How to master a winter tan (without it looking fake)

Bronzed is in, at any age. Here’s how to make it suit your complexion

Fake tan has come a long way from the Tango’d orange hue many mousses would deliver ten years ago. In fact, it’s now an effective beauty tool used by women and men of all ages – particularly during the winter months, when our skin can look sallow and dull. Demi Moore, 61, has long been a poster girl for a deep bronze faux tan, and her appearance on the red carpet at the Academy Museum Gala in LA over the weekend was no different. 
“Demi is proof that bronzed skin is in, at any age,” explains the tanning expert James Harknett, who is a global creative artist for the Australian tanning brand Three Warriors. His client base is largely men and women over 50, all of whom want a natural-looking tan that suits their own complexion. Here’s how to master a winter tan without it looking fake. 
Regardless of whichever tan you are using – whether a mist, drops or a mousse – you want to make sure the skin is adequately prepared beforehand. When applying make-up, the best canvas will always give the best results. An exfoliator, like the Brilliantly Bright Body Polish by Isle Of Paradise, sloughs away dead skin cells and smooths rough patches ready for tan. It will also prep the skin well so the tan fades more evenly, too.
Brilliantly Bright Body Polish, £18, Isle of Paradise
For a tan that looks authentic and suits your natural colouring, Harknett – who tans 40 clients a week – suggests using a mousse. The olive and violet pigment in the ingredients of the Three Warriors Self Tanning Mousse, prevents any chance of orange tones. “The light weight foam is much easier to disperse on more mature skin. As we get older, our skin loses elasticity, especially the knees, elbows and neck. So just a gentle covering of tan will give the glow, without accentuating any fine lines.” 
To prevent any mousse settling into uneven skin, Harknett advises on using a tanning brush to buff any residual tan. Try the Beauty Buff Brush by Three Warriors. 
Self Tanning Mouse, £35; Beauty Buff Brush, £12; both Three Warriors
The trick to a tan that fades evenly and naturally is keeping the skin hydrated. “Keeping the skin well-moisturised is going to help keep tanned skin looking healthy and real for the longest time possible,” says Harknett. “As self tanner lives in our cells, it can break down in patches. A rich body cream will alleviate a matte look and minimise patches.” Try The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Body Butter by Naturium, which is beautifully rich for the winter months. 
Glow Getter Multi-Oil Body Butter, £22, Naturium
If you’d rather not try a mousse tan, gradual tanning body lotions have come a long way in the last decade. The Golden Glow Gradual Tanning Cream by Gatineau is one of the easiest to use products to introduce in your body care routine. Slap it on as you would any other body cream and it gives a gentle hint of colour after a day. Apply it two or three days in a row and you’ll achieve a natural-looking deep tan even Demi Moore would be proud of. 
Golden Glow Gradual Tanning Cream, £20, Gatineau
Face tanning is another matter altogether. “Less is more,” says the tanning expert James Read. “Buy a product that works with your routine – tanning drops can be mixed in with your moisturiser and mists are very easy to use. You can spray and go, and gradually build up the tan with a mist.” 
The best-selling Sunblush Hydrating Tan Mist by James Read gives a gentle glow on the skin. Lisa Snowdon is a fan of the product, using it on bare skin and spraying over make-up, too. “Tanning is now seasonless, with so many ways to look glowing year-round,” adds Read.
Sunblush Hydrating Tan Mist, £39, Self Glow By James Read