January was particularly cold this year, leaving skin feeling dry, itchy, flaky for many and in need of some serious TLC and February is seemingly no different.
With over a month left of winter, Melanie Brownlow, founder of St. Moriz, is sharing her top three tips and one-finger rule to perfect your moisturising and avoid self tan build-up.
- Micro-exfoliate
Melanie shares: “Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! We’ve all heard this, but it really is the key to a flawless, natural-looking tan. Areas such as our hands and feet are often neglected in the exfoliating process and as they tend to absorb excess tanning product, it can lead to unnecessary build-up.”
“Build-up is an accumulation of self tan product over time and typically looks uneven in colour with darker patches or streaks. This is common in the winter months as there is less humidity in the air, causing our skin to be more susceptible to dryness.”
“To perfect your micro-exfoliating, you want to concentrate on your knuckles with a self tan remover, followed by a high-quality skin primer. The small exfoliating beads get to work evening out the skins surface to create the optimal base for your tan application.”
- Inject hydration with one finger of extra product
“Ensuring skin is properly hydrated will help your tanning products – from mousse to mists – apply evenly and streak free. Skin that is particularly thirsty for hydration will have the opposite effect, with tanning products clinging to the drier patches. To avoid build-up it’s important to know which areas of your skin are more susceptible to dryness and give them some extra moisture before tanning.”
“For most of us, these areas include our joints, hands and feet. We follow a rule whereby we apply one finger’s worth of extra moisturiser to these areas. When applying self tan there, it’s best to leave them till last so your moisturiser has been absorbed, and only brush the excess of your mitt over these areas and then blend, blend, blend so your tan sits naturally.”
- Switch to gradual tan
“If you’re looking for an effortless glow that ensures your skin gets the hydration quench it needs, I would recommend trying a gradual self tan body and face lotion. Developing over one to three applications, gradual self tan will give you an undeniable holiday glow, while hydrating your skin! By switching to gradual tan, you are also able to easily adapt the shade of your tan- perfect for any upcoming events.”
For peace of mind, please note that all St. Moriz products are both cruelty-free, vegan and dermatologically tested.