TOWIE at 22 - Barcelona and Beyond….

To say that Team Fake Bake are fans of TOWIE is an understatement. We have loved every episode, and can’t believe we are about watch the gang’s lives unfold once more now it is Season 22.

We have been there right from the very first series, and have worked with so many TOWIE stars that we have lost count. Amy Childs was the first golden girl we got to tan way back in Season 1, when Essex took the world by storm and even brought home a BAFTA!

Over the last eight years we have been making former, present and newbie cast members glow. If you’ve caught them on screen in Marbs and Majorca, we can guarantee their tans have given them no grief in Tenerife - they had Fake Bake, of course! We’ve always been on hand, getting everyone bikini and kaftan ready.

As time marches on both our brands have moved and innovated. We’ve done our Save Your Skin campaign with Sam Faiers, roped in Elliott Wright to judge our Real Women search, and from Gemma to Harry, Bobby, Georgia and Tommy, to name but a few, we’ve had a ball tanning your faves and partying with them at our exclusive Fake Bake events. The list really is endless.

Now the new series is tweaked and is one drama-filled episode each week, but the format of real events and full on fashion stays the same. We’re with the TOWIE team on that one - if you invent the Original - you really can’t beat it.

Tanning Mummies

Tanning Mummy

It’s hard to believe I’ve been in the tanning industry for nearly 20 years. In that time I’ve learnt so much about skin, make up, health and fitness and most importantly safe tanning.

Self tanning is now the only safe way to achieve a natural glow. With more and more cancer scares and education about the dangers of UV rays, more and more of us are choosing the faux glow. A question that comes up time and time to me from all my clients is can I still fake it whilst pregnant? With Khloe Kardashian’s baby shower this week we thought it was time to bust some of those myths.

So could it cause harm to me or my child ? Absolutely not. Remember your self tan is like a moisturiser that’s dying your dead skin. DHA based tanning product last naturally react with the amino acids in the surface of the epidermis, meaning no product is seeping into the skin or bloodstream. The tanning agent derived from a sugar fructose plant and has never been associated or proven to cause any problems. Any reports are completely unfounded

Can I Tan in the first trimester?

Yes you still could but a tanning therapist will advise against it. Why because your body is going through a lot of changes. Hormones are changing and in my experience some mums to be have found the tan did not settle evenly and it was a little patchy on hands. So wait 3 months and then start to feel the glow once more.

Will a tan make me look thinner ?

Absolutely yes and will give body confidence. Shaded, glowing skin creates a thiner silhouette. Anyone remember that Famous Demi Moore cover from Vanity Fair ?

Will a tan hide pigmentation on the face ?

Not always! your tan is not a make up. It’s working with the skins natural colouring and texture so be aware that your self tanner could grab to darker areas rather than disguise it. A thin layer of your daily moisturiser or night cream first is the best option mixed with a small amount of your desired shade

Can I contour while pregnant and will tan dry me out?
Many mummies to be can feel conscious of their changing shape during pregnancy. In this case, I recommend subtle contouring. “The idea is not to hide the bump, but to accentuate the limbs and frame your assets with a natural golden tan. Fake Bake’s Flawless Coconut Tanning Serum is the perfect at home tanner for pregnant women, as sometimes an expecting mum’s skin can be dry, sensitive and itchy. The soothing coconut oil within the serum is calming and easy to apply.”