For many, suntans are a natural part of life. Rather than walking around and glowing in the dark, many people opt for a year-round tan, as it gives you an overall healthy looking radiance, the appearance of a flawless complexion, and highlights muscle definition. This is possible with tanning beds, but many opt for a sunless tan with the use of various tanning products.
When you’re a Hollywood star, it has become increasingly important to look your best at all times, and that’s where James Read comes in. Read is a tanning expert that the stars call in when they want that sunkissed glow without the risk of it looking fake or overdone. His clients include Lady GaGa, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Clive Owen, Ellie Goulding, Mariah Carey, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Angelina Jolie.
According to Read, “Self-tanning has become so advanced now that there is a product choice for everyone, which allows people to achieve different looks for each season. Tanning is no longer just for the summer. It’s a year-round thing and is now part of people’s beauty regime.” Thanks to his years in the tanning industry, Read is able to produce the desired results in his clients.
Take Angelina Jolie, for example. This starlet is known for her natural-looking glow, but this doesn’t come easily. “Angelina focuses on adding luminosity to her skin, and this subtle tan makes her look radiant.” Read’s top tanning rule is to always pick the right tan for each skin tone; by creating a healthy, realistic tan for Angelina, he helps bring attention to other assets, such as those long locks and sultry eyes of hers, as opposed to if she had a dark bronze tan, which would detract from her overall appearance.
Subtlety isn’t always Read’s favored tactic, however. In the case of Mariah Carey, he opted for a deeper tan that wouldn’t go unnoticed. “I love a vibrant tan, and Mariah’s intense American colour really adds a warmth to her skin,” he said. In the event that a tan is too dark, Read recommends mixing lime and lemon juice with a face mask, toothpaste and crushed sea salt, applying the mixture to your skin and leaving in place for 20 minutes, then removing the concoction with a warm towel and showering.
Another of his clients is 24-year-old Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Read describes her glow as a “golden and very natural-looking […] 70s tan” that “has been a huge hit this year”. When tanning in the winter, particularly if you opt for a more vibrant tan, the key is proper moisturization: “Apply moisturiser to a tanning mitt, then glide over your skin, making sure to remove any excess afterwards. This is great for the winter months as it stops your skin drying out.”
When choosing a sunless tanning product, “There are so many good brands to choose from! For a facial tan it would have to be Chanel Soleil Identite Perfect Colour Face Self-Tanner or Sisley Sun Glow. On the body I’d suggest Clarins Radiance Plus for a light glow, He-Shi Liquid Express for a medium ran, and for a dark Seventies retro tan Xen Tan Absolute Lux. Go for a good wash-off tan as well; Fake Bake Flawless range is perfect for this.”
As you can see, there’s a lot more that goes into maintaining a healthy glow throughout the year than simply laying out and trying to avoid tan lines. Celebrities are serious about their appearance, which means they’re serious about their tans. If you’re after that perfect natural glow too, then make it part of your daily beauty regimen, and be aware of which products will help you to achieve your desired results. Avoid an “odd looking orange tan” by being knowledgeable and confident in your tanning choices, and you will be thrilled with the results!