TIME TO PRIME
Smooth fine lines and pores for longer-lasting makeup with our NEW skin-loving Mattifying and Protective Face Primers.
Treat your skin to a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow and a sublimely soft finish with Kissed by Mii’s hydrating, marine mineral enriched and organic DHA self-tan collection.
Yes, we would always recommend exfoliating your skin before applying fake tan. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells and eliminate any dry or flaky patches to create a smoother canvas for tanning application. You can exfoliate using our Seriously Smoothing Exfoliator or Seriously Smoothing Exfoliating Gloves in the shower, paying particular attention to areas that tend to be drier, such as elbows, knees, and ankles. After exfoliating, be sure to moisturise your skin with our Seriously Smoothing Moisturiser to keep it hydrated before applying the fake tan.
Moisturising plays a crucial role in achieving a smooth and even fake tan application. Here are some guidelines on when to moisturise:
Before tanning – It’s recommended to moisturise your skin before applying fake tan, especially if you have dry areas or rough patches. Applying a light moisturiser 1-2 hrs before tanning can help hydrate your skin and create a smoother surface for the tanning product. Make sure the moisturiser is fully absorbed into your skin before proceeding with the tanning process.
Avoid moisturising immediately before tanning – While it’s important to moisturise beforehand, you should avoid applying moisturiser immediately before tanning. The oils and emollients in moisturisers can create a barrier on your skin, which can interfere with the absorption of the fake tan and result in an uneven application.
After tanning – Once you have applied the fake tan and allowed it to develop according to the instructions you can moisturise your skin. This step helps to maintain the longevity of your tan and keep your skin hydrated. Opt for a lightweight, non-oily moisturiser like our Seriously Smoothing Moisturiser that won’t interfere with the tan’s development or cause streaking. Moisturising your skin regularly after tanning not only helps to prolong the tan’s appearance but also helps to prevent it from fading unevenly.
Here are some of our top tips to prevent your hands from staining when using fake tan:
Exfoliate and moisturise – Before applying fake tan, make sure to exfoliate your hands to remove any dead skin cells and create a smooth surface, focusing extra attention on areas like the knuckles, in between the fingers and the wrists. After exfoliating, apply a small amount of moisturiser to your hands, particularly on the palms and cuticles as this creates a barrier and prevents the tan from clinging to dry patches.
Use a tanning mitt or gloves – Wear our Effortlessly Easy Tanning Mitt or disposable gloves during the application for an additional barrier.
Blend the product carefully – When applying fake tan to your body, be cautious around your wrists, knuckles and in between your fingers. These areas tend to absorb more product and can easily result in darker patches or streaks. Use a lighter touch and blend the product thoroughly to achieve an even application.
Wash hands immediately – After applying fake tan to your body, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. Pay close attention to the palms, fingers and nails, ensuring that any residual tanning product is removed.
With the correct application and maintenance, your tan should last around 5-7 days. Keeping your skin hydrated plays a crucial role in retaining the tan, but we also recommend minimising prolonged exposure to water, avoiding harsh soaps and pat-drying the skin after showering. Applying Daily Boost Gradual Tanning Lotion following fake tan application is ideal for boosting your faux glow.
To achieve a natural finish, try using our Special Finish Brush to blend a small amount of your chosen Effortlessly Easy tanning product in between fingers, around your feet and your knees. Alternatively, you can swipe the excess tan from your Effortlessly Easy Tanning Mitt once you have tanned everywhere else, blending the excess onto these areas. Finish with a Seriously Smoothing Exfoliating Wipe to remove any tan from your nail beds, palms, wrists and soles of your feet.
For best results, it is important to exfoliate all excess tan off and start with a fresh, smooth base.
Here are a few simple steps on how you can effectively maintain your new faux tan:
Moisturise daily – Keeping your skin hydrated is key to maintaining a fake tan as dry skin can cause your tan to fade more quickly and unevenly. Moisturise your body daily, preferably after showering or bathing, with our gentle yet hydrating Seriously Smoothing Moisturiser.
Avoid harsh soaps and exfoliants – Harsh soaps and exfoliating products can strip away your tan faster. Opt for mild, non-abrasive cleansers and avoid using loofahs or rough exfoliating gloves that can slough off the tan. If you need to exfoliate, choose our gentle Seriously Smoothing Exfoliator and be cautious around the tanned areas, as aggressive exfoliation can cause patchiness.
Pat dry after showering or bathing – When you shower or bathe, avoid rubbing your skin vigorously with a towel and instead, gently pat your skin dry to prevent unnecessary fading or streaking of the tan.
Avoid prolonged exposure to water – Excessive exposure to water, such as prolonged swimming or soaking, can cause your tan to fade more quickly.
Use gradual tanning products – To maintain your tan or prolong its appearance, use our Daily Boost Gradual Tan as it contains a small amount of self-tanner that can help refresh and deepen your existing tan. Apply every few days or as needed to maintain a consistent colour.
Protect your skin from the sun – Fake tan does not provide protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays. Always remember to apply sunscreen when exposing your skin to the sun to protect against sunburn and premature ageing. Sunburn can cause your tan to peel or fade more quickly.
It is not recommended to use deodorant or perfume before fake tanning, as it can interfere with the tan. Immediately after you have applied your faux glow, it is best to use an aerosol deodorant to avoid rubbing your tan away. Once you have washed your guide colour off, it is recommended that you apply perfume to your clothes, rather than your skin to prolong the life of your tan.
It is fine to go in the pool or the sea after you have washed the guide colour of your tan off, but this will impact the longevity of your glow. To make it last as long as possible, it is recommended to limit your time in the water, promptly rinse away any chlorine or salt when you get out and gently pat dry your skin rather than rubbing it dry.
It is important to still use sun protection with any self-tanning product, as fake tan does not protect you from the sun’s harmful rays. It is recommended to use a cream formula, rather than an oil-based one, as creams are less likely to impact the longevity of your tan.
It is important to do a patch test before applying any new self-tanning product all over your body. To complete a patch test, use a cotton bud to apply a pea-sized amount of tan behind your ear. Wait for 24 hours and monitor for any signs of irritation or reaction. If you find your patch test has irritated your skin, or if you have already applied your tan and feel a reaction occurring, wash the tan off immediately and seek advice from a medical professional.
Kissed by Mii is fine to use if you have eczema, as long as you are not applying it over any active or open wounds.
No, Kissed by Mii products do not provide or contain any ingredients that provide any form of protection against UV exposure. To protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, it is crucial to use sunscreen with a broad spectrum of protection, which blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
Our Instant Shimmer Temporary Tanning Lotion will only come off when washed with soap and water. If you get caught in the rain with your temporary faux glow, your tan will be fine, although we recommend that you pat dry afterwards.
If you have not washed the first layer of your Effortlessly Easy tan off, the guide colour will likely transfer onto your clothing. This is completely normal for any self-tanner and will come out in the wash. We recommend wearing dark, loose-fitting clothing after applying tan for minimal transfer.
Once you have thoroughly washed off the guide colour, your tan will not transfer onto your clothing.
To strip off your old tan, we recommend using our Seriously Smoothing Exfoliator when showering. Massage the exfoliator into your skin to remove dead skin cells and reveal fresher, softer skin. Seriously Smoothing Exfoliator can also be used dry for a more abrasive exfoliation for those areas of dryer skin that hold onto fake tan.
Top tip: You can also add two cups of baby oil into a warm bath and soak as normal. The oil will loosen the tan on your skin, making it easier to scrub off. Then, exfoliate using Seriously Smoothing Exfoliating Gloves to scrub off your old tan.
DHA is short for dihydroxyacetone and is a chemical compound derived from sugar. It is the main active ingredient found in most self-tanning products that reacts with the amino acids found in the dead skin cells on the surface layer of the skin, causing a temporary darkening tan effect.
It is recommended to shave or wax before applying fake tan. By removing any unwanted hair, you can create a smoother surface for the tanning product to adhere to, resulting in a more even and natural-looking tan.
If you choose to shave, it’s best to do so at least 24 hours before applying fake tan. This allows your skin to recover and any potential irritation from shaving to subside. Shaving immediately before tanning can cause the product to cling to the freshly shaved skin, resulting in an uneven or patchy tan.
If you prefer waxing, it’s advisable to do it a day or two prior to fake tanning. Waxing removes hair from the root, so it’s important to give your skin some time to recover.
After application, your fake tan will take around 5-10 minutes to dry. You may still feel a little sticky after this, but the sticky feeling will go after you have showered the first layer of tan off.
Prep is always the first step – our Seriously Smoothing Exfoliator can be used on both face and body, simply loosen the product with a little with water and gently massage onto your face, then rinse away. Follow with your usual moisturiser, paying particular attention to your hairline, eyebrows and ears. Once your moisturiser has sunk in, dab your chosen Effortlessly Easy tanning product onto your forehead and cheeks with our Special Finish Brush. Blend the tan in circular motions from the centre of your face, outwards. Ensure to blend the tan into your hairline and down you neck for the most flawless finish.
A slight green tint is normal. Our Effortlessly Easy Tanning Mousse and Lotions are formulated with a green undertone to give you the most natural-looking faux glow.
Our Effortlessly Easy Tanning Lotion and Mousse take 6-8 hours to develop, which means you must leave 6-8 hours between applying your tan and showering.
Kissed By Mii is safe to use during pregnancy. However, since everyone’s body is different and will change differently during pregnancy, it is important to seek advice from a medical professional before applying any fake tan.
If you have not washed off the first layer of your Kissed by Mii tan before getting into bed, the guide colour will likely transfer onto your bed sheets. This is completely normal for any self-tanner and will come out in the wash.
Once you have thoroughly washed off the guide colour, your tan will not transfer onto your bed sheets.