The benefits of The Tan Brush compared to a mitt.

I hear you ask which is better, a tanning mitt or The Tan Brush. There are 53 self-tanning mitts on the market, which increase annually ranging in shape, size, and various materials. Some are pretty basic, some very fancy, but not all result in the best self-tan.

If you are happy to continue using a tanning mitt, this blog may not be for you. However, are you interested in learning a secret? What if I tell you that you can apply your favourite self-tanning product flawlessly with a tanning brush. Would you like to discover how?

I said your favourite tanning product because our double award winning The Tan Brush will work with any self-tanning cream, lotion, mousse, oil, gel or liquid on the market.

We are not about self-tanning products; We are all about the application.

It doesn’t matter if you are applying a product from the £1 store or a top of the range Sisley. You will get a fantastic result using our brush. And if you use The Tan Brush Cleanser that we created, you can use all the products mentioned above at one time. Plus, a powder shimmer if you feel the need.

Cleanse the brush in-between uses, and you can apply different effects to various parts of your body and face all at once.

The Tan Brush will give you a better finish than a mitt, and I say that with my hand on my heart; of course, you’ll have to allow someone to brush your back – just like using a mitt. Although, funnily, both my sons are happy to brush my back… touch me with a mitt or glove – no way!

You get the drift.

We make this claim simply because of the difference The Tan Brush will make to your application. Instead of the product sitting on the skin’s surface due to being swept on with a mitt, the brush buffs the product into the skin as you apply it. You will be delighted with the results, a silky, smooth, gorgeous glow without streaks, patches or messy hands.

Don’t worry if you get distracted while applying and end up with a patch; you can buff a little product into that isolated area and blend, promoting glowing, healthy, natural-looking and longer-lasting tanned skin. Leaving you feeling fantastic, what more does one want?

You will need less product as you brush and buff into the skin, with minimal remains on the brush. In other words, your tanning product will also last longer, another fantastic benefit compared to product loaded mitts.

Self-tanning products dry much quicker as you brush and buff them into your skin a little at a time until almost completely dry. This process takes much longer with a mitt application, as the product will sit on the surface of your skin until you do the ‘Tan Dance’, and it eventually dries.

We have noticed that when we apply self-tan or fake-tan as some people refer to it, in the evenings, no residual product transfers to the bedsheets, as there is very little product left on the skin’s surface. This, I feel, is a big bonus. When I used a mitt in my ‘life before Tan Brush’, I would have been quite reluctant to apply a fake tan before going to bed. Now I don’t give it a second thought.

So, if any of this information will help you achieve your best tan ever- then we are thrilled! Our ultimate goal is to help every tan wearer to feel amazing in their skin, to walk a little taller and ultimately, to have the absolute confidence to #feelgoodnaked!

Happy Tanning!

Lots of Love K x

Self-esteem. Where does it come from, and how can I raise it?

I bet many of you will doubt yourself regularly; I know I spent most of my life doing so and was unaware that there was something I could do to stop the self-doubt and low self-esteem that came with it. If only we could trap the negative thoughts that float through our minds and weed them out, wouldn’t that be wonderful?

I feel compelled to talk about self-esteem as it significantly affects our self-image and our thoughts.

Feel Good Naked. They are three powerful words, but how many of us feel good naked? And if we don’t, then why not? A complex, thought-provoking question for a blog, you might think. But here goes.

We want to encourage you to think about how your self-esteem affects your thoughts about your nakedness.

When we created The Tan Brush, our objective was to help every woman feel good about her body and also feel good within herself, embrace her natural femininity and feel proud to be a woman. To Feel Good Naked, no matter what size, shape, imperfection, scar or stretch mark. We feel so passionately about self-image that we built our Ditch The Mitt Campaign around supporting women who have experienced significant breast surgery.

We all have an inner critic. A little devil who thinks of ways to knock your con-fidence and stop you from being who you deserve to be. We will name him Norman.

Norman will periodically chip in with unkind remarks – “You’re not clever enough”, You’re too fat”, You’re not capable of doing that”, You don’t deserve that”, and so on. And unfortunately, too many of us listen to him.

Norman is our inner belief. He puts into words what we think of ourselves, which happens through life experience as we evolve and grow from childhood to adulthood. Then, when something simple happens, like you can’t pull the zip of your jeans up, Norman reaffirms, “I told you, you’re fat!’ and there’s the proof.

We then tend to spiral into something that’s called a looping thought. One thought leads to another, leading to an action that brings us back to the original thought. As so, it goes on.

This can drastically impact our self-esteem or self-value and, in turn, our self-image or how we see ourselves, which is fundamental for our happiness. We all deserve to be happy! Right?

Some people, especially on social media (and I am using this as an example because most of us can identify), can trick us into thinking that they have their shit together by the perfectly groomed image they portray to the world. They feel liked and accepted by the positive responses they receive. However, without this identity, they will feel they don’t matter. So they must display this image to tell themselves that everything is OK.

Every single one of us tells ourselves stories. It’s what we do. We say them out loud, but we also internalise these stories.

The good news is that we can change the story and, with that, change our thinking, raise our self-esteem and undo some of the harm.

Have you ever stopped and listened to how you truly speak to yourself?

Imagine carrying a tray with six large cups of hot coffee from the kitchen into the living room. You trip and drop the tray, burning yourself in the process, ruining the carpet and smashing the cups. What do you say to yourself?

I imagine you’re shouting, and I guarantee there are a few expletives.

Now imagine a six-year-old little girl carrying the tray. She trips and falls, and the same thing happens. What do you say to her?

Better still, another woman in the corner of the room shouts at the top of her voice at the child, using the derogatory words you used while inwardly berating yourself as you dropped the tray.

What would you do?

Would you protect her? Would you help and stand up for the little girl?

I’m guessing you would be appalled at the woman for speaking to a child that way. So why do we do this to ourselves? Why don’t we protect ourselves?

The exercise demonstrates how much harm negative self-talk can do.

The mind believes precisely what we tell it.

So, in other words.

Be nice to yourself. Be careful of the words Norman chooses; Norman is you!

I would love to share this simple hack with you; I wish someone had shared it with me when I was young; however, such behaviour would have been considered frivolous back then.

The words that follow I am…. are who you are and what you will become, so pick them wisely. Praising yourself is the fastest way to improve self-esteem. Praise from others isn’t necessary; it tends to make us needy. Self-praise is much more critical. So, stop with self-criticism.

Look at yourself in the mirror while you say your new truthful, positive words. Say them every morning, maybe as you brush your teeth. Watch how your confidence grows and your self-esteem improves.

I am ….

• Beautiful

• Strong

• Kind

• Thoughtful

• Clever

And so on… You decide whom you want to be.

As I write, I listen to Christina Aguilera’s song – Beautiful.

“I am beautiful no matter what they say

Words can’t bring me down

I am beautiful in every single way

Yes, words can’t bring me down, oh no

So don’t you bring me down today?”

Your own words can bring you down if you let them. So, be kind to yourself.

We all love to be confident, don’t we? I don’t know how you feel, but a bronzed glow is definitely my solution for a quick boost. To quote Audrey Hepburn – ‘On a bad day, there is always lipstick’ That resonates with me in a similar way; a splash of colour can make a difference to my mood and how I feel about myself. Something so simple and yet so powerful.

If this sounds like you, it may be helpful to know a little more about skin preparation before tanning. If you follow these 3 simple steps and make it part of your routine, then self-tanning will not only be a more effortless, enjoyable experience, but the time you spend will convert into feeling good for so much longer. Why not prolong your tan for as long as you can?

Step one – Hair Removal

Let’s talk about the various hair removal procedures available. This is important as the correct hair removal is fundamental.

Shaving is a quick fix, however, this is not the road to take if you want the best outcome and a longer-lasting tan. Yes, it’s a stopgap, but the hair will start to grow back within an hour and leave a shadow on the skin. So, even though you can tan immediately, it will not last for long, nor will it leave you feeling good in the following days. After self-tanning most will wait 2 – 3 days before shaving again. But shaving will remove the tan in patches and leave you feeling quite dissatisfied. You’re probably best to remove the tan and start again; in reality, it’s not a quick fix.

Waxing can react more vigorously to our skin than shaving, so you must allow at least 48 hours before applying a fake tan. As the hot wax is applied to the skin, it opens the pores; when the wax is removed, it removes live skin cells with it, and you don’t want that; you only wish to remove the dead, scaly, dry skin cells on the surface, not the live cells. It takes at least 24 hours for the skin to recover and the pores to close. So, in other words, immediately after waxing is not the best time to self-tan.

Sugaring is a better option if you wish to tan immediately. This age-old technique has been reinvented and is quickly becoming the leading hair removal method within the beauty industry. Sugaring is not just about hair removal, it is a complete skin care programme that cleanses, exfoliates, removes only dead skin cells, and nourishes and conditions the skin. It is an investment of both money and time, but the results are excellent. Believe me, your skin will be transformed forever.

Hair removal cream should be used 24 hours in advance of applying a fake tan as too many chemicals on your skin at once can lead to excessive irritation.

Also if you apply the cream after you tan, you will remove that gorgeous glow from your body.

Laser hair removal is also an investment of time and money. It is highly rec-ommended that you wait at least 1-2 weeks after a treatment session before using a fake tan. You must be extra cautious with your skin during treat-ment sessions to avoid any damage to the skin.

Step Two – Exfoliation;

Now you have removed the unwanted hair from your body, it’s time to exfoliate correctly.

We recommend dry brushing, for so many more reasons other than removing dead skin, please see our dry brushing blog. Honestly, if you only do one thing, purchase a dry body brush. I can honestly say, hand on my heart it’s the best product I have ever used to improve my skin and lymphatic system.

If you wish to use salt or sugar based exfoliate product, choose a cream-based one that can be applied before showering, it will be more effective. You will really be able to work it into the skin and receive the full benefits.

Simply step into the shower afterwards to remove the product and cleanse your skin.

Step Three Hydration;

It is so important and this is the step that many of us get wrong. Choose a water-based moisturiser for the best possible results other than an emollient. Water-based products penetrate the skin allowing deeper nourishment, conditioning the skin and making it feel soft, truly hydrated and youthful. I will use the cornflakes analogy to explain.

If you have a bowl full of cornflakes and pour yoghurt or honey on top, both the yoghurt and honey will rest on the surface of the cornflakes. However, if you pour milk into the bowl, it will naturally fall directly into the bottom of the bowl and soak into the cornflakes. A water-based product is definitely what you want for your skin.

Tanning

So, now lovely ladies, you are ready to apply the best tan in the world. Simply apply your favourite mousse, cream, lotion, oil or liquid onto the surface of the Tan Brush and brush it onto your amazing skin. Use circular movements to buff it in, making sure that you reach every curve and crease. As you work the brush the product will dry flawlessly and enable you to get dressed quickly. Remember to cleanse the brush every time you use it, if you do, it will last you for years.

The Tan Brush is now exclusive in De Gruchy’s, St Helier, Jersey

As we made our way to the airport, excited about our trip to De Gruchy’s department store; we checked if the passports and tickets were precisely where they should be, believe me, there is always a drama, We chatted about how we imagined Jersey to be. Neither of us knew the island, but tales of their infamous ice cream sprang to mind, so we were excited by the few days ahead.

The flight was a mere 65 minutes, quicker than a jaunt to Dublin, and very comfortable and relaxed. We floated over crystal blue waters, golden beaches, and green fields as we came into land. The sun shone and sparkled as we disembarked, and the smell of warm air greeted us like an old friend as we made our way to the bus terminal.

As we drove into St Helier with a birds-eye view from the top deck, there was a distinct feeling of summer as the sea air crept through the windows. We were advised to take the bus to see more of the island. The journey was quick, and we arrived outside the Royal Yacht Hotel in no time.

The island appears to be very charming, we thought, as we clambered down the stairs and pulled our luggage out of the hold. This should suit the Tan Brush very well!

We dropped our bags at the hotel and walked to the centre of St Helier through Victorian and Georgian terraces. The narrow streets were adorned with exquisite homes, individual in style and colour, and we imagined who lived within their walls as we walked up the hill. The sun beat so intensely it was hard not to double back and head to the beach, but we had work to do and first on the agenda was the De Gruchys Department store in the heart of the town.

Cool air met us as we stepped in from the searing 32-degree heat. For two Northern Irish girls, that’s damn hot, blistering even, so the drop in temperature was heavenly.

We aren’t used to sunshine; our summer season lasts two or three weeks on average, so by nature, our skin tone is pale with a hint of blue, as Billy Connelly would say, and a few freckles are thrown in for good measure.

We need a little help to enhance the vibrancy our skin deserves. Ridiculous as that sounds, but most Celtic women will identify. We freely admit to feeling much better with a golden hue.

Most of us will self-tan weekly; a few will apply self-tan for extra confidence on special occasions, but we all know that we look more attractive and certainly feel better with a tan; it’s almost like having a little shimmer from the inside.

So as we walked into the store, passing the stylish Tom Ford, Lancome, Clinique and Dior counters, there she was, displayed on a podium all by herself!

I still can’t get used to seeing The Tan Brush, our creation, sitting on a shelf in Department stores. It fills me with so much pride that I have to pinch myself.

We spent the day talking to the women and girls of Jersey, introducing ourselves and telling them the Lady GaGa, crisps and glass of wine story. After all, it’s the truth. We weren’t experts in the tanning industry; we had an idea and saw a niche in the tanning market.

However, we have become experts in the Self-Tanning application over the past four years; nobody does it better. Adding Netflix, alcohol, and honky dory crisps give credibility to our story; it’s real and probably how most brilliant dreams and ideas are conceived. However, our vision has become a reality. She’s here, and The Tan Brush now has her own shelf in De Gruchy’s.

We spent a few days embracing a little of everyone else’s work-life balance. Dreamy! Working in the morning, day-tripping in the afternoon. Jersey has an incredible pace of life; I can see the attraction, especially when the sun is shining. With just over 100,00 in population, it’s quiet and relaxing but at the same time has a real sense of serious business, style and class.

As we made our way back to the airport, we boarded the plane with slight reluctance; we were only there a few days, but in that time, a great deal was achieved, and we both felt a sense of gratitude. Thank you to all at De Gruchys for making us feel welcome. I think Jersey will always have a place in our hearts, and it only happens to be a hop, skip and a jump away.