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.”
