Top tips for DIY Tanning!

So now so, since a lot of us a pale pasty feckers lacking a glimpse of summer sun, we need a little help in the tanning department. Enter false tan in a bottle. Fake tan can be a girl's best friend, helping her play dress-up and change her appearance for a few days before wearing off with no harm done. There's absolutely no shame in wearing tan so you don't look like one of the Cullens(but far less poised and glowing) in the hundreds of facebook photos that will undoubtedly be tagged the next day.

HOWEVER, if you don't do it right, you'll end up looking like Snooki in her audition video for Jersey Shore. As a fellow tan-wearer(on nights out only, I embrace my rose ivory complexion most of the time!) I will take you through my hard learned lessons over the years on how to apply a good fake tan.

STEP ONE: MOISTURISE

Lads, ye don't even know how important this step is. You absolutely must moisturise your whole body prior to applying the fake tan. This will help it go on smooth, look less cakey and stop it grabbing onto certain areas e.g. elbows, knees, around the nose etc. I like to moisturise roughly 20minutes before applying the tan. A lot of the time I also mix 1 part moisturiser and one part tanner AS WELL as moisturising beforehand to keep it natural. You can always build it up, but you can't take it off.

STEP TWO: SHAVE AFTER YOU TAN

I know, this sounds strange. But if your shave before you apply tan your skin will automatically be streaky from the razor and although you can't see this, your tan will stick to these streaks. Therefore, resist the urge to shave so you'll look like jlo applying tan and I promise it will work out better, especially on the legs! Leave the tan overnight preferably, or alternatively 4ish hours before shaving and showering.

STEP THREE: START FROM THE TOP AND WORK YOUR WAY DOWN

When you read the next step, you'll see why this just works out easier. Apply tan to the middle of your chest and work it outwards; out to your shoulders, to your neck and down on your bossom(tan these too just incase ;). When it comes to the face, mix one part moisturiser with one part tan and carefully apply a little bit all over the face, being careful to blend the eyebrow area and hairline.

STEP FOUR: MIND YOUR HANDS!

When I was in second year, I decided to put fake tan on. As I didn't know I wasn't supposed to touch the tan directly, my hands looked like two brown-leather-mittens and was called oopma loompa for the week. You need to use plastic gloves people!! You can get the unbelievably cheap in most pound shops (or dollar stores for my yanks), or alternatively use the tanning mits which are more expensive but probably easier to use for a 1st time tanner.

I like to put one glove or mit on and apply carefully to my opposite arm, and without adding anymore tan, drag what I have on my arms onto my hands and slightly on my fingers. Immediately take off the glove, moisturise you hands and rub your palms and inbetween your fingers on a towel or rag you don't mind dirtying. Repeat this process on the other when the moisturiser has dried in. This way your hands will be tanned and blended without having tan in the creases of your knuckles. Same thing applies for the tooooes!

STEP FIVE: GET SOMEONE TO DO YOUR BACK

No explaining to do here really, just don't forget to ask someone to blend it into your back and neck.

STEP SIX: WASH OFF THE EXCESS

Now, I'll be honest, I rarely have time for this. But when I do my clothes thank me for not allowing them get absolutely ruined with tan. It will rub off on your most likely "dressy" outfit and will look more cakey and less natural if you don't have a quick body shower. When you get out of the shower you will be horrified with how pale you look, but worry not. This has something to do with body temperature over the shower(don't ask me for details) and you'll darken up again within a few minutes.

**Extra tips** Your tan will stay on much longer if you moisturise daily, and if it turned out a little darker than expected just throw on some talcon powder over it and it'll ease off a bit.

So there ya have it, my very long winded guide to self tanning at home. Tan is a very dodgy product, it's very easy to look like an orange hooker. But don't be afraid of it, once you're careful you''l be surprised at how easy it is to have that glowing tan we all love! That being said, I personally don't think you should wear tan everyday, it's just for special occasions really. Embrace the beauty of your natural skin colour because to most other people it's absolutely beautiful and what makes you stand out!

Happy bronzing,

Aila Maritz xox