5 of the best… Self-Tans

You will have heard the age old saying – everyone looks better with a tan. Whether that’s returning from 2 weeks in the sun with that post-holiday glow or excellent application of self-tan, you will undoubtedly be left feeling fabulous when the compliments come reeling in. Now you may be a self-tan novice and on the lookout for the best first time, no risk tan, or you may be a self-tan pro looking for a self-tan serving a purpose. Fear not, we share our favourite tanning products to suit all levels of expertise and skin tones.

Low Maintenance – Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Self-Tan

First up is the top rated low maintenance tan from Vita Liberata. Boasting a range of products suited to fair, medium and dark skintones and available in gel, lotion, mousse and spray formats, the 2-3 week tan is by far the brands best self-tan for the low maintenance gal. This long-wearing tan designed to last 2-3 weeks, is formulated with organic and natural extracts for anti ageing and skin enhancement and it dries almost instantly thanks to Flash Dry Technology. With Odour Remove technology, this tan is free from the common self-tan smell and hydrates your skin for up to 72 hours.

Gradual – Xen Tan Transform Luxe

If you are looking for a subtle glow or hint of colour then gradual tanners are best suited to you. Ideal for both paler and olive skintones alike, gradual tanner work with your skintone and slowly build up a natural colour. One of our favourite gradual self-tanners is the Xen Tan Transform Luxe moisturiser designed to produce olive toned, natural results. Going on clear, the moisturiser developers overnight, is paraben free (so perfect for both the face and body) and is suitable for all skin types.

Budget – Palmers Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze

If you are looking for a more cost-effective alternative, we recommend the Palmers Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze moisturiser. With just a touch of self-tan, this moisturiser creates a delicate, sun-kissed summer glow all year round and working with your skintone, is suitable for fair, medium and dark skintones. Enriched with vitamin E and pure cocoa butter this is the perfect way to keep your skin hydrated as well as glowing.

Pale Skin – St Tropez Classic

If you have pale skin, it might feel like you can’t be part of the bronzed goddess gang but there are ways and means. For the pale gals out there, you will want to steer clear from self-tanners that claim to develop deep or olive results and and our recommendation for paler skintones is St Tropez Classic. Available in lotion, mousse and spray variations, the St Tropez Classic provides a natural looking, streak-free tan to suit every skintone. It is available in fair, medium and dark versions however the classic lotion works with your skintone and develops a truly natural colour for you.

Facial Tan – Fake Bake Anti-Ageing Self-Tanning Lotion

You might be wondering why we’re recommending a separate tan for your face? The skin on your face is much more sensitive and is prone to breakouts and so it’s essential you buy face and body tanners separately or look for a tan suitable for both. Launched back in 2014 and boasting a multitude of benefits, we are loving Fake Bake’s anti-ageing self-tanning lotion for the face. Providing you with a beautiful golden glow, the peptide formula stimulates skin cells to produce collagen and hydrates your skin from within to reduce the appearance of wrinkles – win win.

Quick Tan – St Tropez Express Mousse

We’ve all been in the situation of a last minute night out and faced with the dreaded – ‘I haven’t tanned moment’. Fear not, St Tropez understands our needs and has developed the Express Mousse giving you a golden, bronzed glow in a maximum of 3 hours. This is the brands most advanced formula yet and is perfect for allowing you to control the depth of your tan. One hour after application you will have a light sun-kissed glow, two hours after, you will have a medium golden tan however for optimum results, leave on for 3 hours and you will be left with a deep, bronzed tan perfect for your night out.

Of course with all tan applications, it is best to exfoliate at least 24 hours before tan application, apply with a mit and moisturise any dry areas such as knees, elbows and feet to prevent tan from clinging to those areas. However, each self-tanner is different and we recommend following the individual product instructions for optimum results.

Now off you go and become bronzed goddesses now – don’t forget to share your snaps with us :).