Tips to achieve the perfect tan.

It feels wonderful to have a smooth, radiant tan. A sunless tan is a great way to treat yourself to that lit-from-within glow, and easier to use than you might think. Here are some simple tips for your best tan ever.

1. Prep your skin

Exfoliating your skin before applying a self-tanner will give you the smoothest and most durable result. Sweep away dead skin cells with a gentle scrub such as asap revitalising bodyscrub. It contains both AHAs and round exfoliating beads to leave your skin smooth. Moisturising antioxidants will keep it healthy.

Once you're done exfoliating, resist the urge to use moisturiser. It will just create a barrier between your skin and the tanning agents. Don't worry; the right tanner will pamper your skin beautifully. Once your skin is clean and dry you're ready for the next step.

2. Pick your tan

Whatever your tanning needs, there is the perfect product for you. First, you need to decide what category of tanner you want.

1. Instant Tans

This will give you instant colour that can be washed away at the day's end. This gives you the most flexibility, taking you from pale to bronze and back again in a single day. A good option is Summer Tan Wash Off Instant Glow Bronzing Lotion, which gives you a golden tan in a lightweight lotion. It covers smoothly and has shea butter and softening oils to leave your skin moisturised. 

2. Gradual Tans

For a longer-lasting, yet subtle change, you may prefer a gradual tanner. With daily application these products allow you to build your tan to the exact shade you like. Once you reach your preferred depth of colour, simply reduce use to every other day to maintain the tan you want. Eco Tan Winter Skin has a luscious rose geranium scent and all natural ingredients. Its nourishing formula is best for light to medium skin tones and can be used on both body and face. St. Tropez Everyday Body Lotion combines moisturising benefits with a gradual tanner. Aloe soothes skin while you build a golden tan. 

3. Self-Tanners

If you don't want to wait days for your final colour, a self-tanner may be the best option for you. These formulas produce deeper, longer lasting colour as quickly as in an hour. They are available in lotion, mousse, and spray formulations so the entire process can be tailored to your preferences. JBronze Luxe Dry Tanning Oil is packed with skin pampering natural oils that absorb quickly. This non-greasy formula leaves skin smooth and golden. For a mousse application, we like Eco Tan Cacao Tanning Mouse. This unique product is a whisper-light mousse with a subtle chocolate scent. Apply to skin, then wash off in one hour for a light coffee tan or in four hours for a deep bronze shade. Skin is nourished by natural extracts including coffee, blood orange, and ginger.

It's important to us an application mitt, such as this one from JBronze, when using self-tanners. It will not only keep excess colour off your hands, but it will also give you the most even, streak-free coverage.

Prolong your tan to keep the glow

Now that you've achieved your perfect honey-gold tan, you'll want to keep it that way. To maintain your beautiful colour be sure to moisturise daily. Do not exfoliate until you're ready to remove your tan, because it will remove the colour unevenly. A tan extender, such as Summer Tan Hydrating Tan Extender will pamper your skin with aloe vera and jojoba oil, while it adds subtle bronzers to keep your colour fresh. With proper care, your glow should last 7 days.

The Eco Tan Remover Glove is a great way to sweep away the last of your tan when you're done. You can either use it as a dry body buff or add a salt scrub or body wash to exfoliate deeply for smooth, radiant skin. 

A honey-gold tan is an instant confidence boost. With a little prep work and the perfect products, you can indulge your skin while you enjoy a beautiful glow.