Celeb Bronzing Tips from St. Tropez Tan’s Skin-glow Guru Fiona Locke

Now that the weather is getting nicer and we are showing more skin, it’s time to get that fresh natural sun-kissed glow on…safely! Fiona Locke is one of the most sought after “skin finishing” experts in the entertainment industry. She works her magic on celebrities including Evangeline Lilly, Olivia Wilde and Katherine McPhee as well as the stars of E! News and American Idol. Fiona also creates glowing skin for editorial photo shoots for magazines like Allure, Self and Cosmopolitan. Fiona is a master at creating a natural looking golden glow and is sharing her insider tanning tips with us!

MM: What exactly is skin finishing and how is it different from spray tanning?
Fiona: Skin Finishing is applying a custom color and body contour to any skin tone or body type. It is much more detailed and specific and less generic than a spray tan booth.

MM: You have so many finishing options, ethereal, sun kissed, contouring and bronzing to name a few- what kind of look do most of your clients want?
Fiona: The finishing options cater to each client’s needs depending on the event they are attending and the wardrobe they will be wearing. It can vary greatly. Many of my Red Carpet clients request a little body contour to define their muscle tone in photos.

MM: What is the biggest mistake you see when it comes to tanning?
Fiona: The biggest mistake I see is rushing your application of your self tanner and not blending properly. St. Tropez Mousse and Mitt gives a perfectly even coverage and because there is a guide color in the mousse you can see where you are applying your self tanner. A missed spot will always look uneven. Also, having the mitt avoids the tell tale sign of tanning… “the stained palms.”

St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan for Body: Self-Tanner without the Scent

I have been putting this off as long as possible, but I’m afraid that with the crispness of the air and declining temperatures I finally have to admit that fall is rapidly approaching. For this sun-lover, that creates extreme anxiety about how to maintain my summer glow. Believe me, when it comes to self-tanners, I have tried them all and have always been disappointed—I end up too orange, too streaky, or smell like a tanning salon. While browsing Sephora the other day, however, I came across St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan for Body. Since I had been in St. Tropez over the summer and ended up with a gorgeous tan as a result, I decided to give it a try. The results were fantastic! This everyday moisturizer not only gradually builds to a realistic and streak-free tan but is also infused with soothing aloe vera to leave your skin feeling silky smooth. Best of all, St. Tropez uses a special fragrance technology that erases the telltale smell of self-tanner, so you don’t have to worry about smelling like eau de spray-tan booth. Now that St. Tropez solved my healthy tan dilemma, I can concentrate fully on what I’m excited for this fall, like getting my hands on a pair of DVF lace-up booties!—Kate Bryan

Buy St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan for Body, $30, at Sephora.com