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Self tanning products- please tell me your favourites

33 replies

BigButtons · 31/05/2020 11:15

Or perhaps also ones to avoid?
My legs always look pasty white even with self tan on. Clearly I’m not doing it correctly or the product I’m using is a bit crap.
I prefer ones that I don’t have to wash off.

OP posts:
Tinkhasflown · 31/05/2020 11:35

I like the St Tropez Everyday one. I also recently tried the Palmers Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Gradual tanning moisturiser. I found it great and a big bonus is that it's really inexpensive!

I found Skinny Tan to be absolutely crap. No matter what I do it goes on streaky and looks orange!

For me the daily gradual tanners are the way to go. I don't even use them everyday maybe once, sometimes twice a week.

Exfoliatate and use a moisturiser on your skin everyday, well hydrated skin takes the tan much better.

theseriousmoonlight · 31/05/2020 11:54

I use the st tropez every day lotion. I like the watermelon one best but both are good. I'm no self tanning expert and I get a decent looking tan on my legs that lasts ages so I only use twice a week.

Starbonnet123 · 31/05/2020 12:10

I love the st Tropez watermelon, it's not as cheap some but it has been on a buy on get one half price at boots recently .it gives a very natural colour with a nice smell

Mayhemmumma · 31/05/2020 12:24

Bodi sands dry oil, no washing off required. Its lovely

Glitterb · 31/05/2020 12:28

Utan is brilliant

St tropez ones that you don’t have to wash off are brilliant as well

achillesratty · 31/05/2020 13:00

Another Bondi Sands dry oil fan. It gives a fabulous colour, is easy to apply, doesn't smell and is especially good on legs. You can usually get it on offer somewhere for about £10.

ElspethFlashman · 31/05/2020 13:03

Another vote for St Tropez watermelon. Very natural, though takes a few applications to build up. It's quite subtle.

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 31/05/2020 13:11

Another fan of St.Tropez fake tans (all except the shower one) and bondi sands. I do think you need to try a couple as I have pink tones and find these good, whereas my dd has yellow tones and finds others better.
Avoid the water coloured ones though - especially as a beginner. I have never done such an awful fake tan as I did with Isle of Paradise tanning water, I looked like a tiger! You need colour in it to see where it is going in my opinion.

kgetsit · 31/05/2020 13:12

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nitgel · 31/05/2020 13:14

The dove one

SueEllenMishke · 31/05/2020 13:21

Skinny tan. I've used a lot of tanning products and this is my fave.
They usually have good offers on their website.

youvegottobekidding · 31/05/2020 13:24

I’m really quite pale, and my legs never see daylight - a couple of years ago when we were due to go on holiday I was horrified when I tried on a pair of shorts in Primark, I had white sausage legs!

Anyway, someone recommended the garnier gradual tan cream, which was ok, but whenever I got wet, pool or sea, my skin felt greasy. So now I use the dove one, i find it much better. The older version is better, you can still get it I think in chemists. I can use either the light or medium one & it blends it really well.

LadyEloise · 31/05/2020 13:25

So Su Dripping Gold mousse.
I use the Medium Mousse but it is quite dark so if fair, use the Light. I am fair Blush but I'd like to have darker skin Smile
I have tried sooooo many - St Tropez, Vita Liberta, Bellamianta, Bondi Sands, Cocoa Brown,
Dove everyday one, Garnier everyday one, Loreal everyday one, Johnston's everyday one and Dripping Gold I find the best.
You will have to wash it off. I put it on at night and wash off the next morning in the shower.
Anyone else tried it ?

I also like Tan Organics Dry Oil Self Tan.

BigButtons · 31/05/2020 13:30

Oh thanks so much everyone!
I’ve remembered that I currently have the bindi sands dry oil atm. It gives a decent colour on my arms/ body but it never seems to colour my legs. It has a nice smell but since I am crappy at self tans it can get streaky.
Off to look up all your lovely recommendations 🙂

OP posts:
BigButtons · 31/05/2020 13:30

Bondi!

OP posts:
OnceBitten25 · 31/05/2020 13:32

Skinny Tan tan and tone oil is my favourite. It always goes on evenly with a good mitt.

IndecentFeminist · 31/05/2020 13:33

I love the skinny tan Coconut water. Super easy to put on and lasts wrll

AvoidingTheWineAisle · 31/05/2020 15:55

I use Clinique self sun if I want a proper, deep tan. It’s a proper self tan cream, doesnt snell great when it develops etc - but it gives such a good, streak free, bronze colour.

For everyday, I use Isle of Paradise tanning drops mixed in with my moisturiser/body lotion for a bit of colour. No smell, no streaks, gives a light golden colour.

Bluesheep8 · 31/05/2020 16:45

St Tropez gradual tan. The tinted one. You can see where you're putting it and it gives instant colour.

Mojitomogul · 31/05/2020 16:56

Love the bondi sands gradual mousse in pink bottle, and just tried the dove summer body one and that is completely streak free, really natural colour and easy to apply aswell. Makes me feel so much better when I have a glow, it's definitely worth the extra half hour of applying and drying time!

troppibambini · 31/05/2020 18:52

I've tried
Bondi sands dark- nice
St moritz- cheap and cheerful ok but can be a bit orange
Vita liberata- ok
Rimmel- awful
St tropez dark- ok but it's green while you're waiting for it to develop and I kept feeling I had a green tinge after I'd showered
St tropez regular- good
St tropez express by far the best in my opinion you apply and leave for 1-3 hours depending how dark you want to go then shower. No dirty sheets or feeling sweaty and horrible in bed.
I also use a kabuki brush to apply rather than a mitt to apply it gives such a good finish especially around hands and feet.
Never put it on straight after bath or shower as it settles in your pores and you can get those little brown spots and obviously a really good exfoliate the day before or earlier in that day.

BigButtons · 31/05/2020 19:26

@troppibambini wow!
How often to do apply the tan?

OP posts:
Imtoooldforallthis · 31/05/2020 20:04

Dove moisturiser with tan I can't remember the name, I also like the cheap tanning wipes from home bargains.

Squiggleness · 31/05/2020 22:26

I have grown to be an expert on this topic and have found the following:

Daily - Tropic gradual tanning serum mixed with moisturiser and used on face, neck and chest (can't stress how amazing this stuff is)

E/O day - EITHER Garnier gradual tan in the deep colour OR Isle of Paradise clear formula dark mousse mixed with moisturiser

Slap these on before your clothes in the morning and when they are dry you can apply sun cream when you need to

By the end of the day you will look naturally tanned and it will last until you next slap some on

HeyBlaby · 31/05/2020 22:31

Tried many, nothing beats St Tropez.

A particular fan of the pre shower one, although you have to go against the instructions and leave it on for a good 15 minutes minimum.

The worst one was Isle of Paradise, ended up bright, bright orange just in time for a nice break in Kiev.