SOPHIE SAYS
Our beauty director solves all your faketan dilemmas
When I try to do ‘golden glow’, I end up ‘Trump tanned’. Where am I going wrong with my self tan? Nadine, London
TRUE STORY: some years ago, a little girl walked past me and said, ‘Look, Mummy, a ghost!’ I am pale. And I have a theory that fake tan is not compatible with my particular brand of skin, which is naturally kind of creamy in colour and rarely tans in the sun. Seeing old ‘bronzed’ night-out photos made me realise I looked more carrot than cool, and I’ve avoided synthetically modifying my skin colour ever since. But I’ve not been immune to the technological babble accumulating over the years. The fake-tan market is so clever now — like, Elon Musk smart – which means that even I, the fake-tan-aphobe, have re-enlisted.
The key turning point for me has been the ‘dobetter tanner’ – better colour, better smell and much better for the environment.
Jules Von Hep, aka the genius behind Isle of Paradise, is number one. If you happened to Instagram DM me about your fake-tan woes, you will have got a variation of the same response: ‘Use Isle of Paradise – it’s amazing, and so cheap. Get it in Boots.’ Specifically, the Self-Tanning Drops. Jules has somehow created colour-correcting actives, so you can fix redness, cool dullness or whatever the issue with different-toned base colours. See? Smart! The drops mix with your regular moisturiser and have a specially formulated complex to reduces orange tones: no Trump tanning possible. Best of all, the brand is 1OO% organic (ingredients include avocado, chia seeds and cocount oil), vegan (which reduces the carbon footprint) and cruelty-free.
St. Tropez uses 1OO% natural tanning actives and the majority of its products are vegan, too. Its Dark Bronzing Mousse may have been responsible for my orange ankles in the Nineties, but that was my fault for going too dark and being crap at application. Now, the company has invented Purity Bronzing Water Mousse and all is forgiven. ‘Water’ means it spreads more evenly, and is a ‘transparent tan’ that focuses on creating a glow, rather than changing your shade. Where was tanning water all my life? I’ve missed out on so many years of looking extra-healthy.
That said, if Tanologist’s new, environmentally friendly Glycolic Tan Eraser had existed, my deeply tanned ankles could have been saved, too. It’s a tan remover and primer, which breaks down remnants of old tan (with 3% glycolic acid) and prepares skin for your next tanning application. This is now my go-to formula and I’m sticking to it.
Last-minute tan hacks: apply moisturiser to your knees, elbows and ankles before you put your tan on, so it’s kind of naturally diluted. Wash your hands, then re-do the backs with cotton wool. A tiny tint is really all you want (note, I didn’t say need) for the very best effect. And most importantly, embrace your skin tone – as has long been clear, I was never meant to be tan-tanned, and I’m OK with that.
Get in touch with Sophie @sophieberesiner #sophiesays