Your Guide to the Perfect Organic Fake Tan

I've talked a lot about sun protection lately including this guide on natural sunscreens. However, this shouldn't stop us skincare lovers from achieving that golden glow this summer! That's where fake tan comes in to save the day! There are so many fake tans out there, that the amount of choice can be overwhelming. It's hard to find one that doesn't leave you orange, blotchy or streaky – oh and is natural too! Here on Nourished Life we have a great range of natural fake tans that I'll talk through with you and just know you'll love! I'm also going to give you some great tips on applying fake tan, maintaining it and eventually removing it. Just consider this blog post your personal guide to all natural fake tans!

Which natural fake tans are worth trying?

We have so many amazing natural fake tans on Nourished Life, but these are some of my personal favourites:

Eco Tan Cacao Firming Mousse
If you'd like to smooth and firm the texture of your skin simultaneously as well as get that chocolatey-brown tan, you can try this Eco Tan Cacao Firming Mousse. This is my personal favourite because it is organic, smells delicious, dries completely streak free and best of all, this actually develops evenly after you have washed it off, this is why on the bottle it says it is a 1 hour self tan.

Eco Tan Invisible Tan
The Eco Tan fake Tan lotion Invisible Tan is also great because it's organic and gives a streak-free golden chocolate colour that looks so natural on the skin. It develops over 6-8 hours with a single application so you can leave it on for as long as you like, depending on how deep you want the final colour to be. You can even leave it on overnight while you sleep, so you can wake up in the morning with a holiday glow! Unlike other fake tans it has a soft rose flower scent that is pleasant and can be mixed with your everyday moisturiser for a subtle, healthy glow. As the colour is quite dark it is more suited for medium to darker skin.

Eco Tan also have a great range of other tanning products you might like to try like their Winter Skin that allows you to slowly build your tan over time and their beautiful Face Tanning Water which you can just apply over your face with a cotton pad for a gorgeous holiday glow.

Lavera Organic Fake Tan Lotion
This fake tan from Lavera is another one that doesn't have that typical fake tan smell that lingers the day after you apply! It gives you a glowing, natural tan within just 3 hours, so is perfect for when you're in a hurry! It is Lavera's best selling product, which isn't too surprising because it is great for dry skin and gives a streak-free tan every time you apply it!

How should you apply fake tan?

I find that fake tan applies best after a full body exfoliation. I personally love using my Hydrea Dry Body Brush to which not only gets rid of dry skin but has a whole hosts of other benefits too! I talk about the benefits of dry body brushing here. To get a streak-free, even application I like using a tanning mitt or glove so I don't get unsightly stains on my hands. Putting the product onto the glove, smooth it evenly all over your body in circular motions. As most tans have a bronzing agent in them, you should be able to see any areas that you have missed!

How can you extend the life of a fake tan?

Ensuring that your tan lasts as long as possible is all down to moisturising! Keeping your body moisturised by applying a body lotion after getting out of the shower is the key to fake tan longevity. Another tip I have found is that when you hop out of the shower, pat yourself dry with your towel rather than rub. This way you don't accidentally rub off any tan! My favourite moisturiser to use over a tan is the 100% Pure Coconut Nourishing Body Cream. It is so hydrating on the body, smells amazing and elongates the life of your tan! Perfect!

What is the best way to remove fake tan?

When your tan has lasted as long as possible and starts to look a little worse for wear, it's all about gentle exfoliation to remove it. With either an exfoliating glove or exfoliating body wash, scrub all over your body in circular motions to remove any left over tan. Eco Tan's Exfoliant Glove is the perfect way to smooth out your skin, getting rid of any dry skin and old fake tan.

Not ready for the commitment?

If you're not ready for fake tanning just yet, or you ran out of time to apply it for an occasion, we also have a great range of instant body bronzers that wash off at the end of the day. We love the Lux Aestiva Gypsy Oil in Tigers Eye for a skin perfecting and illuminating instant golden bronze glow!