Tan-tastic tips

Have you reinstated tanning Thursdays yet? With restrictions recently lifted a lot of us have been reunited with our tanning besties.

Shelley Martin of Irish tan brand he-shi has given us some tips on how get a perfect tan.

Be prepared

Preparation is essential for a glowing skin, said Shelley.

She explained: “Exfoliation is so important when it comes to self-tanning, and it really does make a difference to the evenness and longevity of our tan.” She suggests using he-shi Tan Remover & Primer (€6) as the first step in tan application. It contains fruit AHAs to gently remove dead skin cells, and soothing aloe vera to hydrate and condition our skin. “We might neglect our skin a little in winter, so the action of simply soothing and prepping our skin alone will give back some much needed love.”

Go gradual

She recommends he-shi Day to Day Gradual Tan (€18.50) as it builds up a soft, gradual glow over several days.

Packed with super moisturising ingredients, this subtle self-tan leaves our skin rehydrated and nourished. Shelley explained that going from freezing outdoor weather to central heating indoors plays havoc with our skin and really dries it out.

“Hydration really is the key! Our self-tan doesn’t contain alcohol or parabens as these dry out skin, causing tan to break down faster and crack or go scaly. We also pack our self-tan with vitamin E and super-moisturising ingredients to thoroughly soothe and repair skin,“ she said.

Face facts

Self-tan meets skincare with he-shi Overnight Hyaluronic Tan Balm (€26.50). Used nightly after cleansing, this powerful night moisturiser works its magic while we sleep and reinjects a glow back into our tired faces. As the name suggests, this balm is packed with hyaluronic acid to reduce the appearance of fine lines and to plump fatigued skin.

Although as Shelley reminds us, it’s not just our skin that gets a boost: “A tanned face will also make our eyes look brighter and teeth whiter, giving an overall healthful and radiant appearance.”