How to self tan like a manba!

This tanning guide is aimed towards fake tan novices and first timers, especially those who want to achieve a colour similar to those sported by manbas, yamanbas, kuro gyaru and the like! Please bear in mind that I can only speak for products currently available in the U.K!

I'd like to think that with my experience in fake tan, I'm pretty qualified to give info and advice on the subject. I've been using it for almost exactly 2 years now, on and off (as maintaining a tan as dark as I like takes a hell of a lot of work and stained bed sheets (R.I.P). It's helped me go from my usual pasty self to a colour that a manba would be proud of! I also generally use the cheaper of the products available to me as I'm a cheapskate, so if you're looking for a high-end tanning guide, I'm not your gal! The world of fake tan can be quite confusing and intimidating for a beginner, as there are so many different brands, formulas and strengths, all of which have their own pros and cons, which you can usually only find out about by word of mouth or by using them yourself as they don't always do what they say on the bottle. Never fear though, I'm here to tell you about them!

The difference that fake tan can make!

I think the first thing to understand about fake tan is the difference between instant and lasting colour. It's important to know that not all fake tan will survive a wash, whereas some won't come out in under a week, some show up immediately on your skin, some take a few hours or more. It can be difficult to tell just from the front of the bottle so take a look on what it says on the back. Does it mention being long lasting? Does it mention being wash-off? If it mentions the colour developing then you can guarantee it's a lasting colour. If it calls itself "makeup"/"skin makeup" in any way then you can pretty much bet it's instant and non-lasting. If it doesn't mention any of these things then the best way to find out is to do a patch test (which you should do anyway with a new tan, especially if you have sensitive skin). Also, bear in mind that some fake tan will have an instant AND lasting formula, which can be handy for seeing where you've already tanned and where you haven't.

Types of Fake Tan
There are quite a few different types fake tan, the most popular being lotions, mousse, sprays and wipes. Even within these types there are subcategories, but the type I use most is mousse.

• Mousse
  This type of tan is a light and foamy formula that gives instant colour and if left to develop will usually last a week+. You will need a tanning mitt to apply mousse though.
  The good thing about mousse is that it's easy to apply, easy to see where patches may appear and lasts longer than other types of tan, gives good colour, it's generally cheap and it's pretty easy to get your hands on in drugstores. The downsides with this type of tan is that it can take a while to dry and most won't completely dry, which leaves you feeling a bit tacky and sticky.  Because of this, I'd advise dabbing yourself down with an old dry towel before getting clothed or going to bed. Mousse is also especially bad for staining clothes/bedclothes (especially if you sweat while it's developing) and you can't really get away with not washing it off in the morning like you can with lotion and I have personally found it extremely drying.

  

  St Moriz Tanning Mousse
  in Dark and Medium

  
  My favourite brand of self tan mousse is St Moriz. I've used it a lot and I've found it the best of the other bargain brands. The colour is good and easy to build up, it doesn't take too long to dry and doesn't dry out my skin as bad as other brands (I'm looking at you, Ibiza Honey!). I especially like it because it's easy to find and lots of discount drugstores (like Savers and Semichem) stock it often and it's usually less than £3 as places like these.
  
  I personally wouldn't advise this type of tan for those with dry and/or sensitive skin, especially if you are planning on layering up for a dark colour (especially as when I've been using it, it's been almost painful on my back and arms a few times when stretching or flexing the skin). Before tanning with mousse, I'd advise a regimented hydrating lotion routine about a week before beginning and make sure your skin is free of lotion before each tanning session. Some fake tan mousses advertise as being safe for use on faces, although I would avoid using them on your face.
  It's also worthy to note that there are some tanning mousses that I've come across that "develop in one hour". I've personally not had a very good experience with them as I've found that the colour doesn't develop as fast or as dark as regular mousse, so if you're wanting a dark tan, I'd advise not to use them!


• Lotions
This type of tan applies as other lotions would and is often marketed as a "build up tan" that will develop over a series of applications. The more you apply these, the darker and longer lasting the tan will be. It's important to note that some will take a few days to achieve a dark tan, whereas others will take weeks and will only build up to a medium, natural tan, depending on how dark the tan is. Using a tanning mitt is definitely advised if using lotion that is medium or darker.



Garnier Summer Body
Tanning moisturiser



The good thing about these lotions are that they are easy to apply, easy to find in drugstores, you don't have to wash it off once it's fully developed (so you won't have to wash it off in the morning if you put it on the night before), they don't take long to dry (as long as you don't put on too much at a time) they usually have moisturising ingredients so they are good for dry skin, you can use your hands to apply them, as long as you wash them after so your hands don't absorb to much tan (although if it is a medium or darker tanning lotion then I would recommend using a mitt for a more even application). The downside is that they can take longer to build up than other types, it's uncomfortable to have on if you sweat, you can't always tell where you have and haven't applied the lotion as it usually develops into a darker tan than applied and it is a little more likely to streak than mousse.



Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs
"Makeup" Lotion


Some lotions are only one use and will wash out in one or two washes, which are best for one-off events or if you want to find out if a tan would suit you before committing to a more permanent type. They can also be used if you've been building up your tan for an event but want to go just a little darker than your tan has already turned out. The biggest problem though is that they are especially prone to coming off on clothes due to pressure (especially around waistbands, bras and undies), sweating and rain (although they will generally come off clothes a little easier than some more permanent tans). These lotions are sometimes advertised "skin makeup", so look out for them calling themselves that!



Primark Bronze Instant Tan Gel
Medium to Dark


For these kinds of lotions, I would recommend Primark's Bronze instant tan gel. It gives a good, dark colour, although it is more red-tinted than orange or brown, but if layered over other dark tan, it works to your advantage and makes it look even darker. I applied it once on my arms and stomach area and twice on my legs in one day and it didn't smudge too much onto my skirt and any that did was washed out within one wash. It's also got apricot oil which makes it smell lovely and moisturises your skin, which for £2.50 that's a good price! Once again, I'd advise putting this on with a tanning mitt.

• Spray
  There are two types of fake tan sprays; aerosol powered and spray pump powered. I will admit that I don't have as much experience with self tanning sprays as I have only bought one (pump powered) so I will have to rely more on what I've heard (both online and from friends). I'll focus first on pump powered sprays.
  
  Pump powered sprays are less popular and therefor harder to find, even online. They apply almost like a cross between a mouse and a lotion, although a tanning mitt is required. They are handy for covering large areas, and dry relatively quickly but can be more messy in application due to the spray nozzle making it more difficult to accurately spray it where you want it (I'd advise putting a towel down underneath you while using a tanning spray).

  

  Lauren's Way Tanning Spray
  in "Darker than Dark"

  
  
  As of right now, there is only one pump powered spray widely available that I know about, which is Lauren's Way in the shade "Darker than Dark". I bought it on a whim because I desperately needed more fake tan for an event at the weekend and it was the cheapest one I could find (even thought it was reduced to about £10, still a lot more than I usually pay). I really liked the colour, it wasn't difficult to build up and it dried pretty quickly if I didn't layer up too many times at once, but after about a week I found it started to peel around areas where I sweat (especially noticeably in my chest and upper neck) but other areas took a lot of time and scrubbing to remove. Due to this I would recommend this as a quick way to get tanned if you don't mind looking very patchy for 1 week+, although I personally don't think it was worth the price compared to other formulas. Also be careful because the bottles this tan is in is known to leak tan everywhere!
  
  Aerosol based sprays are generally better for a lighter, more natural looking tan. These can also be either instant or developing tans. They are quicker to apply and quicker to dry than other methods of tanning, easy to get a streak-free finish. You don't need any tanning gloves or mitt, unless you're wanting to help it dry by rubbing or patting it in. The main problem with them is that it's hard to build them up to a dark tan and finding developing aerosol sprays can be quite difficult. Also, as aerosol sprays in general can be dangerous if misused, please make sure you read and follow any safety instructions on the bottle!
  
  
• Wipes
  These are good for building up a tan, especially on places like your face or hands that need only a small amount because you don't want them looking too tanned and ridiculous! They are super quick, easy to use, easy to store and all the ones that I have come across are pretty darn cheap! You use them the same as you would a makeup remover or baby wipe, sweeping over the area you wish to cover, no tanning gloves or mitt required (just make sure you wash your hands after application).

  

  Skin Deep
  Self Tanning Wipes

  Just a word of warning though if you're using one on your face before you go to sleep, if you dribble or your eyes water in the night you can be left with a bit of a patchy face, although if you have only used one wipe on your face a night then you should be fine! I'd advise washing it off in the morning though as it dries patchier than when it's washed off.
  
  The only brand of tanning wipes I've used so far is Skin Deep, which I've been very happy with. It gives good build-up colour (not too light, not too dark), smells nice, dries quickly and is very cheap at £1 for 20 wipes!
  
  

How to Apply

Now that you know about the different types of fake tan, it's time to learn about application. If I'm wanting to build up a very dark tan, I will moisturise for as long as I can beforehand to ensure that the tan will not flake off or create a "snakeskin" effect. Also, a few hours before tanning, I will put a light layer of moisturiser over especially dry areas (albows, knees, heels and sometimes my face) as dry areas will take in tan a lot more than other places and it will often look like you've been crawling in the mud on your elbows and knees. After you have washed your tan off, if you are not putting on another layer of tan or two then I'd heavily advise moisturising to prolong the life of your tan and to ensure that it fades more evenly.I will usually start tanning no more than 2 weeks before the event I am tanning for to get the best results. Tanning for much longer will make the tan patchy by the time the event comes round and if I tan for any less time then I'll usually be less happy with the intensity of the tan as it won't be dark enough for my liking. I usually apply 2 layers of my chosen tanning type (lotion, pump spray or mousse for my body and wipes for my face) every night that I am able, about an hour or more before i go to bed to allow time to dry. If I am not working then I will apply the tan up to 3 times a day, although I will never mix tan types, especially mousse and lotion as they will not dry and develop properly and leave a horrible mess over any clothes, bedclothes or furniture you come into contact with.

I have found that the best way to apply tan (if you are using a tanning mitt) is to apply the first layer in circular motions as this will dry more quickly and help it look more even. Then, once that layer has dried (to at least a tacky finish) I will apply the second layer, this time patting it over the skin, never rubbing as this will remove the lower layer of tan. When going to sleep I would advise putting an old towel between you and the bottom sheet of your bed if you're not wanting it to be stained as badly. I'd also advise changing your sheets to ones you don't mind getting stained.

If you are using anything other than wipes for your hands then I would advise to use as little of the tan as possible, avoiding the palms of your hands as much as you can. If you often find yourself waking up with streaky, dark tan on your hands, it's probably because you had your hands on your body while you were sleeping. To avoid this, wearing latex or old fabric gloves (that you don't mind being ruined) can be worn.


How to remove tan

Primark Face Cleaning Brush

Once you've decided to get rid of your tan, it can be pretty difficult to get it all off quickly and effectively, especially if you have been layering up a lot! Don't worry, I've been there and I now have a pretty good idea of the best way to get rid of it!

There's two things that are important in the removal of tan, the soap or bodywash you use and the tools you use to scrub. If you've got sensitive skin, I'd advise using a moisturising bodywash without any buffering/scrubbing beads. I would recommend Aveeno Body Wash or something cocoa butter based to ensure that your skin is moisturised and protected while you scrub! If your skin is more hardy or if you're just desperate to get the tan off you then using an exfoliant bodywash with scrubbing beads is an option for you (although if you care about the environment then please use a scrub without plastic microbeads!) My favourite for this is Lush's Ocean Salt, but if you have less oily skin then I would recommend another Lush scrub. It's expensive but worth it in my opinion!

For scrubbing tools, I've found a mixture of bristles and rubber to be the most effective, both of which can be found on a Primark face cleaning brush! It's also handy because the bristles are soft and effective at getting tan off and it's only £1! I've also seen similar ones at places like Poundland and Poundworld if you can't find one in Primark. I use the bristles for my arms, elbows, legs, knees and feet. For my chest, stomach and lower back where my skin is more sensitive or the tan is already peeling I use the rubber side. You can also help the removal process by shaving or by rubbing your skin dry with a towel after a shower or bath. Generally, having a bath is better than having a shower for tan removal, although you may feel the need to have a shower after your bath as you will have been bathing in pretty murky bathwater!

So in conclusion...

I think the most important thing to take away from this to experiment and realise that you probably won't tan how you're wanting to first time around. Learn from the mistakes you make and use them to improve next time! If there's anything that you think I've missed or want to know then leave me a comment and I'll get back to you when I can!

I hope that this has helped you understand the world of fake tan a bit better! See you in my next post!

Ailsa xxx