Renew You: the best fake tan for you and how to make it foolproof

The time has finally come to get our bits out. A combination of the glorious re-opening of the world coupled with a hint of watery sun peeping into the day means there is once more going out to do, lighter clothes to wear, grey faces that have been stuck indoors for far too long to shift and ashy skin to buff away.

Whether you’re a tactical tanner who just wants to add fake tan to the bit of shoulder that’s visible in your dress or peek of ankle that flashes under your jeans, you’re a curious first-time tanner or a reverent Tanning Thursday devotee, Boots have over 360 self-tanning products for a streak-free, sunkissed golden glow for every need. There is so much out there in the fake tan world these days to help you get your limbs back out into the world and save you valuable morning time, whether you’re looking for a hint of sunshine warmth on your cheeks or a two-week holiday glow. The glow-givers of today are not the stinky, streaky orange fake tan horrors of your past, but mood-boosting radiance-replenishers, to dust off dreariness, even skin tone, colour-correct and give you a realistic glow. The key, however, is in the prep, in finding the rights tools and the one that suits your skin, your schedule and your fake tan abilities. We’ve done the hard work in finding the right tan to renew you, and the tools to make it easy.

PREP AND PRIME

Your checklist for a long-lasting, even glow.

Bondi Sands Mini Tan Eraser, €12.99
Best for: erasing stubborn tan

First things first, you need to shift your old fake tan. Give yourself a few days before you’re ready to get reapplyng, and get rid of your old glow with a tan eraser. Lash Bondi Sands Mini Tan Eraser, €12.99, lavishly on your body and give yourself at least five minutes – scour the toothpaste off your tap, wipe the mascara off your mirror, declutter the cotton wool from your countertops – then hop in the shower and gently erase away the stubborn bits with a face cloth or exfoliating gloves. Aloe vera in the formula will keep your skin feeling hydrated, and you’ll emerge from the shower squeaky clean and ready for a fresh coat.

Lusso Tan Primer, €19.99
Best for: priming the skin

Would you paint the walls without a primer? Would you apply your foundation without a moisturiser? Would you put on nail polish without a base coat? Maybe you would, but prepare to have your walls, foundation and nails looking craggy, cracked and chipped – easily avoided by creating an even canvas to begin with, plus you’ll get longer out of it. What I’m trying to tell you is that if you want a deeper, even and longer-lasting glow, you need to prep the skin with a primer. Lusso Tan Primer, €19.99, is vitamin-infused, locks in moisture, improves texture and rebalances the skin’s pH level, leaving your skin with a soft, perfect base for fake tan. Just mist all over your face and body and let it dry in to instantly deepen and extend your glow.

TOOL KIT

Having the right tools of the tanning trade make perfect tanning a doddle.

Iconic Bronze Luxury Double Sided Mitt, €8
Best for: a seamless tan

Once you try a velvet mitt, you’ll never go back to a cheap plastic one. Iconic Bronze Luxury Double Sided Mitt, €8 is super soft, double sided and grip proof for a seamless, streak-free tan that glides on, with an internal water-resistant barrier to keep stained palms at bay. Apply your tan directly to the mitt and blend well in sweeping circular motions for an even glow.

Cocoa Brown Contouring Brushes Set, €5.99
Best for: naturally tanned hands and feet

If you struggle with a pro faux glow on your hands and toes, what your tanning kit is missing is a tanning brush, like the Cocoa Brown Contouring Brushes Set, €5.99. Swipe your brush on the excess tan left on your mitt or blend the extra tan from your legs and wrists down onto your feet and hands, then buff it into the skin for easy glow control and to avoid tan gathering on your palms and around the wrists and ankles forevermore.

Isle Of Paradise Pro Glow Spray Tan Mister, €13.99
Best for: the messy tanner

If you feel you can never get your own tan to a salon standard, meet the DIY spray tan. Fill the Isle Of Paradise Pro Glow Spray Tan Mister, €13.99, with your fake tan and you can tan your whole body in just two minutes thanks to a 360 nozzle that sprays one long mist. Pro tip: spray yourself in the shower, then use the showerhead to wash down your walls, but be extra cautious not to get your tan wet.

GLOW ON

Today’s tans are a new breed – streak-free, non-smelly, good for the skin and suitable for every skin tone.

Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam Dark, €21.99
Best for: fast drying

For the impatient tanner, the religious Thursday tanner and those who love a deep fake tan, meet Bondi Sands Self Tan Foam Dark, €21.99. You’ll never put off doing your tan at the last minute again, as this is as faff-free as they come. It dries in seconds and feels incredibly lightweight, so no sticky feeling. The shade is a deep but natural sunkissed bronze, and thanks to a blend of aloe vera, vitamin E and coconut, you’ll have an even finish every time.

Bellamianta x Maura Higgins Luxury Tanning Mousse Medium, €26.99
Best for: dry skin

Dubbed ‘summer in a bottle,’ Bellamianta x Maura Higgins Luxury Tanning Mousse Medium, €26.99, has a formula with hyaluronic acid that gives hydrating radiance to even the dullest of dry skins, with a rich, realistic tone that wears off naturally no matter how deep you like your tan.

TanOrganic Self Tanning Oil, €29.99
Best for: easy application

TanOrganic Self Tanning Oil, €29.99, is like nothing else in the world of tan. It’s speedy to use and mess-free, as you apply it directly to the skin with your hands and massage it in until it’s fully absorbed. The oil formula leaves skin feeling glowing and nourished, thanks to a blend of aloe vera, argan oil, borage seed and orange peel extract, and you can get dressed or hop right into bed after it without leaving any transfer on your sheets or clothes. The final effect is a radiant, sun-kissed glow that fades incredibly well – just don’t forget to have a baby wipe to hand or a cotton wool pad with micellar water on it for when you’re finished applying to clean off your palms.

St.Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse, €39.99
Best for: first time tanners

Are you fake tan curious but scarred from a teenage experience? Pale but fond of a summer glow and think you’ll never find a tan that can give the warmth you get after some time in the sunshine? Well, the tans of today are here for you. Start off your journey with a beloved tan icon that will give you a truly natural tan adapted to your specific skin tone, St.Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse, €39.99. It will give you a hint of realistic golden radiance with just the right amount of sheen, the shade is bespoke to you, it glides on streak-free and lightweight and lasts up to 10 days with a light fade. You won’t go back.

bBold Smart Mousse, €14.99
Best for: quick tanning

Need to fake tan in a flash? No need to tanic. Whether you have one, two, or three hours, bBold Smart Mousse, €14.99, can give you a soft glow in an hour, a medium golden shade in two and a deep bronze in three. Keep one in the bathroom cabinet for last minute plan tan emergencies.

Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Tan Drops, €46
Best for: face tanning

Cheat your way to a summer glow all year round with tan drops. Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Tan Drops, €46, are a cult favourite for the world of facial tanners and for good reason; just add a few of drops – the more you add, the deeper the glow – into your moisturiser or serum to banish a grey face and if you’re not satisfied with your glow, just go neat on the skin. A word of warning; steer clear of your eyebrows and hairline to avoid an orange tinge, and don’t forget to wash your hands!

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Take your pick from the wide range of tan available at Boots.ie. Shop their range now.