It's around this time of year when all traces of a summer tan are long gone (if you were even lucky enough to get one in the first place!). Though you may already have the false tan down to a T for your body, it can feel a little daunting going a shade darker on your face with the risk of patchiness and streaks way more worrying. In a bid to switch the winter blues over to a summer bronze, we have put together the full set of instructions on how to properly false tan your face along with our recommendations on the best products to do so.
Step 1: Patch test
Applying any new product to your face that isn't part of your usual routine can cause some differences in your skin. To make sure that the tan you have picked is right for you and won't break you out, apply a small amount to the back of your neck to check that it doesn't irritate your skin or cause blemishes.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Just like you would before applying fake tan on your body, it's important to exfoliate your face before bronzing. Exfoliating helps to remove any blocked pores and dead skin cells on the surface level of the skin that could interfere with your prefect glowy finish. To avoid the dreaded streaks and patches, use a gentle exfoliator a day or two before you plan on tanning to create an even and healthy surface for your product to melt into.
Step 3: Cleanse
On the day you plan to tan, cleanse your face with your usual cleanser to remove any dirt or build up that will prevent your tan from blending into your face properly.
Step 4: Moisturise
The only thing worse than a patchy tan on your legs is a patchy tan on your face! The key to avoiding this absolute skincare SOS? Moisturise! Hydrated skin is often much smoother and even in texture, meaning your tan will go on consistently across your face and neck. As moisture is easily lost, especially in the winter, make sure you are properly moisturising in the run up to your tan, including after your exfoliation. Just before you apply your false tan to your face, add some extra moisturiser around your eyebrows, hair line and jawline that are more prone to embarrassing lines and darker patches.
Step 5: Wash your hands
You should always make sure that your hands are clean before touching your face for any reason as dirt and oils transfer onto the face and can block pores or cause irritation. Just like you wouldn't use a dirty brush to apply your foundation, wash your hands before applying your fake tan to your face.
Step 6: Apply your tan
Apply your face tan to both your face and neck making sure to blend it in well. Make sure to read the instructions for the specific product you are using to check how much you should be applying and how to apply it. For the Tanologist Face and Body Drops, the choice is all yours; squeeze anywhere between 1-12 drops of the tanning solution to your fingers before gently applying it to your face and neck, smoothing the formula across your visage to make sure it is fully absorbed. The more drops you apply, the darker your tan will be.
Step 7: Wash your hands
A crucial final step and the motto for 2020; wash your hands! Not only is it super important to keep hands clean this year, wash your hands after applying your tan to avoid an uneven skin tone over your fingertips and palms!
