FAKE BAKE ICONS - You can’t beat an ORIGINAL…

Where were you in 2001? To some of us at Team Fake Bake, it seems like yesterday. To some of you, it might have been your first year at primary school. Whatever your age, though, we know you wouldn't be without your Fake Bake, and so during this year we are going to be recognising our Icons, the products that have built our name and your tans all at the same time.

2001 was the year that saw Fake Bake make its journey across from the U.S. to the U.K. Back then, the market for self tan in the U.K. was very much in its infancy. A lot of people were also doing self tan very badly - if you have a look at images from 2001, there were a lot of orange people about. Fake Bake was about to change all that, and it took a tiny band of beauty renegades from Glasgow to make sure the brand became a big hit. Forget internet sales and social media. It was driving up and down motorways, with cars and vans loaded, making sure that salons and stores found out about Fake Bake. They found out, they loved us, they are still with us, as are you.

At the turn of a new century, there was certainly lots of optimism about and it was reflected in fashion, beauty and culture. Forget minimalism - if you wanted to look good, you made sure you shouted about it, and everyone wanted a little taste of luxury. The beauty ‘ideal’ was changing, too. Long before we were keeping up with a Kardashian, waif chic hit the deck as suddenly we wanted healthy curves.

Jennifer Lopez was really the face and body of the year, and really made her mark at the MTV EMA’s in that Versace dress. Style history was made, and her skin was perfection. We also love our MTV, as we have collaborated with them so many times since.

Destiny’s Child cleaned up at every music award ceremony and girls and women everywhere copied their sassy style. They broke boundaries and encouraged a whole new generation of independent women.

Britney Spears was never out of the news and caused a stir with her scaly stage mate. A tanned, toned torso was the look of that season, and many to come, and not just for Ms. Spears.

Brad and Jen were still Brad and Jen. They were just beautiful and understated, and her tan was always on point. The original idea of Couple Goals was born. Sigh.

On the catwalk, curves were the antidote to super-skinny and Gisele Bundchen, for Stella McCartney at Chloe, had golden legs for days.

Sex and The City was into Season 4, and world domination was on its way for Carrie Bradshaw. She simply changed fashion, with bronzed pins to rival Gisele’s.

When Fake Bake hit the U.K. in Summer 2001 the country was ready for a new tanning attitude and our FAKE BAKE ORIGINAL was our first, and many would say, still our best formula. Straight away magazine beauty editors loved it, from Harper’s Bazaar to Vogue, and the country fell in love with its no-orange-allowed finish. Everyone wanted to know - what’s in the formula?

We went for quality, first and foremost. If you’ve tried a cheap as chips tan, we know that you are often left with a one night only hue. Original has its own triple tan formula, made up of naturally derived-tanning agents DHA, Erythrulose and DMI. It has a foolproof colour guide, which means you can see where you are applying it, and has a formula you can build on, that lasts. These qualities were revolutionary back in the day - we all had run ins before with chemically loaded transparent liquids that left us patchy and looked unnatural. Once Original arrived, our streaky days were well and truly over. And so was frying in the sun - Original hit our shores so that we could tan without the sun, and the beginnings of our Save Your Skin campaign started an inspirational spark for us.

Since Original was first introduced, it has been adapted and developed, and because of its success we have gone on to launch a whole stable of self tans, each one a new must-have in their own right. But we pretty much owe everything to Original, as it started us off in style. Now, instead of one tan most of us have a few go-to products, but Original is still a best seller because best really is a clue. It’s like a 2.55 bag. You can always go for a newer version, but sometimes you really can’t improve on perfection. Now we see the fruits of our hard work everywhere - from VIP events to Instagram, you can’t really move without seeing a Fake Bake Bae.

Reality princess Taylor Ward keeps it real, but has Fake Bake to help with her tan.

Hollywood superstar Olivia Culpo kills it on the red carpet, with Fake Bake as her plus one.

Blogger and Insta star Patrycja gives us a masterclass in leg goals, with a bit of help from Fake Bake.

Step forward to Summer 2018 and the world is so different to when Original was first launched. Brad and Jen are no longer together, and neither are Destiny’s Child. There may be no new Sex and The City movie. But what goes around comes around. JLo is still absolutely slaying on every red carpet, Bey and the girls got back together twice in two weeks, and Gisele and SJP still have tanned, toned legs we covet.

Original is good to go again for the summer and as for Brad and Jen, well, we still have hope. Right?

Fake Bake Original is available from www.fakebake.co.uk

Dancing On Ice Tour

Dancing On Ice - Fake Bake tanning goes on tour….

The last time Dancing On Ice left our screens our hearts sank a bit. Post-Christmas Sundays were never quite the same. When we heard it was returning it was whoop-whoop all round. This time around, everything about the show has been bigger and brighter, and Team Fake Bake have had the honour of being part of both the show and the tour. Now that it's just reached its finale, we are celebrating all things D O I.

This year's show and tour saw the absolute legends of Jayne Torville and Christopher Dean on the judging panel as well as on the ice, training and performing, and so their tans had to work extra hard. Saying that they are used to Gold after their Olympic triumphs, are they not? 

This year's competition was full on, and the blistering finale saw the ultimate skate-off

between the gorge Brooke Vincent and the fine Jake Quickenden. We've worked with Brooke before as we have big love for the Corrie cast and Jake, well, it's hard day at the office tanning the champ!

The best thing about the backstage, though, was the laughs. We were working at a fast pace, the dancers and stars at break neck speed, but it all came together to produce amazing looks, perfected by the hair, make-up and costume teams.

For the TV, we had our weekly plan of action. Tans were done every Saturday evening which meant the team pretty much gave up any idea of the usual nights out! It was worth every minute. For the tour, it was even more of a challenge. With such a tightly packed schedule, it was a constant round of exfoliation and tent action.

We caught up with our team headed up by industry supremo, James Harknett, and our very own The Tan Expert, Eloise Maryam, to pick up their pro-tan tips.

We know Fake Bake fans love using their products at home all year round, but for big nights or days a pro tan is a great choice. It's the best way to get overall coverage that lasts and with Fake Bake, fades naturally.

We had a whole heap of challenges - the lighting is strong, the ice is cold so we didn't want a really dark finish, the costumes can be intricate, the skaters get hot and work hard and like them, we have to get up and go all over again between shows.

Our pro prep and maintain products where key. The stars and dancers had a whole host of skin tones so we adjusted our formula, based around our Original, to work with them, but we really had to remind everyone that hot baths or showers were a no-no, and our oil free moisturising formulas kept locking in the colour. Everyone had their own products to use, just as you would, to make sure the coverage and tone stayed perfect, so hotel rooms around the UK where well stocked with our Fake Bake Coconut Body Polish (£10) and our matching Oil Free Moisturiser (£10).

Most of the professional female skaters and celeb skaters had already enjoyed spray tans in the past. It was also lovely to work with the gorgeous Matt Evers again - he was a huge part of Dancing On Ice last time, so we know him well.

For the boys, many of them had never had a spray tan before, and even though we were going for a camera or arena ready finish, they were surprised at how natural the tan looked. By the end of the tour, we know we will miss it - although getting them to behave in the tents was a Saturday night uphill battle all of its own!

We are really proud of the work all of the team did on the show and tour - from seasoned professionals to newly trained skaters, we made sure everyone looked fantastic for every single show, and we got to know them all so well. Of course, there was a lot of healthy competition but behind all of that, it was a big effort in terms of team work. Will we be back next year? Our tired fingers are crossed!

And finally, many congratulations to the handsome overall series winner, Jake!

It was a tough job tanning him on the regular, but hey, whoever said being a Fake Bake Expert was easy?

All products available at www.fakebake.co.uk where you can also find out more about pro tanning.

Follow James Harknett on Insta @jamesharknettofficial

Follow The Tan Expert on Insta @thetanexpert

Image of Matt Evers courtesy of Instagram @themattevers

We would like to thank everyone at ITV and the Dancing on Ice tour for making us so welcome, and for every Fake Bake therapist up and down the UK who stepped in to help us out - this one’s for you!

Coachella Kicks Off The Season In Style

COACHELLA KICKS OFF THE SEASON IN STYLE

Fake Bake gets ready for a field full of tanning dreams

It’s that time of year. We are still getting over the Beast from the East, but further over West, this weekend sees the second, and final, ultimate meet cute and the start of a festival season that lasts well into Autumn. This year is already proving to be a big one for festival fans. After cancelling last year, and being brilliantly replaced by Lady Gaga, 2018 sees the return of the Queen of the Festival, and pretty much any much any live concert out there: Beyonce. And this year’s outing has already put everyone else else in the shade: welcome to Beychella.

Yes, ladies, it’s time to open your Lemonade and get your festival looks together. Team Fake Bake, little fashion obsessives that we are, have picked our top festival looks from the last few Coachellas, just to remind you of the standards set Stateside (not forgetting, of course, that most of these are pinched from those who do casually cool dressing best - us lot!)

Stylish Sunnies and just-off-the-beach-locks

Sienna Miller is one of the girls who invented modern festival fashion (come on - the gypsy skirt, the studded belt, circa 2005) and here she is with the Delevingne sisters proving that Brits abroad aren’t all about nylon sportswear and frazzled shoulders. Festivals are a time to break out your out-there sunnies. Forget anything too classic, and invest in anything colourful and crazy. You may lose them in transit. If you don’t, where you even having a good time?

And for paler skins there’s no need to bring your Milkshake legs to the yard if they are too vanilla, so we’d opt for our Fake Bake Fair Gradual Self Tan Lotion (£24.95). Oh, and don’t forget your sunscreen. You do not want to end up a Strawberry Milkshake, do you?

Anything you like, as long as it’s beaded….

Shanina Shaik would kind of look good in a beaded bin bag, and if she was heading to Glasto, with our record, anything waterproof is a great idea. We love this dress on her, though, as it’s a little bit dressy before you get messy. We adore the colourful accessories to match and, of course, the legs certainly help!

To get pins in Coachella shape we would go for our fave Fake Bake Flawless Self Tan Liquid (£24.95) as it’s packed full of moisturisers and never, ever streaks. It’s foolproof self tanning at its finest.

Put the boot in…

Yes, we know wellies are more practical, but there are also easier ways to watch live music than camp out in a sweaty tent for three nights. So on a hot day, it has to be suede. You can go any length, but Kate Bosworth proves that ankles are winners, and a heel helps to keep your head above the style crowd.We love the Navaho inspired jacket, by the way.

With this look it’s all about your legs looking their best so we always go with Fake Bake Amplify (£18) which allows you to build up colour in advance and to also smooth out imperfections.

Get your float on…

The festival is no time for a bandage dress, and a time when fashion involves no pain, unless you’re Beyonce’s feet. You can never go wrong with a kaftan, and we’d opt for a black one like this gorge look on Jamie Chung. Add a studded boot and an I’m-with-the band-attitude. Got that?

if you’ve got to get kaftan ready in a hurry then throw some Fake Bake 5 Minute Mousse Tan (£22) in your fringed bag. Apply before you leave your tent (you got the skills) and you’ll be raring to go by the end of the first set.

There’s nothing like a denim classic…

This has to be our favourite Coachella look of all time, as seen on Jasmine Tookes. It’s a bit all-American classic, between the Converse, the denim shorts and cowgirl inspired hat, but it just works. The jewellery is perfection and you can’t go wrong with a VIP access wristband, can you?

For those perfect pins with a hint of sparkle we’d go for our Fake Bake Bronzer Instant Tan Lotion (£10) which really suits darker skin tones. Can you hear us, Bey?

And just to prove you really do need your girls with you, Bey got Kelly and Michelle back onstage with her for a little bit of festival history right there.

Its about time you did the same. Ladies, can you handle this? Of course you can….

All products featured go to www.fakebake.co.uk

For info on the closing upcoming weekend go to www.coachella.com

Fake Bake's guide to a long lasting tan!

Fake Bake’s guide to a long lasting tan - get ready for your close up!

The Grand National at Aintree launches later this week, which sees us into a summer of events, parties, weddings and holidays. Here at Team Fake Bake, we love checking out everyone’s looks but, let’s face it, we also pore over the not-so-rights. We’ve all been there; shoes that start off as red carpet winners and end up giving you feet like trotters, skirts that get stuck in ankle straps, fascinators that fall off and that dress you love that is so popular that every second girl you pass is wearing one. Make-up that looks fabulous when filtered on Snapchat can look a bit harsh in broad daylight. Hair that looks elegant in a salon chair looks like a helmet when the breeze gets near it.

And then there’s the tan. The tabloids love a tanning disaster - from streaky calves to orange ankles, they are ruthless when it comes to having a go. Even the most seasoned tanner can walk into an event glowing and by the end of it look like they have melted. Add too much sun, a gust of wind and a splash of rain, and you realise why your self tan has to really work hard for you when it comes to shining at an event - for all the right reasons.

We spoke to Claire at LV Spray Tanning in Derby - as well as being on our team of Elite Tanners she’s also an expert in getting her clients ready for all-day and into-the-night parties.

What's the best skin prep for the week running up to a day at the Races?

My three winning tips to ensure you have the best results are; 

1)    Exfoliate! Do this a few times in the week leading up to your tan, this will make your tan last much longer by revealing new, fresh skin.

2)    Moisturise! Twice a day as this will prevent dryness and provide the perfect tanning base (this will also get you in the habit for after your tan too!) Try using Fake Bake’s Coconut Oil Free Moisturiser (£10). It contains Pro Vitamin B5 to help moisturise the skin pre and post tanning and is fragranced with the delicious scent of coconut.

3)    Hydrate! Drinking lots of water can help the longevity of your tan! The more hydrated    you are, the longer it will last and the more evenly it will fade.

What should we be doing the night before?

Any hair removal should ideally be done 24-48 hours before any tanning treatment, this gives your pores enough time to close. During your pre-tan shower Fake Bake’s Coconut Body Polish (£10) is your best bet! This gently exfoliates the skin whilst removing dead skin cells, it also will not leave a soap residue that can prevent even penetration of the tanning product. Apply an oil free moisturiser after to replenish dry skin. When you are applying your fave Fake Bake self tan use the Bronzie 3-in-1 Mitt (£14.99) get to hard to reach places so the paps don’t spot any pale patches.

Any tips on keeping your tan looking good and lasting well on the day itself?

Post Tan Run-Down; Moisturise, Hydrate and Maintain! 

Moisturising is key for the best results! 

Hydrate, this is a great tip whether you’ve had a spray tan or not! Good skin starts from within so if you really want to glow, make sure you stay well hydrated.

And finally, Maintain! You can also extend the life of your tan by applying a gradual tanner, I recommend Fake Bake Fair Gradual Self-Tan Lotion (£24.95) as this can be re-applied over consecutive days giving complete control of the colour development.

As an alternative, I recommend having a professional Fake Bake spray tan, as this is the best way to guarantee every inch of your skin is evenly sun kissed for that big event! 

Tell us about your love for the brand and your own personal pick of Races looks…

My love for tanning really started when I discovered Fake Bake, and I was personally trained by the Fake Bake team in London, and it was after this that I launched my own spray tanning service. Over the past five years I have built up a loyal client base and a great reputation, which has since lead my expertise to photoshoot tanning, fitness competitors, stage performers, TV casting, Bloggers and YouTube channels as well as my clients from all over Derbyshire, which is what I am best known for.

I created this look on Blogger Sophie Ottewell whose Stitches of Style has a big Insta following, and I think this a perfect, fresh young look for a day out at the Races, as it is really contemporary and informal. The set from In The Style sets off her golden glow. I love it!

And last, but not least, the look we would choose if the budget was unlimited and we had legs this long! The tousled waves, the monochrome dress, the iconic bag and two-tone pumps……

Kaia Gerber wearing Chanel Couture, photographed in Coco’s Paris Apartment by Karl Lagerfeld

(Chanel Official Instagram)

Credits and stockists:

All Fake Bake products are available at www.fakebake.co.uk where you can also contact us about our Professional spray tanning services and training courses.

You can follow Claire on Instagram @lvspraytanningexpert or check her out at www.lvspraytanning.co.uk/

You can follow Sophie on Insta @sophieottewell who kindly allowed us to use her image.

Fake Bake at The Real Full Monty Live 2018

YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR TAN ON…..

Fake Bake at The Real Full Monty Live 2018

We love getting special requests in for events here at Team Fake Bake, and we always do our best to get involved. Over the last few weeks we have had a brilliant time getting everyone tanned and fabulous at Dancing On Ice for ITV, and also at the OK! magazine recent 25th Birthday Party preparations.  When we got asked about the Real Full Monty Live, though, our hearts skipped a beat. Firstly, because this year there would be a female team as well as the men doing their thing and secondly, because the theme of cancer prevention through self checking and early intervention is something we are really passionate about.

We headed off to Sheffield and we can only say it was an experience of a lifetime for everyone involved. First up - the fellas. They were on sparkling form and it was great to see so many familiar faces. As huge TOWIE fans, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on Arg, in a tanning sense, of course, and when we watched the show through what struck us was that the guys got just as insecure about stripping down as we are often used to seeing with girls in the spotlight. Ashley Banjo did a brilliant job putting the routine together and starring in it, and we know we’ll be watching Pointless with extra admiration, now that Alexander Armstrong has strutted his stuff two years on the run. With both prostate and testicular cancer so much in the news, the guys were still intent on making sure we all know the signs and symptoms, and give every man we know an encouraging hand when it comes to booking in to see their GP rather than leaving it to chance.

 

At Team Fake Bake, the women were even more familiar to us, as we have met and worked with so many of them before. Michelle Heaton is a firm fave with us, and Megan McKenna is known for her gorgeously faux bronzed skin. Michelle is always so chirpy around us, and so her story touched our hearts. Victoria Derbyshire, a serious journalist and hugely brave lady, was soon forgetting her worries about getting on the stage as soon as she tried on some costumes at the Moulin Rouge. All of the girls were seriously funny but we have to say 74-year-old Ruth Madoc stole our hearts - she didn’t need any encouragement to get her buns out, and she absolutely loved her Fake Bake tan. By the time the girls took to the stage, nerves got cast aside and they all embraced shaking their tail feathers, courtesy of design genius Julien Macdonald. Not only did they all look gorgeous, but they gave us a real reminder of what women can achieve when they support each other, and the sheer joy of just having fun, no matter where life has taken you. They all talked so candidly about their varying experiences with breast cancer that it made us all stop and think about the importance of regular self-checking and also of talking to each other about concerns.

Victoria Halliday, Fake Bake Head of Business Development told us, “The guys were on top form but what shone through was how much they encouraged each other. They all embraced the Full Monty and while they never stopped with the banter they were also all about getting the message across. I was so proud of all my team as they worked tirelessly, and the guys all looked fantastic. For many of them, it was their first spray tan, even Arg, so we hope they enjoyed getting camera ready with us.”

Emily Jacobs, Head of Fake Bake Training Scotland says, “Megan and Michelle were fantastic at rallying the girls - they already know how fab a Fake Bake spray tan looks, but by the end of our work, all of the ladies were seriously impressed. Ruth Madoc was such brilliant fun, and she said on camera she loved her tan. We can’t believe how brave they all were, and how gorge they all looked. By the end of the show, they were all glowing with pride as well, so for us, it was a job well done.”

When we actually got the chance to watch the shows back they were so emotional for us all, and as a team, most of us have had experiences with cancer within our family and friendship groups, and both shows took a lot of fear and stigma out of the subject.

We've had so many conversations since about learning to love our own bodies, embracing our imperfections and hoping that the way forward isn't about competing with each other, but pushing each other forward and really embracing everything we are. Would we be tempted to go the whole way? Let’s just say you have to be a very special person to be so courageous, but we can tell you this - all the girls and guys involved in the Full Monty Live had nerves of Sheffield steel. We are proud to have helped them on their journey.

Many congratulations to the boys who really were Hot Stuff on the evening - Ashley, James, Ainsley, John H, Alexander, Jeff, John P, Ugo and Tom.

Well done to the ladies who proved to be the Greatest Showgirls - Victoria, Coleen, Ruth, Michelle, Megan, Helen, Sarah-Jane, and Sally.

A huge thank you to everyone at ITV - you can still catch both shows on the ITV Hub.