On your marks, get set, glow!
JULES VON HEP, the man the A-list rely on for flawless, bronzed skin, reveals his tan commandments
SUMMER is here and there has never been a better time to get glowing. Of course, we all know the only safe tan is a fake one, but many people are still put off using self-tan products, fearing a patchy finish and that tell-tale biscuit smell.
Thankfully help is at hand. Jules Von Hep, celebrity tanner and founder of tanning brand Isle Of Paradise, has bronzed everyone from Sienna Miller to Kate Moss.
Here he shares his tan commandments for the ultimate at-home faux glow.
LOVE YOUR BODY
I have spray-tanned every body type imaginable, and I can tell you that no two bodies are the same.
Nearly every time someone is tanned by me they say “sorry about my thighs” or “sorry I’m bloated”. I say it’s time to start loving ourselves.
For so long we’ve been shown pictures of celebs and told we need to look like them. But you don’t need to look like a model, you need to look like you.
HANDS UP!
Everyone gets their hands and feet wrong, either applying too much product or none at all.
The trick is to moisturise your hands and feet immediately after tanning them.This will minimise the tan build-up in between your fingers and toes, and on your wrists and ankles. It won’t rub the tan off, but it will dilute it and soften the result.
FIND YOUR FORMULA
Choose a formula that works with your skin type.
Sensitive skin? Try tanning drops you can mix with a body cream that your skin is already used to. And look for clean formulas without alcohol and parabens.
If you have dry skin go for tanning waters as they are incredibly hydrating.You simply spray them on and massage into skin with your hands. Use a hairdryer on the cool setting to dry skin quickly – and don’t forget to wash your palms.
Do your research before buying to find the right tan for you.
SAY NO TO WIPES
Tan wipes might seem like an easy method of application but they are a sure-fire way to end up with patches and streaks.With a wipe, you are dragging the tan around the skin, there is no control over how much you apply and it’s impossible to get even coverage.
CHOOSE YOUR SHADE
When it comes to how dark a tan you want, think about what suits your skin tone, in the same way you would if you were buying foundation.
If you have light skin, choose light. If you have olive skin, choose medium. If you have dark skin, or if you want a richer base, choose dark.
BEWARE THE BARGAIN
Put that £1 tan back in the bargain bin.Your tan may look OK on day one, but it won’t contain the skin-nourishing ingredients more expensive tans do.This means that it will fade badly, will be hard to remove and will dry out the skin too.
Where possible, look for added hydrators such as coconut oil and aloe vera.A tan is going to be on your skin for up to 10 days, so don’t scrimp on quality.
FAST FIX-ITS
If you notice a white streak, dip a large make-up brush in fake tan and carefully fill it in before blending around the edges.
If you don’t like the colour, or it feels too dark, a DIY body scrub will help to fade it.
Combine sugar, coconut oil and bicarbonate of soda and gently massage over skin before rinsing off.
Alternatively, products that contain exfoliating AHAs can be used to fade fake tan marks.
HOW TO SAVE FACE
You don’t need a separate facial tan on top of your body tan product. Standalone facial tans often contain ingredients such as collagen boosters or hyaluronic acid, which will nourish skin, but standard tans for the body will bronze your face just as well.
● Download the Get Body Posi Program, available for free at isleofparadise.co.uk/ownyourglow