The best fake tanning regime for your summer holiday

I have typical Irish skin. Pale with freckles, likely to burn in the sun, before returning to white again. Never getting much of a tan at all. For this reason, I have completely stopped trying and have resorted to doing what I do the rest of the year. Faking it!

Of course, I still sit in the sun and lay by the pool I just don’t do it half as much as I might have a few years ago. I actually much prefer to sit in the shade, it’s still warm but I can read or do whatever I’m doing more comfortably. Faking a tan while on holidays is not as easy to do as if you were at home. You’re in and out of the pool and sea, your wearing sun cream and you’re probably sweating a lot more too!

The last thing you want is to make it obvious you’re wearing fake tan. The locals will run away from you thinking your scaling patchy skin is a disease. (How lucky are they never having to worry about this issue?) So here are my guides to getting and maintaining a perfect fake tan for your holidays.

Prep!

A few weeks before your holiday: Body brush

Spend a few minutes body brushing before you hop in the shower. Brush from your feet to your upper body in upward and round strokes. This removes dead skin and improves blood circulation and cellulite prevention! And don’t forget to moisturize once out of the shower. I recommend THIS body brush from Boots.

4 days before your holiday: Hair Removal & Exfoliate

Exfoliate all dead skin and old tan from your body a few days before your holiday. If shaving is your choice of hair removal do this now too. I love to use men’s razors for a super smooth shave. I would always advise against using anything with less than three blades anywhere on the body! Anything else like waxing etc should be done during the week before your holiday.

For exfoliating I have been loving & Other Stories Perle de Coco Body Scrubs, they work really well as an exfoliant but are extremely moisturizing at the same time. Using exfoliating gloves will help to remove any stubborn old tan, just don’t go too hard as too much scrubbing will harm your skin.

Tanning!

3 to 1 days before your holiday:

For years my go-to tan for summer had been Vita Liberata 2-3 week tan. I would apply a layer of Vita Liberata each evening and wash off in the morning, repeating 3/4 times.

But recently I have also discovered bPerfect’s 10 Second Tan in Dark Watermelon and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I’ve never had a tan be so dark on the first application as this one. I find the one layer enough and it lasts for days on end with a really good fade. Another thing I love about this tan is how fast it drys, I would usually always apply my tan the night before I need it to be ready, leaving my sheets an orange mess. But with this tan, I can apply at any time and wear clothes after about 10 minutes. I’ve honestly been so impressed by this product and highly recommend!

If you prefer a tan with just a soft glow I would recommend Tan Organic. I like to use this during the winter for a less obvious tan.

It’s important not to use any moisturizer during these days.

1 day before your holiday:

After your final application and shower, use a gradual tan moisturizer or one like Coca Browns Chocolate Whip which is oil free. This will help soften your skin while increasing your fake tans longevity.

Maintenance!

During your holiday:

Continue to use an oil-free or gradual tanning moisturizer while you are away. This will keep your tan topped up as it begins to fade from swimming in the pool and applying suncream products. My favourite gradual tan is St.Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan Body Medium/Dark. I have used it for years and still, l love it every year. I also think the Cocoa Brown gradual tan is also very good and a cheaper alternative.

Dry oils:

If you want an added glow while on your holiday for the nighttime I would recommend using a dry oil such as Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmering Multi-purpose dry oil for face body and hair. Dry oils will add a healthily bronzed shimmer to your skin and are waterproof which is great for hot & humid nights.