This gorgeous three-bedroom home is currently on the market for €565,000
This gorgeous three-bedroom home is currently on the market for €565,000

Sarah Finnan

The IMAGE staffers share their favourite perfumes on the market right now
The IMAGE staffers share their favourite perfumes on the market right now

Sarah Gill

8 great podcasts and audiobooks to listen to while you’re on the road this autumn
8 great podcasts and audiobooks to listen to while you’re on the road this autumn

IMAGE

What to bake this weekend: Pecan praline brownies
What to bake this weekend: Pecan praline brownies

Meg Walker

Aoife Dunican on the art of nailing bright and bold style
Aoife Dunican on the art of nailing bright and bold style

Suzie Coen

Cillian Murphy’s book about empathy is essential reading for everyone
Cillian Murphy’s book about empathy is essential reading for everyone

Sarah Gill

‘Compelling storytelling and myth-making are what make a brand last’
‘Compelling storytelling and myth-making are what make a brand last’

Sarah Finnan

From Delhi to Dublin: Shreya Aggarwal’s inspiring career in data analytics
From Delhi to Dublin: Shreya Aggarwal’s inspiring career in data analytics

Leonie Corcoran

This dreamy East Cork period home is on the market for €775,000
This dreamy East Cork period home is on the market for €775,000

Megan Burns

My Life in Culture: Artist Brian Maguire
My Life in Culture: Artist Brian Maguire

Sarah Finnan

Image / Beauty

Why are we all so scared of clear tanning products (and should we be?)


By Aisling Keenan
08th May 2019
Why are we all so scared of clear tanning products (and should we be?)

We’re so used to tans having a guide colour that when we use a clear tanning product, we have the ultimate fear. Should we be nervous? Will it all go wrong? And can we achieve a streak-free colour with no guide?


Clear tans strike fear into my heart. How do you know you’ve gotten it right?! Will it be streaky? Which bits of my body have I done? Have I done some bits twice?! My nerves can’t take it. So for the longest time, I steered well clear of those tanning water-style ones that don’t hold your hand through the tricky tanning process.

Until recently, that is. When, for the sake of research, I decided to try a few. And thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised. There were no major disasters – once I stuck to my methodical limb-by-limb application, I ended up streak-free every time. But that’s not to say it wasn’t without a learning curve. I did find out a few clear tanning lessons along the way…

What to remember:

  • Make sure, as with any tan, to do your hair removal and exfoliation at least 24 hours before you’re due to apply the tan
  • Don’t moisturise before you apply it, but moisturise daily afterwards to keep the tan locked in for longer
  • The best part of no indicator colour? No destroyed sheets, tan sweat stains on clothes or weird biscuit smell to contend with.

What NOT to do:

  • Don’t use an oil-based shower gel or cleanser before application – it will mess up the adherence to your skin
  • Don’t forget to wash your hands if you don’t use a mitt to rub the tan in
  • Don’t worry about streaking – focus on feeling the tan saturating every inch of skin and come up with a methodical application system so you know which limbs you’ve done and which you haven’t

Tans I’ve tried (and liked!)

Isle of Paradise Self-tanning Water, €24.99

St Tropez Purity Self Tan Aqua Mousse, €40

James Read H20 Tanning Mist, €24