What do all you fake-tanning people do about topping up? Aren't you patchy? How does it all WORK??

[HepburnKNotA]

I have to exfoliate for about three-four days straight before I apply fake tan otherwise it is patchy and shit.

So how, then, am I supposed to re-apply the stuff to get an even colour after a few days? Do I exfoliate the whole lot off??! That would take me a good 2-3 days and I would be sore!! But if I exfoliate every day while I have fake tan on, it all starts to rub off pretty unevenly. Do I just leave the exfoliating for a few days, have a nice tan, and then start madly exfoliating for a couple of days (while hiding my body in drapey clothes) before re-starting from scratch?!

Sorry, I can't seem to get my head around this!

It may not be helping that I'm using gradual tanner as if it's normal fake tan. I'm so pale that even gradual tanners are quite dark on me so I use them rather than even light versions of the 'real' stuff. Do they go patchier after a few days? Would a 'proper' tan fade/exfoliate more evenly so I could just re-apply after a few days without looking like a weird brown and white panda?

Bloody loathe all this tanning stuff. My friend blithely told me today that I shouldn't worry, that after a couple of weeks of getting my legs out a bit with fake tan on, I won't need to fake-tan for the rest of the summer. No flipping chance. My legs burn, they don't tan. :(

Maybe you just need to find the right tanning product. Iv been fake tanning for about 11 years and know my routine works for me. I use Bondi Sands in shade Dark. Its a visible colour so you can see the tan going on so you don't miss bits and end up patchy.
I start by showering, shave and exfoliate.
Do not moisturise (tan will cling to it and be difficult to remove).
Use a latex glove under a tanning mitt and start from feet upwards.
Even though the shade is dark, its not really dark but you can build up the tan by adding layers.
Use long stroking movements and just work your way up your body.
If you think your tan is too dark or you don't like it, you can wash it off.
Once my tan is applied (i do my tan and leave overnight) and i'm happy, i tend to wipe my knees and elbows with a baby wipe to remove excess, i sleep. Morning - shower, no scrubbing or rubbing just lightly wash until water runs clean and pat dry. Usually last about 5-7 days and i moisturise everyday to keep it from looking 'cracked' lol. Once its faded and needs re-applying I have a hot bath, exfoliate and start the routine again. Long winded...but it works for me. Never used gradual tanners as you cant see an instant result. HTH.

What are you using to exfoliate? I have really dry skin and it only takes one go. I use those scratchy shower gloves. I use gradual tanner as i'm v pale.

good scrub - rub in tanner. Next day do tanner again. for next couple of days just moisturiser

day 4/5 or so use a shower puff to gently exfoliate just the top layer off and then another tanner

It's a faff, OP, no denying that. And the faff was the the main reason I gave up the fake tan lark after being a devotee for over a decade. Now I actively prefer my paler skin so it's worked out better in all respects.

What are the best gradual tanners to use and are.there specific moisturisers to use with them?

Op I sympathise! I mix my gradual Tanner with normal moisturiser as I’m so pasty!! I’m never sure if that’s the right thing or not! Personally I’d rather be patchy than pasty.

I use a shower puff on pre tanned skin and when im exfoliating my old tan off..i use a green scourer..honestly..use it lightly obvs and it does the job😁

I tan one day a week and maintain daily with the Palmers Cocoa Butter gradual tanner and buff with a shower puff while washing. It lets it fade naturally and evenly and by the time it's ready for another application the next Sunday, I don't need to worry about patches.

i use a green scourer.

One designed for pots and pans?!

@Thallo..yup 😂

@Thallo..somebody recommende using a scrub daddy. Jesus wept, never again 😑

Dare I even ask what a scrub daddy is!

😅

I use baby oil.

Cover my entire body in the stuff, leave it to soak for 30-40 minutes, get in a hot bath (shower+baby oil = injury) and soak for a little bit, then scrub.
I use an exfoliating glove and (for more stubborn patches) the St Tropez tan remover mitt.
A good sugar or coffee scrub can do the world of good for removing tan also.
I shave (another method of exfoliating) before rubbing over the shaved areas with the exfoliating glove again - helps to prevent any 'dotty' legs from tan on open pores.

Finish off with a blast of cold water (again to seal pores.)
Once I'm out I have a specific scratchy towel that I use over my body for extra help if needed.

If not, I wait until I'm dry and can fake tan all over again - no waiting!

It took ages to find a routine for me. I've been fake tanning for 13ish years so my skills are honed - I have used all sorts to remove tan (pumice stones, lemon juice, bleach blath, magic erasers, Dettol ) so I'm happy with where I am now

PoppadomPeach i like the idea of baby oil and bath to prep for exfoliation..im gunna try it 😉

It is a massive faff if you go significantly darker than your own skin tone - I've basically given up on that. I now just use Garnier Summer Body light, which requires no faffing other than a basic scrub of knees and heels in the shower, and washing palms after applying.

It doesn't make me look tanned as such, just takes the tubercular bluish tinge away.

This is way I don't bother, I've never got the art of it, if I want a tan I'll use tanning make up then wash it off that evening.

The trick is absolutely that when it starts to go flaky / patchy to have a long bath and scrub it all off. I use a flannel and love it when it all comes off and i am baby soft again.

Someone recommended something like a Japanese towel for the same thing though?

You can get fake tan removers which are good too, aids the scrubbing off phase

I use st tropez or tan luxe which is great cos it has no colour so doesn’t stain bed sheets

Would highly recommend the tan drops from tan luxe which are perfect for the face and you just add a few drops with your usual moisturiser, amazing

Has anyone found a fake tan that doesn’t stink? I’d love to fake tan regularly but hate the smell and get paranoid when I’m staying with friends or a hotel that I’m leaving the smell on their sheets and mattresses!

Thanks everyone, sorry for delay in coming back to the thread I started...!

Hm, maybe I should just go even lighter then, I agree that part of the issue is the difference between my skin tone and the tan colour. I've been trying Isle of Paradise gradual one and tbh I'm a bit pissed off with it as it was NOT cheap and I don't think it's much cop. Should have just gone with the Johnsons as recc'd by a pp here.

I'm using the Clarins drops one for my face and though getting the drops out is a faff it's way, way better than any other light/gradual option I've ever tried. I could use their body ones mixed with moituriser maybe, that might get me a light enough tone... any other 'drops' recommendations (for the body)? Clarins are pretty pricey so I'd prefer a cheaper option!

Do Tan Luxe do body drops, ShirleyPhallus? I will google them now.

Might just go back to the cheapo St Moritz 'proper' (not gradual) tan I used last summer, it was better than the Isle of Paradise expensive one tbh. But I didn't love it and I basically never get it quite right. Might just do what you do Buster and do leg makeup. I only ever do my legs (and face) anyway.

Apart from Sally Hanson which I find weirdly 'flat', any good makeup-tan reccs?

Thanks everyone.

i've just bought a st tropez tan remover something. haven't tried it though. i too am useless at fake tan and I deeply resent 'having' to spend time on something so tedious. so i only tan when it's absolutely necessary and am shit at it.

@EleanorOalike try tan luxe, it really doesn’t smell like fake tan but smells like hibiscus. It doesn’t go as far as trusty old st tropez though

OP, not sure about body drops. Think they would be very expensive and I wouldn’t really trust them to rub in evenly through the moisturiser and not go streaky

Bperfect do an instant spray tanner for legs similar to the Sally Hansen one but more translucent so I find it more subtle

I exfoliate thoroughly every shower with korean italy towels and I top up the tan every second or third shower, seems to work fine

Cocoa brown tan remover. Changed the game.

@moonpiggle thanks for this I'm using Bondi sands tonight! Wasn't impressed with it before but going to try the dark and use a baby wipe! Do you tan your face?