Joanne King is the Head of Beauty for Urban Retreat at Harrods. She has over 15 years of providing the ultimate in luxury body treatments to her A list clientele
Here she offers her tips to the perfect streak free instant tan
We all crave a gorgeous, streak free glow that we can show off all year round. Not only does a tan make us feel healthier, it also conceals a multitude of imperfections from veins, stretch marks and scars and it also helps evens out our skin tone.
Fake tanning these days is made much easier by using a spray can such as the Urban Retreat Ultrafast Tan. It enables the wearer to guide the tan evenly across the body and face avoiding streaks and orange hands. The can also spray upside down for those hard to reach areas such as the back.
1. Firstly the skin needs to be ready for the tan so make sure you have waxed at least a day prior to applying your tan. Do not wax on the same day as the tan will "sit" in the hair follicles and cause spotting.
2. Start by using the Urban Retreat Exfoliating Body Oil System. Apply the body oil either directly onto the skin or into the mitt and then using the mitt, work over the body concentrating on rough and dry areas to get rid of built up and dead skin. By doing this essential step it will avoid tan settling into dry areas and giving a darker appearance.
3. As you will be applying the tan you will need to rinse off the body oil. Hop in the shower and use Urban Retreat Energy Boost Body wash to remove the oil. The body wash doesn’t contain SLS so will not strip the skin and make it dry, further reducing the risk of a patch tan.
4. Now moisturize the skin thoroughly. Urban Retreat Skin Support Body Milk contains Peptides and Seaweed Extracts so not only hydrates the skin but also helps firm and tone. Remember to protect your cuticles! Rub a small amount of moisturiser into them stop them tanning too!
5. Standing on a old towel, hold Urban Retreat Ultrafast Tan at arms length. Start from the feet and spray evenly from side to side, working evenly up the body. The back of legs and back the sprayed by turning the can upside down. The face can be done last - just hold your breath whilst you spray!
6. The tan will dry very quickly, should you feel the need to rub it in do so soon after spraying and wash your hands immediately after
7. The tan contains a subtle colour so you can see where you have applied it and will develop fully within a few hours. Don’t be tempted to spray to many layers on in one go wait until developed and if you prefer it darker apply again you will get a build up after every application.
Unlike most tans on the market, this smells heavenly so not tell tale aroma to give your secret away!
Remember to moisturize to maintain that healthy looking glow and your tan should last you for 5 days in between applications.
Enjoy and happy glowing!