I’m a beauty expert - people always make the same fake tan mistakes, how to easily avoid patchy knees and orange hands

FROM foams and mists to drops, there are countless products to choose from to get that bronzed skin — without having to step anywhere near a sunbed.

But there are many red — or should we say orange — flags that come with getting tanned from a bottle.

There are many red — or should we say orange — flags that come with getting tanned from a bottle

Beauty writer Siobhan O’connor reveals the biggest faux pas and gives her tips on how to avoid fake bake fails.

HAS your bronzer ever turned green? It is one of the biggest tanning fails and makes you look cheap rather than chic.

If this happens, it means your fake bake has oxidised. This happens when too much oxygen has entered the bottle.

If your bronzer is green, it means your fake bake has oxidised

To avoid wasting valuable product, store in a cool, dry place — avoiding any extreme temperatures and direct sunlight — and make sure it’s securely fastened so air doesn’t get into the bottle.

THESE days our beauty routine comes with several stages of product application.

But if there’s one regime that should never be layered it’s fake tan.

If there’s one regime that should never be layered it’s fake tan

This is not only wasteful, but you can’t see what you’ve covered and what you have missed — which increases the risk of streaks.

These make you look like an amateur and are a total giveaway that your tan is fake.

ONE thing you should always do before tanning is exfoliate.

This is because the product sticks to dead and dry skin, causing patchy areas with higher pigment. So if your tan clings to your feet, knees and elbows this is why.

Fake tan sticks to dead and dry skin, causing patchy areas with higher pigment

Simply brush your body from head to toe, going a little tougher on elbows, knees and heels, the day or night before you plan to tan. Moisturise these areas, too.

Get Bondi Sands dual-action exfoliating mitt, £5.99, lookfantastic.com.

THIS happens to the best of us. But going out with stained, streaky fingers and hands is probably the biggest faux pas.

TikTokers recommend applying baby oil to your hands with a brush so you can easily cover the inside of your fingers to ensure there are no harsh lines.

Orange hands happen to the best of us

But if it’s too late, soak your hands in olive oil to loosen and fade any obvious orange patches.

WE’VE all been there — the tan starts on our skin, but ends up running all over our clothes as soon as we sweat, or worse, it starts to rain.

Then there’s the age-old problem of tan staining bed sheets and towels. It’s not pretty.

Tan staining bed sheets and towels is an age-old problem

So just like you would set your make-up, spray in place your tan too.

It removes post-self-tan stickiness, and also adds a protective veil that will stop residue running and staining.

Try Skinny Tan dry mist finishing spray, 200ml, £6.49, Boots.

YOU can always spot people who aren’t regular tanners as their fake bake is usually flaking off a week later and they can’t be bothered to do anything about it.

This is a big mistake, and you would be better not even attempting to tan in the first place.

You can always spot people who aren’t regular tanners as their fake bake is usually flaking off a week later

If you’ve managed to successfully tan, you now need to successfully lose it, too. A long bath will soften any stubborn patches, along with a gentle scrub.

This is vital if you plan to apply it again as putting it on top of old tan will lead to uneven development.

IF your foundation is a different colour from the rest of your tanned body, it’s not a good look. This tends to happen because people stick to their winter foundation but bronze their body.

You have a few options. Bronze your face, but with face tanner in the same shade as your body tanner. Try Isle of Paradise self-tanning face mist Night Glow, 100ml, £15.95, lookfantastic.com, which is gentle.

If your foundation is a different colour from the rest of your tanned body, it’s not a good look

Or if you can’t part with your favourite foundation, blend in a dollop of liquid bronzer to evenly match the tone of your body.

Remember to cover your neck and behind the ears. Blend with powder bronzer.

WHETHER it’s an instant at-home tan or a spray one you’ve had done professionally, the worst thing you can do is let skin touch skin straight afterwards as this will immediately create patches as the tan transfers from one spot to another.

The problem areas are between the bosoms, armpits, thighs, and so on.

Ensure you have loose-fitting clothing you can easily chuck on post glow-up.

And Michaella says: “Use talc or powder for areas where skin does touch — for example your boobs — as the powder will help absorb natural perspiration.”

HAVE you ever tanned and looked like you’ve just stepped off a plane after three years in the Costa Del Sol?

That might be too much for this time of year. Keep it subtle. A certain ingredient will help you pick the perfect tan shade.

Have you ever tanned and looked like you’ve just stepped off a plane after three years in the Costa Del Sol

Tanning and skincare expert Michaella Bolder says: “If you are pale and want a natural, sun-kissed glow, I’d avoid darker shades of tan with higher levels of DHA as this will add too much red pigment to the skin.