I'm talking the dreaded fake tan hands, bright amber knees and ankles, or bio-hazard orange eyebrows, or water drip marks after getting caught in the rain.
Once you’ve been (figuratively) burnt before, it can be hard to want to give something a go again.
Trust me, I know.
So, in order to help heal some of your long-lasting wounds caused by fake tan mishaps, I turned to my fellow AB staffers - a team of fake tan lovers, experts and connoisseurs - for their top fake tan tips.
From the best fake tan products, to tips on how to fake tan at home, here's what they told me.
1. "If you're using a face tan serum - my go-to is the Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self Tan Serum - don't forget... you still have to wash your hands! Stained cuticles wasn't quite the low-key effortless beauty look I was going for.” - Amy.
2. “Don't ever moisturise straight after washing off an express tan (1hr, 2hr etc.). If you've slept in it, you can moisturise after washing off, but all tans require development time regardless of whether they're express or not.” - Joanna.
3. “My top tip to prolonging my tan is to swap out my moisturiser for a gradual tanner every other night. I reach for the Bondi Sands Gradual Tanning Lotion Skin Illuminator150mL as it allows me to prolong my tan, without making my knees and elbows orange and flaky like many other gradual tanners!” - Nikkita.
4. “Use a fluffy brush to blend tan on your hands and neck for a smooth, even finish." - Jordi.
5. "My fave tan is Tuscan Tan Self Tan Foam because you can sleep overnight in it, and it won't stain the sheets! There's also minimal smell, which is a plus!" - Anika.
6. "For an even tan every time, make sure you exfoliate your ankles, wrists, knees and elbows before applying your tan.” - Megan.
7. "Shaving your legs is a great way to exfoliate, but make sure you do so at least 24 hours before fake tanning. Otherwise, the tan will settle into your pores, which can result in little brown dots. Similarly, don’t wax right before applying fake tan. Yes, I have done this, and it resulted in a red rash." - Hannah.
8. "My hot tip is to use a full-body chemical exfoliant pre-tan like The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (with a spray nozzle to help you reach all areas of your back!), or the Skinstitut Glycolic Scrub 14% if you're looking for a physical and chemical combo." - Sam.
9. "Rub moisturiser between your palms and then swipe under your pits before applying your tan of choice so you don’t get orange pits." - Joanna.
Watch this YouTube video below for even more self tanning hacks!