, plant-based marine algae, and blueberry and raspberry seed oils, to hydrate, smooth and firm the skin; we use gradual tanners instead of body lotions all year round.
What's new in fake tan for the face
Don't be afraid to tan your face. Think of face tan as skincare that makes you glow. Tan your face the night before a night out by mixing a few drops of tanner into your night cream or a serum.
ST TROPEZ SELF TAN LUXE TAN TONIC DROPS, $46.
This facial tan, made with 100 per cent natural tanning agents and quality skincare ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, echinacea, acerola cherry, and vitamins C and E, gives your skin a sun-kissed glow. It’s a serum that helps plump and smooth fine lines and curbs redness while lightly tanning the skin.
Tan with benefits
Skincare benefits are skewing our purchasing decisions regarding self-tan more than ever. We like a tanner that boasts nourishing ingredients as part of your daily routine, and if there's a global trend in tanning, it's veering towards a lighter touch, giving a gentle glow rather than that baked-looking holiday tan. The look to aim for is 'warmth' that makes you look fresher while helping to blend uneven pigmentation and redness, which means the need to wear less makeup.
How to prep for a fake tan
Before tanning, the skin needs to be free of dry spots and well hydrated; an exfoliating mitt and nourishing body wash in the shower work wonders. Make sure you are deodorant and perfume-free before tanning; these products create a barrier to the tanner and can leave the finished result looking patchy. As for moisturisers, even gradual tan formulas can occasionally benefit from an extra layer underneath. Pay attention to elbows, knees, heels, and feet so the tan doesn't 'grab' on those dry spots.
Always use a mitt
The only way to get a flawless, streak-free tan and stain-free hands is to use an applicator mitt. Once you use a mitt, you will always use one.
ST TROPEZ DUAL-SIDED LUXE APPLICATOR MITT, $16.
This velvet mitt is your ticket to a streak-free tan with no staining on your hands. It helps the tan distribute evenly; once you have tanned your body, don’t forget the backs of each hand.
Try tanning mists
First, place a towel in the bathroom and start with the legs, spraying onto one section of your body and working up the body. Then, use the tanning mitt to blend; this will help your tan dry fast and stop you from using too much product. To mist the face: protect your brows and hairline with a moisturiser, mist three gentle pumps over your skin, then work in the tan with a large fluffy brush.
ST TROPEZ PURITY VITAMIN MIST, $64
This self-tan is supercharged with 95 percent natural skincare ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, green mandarin water, and vitamins C and D. It is refreshing on the skin and perfect for anyone with pale to medium skin tones who wants a hint of colour that develops within a few hours.
Mousse is perfect for a self-tan novice
If you are new to self-tan or nervous, a lightweight mouse is an easy-to-blend formula. Opt for a tinted mousse to guide the application. The colour develops within a few hours, so you can get glowy fast.
St.Tropez Luxe Whipped Crème Mousse, $78.
This is one of St Tropez’s most popular tinted tanners. Why? The fluffy, rich formula glides on the skin, leaving no aroma and minimal transfer. Layering makes it easy to build a deep tan. It’s also supercharged with good-for-your-skin ingredients, like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, echinacea, and vitamin E. Touch-drying takes seconds and has a powdery-like finish.
Ideal for Christmas gifting.