Fake tan advice please

[NoLeopard]

First cruise coming up in 3 weeks and I would like to be able to wear different style tops including strapless instead of my normal t-shirts and vests. Just looking at my body and realised my top half is a mish mash of deep tan (neck and lower arms) , mid tan (upper arms and top chest area) and lily white (strap marks and cleavage). I would love to have something approaching a uniform colour and have been looking at gradual tanning products but am unsure if they only last for a couple of days? I thought a spray tan would last a few weeks but I have been put right about that! So naive Ideally I want something to start layering on now so that by the holiday looks good and will last a couple of weeks at least. Am I being too optimistic? Would love to know what other people do. Thanks

Start with exfoliating (I love the Korean Italian cloths , need to use them after a long soaky bath, but OMG , the skin layers roll off )

I like BodyShop Pink Grapefruit scrub because it isn't oily or leaving a 'coating' on my skin, but I don't know if it's changed formula? I looked instore , it seems more liquid. (The shop wasn't hot either but it might just be melting)

Moisturise like a demon.

Prep the skin, slough off the dead layers then overlayer with a light fake tan. You can step up the colour once you have a more even layer .
Just keep on with the exfoliate/tan till you go away .

I had a spray tan (once) as a special treat to me . It was ok but when it did fade , it was really patchy . You need to scrub before , not use lotion on the day and nothing oily in the shower afterwards . I didn't feel it was worth another go TBH.

My DD likes the Isle of Paradise mousse . At the moment she's using Foxx Tan in the garden ( she can go out in the sun, she's on holiday from college ) . DD had some uneven tan lines but they've blended quite well.

India Knight in The Sunday Times today recommends St Tropez gradual tan everyday tinted body lotion.
She has apparently been testing numerous brands over the last couple of months.

It will build up gradually but being tinted it will leave you with some colour after first use.

I haven’t tried it but I do use St Tropez self tanning mousse and I’ve used various products from the range over the years, with success.

Thanks for the tips. Can I buy the products you've mentioned on the high street? Boots?

I'm using the Dove gradual tan and it seems to be working well, fades slowly AND doesn't smell horrific!! Definitely more even than Garnier or even the skinny tan (and 1/2 the price...)

Sounds good 👍

I also like the Dove one but the st tropez gradual tan someone else suggested is much better (reflected in the price!)
It smells way less even than Dove and the colour is more even and realistic, I never look orange.
Definitely exfoliate well first and then after rubbing in thoroughly, pat all over with a dry clean hand just to remove any excess.

The Dove gradual tan I found very orange. Im preferring the Palmers one.