Fake Bake X MTV EMA 2017

We are still NOT over all of the excitement of the weekend. We had the most amazing time gifting some of the coolest and biggest names in the music industry backstage in the artists' village at the MTV EMA Awards 2017!! It was a whirlwind weekend, with lots of amazing memories but very little sleep...

Here's a little run-down of what we got up to!

How gorgeous was our Fake Bake stand?! The golden mannequin lamp in the middle was a prop for the one and only Madonna's world tour! I mean, if it's good enough for Madonna...

We got to chat to the beautiful  Lali Espositoo and chatted all things Fake Bake while she was filming for an up-coming documentary for MTV. We also gifted the likes of Kesha, Rita Ora and Demi Lovato's team and we over heard them declare their love for Fake Bake; naming it the best fake tan EVER!! 

We also laughed HARD when Liam Payne fell from his new Penny skateboard in front of the one and only Stormzy - see the full video here. 

Our beaut gal Charlotte Crosby came to see us and in turn got a Fake Bake spray tan by the one and only James Harknett. Here she is hitting the red carpet looking like a true bronzed goddess. 

As well as Charlotte Crosby, the stunning Laura Whitmore came by for a tan, and she stole thew show with her Fake Bake Glow! 

Backstage queen Becca Dudley is a massive Tinted Body Glow fan and it was used to make her legs pop! We also had TOTAL dress envy. 

Everybody backstage fell in love with Fake Bake, even superstar artist Danny Minnick! He had decked out the dressing rooms with an incredible collection of his finest pieces, but even he couldn't resist a Flawless Glow!

 His art was so amazing, and we were so happy to paint the MTV EMA painter!

We even got the unbelievable opportunity to gift the absolute heartthrobs, The Vamps. The boys were all so lovely and so handsome, we hope that they enjoyed the Fake Bake gifts!

We had an absolute ball at the awards this year, but for now... it's bed time! Until next time MTV EMA!

The Truth Behind Tanning

We all love that faux glow that looks like we’ve had a week in Barbados, but with so many brands making big claims, and with hundreds of products on the market, just how do you dispel the tanning myths?

We’ve all been drawn in by the headlines ‘the tan that lasts two weeks’, ‘tan in the shower’, ‘tan and lose pounds’, and how many times have we all heard it’s ‘the world’s first’? Fake Bake Global Consultant, Sandra

Vaughan and Global Creative Consultant James Harknett, want to set the record straight.

So? Just what is the truth about tanning?

Myth: The Skinny Tan

Sandra says: “There are no clinical trials or medical evidence that a false tan can help you lose pounds or inches. We may want to believe it, but no lotion or potion can make you skinny”. Whilst a tan is not a miracle cure, a faux glow can create the illusion of a more defined, toned appearance. James Harknett, Global Creative Consultant at Fake Bake says: “The secret of a defined flatter tummy is contouring on a second coat of tan. The contoured effect is achieved by sweeping your product from the side of the stomach to the centre of the tummy using a foam tanning mitt. It's almost like you are sweeping yourself thinner. This works on the legs and décolleté too.”

Click here to read a recent article regarding the myth above, relating to a tanning brand in the U.K. 

Myth: The tan that lasts for two weeks

A tan that lasts for two weeks? Not possible explains Sandra: “Human skin naturally sloughs off every 5-7 days, making it impossible for a tan to last longer than the natural skin cycle.” James Harknett agrees, saying: “A good false tanner will last on your skin 5-7 days, providing you look after it. My top tips are to keep out of excessively hot water, especially baths, and pat the skin dry after showering. Also moisturise every day with an emollient free product to lock in the colour.”

Myth: The Shower Tan

This ‘first to market’ innovation took the beauty world by surprise, but not Sandra who was familiar with the process “this formula has been around for years in the USA, there has been a very similar product on the market all this time’.

Myth: Tantouring

Tantouring is a big buzz word in the industry, with some taking claim to creating the trend. However, as James explains, this technique has been around for over a decade: “Tantouring became a buzz word last year and has been used a lot recently to describe the constant search for a contoured fake tan. Personally I've been layering my spray tans for over 10 years to create a 3D look for my clients. Each time I have a different body in front of me I work with their individual physique to enhance and shade it.”

Myth: Streaks are Inevitable

Streaks are easily avoided, if tan is applied correctly, explains James: “Avoid streaks by applying your tan to smooth moisture-free limbs, simply moisturise sparingly on dry areas such as ankles, knees and elbows. Moisturiser can block tan from activating evenly across the skin’s surface. Always exfoliate before self-tanning as this will remove dead cells, and ensure you shave no less than 24 hours before application, to give all pores the chance to close over which will avoid guide colour seeping into them. Finally, use a product with a guide colour that allows you to see where you are tanning.

Myth: Fake Tan is For Women

New research (on over 1,200 men) from Fake Bake has found that more men than ever are using fake tan as part of their grooming routine. In fact 53% admit to tanning in 'secret' and a whopping 69% of men aged between 25 and 44 admit to using their partner's beauty products including their tanning products. Once seen as something only women did in secret, most of the men (33%) admitted it's no longer acceptable to use a sunbed and with the price of overseas travel rocketing, it’s become vital for gents to hit the bottle for that golden all year-round glow. At The Away Spa in London’s W Hotel, James tans around 50 males per month, and he has seen the figure rising by 10% each year. When asked which trend he has seen rocket this year, James said: “More and more men are asking to be defined and contoured. No matter what the body shape darker and shaded skin boosts body confidence.”

Be a Beyond Bronze Babe

Have you heard about our amazing lil sis Beyond Bronze? No? Then where have you been hiding?!
Beyond Bronze is a range of the ultimate party tan. With a little less DHA but all the same premium ingredients as Fake Bake this is the perfect weekend bronzing bestie.

Over the next few weeks we have some incredible offers on Beyond Bronze, so if you haven't tried it yet, now is your chance babe!

With a range of aerosol, liquid, mousse and lotion formulas and instant wash off and long lasting developing tans there is truly something for every bronzing babe.

Keep up to date with our Beyond Bronze Babes over on Instagram and Twitter like them on Facebook where they do all kinds of competitions and have all the gossip!

Happy tanning babes!

Christmas is Coming!

Yes, it's nearly that time of year again! Christmas is fast approaching (where has this year gone?!) and we know that our Fake Bakers love to be organised. If your idea of a nightmare is last minute shopping in the massive crowds well into December, then you are definitely in the right place!

We have got some amazing Christmas offers for you as well as lots of stocking filler ideas.

This fantastic set is for those tanners who stick by The Originals and includes Fake Bake Original and Airbrush. Our Original Self Tan lotion is a cult favourite and is one of our longest lasting tans due to the lotion formula! Ever dreamed of having that real life airbrush tool? Step forward Fake Bake Airbrush! This is an aerosol tan that has a 360˚ nozzle that allows for application at any angle and allows for a beautiful golden glow. 

Got a friend that's in dire need of a 60 Minute Miracle? This gift set is the one for them! Containing our 60 Minute tan which is a revolutionary formula that creates a golden tan in only 1 hour, a bronze tan if left on for 2 hours and a deeper colour when washed off after 3 hours. When water hits the tan, it continues to develop, smart, huh? It also contains two of our instant wash off tans to really get you glowing! Bronzer gives you a radiantly bronzed and sun-kissed glow straight away, so there's no need to wait over night, just glow and go! Finally, the set contains our fabulous Faux Glo, which is an aerosol instant tan that smooths out any imperfections in the skin, giving that perfect finish. 

Wanna give the gift of Flawlessness this Christmas? Shop our Truly Flawless gift set, that includes our number 1 global best seller, which is a liquid formula with extreme ease of application, this product gives that beautiful, streak-free glow! The set also contains our fabulous compact Bronzer which is  a  cream based bronzing powder that uses triple pigmentation to deliver long-lasting results. Use on its own to naturally warm the complexion, or apply to self-tanned skin to add depth to the colour. 

Perhaps whoever your buying for this year is simply Loco for Coco, and in that case, you can treat them to this gorgeous gift set that includes our amazing Flawless Coconut Tanning Serum. This tanning serum is the first of its kind and combines our luxurious Fake Bake formula with super food Coconut Oil and it is a gorgeous glowy match made in heaven. Containing Coconut Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin and Silk Amino Acids, this tanning product packs a mighty punch! In a set alongside our fabulous compact bronzer, it's the perfect pressie this Christmas. 

Alongside these beautiful gift sets, we have some amazing stocking filler ideas. 

Bronze and Glow!

Make sure you are bronzed and glowing this party season with this amazing make-up kit that includes Fake Bake Blusher, which is a carefully created colour duo with naturally-derived pink pigments to create a fresh sunkissed colour and a healthy-looking radiance. Alongside this is our multi-purpose highlighter so you can shine like a diamond and bring lips, lids and cheeks to life! Simply mix with lipstick, gloss or eye colour, or apply as a highlighter for added glow. The kit also includes our amazing Fake Bake compact Bronzer as well as out fabulous kabuki brush, which features hypoallergenic synthetic bristles and what’s more the cute diamante effect case, keeps the brush contained allowing you to load it up with bronzer for your crimbo night out.

Eyes To Die For - (Day)

When it comes to creating a gorgeous neutral eye-look, then this is the perfect set for you. Containing the coveted Feeling’s Neutral Eye Palette, you’ll love this capsule collection of four neutral and wearable shades, which allows you to create a sought after and everyday look. Soft, blendable shadows look great on their own or create your own combination of colours and mix it up, get set and go.

Eyes to Die For (Night)

If you covet a smokey eye for the crimbo party then this is the perfect palette for you. A capsule collection of four smouldering shades, this killer combo of colours allows you to create the perfect sultry eye look. Pigment rich, with a great pay off, you can line, define and blend with this cute kit.

Frame this eye look with our rich, dark glossy mascara that creates the illusion of a thicker, fuller lash. With a conditioning blend of Panthenol, Candelia and Beeswax, this wonder mascara glides easily on to lashes while tiny nylon fibres, grip, build and create length to your lashes.

The Lip Edit
Shop up the cult colours of the Fake Bake lipsticks and you will be set for every event and occasion during the festive period and beyond. The creamy soft formulation of these beauty bag essentials gives total satisfaction for those who crave colour, comfort and shine. Get lippy!

The Nail Edit 

When you don't have a minute for a manicure, but you are looking for a salon finish high gloss result, then we have nailed it! This kit contains four stunning colours for fingers and toes to compliment and complete any look. The long wearing gel effect nail lacquer is soak free, lamp free and fuss free!


Get Glossy

Let it shine this party season with this gorgeous lip gloss kit. A capsule collection of 4 colours, these are THE go to glosses when you are looking for lasting shine and colour. Now that really does give you something to pout about this festive season!

The Ultimate Lip Kit 

Want to take your lips from zero to hero and get ready for the mistletoe this festive season? Then this is the kit for you.

Plump it up and pout it out with Lip Inflate, our lip enhancing, collagen plumping lipgloss. This 2-phase product allows you to prescribe your own pout. Mix either one, two or three drops of the Collagen Plumping Mixer with the Collagen Plumping Gloss. It contains an effective peptide that signals the lip to produce more collagen. Glycerin gives a plump, hydrated look while a clever copolymer creates the illusion of smoothness. And for extra MWAH, take your lip colour from day to night with our gorgeous nude and pretty pink gloss.

Get in the Christmas spirit and get shopping Fake Bakers! All our special offers are available here. 

September Tanning with James Harknett

I was lucky enough to spend 8 days in Marbella with a huge production crew working on a brand new series for MTV. I can't reveal all juicy the details just yet, but what I can say is there are gonna be a lot of beautiful Fake Bake bronzed bodies hitting your screens in the new year.

While I was there, a certain new product came in very handy! Our new Travel Survival Kit, which has just launched, ensures you will never have that crumbled tanned look again. We all at one time can have patches caused by exercise, friction from bra straps, skin rubbing on skin, that can leave a worn away tan from time  to time. This genius on the go kit sloughs away patchy tan and wipes the skin clean and clear ready for a tanning touch up. It came in very handy for marks caused by bikinis during my recent filming. I also had one in my own wash bag and it smoothed out my own inner elbow! A spray tanner’s arm moves in and out a lot and so this was perfect. 

This summer I was thrilled to tan David Gandy for his new Marks & Spencer ads filmed in Scotland. Pixie Lott’s very handsome other, half Oliver Cheshire, has also become a regular of mine and I'm just about to tan him for Attitude magazine, so look out for that!!

I'm so excited to be having a Flawless Glow October. I'm currently giving Londons’ press and influencers a spray in Fake Bake's incredible new professional solution. This revolutionary spray tan liquid was created as a ready to wear glow, suitable for all day tanners that want to go back to work or just enjoy their day and not feel overly self-conscious in a developing guide colour. Flawless Glow develops slowly into just that. A truly natural golden glow that's ideal for brides, first time tanners and that all important and expanding male clientele. My recent review of my Fake Bake service at W hotel London, was the most read article on Top Man’s amazing blog page. Over 80,000 views so far! The Man Tan revolution is truly in full swing and Flawless Glow is going to be at the forefront of it!

Looking for any tan tips?  Don’t forget to get in touch with me on social and I will be delighted to help!

With love,

James x

Travel Flawlessly

If you haven't heard about our Travel Survival Kit, then where have you been?! Loved by celebs, idols and bloggers alike, this little product is the first of its kind and allows for those non-stop Fake Bakers to glow wherever they go.

Pictured above by The Wednesday Edit.

This brand new kit will see any tan last the pace regardless of the destination or season. Showcasing our simple 3-step tanning process, we have made believable bronzing on the go much easier with this clutch bag friendly kit. Simply exfoliate, moisturise and tan for the ultimate Flawless Glow and all this for only £5.99!

The kit is complete with three components: a Papaya Exfoliation & Tan Removal Towelette, Coconut Oil Free Moisturiser and of course, Fake Bake® Flawless Tanning Towelette.


The exfoliating towelette contains skin firming extracts to prime your skin before you tan and sloughs off previous self-tans in a flash. Also containing skin-loving ingredients aplenty, including Pro Vitamin B5, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, this wonder product ensures skin is kept bright, moisturised and energised.

The oil free moisturiser contains Pro Vitamin B5 and provides luxurious hydration for the skin. It can be used to moisturise dry areas such as hands, elbows, knees and feet before tanning application to ensure a flawless finish, or it can be applied after the guide colour is washed away to prolong the life of the tan.

And finally, we have taken the success of our global bestseller Flawless and infused it in a towelette to give you the ultimate self-tan solution when on the go! Formulated with the unique Fake Bake triple tan formula and the gorgeous scent of Black Coconut, the tinted guide colour lets you see where you have bronzed, making application even easier and ensuring a flawless finish with every use.

What's even more exciting about this little kit is that it has already been shortlisted for Best Suncare and Tanning Product at the 2017 Beauty Awards! We at Fake Bake would absolutely love it of you could vote for us, and you can do so here! 

Tanning Trends for A/W17

With Fashion Month in full swing, we've had a look at some of our fave A/W17 tanning trends for this year.

THE GLOW OUT.  

Loved by designers such as Dior, Christopher Kane and Anya Hindmarch, this trend is timeless and classic. Although summer has ended, we still want our skin to glow this coming season! To nail this look, start with Fake Bake Coconut Serum. This tan will build a luxurious, golden glow and is packed full of carefully handpicked ingredients, including Coconut Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin and Silk Amino Acids to ensure skin maintains its moisture and prevents the development of wrinkles.

To make skin really POP, use our Skin Smoothie Oil. This dry oil will not only keep that tan looking fresh, it will also give skin that dewy and glowy finish.

To complete the look, use our Scream and Pout Pink Diamond Highlighter to draw attention to the areas that you wish; we would suggest your cheekbones, cupids bow, bridge of the nose and the inner corner of the eyes. To keep this look as refined as possible, finish with a light layer of mascara and use our magical Lip Inflate to plump those lips to perfection.

BARE FACE BEAUTY.

This beauty trend was certainly at home on the A/W 17 catwalk with it being used by a huge host of designers, from J.W. Anderson to Emilia Wickstead, this trend is here to stay.

Get the look by applying Fake Bake Fair. This tan was developed for those with a fairer complexion or for the guys and gals that simply want that subtle glow. Fair is a gradual tan, so you can build that colour up to your desired shade. Use our face tan, The Face to give yourself a fabulous, subtle face tan. This product has clinical levels of Matrixyl-3000 to benefit you skin and help combat those dreaded signs of ageing and is jam packed full of skin-loving botanicals to leave skin silky smooth. 

Finally, to finish this fresh faced look, apply our Legal Sunburn Blush to the apples of the cheeks for an understated rosy tint.

BRONZED BARBIE

Probably our favourite beauty trend (for obvious reasons) is the Bronzed Barbie trend. This look is described by Elle mag as ‘modern, bronzed, goddess, Barbie’ and incorporates a tan with a Flawless finish and a warm glow on the skin. Used by designers such as Public School and Jason Wu, this trend is perfect for those guys and gals that swear by a year round tan.

To execute this look, we would recommend starting with our amazing Flawless tan, this is a liquid tan that is as easy as spritz and glow! This tan also comes in a darker shade (Flawless Darker) for those who dare to go darker. Then accentuate that face by using our compact Bronzer to sculpt your cheeks and jawline to really fulfill the Bronzed Barbie look. For eyes we would recommend a golden, bronze smoky eye and stick with a nude gloss for lips, like our Shine On Glo Gloss.

The Right Kind of Airbrush

We at Fake Bake know the power of the Airbrush, smoothing out all of those little imperfections... If only there was an airbrush tool for real life... 

Step forward Airbrush! This amazing product is your go to spray tan in a can. Developed in 2003, this tan was the very first of its kind. Airbrush is an aerosol with a refined 360° nozzle that works at any angle, allowing for a continuous spray so even coverage can be  achieved. It has a development time of 4-6 hours and darkening the skin to a warm glow with a dewy finish. 

Our Global Creative Consultant, James Harknett tells us that this product is an all time favourite with not only him, but his clients too and for many is a travel essential when topping up their tan, particularly on their face, hands and feet. 

It is also a huuuuge fave with our MUA babes out there being used as a base to darken the skin prior to makeup application. Our guy Harry Derbidge, you can watch his hilarious Insta-vid using Airbrush here. 

Whats more, this magical tan is on offer for only £10 for this week and this week only!! You have until the 21st of September to purchase Airbrush at less than half price! 

Whatcha waiting for?! Shop now! 

Flawless Glow

Hey Fake Bakers!

We are so excited to share with you some much anticipated news… we have launched a brand new, one-of-a-kind spray tan solution! Introducing, Flawless Glow…

We know you love our Flawless tan, so we have developed a professional version allowing you to Flawless on the go.

Created alongside our Global Creative Consultant, James Harknett, this one-of-a-kind solution is set to take the spray tanning world by storm.

With very little guide colour this tan is perfect for those discreet glow-getters. What’s more, lunchtime tanners, fear no more! You can head straight back to the office wearing Flawless Glow safe in the knowledge that no one will know your little lunchtime bronzing secret. This goes for you too, Man Tanners, and here’s to you, brides-to-be! Flawless Glow was also developed especially with you in mind.

So why will clients love it?

James Harknett who is the tanner to big industry names like David Gandy, Emma Willis, Patsy Kensit and Oliver Cheshire is obsessed with this new spray tan solution:

“With the rise in popularity of the ‘lunchtime treatment’ we felt it was important to be able to offer our busy clients a convenient alternative to the overnight tan. For years we have worked around our tanning routine, even dedicating a night to it, but that doesn’t have to be the case, your tanning can now work around you. We have developed Flawless Glow so that you can come and receive a professional spray tan any time of day and feel confident to leave the salon with only a hint of colour.

We have identified that this new solution will be the perfect choice for men who like a discreet tan, and it will also be our go-to for brides who are looking for a subtle colour. Flawless Glow will fill a huge gap in the professional spray tan market."

Salon Professional Review:

Desiree McCall is a salon owner from Kirkintilloch and was part of a team of experts to trial the product. 

Desiree says: “I absolutely love this tan.  The second time using it I sprayed myself at 8am, put all my clothes back on with absolutely no sticky feeling at all.  I wore the guide colour all day which provides a lovely light glow, came home at 10pm and then got in a bath to see how much tan would come off… Guess what? The bath was as clear as when it was run! The resulting colour is fab and there was no transfer onto my clothes. Amazing, love it.”

Whatcha waiting for… contact Fake Bake HQ (03448 565758) to locate your nearest Fake Bake spray tan therapist and get involved in the Flawless Glow revolution!  

Fake Bake x

#SunAwarenessWeek

Hello Fake Bakers!

This week it’s all about safe, sunless tanning as we celebrate Sun Awareness week (8-14^th May 2017). The purpose of the week is to spread awareness of staying safe in the sun and the dangers that the sun can cause.

Did you know that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK? Rates have been climbing since the 1960s and every year, 250,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed as well as 15,400 new cases of melanoma which results in a scary 2,459 deaths annually. This was taken from the British Association of Dermatologists' Report, which you can read more of, here. 

These numbers can decrease by spreading awareness and following tips and guidelines to maintain a healthy glow.  Sun Awareness Week is a very dear cause to Fake Bake’s heart, with it being one of the main reasons that the brand was brought over to the UK.

Being aware of the dangers of the sun doesn’t mean you can’t rock a killer tan. Our very own global consultant and the Tom Ford of tanning James Harknett has devised some great holiday tanning tips!

James says: 

"So before you jet off for some much needed sun it’s all about the prep. For months our skin has been hidden behind our winter wardrobe. The cold and damp weather along with central heating can leave us dehydrated and a little sallow. So have a good buff and polish with the classic Fake Bake Passion Fruit Body Polish. Renew and revive dry skin creating a fresh base for your tan. 

Once any waxing or shaving is completed you can start to build your glow early, in time to be poolside ready. Fake Bake Amplify is a one of a kind tanner. Not only does it build a sun kissed glow it preps the skin for natural tanning. Its unique formula speeds up the process of melanin on the skin allowing the body to tan faster. 

Arriving at your destination glowing does take away that pressure to bake in the sun those first few days. Around the pool and under the brolly is a much safer option. 

We all know that a sunscreen is a given when it comes to warmer climates, but many of us opt for an SPF 15/20. For fair skin this is barely going to protect from UV rays. An SPF 50 for the face is the safest option and at least 30 for the body. 

Even if you have applied minimal make up whist away you can now mist on water proof SPF. Many brands now carry a spray that will penetrate through foundation and bronzer to still give protection from the sun. 

To enhance and deepen your colour whist away the fastest and easiest option is to pack the Iconic Fake Bake 5 Minute Mousse. The natural tinted guide allows you to bronze limbs in seconds and they will feel dry to touch almost immediacy. Perfect for then slipping on that summer maxi dress, with no transference onto fabric. 

Once dressed and ready to go mist on some insect repellent so the mosquitoes keep at bay. Creams to sooth bites tends to eat away at self-tan."

Remember to save your skin Fake Bakers, and alwaaaays Fake it don’t Bake it. 

The Big Night Out and the Fake Tan Routine.

We all love that feeling. We’ve got the occasion, we’ve got the outfit, the shoes, the bag, the hair appointment, the nails appointment, the false eyelash appointment and anything else that needs to be glued onto our bodies appointment. Now all we need is to look as if we’ve just jetted in from the Bahamas, a bronzed goddess ready to take to the dance floor and party like there’s no tomorrow!

Do guys realise that we ladies put a proper preparation shift in before a big night out? I doubt it.

I know everyone is different in how they prepare for a big night out and I do happen to leave the hair, the nails and the eyelashes to the experts. I’m useless at doing hair. My attempt at big and bouncy is a “have you been attacked by a cat?” hair-do. Nails are a no-go area as well. Well, I can do one hand not too badly but the other one looks as if I’ve done it blind folded and false eyelashes just end up being hilarious. They’ve ended up on my eyebrows, the side of my nose and there was one memorable evening that I was convinced I’d glued one eye shut.

But a fake tan? Oh yes, I can do a fake tan (well I’ve have had lots and lots of practice)

So here’s my timetable of tanning if I was going out on a Saturday night…

Wednesday – Hair Removal

Shave, sugar or wax. Whatever your weapon of choice is, all hair removal must take place 24hours before applying a fake tan. If you sugar or wax, give the skin 24 hours to calm before you scrub the life out of it with an exfoliator to remove any residue. You’ve just had your hair pulled out by the roots and trust us, your skin will not take too kindly if you torture it again on the same day. Similarly, if you shave and go straight to applying the tan, you can end up with lovely streaky lines which happen to be the exact width of your razor not to mention it will sting like a thousand nettles.

Thursday Evening – Shower, Exfoliate then Apply the Fake Tan.

I usually do this as late in the evening as possible to avoid any mishaps. I am one of the clumsiest people on earth and have been known to a) forget I’m wearing fake tan and decide to the do the dishes thus removing all fake tan up to the elbows. Not pretty! b) spill Cola on a bare foot c) blow my nose and end up with a white triangle right in the middle of my face or d) lean on my elbow with my hand on the side of my face resulting in, yup, you guessed it, a lovely hand print across my jaw PLUS fake tan all over the palm of my hand.

To limit any damage, I now head straight for bed. No dishes, no Cola, no tissues and no touching the face. I cannot be trusted. Then overnight, my lovely tan develops….

Or I’ll use our 60mins formula and wash off the colour guide before hitting the sheets.

Friday Morning – wash off the colour guide to reveal the tan and touch up where necessary.

I usually always have to do a second application on the shins of my legs to even things up a bit. They just don’t tan the same as when I was younger.( I think I must’ve nuked any melanin out of them through sunburn when I was a stupid sun-worshipping teenager. But that story is another post….)

Saturday – Apply plenty of moisturiser to keep the tan fresh

Then it’s just a case of donning the glad rags, pouring a drink and all systems are go! (Do you think pretending to be a bit jet lagged is laying it on too thick?)

What’s your favourite tanning routine? Come on tell us, don’t be shy!

Lots of love, Team fake Bake xx

Tattoos and Tan

So, we were asked if you can apply fake tan over a tattoo and the answer is, yes absolutely! It won’t affect it at all but if you are worried, do a little patch test to check for any irritation.

Can you put fake tan over a NEW tattoo? Well no, we wouldn’t advise it. Wait at least a couple of weeks or at least until its healed properly. Though the risk is low with our natural formulas, it’s still just not worth the risk of an adverse reaction.

Lots of love, Team Fake Bake xx

Smelly Fake Tan

Over the years and admittedly there have been quite a few now, we at Fake Bake (being the fake tan wizards of the universe) have been asked by seekers the world over – “Why do tanning products smell?”  We feel it’s time to enlighten those on that quest, those who have endured the funny looks in supermarket aisles, those who are like fly paper to Jack Russells and those who are fed up with being asked if they work at KK Donuts…..

*Drum roll please*…….. The answer is, indeed, within you……

No really. It’s true. Our skin is the largest waste disposal organ on our body and it expels what isn’t useful through the pores.  Those “less useful” items bubble up to the top of the skin and are washed away through time. We have to take into account not only what we eat, but any medications, any topical creams we use, our general health, our own signature pheromones so the list is endless and no two people are the same. Perfume is a great example – what smells great on my friend can be totally horrible on me. We each have our own unique signature smell if you will. And even that will change regularly too.

So now we’ve established that, what about that fake tan stench? Well, it would appear that DHA (which is the tanning agent in most self tanning formulas) can amplify one’s own natural parfum,, whether we like it or not!  As the DHA develops, it mixes with our own bodies’ chemicals and can produce a smell. It’s reasonable to say, that it’s different for everyone. Take one self tanning product and ask three ladies to apply it. One will experience no smell whatsoever, one may experience the faint smell of biscuits whilst the last one might experience a strong wet dog smell. Once the colour guide has been washed off properly, any remaining whiff has usually gone. If it’s not, jump in the shower again.

So are we saying that our own body is entirely to blame for a smelly fake tan? Not entirely as not all DHA is created equal, just as not all perfumes are created equal. Some are top quality and some are not and each will produce a very different result.

DHA is basically a product derived from sugar beets which are plants that look like large parsnips. The DHA that is used in Fake Bake products comes from organic crops grown in France. They haven’t been sprayed with insecticides or pesticides or genetically modified. The DHA that is extracted from them is as pure as possible and as a result, have more predictable results.  A longer lasting, more natural looking tan that is not orange or goes streaky.

And there you have it! A double edged sword it surely is. If you are one of those unfortunate people who produces “that” fake tan smell whilst it’s developing then the first port of call is yourself, your diet etc. etc and the second port of call is being very discerning about the quality of the fake tan, and subsequently the quality of the DHA that you are using.

The chances are that the cheaper the fake tan, the more questionable the quality of the DHA is and the higher the chances of you sporting “L’Eau De Chien”

Lots of love, Team Fake Bake xx