Sun care
Fair skin dilemma
Q. I hate my skin, it's so fair. I haven't tried tanners, because I have heard they make your skin go yellow afterwards. What do I do? Thanks for your help!
A. Try a self-tanner before making a decision — these days they've got more technology behind them so they shouldn't turn your skin yellow. L'Oreal makes a tanner for fair skin. Try the L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Milk or Lotion, or Ambre Solaire Express Spray Bronzer. Start with one layer and then build the colour up. Don't sunbake — if you've got fair skin, unfortunately you're always going to get burnt — you won't tan. And don't use sunbeds either, they're just like spending a day in the sun so they're damaging to your skin.
Emergency tan line
Q. I recently went on a week-long bike ride with my mum, where I wore tight bike shorts every day. I now have very definite white and tan areas on my legs. I tried putting a fake tanner on to smooth it out, but the line was still just as obvious. Please help!
A. Whoops! The only way to get rid of the lines is to exfoliate the tan off and wait until the line fades. This should take about two weeks. Use exfoliating bathing gloves (from stuf. stores, The Body Shop or a chemist) lathered up with a moisturising body wash like Dove. When you're at the beach (and don't get embarrassed — it's got to be done!) wear sunblock on your lower legs and a sunscreen with a low SPF factor on the whiter top part of your legs.
Fake that tan
Q. I've never used a fake tan before and want to use one this summer. I was wondering, when you put it on, do you put it on everywhere, eg face, hands, feet etc? And also, what are some good brands of fake tan?
A. Yes, you do put it on everywhere. If you miss bits, it'll be obvious that the colour is fake. Use a different product for face and body. All you do is put it on when you have at least an hour to spare. Get naked in the bathroom, use a body scrub on your skin to help remove any dead or dry skin and apply your self-tan with the palms of your hands in long, smooth strokes. Wait at least 10 minutes in the bathroom before putting your clothes back on. Then, don't shower, swim or do any sweaty activities for at least two hours whilst the tan develops. Try Sun 2000, Ella Baché, Ambre Solaire, L'Oréal Plenitude Sublime Bronze and Le Tan.
Pimples from sunscreen
Q. Every summer, I go to the beach and use a lot of sun cream, but it's a big hassle because it gives me an oily and pimply face! What can I do without exposing my face to the sun's harmful rays?
A. Stay out of the sun when the sun's rays are most powerful (11am to 3pm), sit under a beach umbrella, wear a hat, or find an oil-free sunscreen. Try Sun Sense or Banta Oil Free Faces. Elizabeth Arden and Clinique also make oil-free sunscreens. Apply once and then thoroughly wash off before applying it again. Constantly reapplying layers of sunscreen might be the pore-clogging culprit.
