Sugar, ah, honey honey...

I'm sitting here at the uni library. People all around me are talking about essays and all things wonderful that will get them great marks. I, on the other hand have forgotten my bloody essay at home. Good student me. Ah well, there is always a silver lining when you forget things; now i have time to blog, and there is one thing I've been dying to blog about...

True story: Last Friday night, I was planning to give myself a hit of summer and fake tan. So with St. Tropez fake tan on standby I was ready to hop into the shower and exfoliate. Exxcepptttf or one teeny tiny problem, I had no more body scrub. Shit, I initially thought, but being my determined self I decided I would make scrub, from scratch. Turned out, it was very simple and I was very impressed with the results! I mixed half a teacup of honey, with a 1/4 amount of sugar. It was a much better alternative to some of the scrubs which I've tried which are too coarse, not coarse enough, too oily or too dry. Let me just say, after using this honey scrub, I had the most even all over body tan I've ever had. 'Nuff said.

Fact: Sugar is not as dehydrating as salt and natural honey as its both moisturising and antibacterial, aka good for problem or dry skin.

What not to do: When making your own masks and scrubs at home, don't add mint, lavender oil, lemon or lime. These ingredients can agitating, so whatever skin type you have, you can do without irritation.

Right, now I have to work on an at home quick fix for a 3month late essay. Some sort of fruit for bribery perhaps?

What not to do: Marinade yourself in fake tan.

Deep, bronze sun kissed skin and summer go about as well together as cookies and cream. In winter though, the cooler weather calls for a more subtle golden approach. During, apply a 50-50 mixture of your trusted fake tan and your favourite moisturiser. There is, of course the option of the gradual tanner of your choice. Either summer or winter, it is absolutely crucial to get your application spot on. When buying and applying, keep this in mind.

- Look for a fake tan that has a tint within it so you can see where your applying it. Also look for one with a greenish tinge. Sounds yuck but it prevents the tan from turning a scary Donatella Versace-esque tangerine brown.
- Before every application you obviously cannot forget to exfoliate. Concoct a cheap but brilliant exfoliator by mixing your regular cleanser or body wash with enough Bicarb Soda to make it into paste consistency.
- Rub a bit of moisturiser into dry skin areas such as ankles, elbows and knees. When applying, use tight surgical gloves and buff the tan in with your palms not fingers to avoid streaks.
- If you prefer not to use gloves, and you kinda screw up your palms into an orang-y mess, nothing works better than smearing your palms with WhiteGlo toothpaste and scrubbing them with a toothbrush. Weird but true. You can also use this on any parts of the body where you make any doo doo’s (just not the face!)
- Don't go overboard with re-application when it starts to fade a bit. All that will happen is that you will go tragically overboard Wait at least about 3 days to reapply, unless it’s a gradual tanner.
- It goes without saying, but ill say it anyway. Don’t forget to moisturise everyday after a shower to keep your tan for longer.
Here is Lindsay Lohan to visually demonstrate what will most likely occur if you choose not to follow these tips. I think the face expressions say it all.