Back to beauty basics: How to make a fake tan look professional

While Ireland has long been one of the most enthusiastic markets for tanning products, our passion for tan doesn't always match our skill in applying it. Anyone who has tried applying sunless tan knows the pain of orange knuckles, a streaky back or – my personal favourite – completely forgetting to do one leg.

I called on celebrity tanner and "tantouring" pioneer Amanda Harrington for advice. Harrington has tanned everyone from Dua Lipa to Jennifer Aniston, and started her career as a make-up artist, which explains why she is so famed for sculpting bodies with tan. She took some time to answer my basic tan application questions in the hope that none of us will ever forget one leg again.

The real work of a good tan starts the day before, she stresses. “The biggest mistake people make is not spending enough time preparing their skin”. Essentially, we need to exfoliate, even those with dry skin, to get rid of any uneven or dead skin before tanning – “A prepped canvas – face and body – allows the colour to blend well and absorb perfectly into your new skin.”

To keep the finish of tan even all over, moisturising is essential before application. “Tan notoriously collects around areas like feet, elbows and hands – this is so common. But all you need is a layer of hydration to act as a barrier between your skin and the tan, preventing streaks and patchiness.” Pay extra attention to areas like the knees and elbows and between the fingers – the barrier cream will prevent tan gathering conspicuously in those areas. Also, make sure to wash your hands as soon as you’re finished.

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Mousse and brush

Ideally, Harrington advises persuading someone to help with areas like your back, but it is possible to create a perfectly tanned back solo. It’s just a matter of choosing a formula wisely – “If you can’t rope someone in to help, a mousse and brush make it much easier to evenly cover the skin. Each brush stroke helps to buff the tan on to the skin, minimising the risk of streaking or patching and resulting in a longer-lasting, more natural-looking tan.”

If you can, “be sure to tan in front of a full-length mirror. Use the back of your hand to spread the tan evenly across your skin, then minimise the risk of patching and streaking – while increasing the longevity of your tan – by using a brush to buff, pushing the colour in deeper.” To maintain the tan at its best, moisturise daily. If you’ve prepped well in advance, Harrington advises, the tan will last longer and should fade without patchiness. Once you’re ready to remove and reapply, exfoliate with a glycolic acid product 24 hours before you redo your tan.

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