The Edit #9: Xen-Tan Fake Tan Routine

Today’s post is on a subject very close to my heart (no, not lipsticks) fake tan!  I’m naturally quite pale, NC15 in MAC for reference, so I rely on tan so I don’t look too deathly white.  I haven’t been tanning that much recently but if I’ve got a night out or special occasion planned I hit the (fake tan) bottle!

Here is what I do to ensure I’m nice and golden:

The night before I plan on slapping on the tan, I have a shower, exfoliate and then apply a rich moisturiser.  I love the Neom Body Scrub which I have reviewed in depth here but as this has oils in it, I don’t use this when tanning.  I use one of those poof things from Boots.  I then apply my favourite body lotion - Jergens Skin Firming Cream.  Now I don’t know if it does firm but it leaves my skin really soft and dries instantly.  Exfoliating removes all traces of any old tan I may still have, gets red of dead skin cells (nice!)  Using a cream, ensures that there are no dry areas for the tan to cling to.  I think these are the most important steps as it preps your skin so it’s smooth and soft and ready to be bronzed up.  I pay most attention to areas that are typically drier, like elbows and knees.  

Then the following night, I use a mitt and apply the false tan erm liberally.  I’m currently throwing on the Xen Tan Deep Bronze Luxe - it develops to a beautiful colour almost olive rather than orange toned, doesn’t dry my skin out and lasts about a week.  I prefer to fake tan and then let the colour develop over night.  So hair piled on top of my head, baggy pjs, looking slightly tangoed…  The next morning, I rinse the guide colour off and am left with a nice golden glow.  There is a fine line between so pale I’m almost transparent and looking like an OOmpa Loompa…

To maintain the colour, I take care not to use oil based products during the week as I find they can make it go patchy and then I apply body cream daily to help it last.  If I think it needs to be topped up, I’ll use the St. Tropez gradual tanner.  For my face, I use the Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning Lotion, it’s fuss free and easy to use and more importantly it doesn’t break me out.

I get the Xen-Tan from Debenhams and everything else from Boots.  So that’s it, do you false tan, what do you use?