Month: August 2022

A beginner’s guide on how to fake tan

Don’t let the idea of being a novice put you off self-tanning. With our handy guide you can aim for a flawless result every time you tan.

Prep and Prime

Somewhat like decorating your house, put a little ‘prep work’ into your tan routine and you can expect a more professional and streak-free finish.

Start by preparing your skin – indulge in a full body exfoliation 24 hours prior to tanning. It’s crucial you scrub off those dead layers of skin allowing fresh new ones to buff through. To get the best results we use the LJ’s Prep & Prime cream teamed up with an exfoliating mitt.

This is also the best time to shave any hairs away that you don’t want (by shaving too close to the tanning application time you can expect a speckled and uneven look). For this reason, we recommend a shave at least 24 hours in advance to applying your tan.

Top Tip – finish this process with a quick blast from a cold shower. The cold water will help close your pores and allow the tan to smooth on.

Choose what kind of ‘glow’ you want

Whether you’re after a ‘slight sun-kissed’ look or a ‘bronzed beach babe’ glow choosing the right shade for your skin tone is crucial. Tanning newbies may prefer to start with a ‘light’ option and then work their way up to ‘medium or dark’ once they’ve decided what works best for them. Alternatively, if you really want to notice the difference or have more olive skin you may prefer to start with the medium, dark or extra dark option straight away.

We’d recommend choosing the LJ’s tanning mousse for your whole body – it’s a lightweight formula that is easy to apply and dries quickly. Perfect for tanning newbies.

If you prefer more of a gradual tan, then the LJ’s tanning drops work brilliantly when added to your regular moisturiser. With the drops you can control the depth of the tan by using as many drops as you need.

Ready to start

It’s important to remember not to apply anything else to your skin before you start using the mousse. This includes any body creams, deodorants or perfumes. Failure to comply with this step can lead to disastrous results including a patchy tan or even green skin (not a great look!)

The only exception to this rule is the ‘barrier cream method’. This is where you can add a little dot of body moisturiser to particularly dry areas (elbows, knees, knuckles and ankles) by doing this you can avoid a build up of tan in these places – avoiding a patchy end result.

Top tip – if using a barrier cream, opt for something that is fragrance free/unperfumed – the less chemicals being added into the mix the better.

The tanning application

Pump a blob of tanning mousse directly onto your tanning mitt and begin by working the product methodically all over your body. Most people prefer to begin with their legs and work their way up but this is a matter of preference. Work in circular motions, reapplying the mousse to your mitt as you go along. The LJ’s tanning mousse does offer a guide colour so you can see where you’ve already covered. Continue all over your body and then stand back to assess any areas you may have missed.

For delicate areas such as fingers, toes and your neck – a kabuki brush works perfectly to give an even look.
Once you’re happy you’ve covered all areas, it’s important to let the tan dry before dressing youself.

Top tip – stand in front of a fan or hair dryer as this can quicken the drying time.

Tanning your face

Your face does not need as much tan product as the rest of your body. Therefore, it’s advisable just to do a quick sweep over this area. Less is most certainly more in this case and if you’re not happy with how dark it is you can always add more later or apply a face bronzer to give another layer of ‘glow’.

We’d recommend using the LJ’s tanning drops on your face. These are best when mixed in with your normal face moisturiser. For an even finish, apply using your hands using circular motions. However, do be sure to wash your hands immediately afterwards!

Wash off the tan

Your fake tan will develop over time, it’s best to leave it on for at least 4 hours (longer if you prefer a deeper colour). Once this time has lapsed, have a quick shower to wash it off. Underneath the base colour there should be a lovely golden bronze.

Maintain your ‘glow’

In order to obtain long-lasting results we’d recommend keeping your skin hydrated. A daily moisturiser will certainly help. Also avoid baths which will soak off the tan and could leave it patchy. A quick shower will be best. Once the tan has almost gone and you’re ready to glow again, just start the process all over again.

If you’re ready to ‘fake not bake’ then follow this link below for our full tanning range.

Ready for the Races

There’s always an air of excitement about an upcoming trip to the races, but with a spotlight on fashion now being a huge part of the day, it can feel overwhelming when choosing that perfect race day outfit.

Fear not, for we are here to help you choose your winning look so you can focus on which champagne lawn to head to first.

Check out the Rules

If you’re not a seasoned racer, then you can be forgiven for understanding that there are certain rules when it comes to dressing up for a day at the ‘gee gee’s’. Although most courses require you to dress similar to a wedding guest, it is worth checking out the website of where you’re going as certain racecourses (such as Royal Ascot) do set very strict standards. These often include rules for dress length, strap and necklines. So although we don’t want to put fear in you, we also don’t want you to be turned away on the day.

Choose a Frock

One of the safest options to go for would be a pretty dress. Something classy and modest that you can also feel comfortable in. Depending on what meeting you’re attending, it can involve a long stint of time waiting between races. Think about whether you’ll be sat for most of the day sipping on champers OR walking around watching the horses as they do a spin in the yard. Whatever your vibe is, you need to make comfort a priority. Now is not the time to try and squeeze into that dress that gives you stomach ache! Any of our wrap dresses would be perfect for the races and with so many colours and styles to choose from you can be sure to see one that suits your style.

If you want to go all out ‘Julia Roberts’ then take a look at our ‘Dotty dress’ this classic spot smothered option is an absolute winner and just needs pairing up with plain accessories. The elegance of the design also means you could wear it again for parties, weddings or holidays. BONUS!

Go Bright

A winning choice for many of our customers is the Paloma pop dress – this bright yet chic frock features flattering pleats and a mesmerizing pattern. It’s one of our best-sellers for 2022 and it’s no surprise why, this exquisite dress has bags of character whilst remaining smart enough for the races.

If you would prefer to go a little tamer then we also offer the ‘Ramona’ – it’s toned down sister dress in a plain colour. The same beautiful fit of the Paloma and the choice Sally made when she visited Doncaster races a short while ago.

Something Different

If skirts and dresses aren’t your style then opt for a more tailored 2 piece look – on trend right now are wide leg palazzo style pants, not only are these incredibly comfortable but they can look so smart when teamed with the right top and accessories. Our sunset nights trousers would look elegant teamed up with a Lolita lace vest – simply pop over a Sally blazer and you’ve got a winning combination. How bold and bright you want to go depends on you! We have a rainbow of colour options to choose from in all these pieces.

Jumpsuits – hot for 2022 has most definitely been ‘Jumpsuits’ – a smart but comfy choice and when teamed up with the right accessories can really make heads turn.

Accessories

Whatever outfit you opt for, no race-day look is complete without the infamous ‘accessories’ – be sure to indulge in a matching fascinator or hat that compliments your outfit. There’s also the other finishing touches – the bag, the shoes and of course the colour-co-ordinated lippy!

If you are going bold with colour but are feeling a little pasty, then try an at home tanning experience with the LJ’s glow range. This easy to apply and incredibly natural looking self tan range is perfect to take the edge off those milk-bottle white legs!

Whatever you wear we hope you have an amazing time and let’s pray that you get some winners on the day!