Looking after your skin doesn’t just mean using the right skin care cream, it also means making sure you are staying well hydrated, eating a good, balanced diet, exercising regularly and protecting your skin from the elements. Sun damage is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to skin damage and dehydration, so making sure you apply sunscreen, even on overcast days is really important. However, there is no denying that having a tan makes everyone feel good, and look good, and taking care of your skin doesn’t mean you have to be pale, thanks to the excellent fake tan creams that are available.
There are many different products on the market, and we have reviewed some of them here.
Fake Bake Extreme Tanning Gel
Fake Bake has become an incredibly well known fake tan brand, and there is an extensive range of fake tan products available from them. They also do a range of fake tan preparation products such as exfoliaters and moisturisers to ensure you get the best results from your fake tan. Fake Bake Extreme Tanning Gel is one of the few fake tans that smells nice. It goes on nicely and has a slight tint so you can see where you have applied it. It needs a minimum of 6 hours developing time, so it is best applied at night, but be sure to sleep in old PJ’s and on old sheets as the colour may rub off overnight and ruin your bedding. In the morning you can shower off and find a nice golden colour, some people find it isn’t dark enough, but you can build the colour up over a few days by appyling it regularly. It very rarely streaks, and there is no hint of orange, even when you build the colour over a few applications.
L’Oreal Sublime Self Tanning Gel
L’Oreal have a huge range of beauty products, and this is another great addition to their range. This tanning gel goes on nicely and has a tint that allows you to see where you have applied it. It does feel a little greasy after application, but washes off easily and leave a lovely sun kissed colour. The downside is that is can look a little patchy or even orange as it fades, so regular moisturising after application is a must. If you would rather build your tan gradually you might try mixing this in with your regular moisturiser for daily application, it doesn’t smell to heavily of fake tan so it won’t leave an overpowering smell.
Xen-Tan Deep Bronze
This is probably one of the best smelling fake tans on the market, with an almost chocolatey smell. It goes on nicely, has a tint for easy application, and it doesn’t leave any sticky residue, just a lovely smell! The tint does tend to fade quite quickly so you have to be swift with the application. Unfortunately it only produces a very subtle colour, so more than one application will be necessary for most people. However, thanks to its lovely smell, it is actually nice to apply, unlike many fake tans with overpowering smells. The colour it leaves, while subtle is a golden brown, and it is very difficult to end up orange with this one, even after a few applications as it uses a time release system to help keep your colour lovely and even.
St Tropez Self Tan Lotion
St Tropez are another big player in the fake tan market, and have long been a favourite with celebrities and the like. With a huge range of tanning products that include exfoliators, moisturisers and spray tans, St Tropez have a lot of experience in producing fake tans. This lotion is very easy to apply and has a dark colour that allows you to see where you have put it already. It does have a slight fake tan smell, but it isn’t too over powering. It only takes 4 hours to develop so you don’t have to leave it on overnight if you don’t want to. The colour is golden and even, and very rarely streaks or goes patchy, however it does fade a little quicker than other fake tans, but does so evenly.
Regular application will give you a year round tan that looks very realistic.
No matter what brand of fake tan you decide to use, preparation of your skin is probably the most important part of getting your fake tan right. In the days before you apply your fake tan, be sure to exfoliate your skin thoroughly, and moisturise at least every day, paying particular attention to your knees, ankles and elbows as these are areas that tend to be dry and can end up looking patchy as they absorb more fake tan than the rest of your body. Making sure you regularly apply a good skin care cream before you hit the fake tan can make the difference between a good and bad fake tan.
