Calling all soon to be bronzed babes, do we have big news for you! Be ready to keep your Thursday night tanning troubles at bay with our list of tan hacks you will wish you knew earlier. With these top tips you can go from a pale princess to the tan-tastic goddess you know you are.

Tip 1: Hair Removal & Nails Hair removal is a must before your Thursday night pamper sesh but be sure to carry this out at least 12-24 hours before you plan to tan. This time limit is golden to ensure any cuts have healed and the skin has calmed down after shaving or waxing. If you don’t wait this long you can end up with small dark spots where the tan sits in the hair follicles. Also, if you’re planning on having a mani-pedi before the weekend, now is the time. Acetone, which is used to remove nail polish, can remove the tan on your fingers and toes.

Tip 2: Exfoliate Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! If you’re a tanning junkie you will know this is vital to avoid the dreaded buildup of tanning residue. And for those first-timers or casual self-tanners, for the smoothest application always make sure you exfoliate your body head-to-toe 24 hours before your tan, try out Sunescape’s Exfoliating Body Polish. Be sure to focus heavily on your knees, elbows, ankles and feet, as these are the places your tan loves to settle, much to all of our dismay…

Tip 3: Shower before Tanning Immediately before you apply your tan, make sure you shower and remove any deodorant, perfumes, makeup residue and moisturiser for a clean slate before your tan application. Using Sunescape’s Hydrating Shower Gel, rid your body of any residue from your day, cleansing from top to bottom. If you wear jewellery such as a necklace, rings or a watch, remove this before you shower and wash these areas as any metal residue left on the skin can react with some tanning solutions.

Tip 4: Moisturise It’s time to moisturise! Lather those rough areas mentioned before, like your knees, hands, ankles, feet and even your face, using a good quality body moisturiser. The Sunescape Hydrating Body Butter is an intensely moisturising, rich formula that smells just like summer, and will provide a barrier between the tan and rough skin! Just remember to only focus on these rough areas, completely moisturised skin will not absorb the tan, and it will just wash off in your next shower.

Tip 5: Apply your tan! Always, always, always use a luxurious, velvet application mitt to apply your tan. Start with your feet, then your legs and work your way up to the rest of your body, using both sides to ultimately ensure you don’t leave any spots a tad pale. The bronzer in the Sunescape Self-Tanning Mousse allows you to see where you have applied your tan, giving you a flawless application

Tip 6: Face the music! Don’t be scared to tan your face. The Sunescape Self-Tanning Mousse is enriched with conditioning macadamia nut, avocado and coconut oils to keep skin hydrated, while added antioxidants from green tea, kakadu plum, grape seed extract and vitamin E will help to nourish and protect your skin. To avoid build-up on any dry skin, apply a thin layer of moisturiser before tanning. To apply your tan to your face evenly, use the remaining residue from the application mitt and gently apply all over the face, taking care around the nose and eyes. We also recommend buffing the tan out evenly with a kabuki brush to ensure you reach all areas including on and behind the ears.

Tip 7: Baby got back! The inevitable question when tanning by yourself at home is how do you reach your back? Boy have we got tanning hack for you! You can easily reach your back, simply by doing a little bathroom DIY. To make your own back mitt, use a bath brush (with a long handle) and clip your Sunescape hand mitt over the sponge or brush. Apply the mousse directly to the mitt and tan-away! This will ensure you get that flawless, natural glow for those backless outfits every time. Don’t have a bath brush? No worries, we always just recruit the closest person in the household to tan our backs for us while we tell them to blend more!

Tip 8: Drying your tan Luckily Sunescape’s self-tan mousse is both ultra-hydrating and quick to dry! No need to worry about how you are going to dry off before you need to go out! Just wait a few minutes and you’re ready to roll. To ensure your tan dries quicker than your favourite TV show, apply the mousse in thin layers instead of one thick application, allowing your tan to develop better, plus you will be much more comfortable! Our formula allows you to dry quickly so you can dress in your comfies and either jump into bed, or relax around the house without your clothes removing your tan.

Tip 9: The Toothpaste Trick If you do manage to get any dark stains on the palm of your hands or feet, rub them with toothpaste. This will remove the thick layers of tan leaving you with clean, minty fresh skin. Who knew, right?

Now that you’re up to scratch with the latest tanning hacks you are ready to go fourth and bless the world with your bronzed body. Just be sure to get prepped with your Sunescape tanning products before your Thursday sesh