Beautiful Bronze – A Beginner’s Guide to Fake Tan

It’s the eternal struggle of a beauty fan; walking that very thin line between Golden Goddess and Oompa Loompa. Tanning is terrifying for the uninitiated, and often the fear or the smell, the streak and the stain is enough to put the masses off. Fear not, we’re here to help – and you will not end up like this. We promise. We’ve paired up with our pals at Cocoa Brown, the wildly successful Irish tanning brand, for the simple tips you need to remember when embracing the brown. ______________________________________ 1. Prep your skin A good scrub is a great start. It sounds like something your mammy might say, but it’s the truth. Making sure your skin is the best canvas it can be is good practice at all times, but it’s essential when you’re planning to tan. A product like Cocoa Brown Tough Stuff will remove dead skin and any remaining traces of other products you’ve used. 2. Take it off Any tan application has a lifespan. If you’re afraid of looking ‘dirty’ because you’ve seen some nasty cases in the past, you can rest assured that this is more often than not down to bad application or a laziness when it comes to taking tan off – both of which are completely avoidable! This is where the Tough Stuff will come to your rescue again. 3. Know your options It’s not a case of one brand, one tan. Cocoa Brown has lots of different options so there’s something to suit every customer. For example, Cocoa Brown 1 HOUR TAN is a long lasting, developing tan. If you prefer your tan lighter, wash it off after 1 HOUR of development time. You can also leave 1 HOUR TAN on for up to 3 hours or more to allow it to become darker. The tan stops developing after 3 hours. NIGHT & DAY TAN  is wash-off tan that will take you from pale skin to a deep a Cocoa Brown glow instantly! Because it’s a mousse, it dries up quickly and you can get dressed straight away. Once washed off, NIGHT & DAY TAN leaves a soft and natural glow that can last you up to 5 days. 4. Best for beginners A gradual tan is the best way for tanning virgins to ease their way into the regime. Cocoa Brown Gentle Bronze can be applied every day, to both moisturise your skin and give you a hint of colour, simply apply as you would body moisturiser, ensuring that it is well rubbed into your skin. Pro tip: Wait for the lotion to dry in before you get dressed and always wash your hands after use! 5. Maintenance is key To get the best run out of your tan, follow these Cocoa Brown tips: When you shower for the first time after applying tan you can use shower gel but don’t exfoliate your skin. Wait until day 2 or 3 after your tan application before you begin applying Chocolate Whip Oil-Free Body Moisturizer. If you moisturize your skin too early, it can cause the tan to fade too quickly. On day 4 and 5 start exfoliating using Cocoa Brown TOUGH STUFF Body Scrub in the shower and moisturize afterwards. Try using it on dry skin for stubborn tan patches. Use Cocoa Brown Chocolate Whip Oil-Free Body Moisturizer on day 2 and 3 after your tan application to ensure it lasts as long as possible and fades off evenly. 6. Stop the stain Apply a coat of nail polish to your nails to stop the tan from staining them, and use some Vaseline on your brows for the same reason.   Now you're all set for a golden glow in a perfectly safe way! For more on any Cocoa Brown product, just visit their website here.