The beauty priority of many brides is to warm up the classic Irish pale complexion with a tan, fake or otherwise. MyDreamWedding.ie presents the ultimate guide to getting that golden glow
Beauty regimes can take on a life of their own in the run-up to the wedding, with facials, nails, waxing, tanning, make-up and hair trials becoming a fixture in most bride’s diary. For pale Irish brides, finding the ultimate golden glow is one of the most important parts of the beauty preparation, but it can also be the most tricky. When a sunless tan works, it can look fantastic, but if it doesn’t work, it can be nothing less than a disaster.
So how do you avoid a disaster? First up, if you’re going for a sunless, or fake, tan, do your research. There are lots of different brands on the market, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages, so take your time and look into each and every one.
Have at least one trial. This is essential, as different brands produce different results on different skin tones.
Go to a reputable salon. The success of your tan relies largely on the therapist (if it’s a spray tan). If you’re going for a tanning booth, make sure the salon has the most up to date booths on the market. Also, make sure the room is well ventilated and clean.
Exfoliate your body before tanning. Ideally, you should be exfoliating and moisturising your body for a week before the tan.
If you have a very sensitive sin, it’s a good idea to ask the salon for a patch test 24-48 hours before your appointment.
On the day of the tan, do not use any deoderant, body lotion or other cosmetics on your skin, as these can act as barriers to the colour.
Remember that less is more. If you are very pale, go for a light coverage to begin with – you can always go back for a top-off, but removing too much tan can be a lot more tricky!
If you are using a tanning booth, make sure to use vaseline or a barrier cream around your finger and toe nails to prevent the tan from setting into the cuticles (this can be a huge fake tan giveaway! The problem is less of an issue with a therapist-applied spray tan, but if you are worried, it’s a good idea to protect the nails anyway.
Most sunless tans last for 5-7 days. To make sure your tan lasts for as long as possible and fades away naturally (as opposed to fading in patches), use a good body moisturiser daily, and exfoliate gently after a few days.
