Maybe she’s born with it, or maybe it’s just a really good organic fake tan.

Fake tans shouldn’t be scary, but sometimes, they are. We’ve all seen a fake tan gone wrong, and well, let’s admit it – nobody wants to be the victim of such a terrible fate.

Now, the winter is a few months deep and any remnants of your summer glow have completely withdrawn, your sun-kissed aura now non-existent, it’s time to consider a fake tan. Maintaining a natural looking tan through the winter doesn’t have to be tricky. Plus, when done right it keeps skin healthy looking, moisturized and fresh. It also helps to ward off dry flaky whiteness that skin tends to turn after extended heater exposure.

With the help of our natural and organic tanned Australian friends at Eco by Sonya, we show you how to get an even and natural looking tan. Their products are free from colorings, artificial dyes and other chemical ingredients.

The secret to an even looking tan

Pre-tanning preparation is essential to an even tan. This involves exfoliating and waxing or shaving at least 1-2 days before you’re planning to apply a self-tanner. Avoid doing this on the same day of your tanner application, and if you must, leave an eight hour window to allow time for your pores to properly close. This way the skin won’t be too sensitive. The Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub exfoliates away dead skin and because it’s rich in coconut and macadamia oil, this leaves the skin feeling hydrated and moisturized. Make sure to pay special attention to feet, knees and elbows.

Applying the perfect tan

1. A tan is always best applied to dry yet freshly showered skin. The Invisible Tan works best for those with a more olive complexion and the Winter Skin for the fairer skin types.
2. Use as much tan as you would use sunscreen. To be sure to get an even cover work the lotion into the skin in a circular motion from the feet up. Only a smaller amount is needed around areas like the elbows, wrists, knees heels and ankles as the skin is dryer and will suck up the tan and might leave it looking uneven. Always wash hands thoroughly after applying a tan to prevent the same problem.
3. Wait at least 8 hours before showering to allow the tan to work into the skin. If you’re using The Invisible Tan, a tip is to apply right before bed and let it work in over night. It won’t stain the sheets, because as the name suggests, it’s invisible.

Keeping the glow going

To extend the life of your fake tan, moisturize daily and avoid spraying perfume directly on the skin because it may strip the tan and cause it to go patchy looking.

Enjoy tanning up, and until summer rolls around, keep your skin naturally glowing.