Long-lasting, low-maintenance: How to master ‘tantouring’

A ‘natural’ glow.

As I get older, I find my patience for long, tedious beauty rituals is wearing a little thin. Yes, I still love the calm of applying my skincare routine before bed, or the group get-ready that happens before a night out with little mirrors and brushes and hair products strewn across the room. But when it comes to getting ready for work, I’m always looking for low-effort hacks to make the process more efficient.

I’ve also been a Thursday night fake tan devotee for well over a decade (you can take the girl out of Queensland, etc), and have always found that a faux glow makes me feel more put-together. ‘Tantouring’, the low-maintenance beauty trick to come out of TikTok, suggests using my beloved fake tan for a long-lasting, makeup-free bronzed look.

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According to Australian makeup artist Simone Forte, “Tantouring is a contouring technique using self-tanner to give you a sculpted, long-lasting contour for the face and can be also used on the body.” If you’re also a lazy beauty lover looking to achieve a natural-looking winter glow, keep reading for Simone’s tantouring tips.

What products work best for tantouring?

As TikTok creator CC Clarke explained essentially, tantouring is like underpainting, just with fake tan instead of makeup. All you need is your preferred fake tan, a mitt (or something to put a pump of fake tan on) and a makeup brush. “My favourite tanning brand is Three Warriors as they have a face tan, gradual tan and a mousse,” Simone says. “I personally would use the mousse for myself, however, I suggest starting with the face tan or gradual tan. These would be suitable for your fair-to-medium skin tones. If you feel like you need a deeper colour you could use a light application of the mouse.”

How to tantour

@ccclarke TANtour crew raise your hands 🙌🏼 PART 2 UPLOADING SHORTLY 💫 #tutorial #faketan ♬ Collide (more sped up) – Justine Skye

“For the face, I would apply slightly under the cheekbone, temples, jawline and under the chin,” Simone explains. “Depending on what you are wanting to achieve, you could also contour the nose and around the mouth for a more plump-lip look. If you’re feeling game, tantouring can also be done in the cleavage, arms and stomach [area] to give the body a more defined and sculpted look.”

What you need

Again, this process doesn’t need to involve much in terms of preparation. Like any fake tan application, it’s best to exfoliate and moisturise beforehand, but don’t use products that are too thick. You want light hydration without creating a barrier between the fake tan and your skin.

“I would use a brush,” Simone advises. “You have more control and it will blend better. Place the product on a palette and pick it up with the brush a little at a time. It’s not a bad idea to have a beauty blender to soften the edges, particularly if you have a little extra product in your brush.”

How long does tantouring last?

If you’re a beginner, Simone suggests starting light and building up your application as you gain confidence. It can last for up to a week, depending on things like your skincare and gym routine. To avoid muddiness when you reapply, use a gentle exfoliator to take off any tan residue and start with a completely fresh face.

Tantouring troubleshooting

“Mistakes can be made,” Simone says, “but if you start light and… build your confidence then mistakes are less likely. Exfoliating will help it to fade, and a medium-coverage foundation will do the trick in disguising anything that hasn’t gone to plan.”

@minniefrr High maintenance things i do to be low maintenance 💕 ad Tantouring using the @utanofficial Turbo Tanning Mousse, Jamie genevive x utan facial mist and Tan Pen #tantouring #highmaintenancetobelowmaintenance #faketanroutine ♬ original sound – Minniefr

If you’ve got a case of the dreaded orange hands (or wrists, elbows, or knees), Simone suggests using Three Warriors brushes to lightly apply tan onto the hands and feet. “The mitt can apply a little heavier,” she warns. “If you have too much colour on the hands and feet, I suggest using a scrub and tanning mitt and moisturising afterwards.”

If you’ve overdone it on the tan and need to cover up the evidence quickly, Simone has the answer. After using an exfoliator and exfoliating mitt, she suggests using body makeup for the occasion to mask the OTT tan underneath. “One that I like to use is Body Blur or MAC Face and Body,” she says.

Everyone deserves a break and that includes the Fashion Journal team! While we’re off enjoying our holidays, we’re resharing some of our favourite stories from this year (and others we’re sure you’ll appreciate) for you to read all over again.

For more low-maintenance beauty tips, head here.