Do gradual tan moisturisers work and look OK?

[Moopsi]

This year I am going to try to avoid getting a tan for health reasons. I don't want the bother of constantly doing self tan and the risk of streaks etc. Do gradual tan moisturisers look OK? If I were to use one regularly in the run up to a beach holiday for example, would it go patchy in the water or if I reapplied every evening would it look OK?

Also any brand recommendations would be appreciated! Thanks.

I use gradual tan for going on holiday. I still need to exfoliate every once and while to keep it looking even but I find it easier to use and doesn’t go streaky even after being in the sea or pool. I reapply every evening on holiday but be careful around your knees and elbows as it can build up quicker in these areas.

I’ve tried a few but always go back to Dove

I found them slimy and smelly tbh. And streaky due to the consistency and my milk pale skin.

The best thing I've found is to use a light fake tan that you wash off after an hour. 'Mine tan' is great. Very very subtle colour (and not at all streaky).

I do it once a week, exfoliate and moisturiser on day 6. Little moisturiser each day. Seems to work.

I use garner summer body in dark it builds a really nice colour over 2 or 3 applications.

I'd second the Garnier one. It smells a bit biscuity but it's pretty even (watch elbows and knees) and not orange. I use the light one as I'm super pasty

I third Garnier Summer Body. It smells fine going on, then biscuity as the colour develops. It builds up gradually so it's fairly foolproof - just wash your hands thoroughly after applying.

Another vote for the Garnier, got it on now, can't smell it, know it's not staining my jeans, won't be streaky and will give me a decent colour. It's easy to build up too.
There was a thread on this earlier in the week, people said pretty much the same thing.

Another Garnier vote!

I use a tanning mitt to apply it. Just a cheap one from Amazon. No streaks.

The Garnier one is good, weird tip but apply it with one of those soft 'cosy' socks from Primark used as a mitt. Really good coverage, no lines no orange hands.

Oh and on offer at amazon 400ml for £4.89

I'm not sure I see the point of a gradual tanning lotion. Is it not just a weaker fake tan that you still have the faff of applying daily? Still smells and makes your bedsheets dirty. I think I would rather just use a normal fake tan once a week or so. I may be completely missing the point though!

The Garnier one smells peachy.
Doesn't streak and doesn't leave marks.
My legs are milk bottle white.
I would look ridiculous going from that to a dark tan, the daily moisturiser takes the edge off the whiteness 😂

I use Garnier too the dark one it's not even that dark and from reviews I've read the light one doesnt do much. When you first apply it smells sweet and then eventually you end up with a slight fake tan smell but not as bad as actual fake tan does. It's never transferred to my clothes or bedsheets. I tend to use it every couple of days and it looks really good I never get streaks or patches. Looking at mine just now my hands and wrists could do with being exfoliated and reapplied but I have my hands in water a lot during work so that makes it worse although its not majorly bad. Only thing I don't like about it is it feels greasy after applying but not enough to stop me using it.

I'm also milk bottle white.

What do you do about your face? Apply it? Or stop at some weird halfway mark?!

Fake tan looks ridiculous on me.

I use Gatineau Golden Glow every day. I slap it on without having to be too careful about application, it doesn't smell bad or leave marks on clothes/sheets.

Just takes the Edward Cullen dazzle off

I don't put it on my face I just wear foundation daily so I don't have a ghost white face compared to my arms and legs 😂

The tan blends into my skin though so it's not like a big dark cut off line the way you get with a spray tan etc.

I use Dove mild to fair. It goes golden / yellow.

No streaks and soft skin. It comes off a bit if you shave. Stained my white / grey clothes a bit.

Planning to use it year round now.

Garnier is the absolute best. Foolproof to apply and looks really natural, people always compliment my legs

Btw if you ever need to remove excess colour from elbows or heels or forget to wash your hands, a glycolic wipe will erase it.

Yes I like
Dove. Never had any problems. Use it every other day not every day and it doesn't smell like biscuits. Does come off on towels a bit but washes out.

I used Garnier for years. Then discovered Bondi Sands foam. Garnier didn't mark my bedding but did mark some clothes and could be a bit dodgy round the ankles and elbows. The Bondi Sands absorbs much quicker, doesn't come off on towels or clothes, is fairly odourless and builds to a natural light tan. I am Scottish with a pale skin though I will tan in time. Using the foam means I can apply a moisturiser at night.

I don't get applying it on multiple days. Just use a normal fake tan once a week. Looks better, less faff and you only smell for a day. Less chance of streaks too as you are only applying once.

@theyearofsmallthings thank you, great tip. Any brand that is particularly good?