Skinny Tan Body Glow Everyday Tan

Who doesn't love a golden glow??

I recently went on my first holiday in YEARS and finally got some real sun on my skin. It was lush and I loved having a bit of a natural glow, but as we all know this never lasts long when you get back to the grey skies of the UK.

Since I've been back I didn't want to use a full on fake tan product as I didn't need it and well, let's be honest it is now October and looking super tanned might be a bit odd for someone in Wales!

So I've been testing out the Body Glow Everyday Tan from Skinny Tan to see what it was like.

Skinny Tan Express Mousse 1 Hour Tan Review

Hey All

We're big fans of Fake Tan, we're both super pale so love to wear fake tan as it makes us feel better. We always searching for the next great tan, the one that look natural, fades well and doesn't smell of biscuit and for me now it has to be Cruelty Free. 

Naked: Fake It*

Hi there!

I've had a whirlwind of a Sunday today with a quick trip to Swindon's McArthur Glen Designer Outlet with my mum, 2 aunties, 1 cousin and my nan, a proper Mother's Day out shopping!

I've actually had a nap on the way home because it was that exhausting, leaving at 9am almost killed me off and shopping til we drop is certainly a motto in my family!

For the last few weeks I've been testing out the Naked: Fake It range.

The Naked: Fake It Glow It Up Self Tan Lotion* is silicone free and contains a 100% natural self tanning agent. It's enriched with cocoa and shea butter and contains so many wonderful smells that the elusive biscuit smell from normal tans is a thing of the past (I'm talking pink grapefruit, zesty bergamot, orchid, amber AND vanilla extracts).

You apply this like a normal tan; apply to clean skin and wait 10/15 mins to dry thoroughly and it will develop over the next four hours.

You can see my arm below after 1 application:






There isn't a huge colour change but I can tel you that my skin looked a lot healthier and I definitely had a 'glow'. The lotion is white in colour which did initially worry me as it can be hard to make sure it's all rubbed in properly but I didn't have any streaks at all.

The moisturising properties of this self tan lotion left my skin feeling more hydrated than any other tan I've ever used and feels more like a tanning moisturiser like Dove or Johnsons but with less of a biscuity smell. I honestly didn't detect any whiff of that tan smell which is very refreshing.

As usual with Naked products this is produced with naturally derived ingredients and no sulphates, parabens or petrochemicals which is something that me and M are both big fans of.

The Naked Fake It range just wouldn't be the same without the Dust Me Mineral Shimmer Powder*:

It's a really sturdy little pot with a twist mechanism to allow product to be used. This ensures it isn't going to go everywhere (I have white bedding and hate it when things like this explode!) I've dabbed this straight onto my cheekbones and dusted it onto my collar bones and decolletage for an extra bit of shimmer.

The photos below show the product swiped onto my hand with and without flash:

The photos below show it blended in with and without flash:

This is a gorgeous gold toned shimmer powder that will be lovely to use on holiday, and if you've got yourself a gorgeous deep tan also on a Saturday night.
My hand doesn't really do it justice as unfortunately tan never sticks as I'm constantly washing my hands in the lab, but it's so finely milled that a little goes a long way and it definitely doesn't leave you looking like a disco ball. It's also fragrance free which is a huge positive for me as I can't stand those 'powdered' fragrances.

You can pick up the Self Tan Lotion for £9.99 and the Mineral Shimmer Powder for £6.99....or if you're super savvy they come in a Gotta Glow Gift set priced at £14 for the two together which is even better!

What do you think of the Naked range? Do you think it's a great idea they've branched out into self tan?
Will you trying these products out?

I think at £9.99 for the self tan it's a really good price for how moisturising it is on your skin, and no fake tan smell!


L xxx

Review: Glo Tan Tan in a Can

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to be sent a can of Glo Tanz Tan in a Can*.

This is a new style of fake tan which isn't in an aerosol, and you do not need to shake it before use.

Both of us are regular self tan users, being naturally pale if we plan a night out we spend around a week before preparing tan. It seems to take us both a good few coats to build up tan onto our skins. It's fair to say we've both tried a fair few of the ones on the market at the moment. L's favourite currently being Vita Liberata and M's being Lauren's Way Darker than Dark.

This was a tan that appealed to both of us after reading the press release on it. It's paraben free, alcohol free, environmentally friendly and not tested on animals. It also boasts to be fast drying, non sticky and to have a light tropical fragrance. 

The can has a list of instructions that are important to follow. This tan is really not like any spray tan I've ever used. I think it may be due to the fact it's a non aerosol can. There is definitely a temptation to shake the can but it really is best not to. With spray tans usually you layer them on and spray over an area a few times. This isn't the case with this tan. If you do you'll end up with this.

L and I both ended up with results like this the first time. We wondered if we were doing something wrong with the tan. I washed it off straight away and stepped away from the tan. The first time I used it I found it quite difficult. It's hard to go against what you normally do and only spray over each area once. The product is a really fine mist and does disperse onto the skin pretty much by itself. 

After my first attempt I'd emailed the company and asked for some advice. The next day I reapplied it all over as L and I were off to fashion week and I wanted a tan. I was so surprised by the different result I achieved. This tan will last ages as you really use so little when you apply it. This time I held the can basically as far away from my body as my arm would let me. I found this gave the best even application. I lightly sprayed each body part and was careful not to spray the same area twice.

Pre tan skin colour in natural light. 

I had a few dark spots on my stomach so lightly dabbed these with a tanning mit. I did find that even though it didn't look fully even when applied I was surprised as it dried it evened out and I was left with a gorgeous colour.

Immediately after application  in natural light.

As you can see it doesn't look that even but once dried it's amazing. It's feels really light on the skin and is really quick drying. I find on my skin it needs to be left at least 4 hours before washing it off. I tend to leave it over night. (don't do this on white sheets, I've now learnt)

once washed off in the bathroom light.

As the photo shows and when compared with my skin above you can see the glow it gives. I found this tan unlike any others I have used so it was hard to get used to but since the second time I have done 3 full body applications and the can still feels reasonably full.

A few tips

• Don't shake the can
• Apply a sheet a double sheet (one you don't mind ruining) down where you apply it. 
• As it's a fine mist it does disperse far hence the sheet but it gives it an amazing finish
• Apply with socks on. As the tan go everywhere the first time I ended up with dark feet. Now I wear trainer socks then apply tan to them last
• Put vaseline on spot scars and brows
• Only spray each area once. Tan can be built up over a few days
• Keep a tanning mit near by and dab if necessary

I'm now converted. The tan is messy but the results are worth it. When slept in the tan I'm left with a gorgeous even colour (I've had no streaks yet) that lasts around 4 days all over and then leaves a glow for up to 7. I absolutely love that it DIDN'T smell of biscuits!!!! How amazing. I find some that don't smell on application start to smell as it develops. Not with this one. I noticed a slight tan smell the next day but nothing that all other tans have left.

This also makes a great face tan. Where it is fast drying and a light mist it doesn't break me out. It's handy being able to use the same face and body tan. 

Overall it's an effort the first time you apply it but great afterwards and I've used it a good few times now. It does take getting used to but it's really worth it for the colour you get an how long it lasts. 

Love M

xxx

My first attempt at using this was admittedly a disaster. 

I got into my shower as it was the easiest place to spray tan onto me without making a mess.

However a shower cubicle provided the first problem, you need to hold the can a bigger distance from your skin than I ever have with other tans and my shower cubicle simply wasn't big enough for me to hold the can far enough without it running down my legs!

The tan feels quite wet and so you definitely need to hold it far away to allow the spray to settle onto your skin without running and leaving patches.

After my first attempt I was a little put off, but tried it again by getting into my bath and trying it again.

This was much more successful as there was much more space, though a little more scary as the dark coloured tan looked black against the white bath tub!

The effort to apply the tan was well worth it though as the colour is very natural and lasted a good few days.

I think as we are used to shaking a can, applying it and rubbing it in it took a few goes to get the technique right but the outcome was worth it.

I will definitely be using this again for the colour that it produced.

L xxx

This is a new product that is currently being prepared for sale by a company who previously only dealt with professional air brush tan. It can now be purchased for £26.39. 

This was a PR sample but both of our opinions were honest

Review: Vita Liberata

As a pale girl living in Wales where the sun rarely shines but the rain empties down rather regularly, fake tan is a very prominent member of my product collection.

I tend to go through rather a lot of Dove's summer glow body lotion with a hint of fake tan just to keep myself looking a more human colour!

I've tried many tans before but this one was new on the market, and on offer, hurrah!

I bought this Vita Liberata Self Tan Gel from Boots whilst it was reduced to a much more purse friendly £14.99 from its original price of £22.49

The packaging states:

If you have very pale, hard-to-tan skin then this is your product. Organic extracts have been specially formulated to turn you golden brown in an instant and last for days (even after showering).

I fully believe this person is me! I was a bit nervous at the thought of using a product titled 'Extra Rich Silken Chocolate' as although I wanted to be tanned, I didn't want to be orange or even worse, mahogany!

Let's get the details out the way...the reason I bought this tan (aside from the discount) was the fact that this tan is:

Paraben Free

Perfume Free

Not tested on Animals

and lastly...Organic!

I was tempted by the mousse as I always am, I find them much easier to use than sprays and I've never really tried a lotion.

But decided it was time to try one, particularly as I worked out that the mousse was so much more expensive per 100ml than the lotion.

For once, being thrifty paid off!

This Vita Liberata tan went on an absolute dream!

I'd been scrubbing and exfoliating and moisturising for a good few days before I applied this product, meaning that I had a good base to start with.

After reading the instructions again since my applications I am a little concerned...it says to use 2-3 pumps of product per limb and I most definitely used at least 6 ha, and that was on my arms!

The packaging btw is beautiful, showing a wonderfully bronzed body on the side that to be honest is probably very true to the colour that I turned out to be!

I also like the packaging of the tan itself, brown so wont get covered in mucky hand prints from tanning but shimmery and quite simple in design.

The nozzle was so easy to use, and whilst the tiniest bit comes out for each pump i would much rather this than too much and then waste the product.

As you can see from the product on my hand, 1 pump is a tiny amount!

Maybe my pump is working incorrectly if you are meant to use 2-3 pumps as I'm sure that wouldn't cover most peoples arms surely?!

It's quite a dark colour but blends easily and evenly, giving you a tanned colour instantly and meaning it's very easy to see any missed parts.

I did take photos of my limbs after using this product but unfortunately they've disappeared off blogger :S

But you can just about see in the picture above where the tan had started to develop into a beautiful even colour that looks really natural.

I would say I was worried I'd look like an extra off the Simpsons, it's quite yellow toned which I've never noticed before with a self tan so maybe bear that in mind if you use it!

I definitely didn't turn out that way though, the colour was absolutely beautiful and true to their word did take a good few days to fade.

It even comes with detailed instructions on what to do and not to do, for example with this tan you shouldn't moisturise before application, which is something I've always done with other tans to help it sink in evenly and most of them suggest you do this particularly around knees, elbows etc

Overall I was really impressed with this tan, I love St Tropez but it's expensive and this was a welcome break for my purse.

After 3 different full body applications I can safely say there is plenty left in the bottle and am not even half way through, whereas with the St Tropez mousse the bottle would be near empty by now.

Have you used this brand of tanning products before?

M has had a spray tan done with their products and absolutely loved it too.

I will certainly be checking out the other products they have available...as soon as I get some money rolling into my account again!

What other tanning brands do you use and recommend?

L xxx

In the news...

Whilst doing my usual procrastination when I should be doing uni work I came across this article which I found quite interesting.

It details the writer's (Kate Shapland) 'Worst Beauty Products and Trends from 2011'

(can be found here)

She lists her top 10 as follows: