Talk to me all about Self Tan and a regime please!!!

[GloGirl]

The thing I find most off putting about fake tan is the really impossible to follow regime of leave for X hours, wash off at Y hours, reapply after Z days.

I'm trying to implement more self care but I am so short on time. I'd love to jump right into someone else's tanning routine? I have fairly dry skin and have fair skin so it needs to be subtle and a good colour.

Happy to pay a bit more for the right product, particularly if it will last and save me applying too often. If I need new bedsheets please let me know!!

I've seen the tanning legs thread with product recommendations but I would love to know the routine as well pretty please

I have the St Tropez gradual mousse one - not too dark or garish.
Put it on - leave for a few mins and then shower off - still develops after your shower which means no stained streaky laundry and no funky orangutan colour whilst it’s developing x

I do it evening and morn for 2 applications and just top up with one more application after about 4 days x

Sorry jumping in! Holly - how often do you apply to keep consistent colour?

I discovered Bondi Sands gradual tanning milk last week and I love it! Ive tried everything, cheap and expensive. It doesn't have that fake tan stink. I'd actually seen it in the paper a few weeks ago with good reviews. It's only 11.99.

About every 4 days but fades evenly so aslong as moisturise no need to faff with scrubbing and re-applying!

Exfoliate and apply moisturiser with Isle if Paradise drops mixed in.

Repeat every other day with moisturiser only on the ‘down’ days.

Also recommend the bondi sands gradual tanning lotion. Looks really natural and no horrible smell. For an overnight tan I use bPerfect dark watermelon. Get loads of compliments on both.

Sorry to hijack but hoping someone can help. Has anyone found a suncream that doesn't take off your fake tan?

Can all these recommendations also be used on your face?

I don't wear fake tan as often now but my routine was to scrub in the shower with an exfoliating sponge. Apply a layer of the dove moisturiser with tan (I used the dark one and this costs about £3 in body care and savers etc) then I let that soak in which gives a nice smooth base. I then apply a mousse tan (st tropez medium or dark if there's an offer on, or good old st moritz in medium if not). I apply with a mitt. This sounds a lot but it only takes about half an hour to do.

I usually then don't scrub during my daily showers and apply normal moisturiser afterwards. I top up with the dove tanning moisturiser halfway through the week and continue with normal moisturiser every other day.

After 7 days I have a good scrub in the shower and repeat. Also, do this at night then it develops when you're asleep and it's less faff. Full application on a Thursday and maybe the top up on a Sunday or Monday night.

Happy tanning!

Oh, and about the question about your face. I will sometimes put the dove moisturiser on my face but tend to avoid with the mousse. I've got a separate st tropez tanning oil that I pat on with a cheap make up sponge every 2nd evening before bed. Tan comes off the face much quicker with make up removal and cleansing so I like to do this step a bit more often to keep everything even.

I use the same tan on my face but won’t put another pump full on my mitt - I will just do a quick swipe over my face with whatever may be left on the mitt after doing my arms etc.
Have also seen people putting fake tan on their faces with a makeup brush?! Never done it though so no idea how it turns out

Yeah, I saw the make up brush technique recently for face, hands and feet but haven't tried it yet. Will need to get a cheap powder brush and give it a go!

I love this website!! Thank you

Will make a start next week and spend this week scruffing, exfoliating and moisturising in preparation!

Most tans will stain bedding a little but it does wash out. I'd go for dark bedding if it suits your decor as they'll look less grubby in between washes.

Let us know how the tanning goes and any good products you come across

NowYouListenToMeFella re your question about suncream that doesn't take off your fake tan: I researched this at length last summer.
You need an oil free suncream.
I used Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Ultra Radiance Sun Lotion.
I have sensitive skin, and don't usually like the feel of suncream, but it wasn't greasy, and it suited my skin.
As an aside, love your user name: I haven't got round to watching the finale of LOD yet, due to work, but will watch tonight: spent the last couple of days avoiding hearing people who are talking about it, and flicking past giveaway pages in the newspaper.

Have a go with St Tropez express! I exfoliate and rub it on with a mitt every Thursday and leave on for 2 hours then shower off, it's even and generally it lasts the week for me! Doesn't have that rotten smell either x

I use tan luxe. It's a gradual tanner than you add to your normal moisturiser (in the form of drops). You can add 2 or 10 depending on who deep you want to do. There's s face and body version. I used to be an avid tanner but gave up years ago. This one Dries quickly and doesn't stain.

Florriepeck thanks a million for that. I'll give that a whirl. *
*
Hard to avoid the spoilers all right. Enjoy the finale. I must watch it again and find something else to keep me entertained on a Sunday night.

Just wanted to update that I made good plans and then decided to leave it till after my holiday and then panic bought some the night before we left in M&S and it's fab.

By which I'm not recommending the cream etc I'm just saying the whole range seems to have massively moved on from the last time I used it a few years ago. My bedding is not stained, the colour is good. Application is easy (I also bought a mitt). Its not streaky.

Looking forward to trying a few proper recommendations thank you!