Winter Tanning Tips For the Party Season According to the Expert

It’s official, party season is upon us and as we pack in more social events over the next five weeks than we’ve had the last six months, it can be a struggle to drag yourself out of your tracksuit and into your glam outfits. As someone with olive-toned skin, the lack of vitamin D can really show on my face and I will spend the next few weeks assuring people I am neither unwell or tired. One thing I do to combat this is apply self tan. You may think this is for the summer, but believe me this will not only lift your skin, but also your mood.

“Think about having a healthy glow in winter, rather than a deep tan,” says self tan expert and founder of St Moriz Melanie Brownlow. This will give your glow a more natural appearance, rather than going from Casper the ghost one day to “back from a gap year” the next. It will also make it easier to keep up throughout the entire festive period.

Although Brownlow recommends focusing on your face, read on to find out her top tips as well as advice from tanner Nicky Matthews, who says it’s all about undertones.

Experts Featured in This Article

Melanie Brownlow is a self tan expert and founder of St Moriz

Nicky Matthews is a self tan expert and ambassador for Sienna X

Focus on Your Self Tanning Your Face

“Your face is the part of your body that is on show the most, so create a flawless facial tan by consistently using tanning drops,” says Brownlow. “Invest in an illuminating oil too, to create radiant, healthy and glowing skin – even in winter when our skin can look dull.”

“If you’re looking to maintain a natural glow throughout the winter months, I’d suggest starting with a gradual tan and building on this to achieve your desired glow,” says Brownlow. “A bronzing face product will give you a radiant look without missing out on the benefits of skincare. Opt for bronzing drops that are designed to be mixed with skincare products and simply add three to six drops with your daily moisturiser or try a gradual self tan face mist, so you can control the level of colour and match this to the rest of your body.”

One of my favourite facial oils for a gradual tan is Bare by Vogue Facial Tanning Serum (£18, originally £27) if you prefer an instant tan then St Moriz Advanced Glow Serum Bronzing Serum (£11) which gives the most perfect golden glow.

Understand Your Undertones When Selecting Your Self Tan

“Understanding your skin’s undertone is crucial,” says Nicky Matthews, self tanner and expert for Sienna X. “Your skin tone may change throughout the year, depending on the season, but your undertone will never change.”

Selecting the right tan shade can be just as important as the outfit itself, it can also be key to ensuring your tan looks more natural. “Opt for a golden tan that enhances warm shades like red and gold, or a cooler olive tone to complement vibrant greens,” says Matthews. “If your outfit has a lot of shimmer, keep your tan natural and subtle to let your makeup and accessories shine. Tan tends to react with your own colour tones.”

“There are three types of undertones, warm includes golden or yellow undertones, cool includes peachy, pink or red, and sometimes blueish undertones and neutral means you are a mixture of warm and cool,” explains Brownlow. Choose a tone and depth that compliments your undertone and you won’t go far wrong.”

One of my favourite ranges which works with your undertones and comes in four shades making it easier to understand is Bondi Sands Techocolor. If you have olive tones you want to try Emerald, Sapphire for cool tones, Magenta for Deep tones and Caramel for golden tones.

Concentrate on Exfoliating Throughout the Holiday Season

“To make your tan last through all your Christmas parties, focus on prepping your skin well before applying your tan,” says Matthews. “Your skin naturally sheds its top layer every 7 days, so exfoliating thoroughly to remove dead skin cells and leave a smooth surface for tan application and longevity, is really important. Our skins tend to be lighter through the winter months, so you can always opt for gradual tan products that can be reapplied every few days to keep your glow fresh and even without starting over.”

To prepare for your tan always prep with a scrub like Sienna X Exfoliate Collagen and Melanin Boosting Scrub (£15) and then use a gradual tan like Bali Body Gradual Tan Body Butter (£27) after a few days to keep your skin hydrated and your tan in check.

Lauren Ezekiel (she/her) is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism she began her career in 2008. Lauren is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup. A mum of two, Lauren is an advocate for the benefits of beauty and self-care for your mental well-being, which inspired her award-winning charity initiative We C U 2020. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK!, Health & Beauty, The Sun, Asda, Dare and Metro.