Which fake tan suits older skin?
Top tips to get that sun-kissed glow without turning tangerine
WE ALL know that sunbathing is bad for us — especially our faces. UVA rays prematurely age us, causing wrinkles and age spots, while UVB rays burn the skin and can lead to cancer.
So the best way to tan your face is to fake it. But it can be tricky: can we use the same self-tan on both our face and body? And which make-up looks best on a tanned face? And can a 50-something use the same product as a 20-year-old?
I invited mother and daughter Valerie and Katie to a makeover with St Tropez tanning expert Jules Heptonstall to find out.
Both the ladies love a sun-kissed glow, and Valerie, 57, a dentist, is keen to learn some tips. ‘I’ve tried self-tanners in the past, but often end up with orange ankles or worse — orange eyebrows!’ she says. Meanwhile, Katie, 27, an events organiser, is naturally pale, which makes her wary of the colour of self-tan.
Jules, the official self-tanner for hit TV show Strictly Come Dancing, says a common concern about using self-tan on your face is how it might interact with your skincare regime.
However, with the right products and techniques, it’s easy to create a subtle glow.
‘Before tanning, use a gentle face scrub, such as the Sanctuary Brightening Facial Radiance Exfoliator (€14.99, boots.ie),’ he says.
‘Some find facial self-tan products clog pores, so splash your face with water after cleansing to retighten pores. If you’re applying tan in the morning, don’t use any products before or after. The tan needs a clean surface prior to application, then needs to be left to develop. After you’ve showered, your normal routine can resume.
‘Once you have tanned, use a cream or foam-based cleanser to remove make-up.’
To prevent brows from turning tangerine, Jules suggests protecting them with a touch of Vaseline before adding your colour.
‘Products formulated for the body are fine to use on the face,’ he adds. ‘But they don’t have the same benefits as most facial ones.’
For more mature skin, an oil-based tanner is great.
For Valerie, Jules uses St Tropez Self Tan Luxe Facial Oil (€22.66, boots.ie). ‘This is hydrating and, as it’s a dry oil, it doesn’t leave skin looking shiny.’
On younger skin, such as Katie’s, Jules says it’s easier to get away with using the same product on both face and body (St Tropez Self-Tan Express, €29.66, boots.ie). Jules advises: ‘ Mix half-a-pump of tan with moisturiser and apply with a mitt. Sweep across the face for even distribution.’
MAKE-UP TO ENHANCE YOUR TAN
ACCORDING to make-up artist Carly Hobbs, the key products to go with a golden glow are a bright lip colour, such as a coral or pink, a contouring kit and an illuminator.
Valerie wears Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Muse (€30, Space-NK), while Katie has gone for a bolder Maybelline Colour Drama Lip Pencil in Fab Orange (€7, stockists nationwide).
Both are wearing Daniel Sandler Sculpt & Slim- Effect Powder (€34.55, feelunique.com) to contour the jawline and the cheeks. Finally, to make their tans glow, Valerie wears Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base (€47.94, feelunique.com), while Katie is wearing Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator (was €27, now €30, debenhams.ie).