TAN | Cocoa Brown's 1 Hour Tan Mousse

Being a pale gal myself, one thing I love is fake tan. I'm constantly on the lookout for the "best" and as a result of this, I've trialled many. The latest to join the pack is Cocoa Brown's 1 Hour Tan Mousse. Usually, I'm not a fan of mousse tans, I tend to find them hard to use, however, I throughly enjoyed this one.

I started with the TOUGH STUFF Body Scrub* which almost instantly become my favourite ever body scrub. It's abrasive and really buffs away dead skin cells. In fact, you know when a scrub is so effective that it makes your hands go numb after scrubbing for a while? Yep, this one did that. It's incredibly satisfying. Despite being an abrasive scrub, it was gentle and didn't irritate or scratch the skin one bit. The best thing about this scrub though is the price. Two sachets are available from Feelunique for £4.50. I scrubbed my entire body down and I still have three quarters left - bargain.

After scrubbing myself down, I applied the One Hour Tan Mousse* to the Tanning Mitt* and spent a little while buffing and blending the tan into my skin. There is a small hint of a guidance colour to the tan but it's not the nasty orange colour that most leave behind. It's the fastest drying fake tan I've ever used and almost instantly, I could get dressed - thank god for no stickyness. There was also no awful biscuit smell left behind and the skin was left feeling very soft and if anything, moisturised.

The best thing about this tan though is that it develops into a light glow after just one hour. You can leave it on for longer (two hours = medium tan, three hours = dark tan) though if you wish. But even so, three hours for a deep tan is fabulous. To get the colour above, I left my tan on for about one and a half hours and it was the perfect winter colour for me - not too dark but it god rid of my paleness. I didn't have one streak on my body and it's fading nice and easily (with thanks to the body scrub). Despite being so fabulous, this tan retails for just £7.99 - the cheapest fake tan I've tried but without a doubt, one of the best.

What's your favourite fake tan?
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CHRISTMAS | Last minute gifts

Sadly, I haven't mentioned Christmas that much on Bamboozle Beauty this year. It's not because I'm not excited (I really am - I was dancing around my house this morning to Christmas songs) but it's because I've been rushed off of my feet with university deadlines. However yesterday, I handed in my final assignment of this semester so after a day filled with taking blog photos, I have a couple of beautiful gift sets to show you.

TIGI Bed Head Sugar Rush* - £19.95

When it comes to haircare, I absolutely adore TIGI as a brand. Not only do their products look fantastic and smell delicious, they perform well and are affordable too. This gift set includes the Bed Head Candy Fixations Sugar Dust which when sprinkled into the roots, absorbs oil and gives you volume in an instant. I'm a massive fan of these texturising dusts and this one is without a doubt my favourite - it leaves behind no residue whatsoever. You also get the Bed Head Headrush Shine Spray which is a fine mist that leaves the hair looking sleek and shiny. I usually steer clear of shine sprays as I have oily hair but this one is incredibly lightweight and it doesn't weigh the hair down or leave it looking greasy. This gift set is worth £27 and it's a must-have for those hair care fanatics.

Xen-Tan Gradual Perfection Gift Set* - £34.99

I'm most definitely a fake tan addict. Being as pale as a snowman means that during the winter, I'm constantly bringing out the fake tan to ensure I look golden and glowing. Xen-Tan is one of my favourite brands and I've been addicted to their Body Scrub since using it on holiday this year. It removes dead skin cells, tan build up and it smells delicious and minty. Also in this gift set is the Transform Luxe which gradually builds up a beautiful looking tan that illuminates the skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. This tan is incredibly fool proof and I've had no problems with streaks and patchy areas once it's used after the Body Scrub. And of course, no fake tanning kit is complete without a mitt - the Xen-Tan Mitt is one of my favourites and unlike cheaper versions, it feels luxurious to use. This gift set is worth £44 and whether you know a fake tanning professional or a newbie, this gift set is one you should look into.

And there you have it! My last minute Christmas gift recommendations. A few other gifts I'd recommend for Christmas: KIKO Ultra Glossy Stylo Lipstick Set, Hearst Magazine Subscriptions, Too Faced Joy To The Girls Gift Set, KIKO Satin Nail Lacquer Set, Baylis & Harding Beauticology Master Chocolatier.

What are you favourite gifts that are out there this Christmas?

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The fake tan cheat sheet

Tan yourself

These days, tanning yourself at home couldn't be easier. There are hundreds of products out there on the market and sometimes, it can be a little bit overwhelming. I work at Boots and the amount of times I've been asked for fake tan recommendations is unreal but when I stand back and look at the shelf, it's full of products which claim to do different things. For me, finding that perfect fake tan really is all down to personal preference but there are a few different elements which could help.

Light, medium or dark

Fake tans tend to come in three different shade categories: light, medium and dark. It really is down to you how deep in colour you'd like to go but the rule tends to be that if you're pale, start without something light and then build your colour intensity up. If you are a pale gal then I really love the KIKO Self Tanning Spray in Light* (£5.90) as it's easy to apply and provides the skin with a nice and light natural tan. Nowadays, I use a medium tanner on my arms and a dark tanner on my legs mainly because my legs barely see the sun. 

Liquid, mousse or spray

At home spray tanners used to be messy but with new technology comes new and improved formulas. The spray tans that I've used are wonderful but you do have to be careful about getting them all over your walls. To avoid this, I use mine in the shower and spray a light layer of product onto my skin and then buff it in using a tanning mitt. I love GloTan* (£21.99) a lot. I've reviewed it before here and it really does airbrush your skin whilst added a natural and healthy looking glow. The diego dalla palma Calze Spray* (£23.49) is more like make up for your skin. If you have a bruise that you'd like to cover up then this is your go-to spray tan. It provides a hint of colour and coverage to cover up anything you'd like it to.

Personally, I find mousse tanners hard to use and I don't seem to get on with them. I find them hard to spread across the skin and I tend to go blotchy when using them. However, lots of people find that they're the way forward so I would recommend having a go with one to see how it suits you.

My favourite type of tanner is without a doubt liquid ones. They're easy to apply, moisturise the skin a little bit and I find them to be completely foolproof. I'd recommend any liquid tanner by Fake Bake as I'm yet to find one that streaks. Their Original, Flawless and 60 Minute* (which I've reviewed here) tanners are absolutely perfect and I haven't found a fault in one of them yet.

Gradual and one day 

If you're new to fake tan then you might want to try a gradual or wash-off tan.Wash-off fake tans are wonderful for a one day event as you can simply pop them on in the morning and wash them away once you're done with it. The only problem with one day tans is that at the sign of water, they will go patchy in the affected area so if rain has been forecast, I'd stay clear.

I use gradual tanners to "top up" my weekly tan and to moisturise the skin. They work in the same way as a moisturiser does and you can be pretty careless with your application as they don't give off much colour pay-off. Always remember to wash your hands or use a mitt with them though - orange hands is a no-no. The KIKO Self Tanning Day by Day Lotion* (£5.90) has the most delicious smell ever. The texture is very thick and takes some working into the skin but over time, it turns the skin a beautiful golden colour that shines in the sun. I'd also recommend the Dove Summer Glow range* as they're currently on offer for £2.49 and can be easily picked up in supermarkets and in Boots.

Facial

For me, it's important to have a separate facial tanner to my body tanner. This is because I am prone to breakouts and I don't want something heavy on my face. If you're an avid fake tanner then you'll know that the fake tan on your face fades a lot quicker than the one on your body so finding a fake tan that is easy to apply and layer is key. The He-Shi Face and Body Tanning Gel * (£14.90) is my facial tanner of choice. It's a light gel that glides over the skin and leaves it looking healthy and tanned. It's easy to layer and doesn't have the nasty fake tan smell. The James Read Sleep Mask Tan* (£25.00) is a great product if you're wanting to top-up your tan midweek. It tans your face whilst you sleep so not only do you wake up to beautifully soft skin but to a natural tan too. I've done a full review of this product here.

Fake tan prep

The key to a good fake tan is preparation. You can invest is the most expensive and wonderful fake tanner in the world but it still isn't going to fade evenly or apply nicely if you don't prep your skin beforehand. It's recommended that you shave and exfoliate 24 hours before applying your fake tan to create a nice and even base for it.

Exfoliators

Buffing away dead skin cells will make your fake tan apply much more smoothly and evenly. Like I've mentioned above, it's recommended that you do this a day before applying your fake tan. I also like to exfoliate my skin gently every couple of days to ensure that my tan fades evenly. If you don't do this, you will end up looking like you have some weird skin disease which isn't a good look at all. For both fake tan prep and fake tan upkeep, I'd recommend the Fake Bake Passion Fruit Body Polish (£11.25). Not only does it smell delicious but it gently buffs away dead skin cells whilst adding moisture to the skin.

Moisturisers

I don't moisturise the whole of my skin before applying fake tan - just the areas that need it. I apply an intense moisturiser on my elbows, wrists, knees and ankles and leave it for a couple of minutes to sink into the skin. I love using the DermaSalve Body Cream* (£5.99-£9.99) or the Lotil Original Cream* (£3.59) as they're both very moisturising and don't mess with the formula of the fake tan. Another top tip of mine is to make sure your elbows and knees are bent when applying fake tan to them - if not, the tan will sit in the cracks and look messy.

Moisturising everyday after you've applied your tan is key to ensure it fades evenly and stays vibrant and lovely. Like I've mentioned, I like to use gradual tanners at times however I'd also recommend the Fake Bake Tan Enhancing Lotion (£13.00) as it's been special formulated to enhance the life of your tan or the Veet Hair Minimising Body Moisturiser (£5.25) as it's light and minimises the appearance of hairs which is wonderful as shaving makes your tan fade quicker.

The special occasion tan

Spray tans

I've only ever had one spray tan in my life and I absolutely loved it. If it was up to me, I'd go for one every single week as they provide the skin with a beautiful, deep, fool-proof colour. If you do have a special occasion coming up (like a wedding, graduation or birthday) then I would highly recommend looking for a local spray tanning centre. My spray tan was the Xen-Tan Signature Spray Tan* which you can find out more about here. It was at Saks Hair & Beauty and you can find a voucher for a £15 spray tan here.

So there we have it, my fake tan cheat sheet. I'd just like to point out that I'm by no means a professional and I've experienced a lot of fake tanning disasters in the past. For me, it's taken a lot of trial and error including many times going out looking like an orange to reach the stage that I'm at now. I thought I'd compile this cheat sheet to help you along the way as like I've mentioned before, there are so many products out there that it can be extremely overwhelming if you're new to the fake tanning world.

If you have any top tips then please do leave them below and I hope you found this helpful. What's your favourite fake tanner?

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Everything in my blog sale has been reduced. I'm moving out of university in a few weeks time so I need everything to be sold. If you're after a bargain, you can find my blog sale here. I'm also selling the pink/coral dress above on eBay. It's BNWT, has only one bid with two days left and you can find it here. The starting price is 99p.

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REVIEW: Fake Bake 60 Minutes Self Tan Liquid

We should play I-Spy with this picture... The Notebook, signed Britney Spears tour book, fish, Lucky Charms, Liz Earle Advent Calender, bottle of wine, Nutella... the endless possibilities! 

Unfortunately for me, this product hated being photographed so the above picture is the best that I could do. Fortunately for me, despite it being camera shy, I've found the most perfect fake tanning product ever. You may have seen me raving about this on Twitter over the past few days and after a week of seeing how it wears, I'm here to report my views for you.

The Fake Bake 60 Minutes Self Tan Liquid* has a colour guide so you can see where you've applied it. Almost instantly, you start to look golden and bronzed. After just 60 minutes, the guide colour has developed into a beautiful golden glow that looks natural, streak-free and best of all, doesn't have that nasty fake tan smell. If you're after a deeper colour then all you have to do is simply leave the tan on for longer - Fake Bake recommend leaving the tan on for no longer than three hours. In the picture above, I'd left the tan on for the full three hours and you can see just how dramatic the difference in. In the first picture, I'm practically a ghost and in the second picture, I look like I've just stepped off of the plane from somewhere exotic - words from my sister, not me!

This fake tan is the easiest that I've ever used and it comes with its own applicator mitt and gloves. The applicator mitt has two ends - one for applying the tan and the other for buffing it in to achieve a flawless, airbrushed look. Both of them work very well together and I'm happy to report that I didn't have one streak over my entire body. The fake tan itself is very easy to use as it comes in a spray bottle which I either spray directly onto my skin or onto the mitt. The spray bottle means that it's easy to use the same amount of tan on each body part. With pour-y out bottles I usually find that one leg ends up looking browner than the other because I've poured out more tan on one leg than the other - not good. I also found that this didn't sit in any dry patches and simply glided over my ankles, knees and elbows (which are usually the parts of my body that end up looking like an orange mess).

The tan so far has faded nice and evenly. I've been exfoliating every other day to ensure that I don't end up with streaky legs or arms and so far so good. Obviously the tan isn't as intense as it was last week but there still aren't any patches or streaks. Another thing that I noticed about this tan is that it never smelt like biscuits - I'm not sure how it did it or whether I was far too hungover to smell it but I never got the nasty smell that most fake tans give off.

Overall, I really cannot sing the praises of this fake tan enough. It's easy to apply, develops quickly, creates the colour I want, doesn't streak, fades well and it's reasonably priced. I think I've found "the one." Have you  tried this fake tan before? What do you think of it? You can buy it here for £21.95.

xxx
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REVIEW: James Read Sleep Mask Tan

Sorry if you're not a fan of this picture, just thought I'd try something new!

You know when you find a product and it's "the one?" That's what happened when this little beauty wormed its way into my life. Either I'm uneducated when it comes to the world of beauty or this product is extremely innovative because I've never heard or seen anything like it before. The James Read Sleep Mask Tan* combines overnight skin beautifying ingredients with a touch of self-tan. This mask - which is lightweight and feels cooling like a gel/serum on the skin - is infused with skincare essentials like aloe vera, cucumber, hyaluronic acid and red algae. Oh I mentioned it. The little wonder that is hyaluronic acid. Whenever I hear that precious ingredient my ears always perk up. All of these ingredients work together to moisturise and soothe the skin overnight while the self-tan ingredients guarantee that you wake up with a subtle glow in the morning. I was a little bit sceptical about this product. When I first read the press release I thought to myself; "well this is just too good to be true" but after trying it out for a few weeks, I'm honestly in love. When I wake up in the morning, my skin doesn't look greasy and dull like it usually does. Instead, it looks awake, glowy and ready to face the day. I've been using this a couple of times a week to top up my tan. If you're an avid fake tanner than you'll know that the tan on your face wears away a lot quicker than that on your body so this is great for ensuring your face isn't white while your body is orange. It's really easy to use too. You just smooth it over your face and neck, working it up to the hairline and blending as you go. It doesn't leave any tan marks on your pillows - and I have white pillows so I'd know - and it doesn't leave your hands - or face! - looking like something an oompa loompa would be proud of. This is one of those products that is a dream and just makes life that tiny bit easier.

The James Read Sleep Mask Tan* is available here and it retails for £25. Have you tried this product out before? Will you be doing so?

xxx
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REVIEW: Glotan™ Tan in a Can

The perfect fake tan is something that I'm always on the look-out for. I'm an extremely pale girl and whenever I'm looking bronzed, I'm always feeling better about myself. However, I struggle with fake tan. I have a few that I love but I'm still after a fool proof way to get a streak-free, natural looking tan. Lucky for us, after nearly 20 years in the beauty industry and hundreds of spray tans conducted, the director of Northampton College of Beauty Therapy, Julie Allen became "fed up with the quality of tans on offer to use on clients. They were either loaded with alcohol which is damaging and ageing to the skin, smelt like a chemical plant or looked so abnormal in colour they were comical." So of course, Julie decided to create her own tan; a tan that she could be proud of and a tan that she would be proud to use. The Glotan™ tanning solution doesn't contain alcohol, is fragrance free and contains added natural moisturisers, Vitamin E and high quality DHA which is made in the UK to achieve a result that is even in application and professional. I tried out the Tan in a Can* the other day and I've already been raving about it on Twitter. It appears instantly and develops over time so it offers a ten day-lasting colour. I was completely shocked at how easy it was to apply. You literally just spray it onto dry skin (around 10 inches away so you create a mist) and there you have it, an instant tan. It dries pretty much instantly so you apply it and you're good to go. I stood in my shower cubicle as the tan does create a mist but that was easily wiped away afterwards. My tan has no streaks and even now after application it has no nasty fake tan smell. The picture above is with one coat of the fake tan however it is recommended that you build it up which I am doing today as I'm going out tonight. In the second picture you can see the difference between the colour on my arm and hand too - it's a natural, beautiful looking tan. It is THE perfect fake tan and I don't think I'll be able to live without it. Tan in a Can retails for £21.99 and you can buy it here.
What is your favourite fake tanning product? Have you tried this before?

xxx

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Fake Tanning Preparation Products

When it comes to fake tanning, preparation is key. There's no point in applying fake tan if you don't have a good base to start off with. It sounds silly but there really is an art to fake tanning. If you don't prepare your skin correctly, then you will without a doubt end up with patchy, streaky, nasty fake looking tan - and who wants that?!

To start off with, all body hair must be removed. It allows the fake tan to apply more evenly and it means that it won't cling onto the hairs. I use the EOS Vanilla Bliss Shave Cream* - £9.45 as it's my favourite shaving cream. You can use this shaving cream wet or dry which is amazing in itself. Since using this, I haven't cut myself once shaving. Which is amazing considering I'm extremely clumsy. It also smells lovely - not overpowering but nice, sweet and fresh - and it moisturises the skin. Secondly, it's incredibly important to exfoliate your skin to get rid of any dead skin cells which will allow a smooth application. I love the Burt's Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub* - £12.99. Once again, this smells lovely. It's a big, fruity mess that does a wonderful job at buffing away any dead skin. I prefer sugar scrubs to normal exfoliators when preparing my skin for fake tan as I find that they do a really good, abrasive job yet without being harsh. And this one doesn't let me down.. I use a moisturising body wash just so that I can get as much moisture into my skin as possible so I'm not left with any dry patches. This step isn't a necessity but I do it anyway just in case. I love the Naked Ooh La La Coco De Mer Body Wash* - £3.79 and the Philosophy Christmas Cookie Body Wash - £14. These two smell incredible and they do a great job at adding moisture into my skin. Finally it's so important to moisturise your skin - especially your elbows, knees, ankles and hands. If you don't, the fake tan will go patchy on your dry areas and that really isn't attractive. I either use the Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Body Lotion* - £4.99 or the Jergens Original Beauty Lotion* - £3.49. I use the Dove Summer Glow as a sort of primer as it adds a little bit of a glow/colour to my skin while moisturising it. The Jergens moisturiser is without a doubt my all time favourite moisturiser. It smells so delicious, sinks into the skin quickly and adds so much moisture without being sticky.

What are your must-have fake tanning preparation products?

xxx
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Xen-Tan Signature Spray Tan Review

This time last week I headed down to my local Saks Hair & Beauty salon for an Xen-Tan spray tan! I love fake tan and I find myself applying it at least once a week but it's no secret that I'm not very good at doing so. I have tried a lot of fake tans and my current favourite is the Lauren's Way Glam Tan which I reviewed here but I was so excited to get a spray tan as it's something that I've always wanted. The Xen-Tan Signature Spray Tan* gives you a natural olive glow in minutes. The formula is moisture rich which means that even the fairest of skins can enjoy a natural-looking tan! The tan claims to give you that perfect airbrushed finish that lasts up to 10 days, fades evenly and smells delicious.

The people at the Saks Hair & Beauty salon were absolutely lovely and made me feel very comfortable. I was a bit scared about baring all to someone that I didn't know but the process was very easy and the lady was so nice! She explained everything to me in detail and asked if I had any questions. She also asked if I wanted to go for a small glow, a medium tan or a deep tan and because I'm very pale, I said just a medium tan would do. The whole process took about 15 minutes with the fake tan application taking about 5 minutes. The lady applied moisturiser to my feet, knees and elbows and we were on our way! The spray tan is pretty cold but I'd say it's more refreshing than nasty. Afterwards, I was left to walk around the room for a bit letting my tan dry and getting ready and when I caught sight of myself in the mirror I was so shocked by the colour I'd go and I immediately fell in love with my fake tan.  

I'm not used to being this tanned at all but I absolutely love it! And I know that I'm now addicted to spray tans. A week on my colour is fading evenly and there's still a bit left on - I can still see my tans line! I haven't topped my tan up because I wanted to see how it'd end up and so far I'm impressed. But I do want to keep my colour so today I will be fake tanning again. The one thing I love the most about this spray tan is not how quick it is, not how evenly it fades, not how it doesn't go streaky but I love the effect it gives. It literally airbrushes your skin and any imperfections that you were worried about before are gone. I do have scarring on my skin but since having my spray tan I've found that I've needed a lot less foundation and concealer than usual as the spray tan literally concealed everything anyway!

(My face is paler than my body in this picture because I exfoliate my skin a lot more than I do my body)

This spray tan is normally £25 but Saks have a special offer on at the minute where every Friday you can get a voucher that gets you this spray tan for just £15! For your voucher, click here. I can see myself treating myself to a fake tan every month from now on. I absolutely love them!

Have you ever had a spray tan before?

xxx

*This was a complimentary spray tan

REVIEW: Lauren's Way Glam Tan

I'm always on the lookout for that 'perfect fake tan.' I've tried a few different brands and I've come up with quite the collection now. I love applying fake tan. It makes me feel a lot more confident in myself and I also love that it means I don't have to wear skin coloured tights as they annoy the hell out of me. My newest addition to my fake tan addiction is Lauren's Way Glam Tan*.

As the name suggests, this fake tan is by The Only Way Is Essex's queen of tan, Lauren Goodger. I've been using this fake tan for a few weeks now and it's the only tan that I've been reaching for. It comes in a spray bottle which I think is so easy to apply. I spray it onto my fake tanning mitt and buff it into my skin. For me, it's a lot easier than pumping the product out or even pouring the product onto the mitt. You can even spray it directly onto the skin. At first, it gives you an instant natural glow and then later develops into an olive coloured tan. Yes that's right, not an orange tan but olive. It's gorgeous and even. I also find that you can build this product up so say if you're after a really deep tan, you can apply this once a day in the run up to your 'event' to create that beautiful deep tan. Another thing I love about this fake tan is that it fades naturally and not streaky. And when it does fade, it's after a few days. I've been applying this once a week and I find that it's more than enough to keep my tan topped up. One warning I will give you though is don't apply this to your face. As it's an olive colour it is very, very dark and for pale ladies like me, it just ends up making you look unclean. Or maybe that's my own fault for spraying as much on my face as I did on my arms?

You can buy this fake tan here and it retails for just £16.95.

Have you tried any products from Lauren's Way range before? What's your favourite fake tan?

xxx

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Fake Tanning Routine Featuring Xen-Tan, Dove & He-Shi

Quite frankly, I am pale. And what's worse, I don't tan. If I go on holiday, no matter how much sun tan lotion I put on, I will burn. And after I've burnt, I will go back to being white - it's hard being me you see. So fake tan is a must for me. I haven't had much luck with fake tan in the past; whenever I apply it I normally end up looking like a mess. But now, I'm pretty experienced in tanning and it's something that I've incorporated into a nice routine.

Xen-Tan Perfect Blend - £34.99*

I was a little bit sceptical when I first heard about this.. sceptical but excited. This fake tan self tan for the face and the body on one side and a shimmer bronzer on the other. You turn a dial so you can custom build your own colour. Also I must add, don't be put off by the word 'shimmer..' I've not found any shimmer in the bronze colour but I find it just leaves a healthy, deep glow on the skin. It ranges from 100% light self tan to 100% cosmetic bronzer. You mix them both together and within 3 hours, your tan has developed into a beautiful deep glow. I really cannot recommend this enough. It's very moisturising on the skin and even if I don't exfoliate it applies beautifully and doesn't go streaky. It doesn't smell of biscuits like most fake tan products do but instead leaves a nice, natural smell on this skin. I use this every Sunday night. I'm starting off light and slowly building the colour up to make it look more natural.

Xen-Tan Mousse Intense - £23.99*

I will admit it, before this product I had never used a mousse fake tan before. Crazy right? Especially because there are endless amounts of good reviews about mousse self tanners. This is in the colour medium/dark and it is just that. I don't use this very often as like I said, I'm building my colour up gradually. But I have used this and I can't rave about it enough. It's streak free and once again doesn't smell like fake tan. It's quick drying and gives an instant colour that develops into a beautiful, deep tan that looks natural due to its olive undertone. Once again, this isn't drying on the skin and adds a nice moisture to it. Whilst I don't use this in my routine all the time, I know that when I'm going on big nights out or on holiday this will be the tan that I'll apply beforehand. It lasts a really long time and fades evenly as well. Very beautiful for those who want a quick and easy deep tan.

Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion - £5.69

When I was younger I tried out a lot of the gradual tanners but I ended up being left disappointed. They were patchy, hard to apply and the moisturiser just didn't sink into the skin easily. But when I read this post from The Sunday Girl, I knew I had to invest in the Dove Summer Glow gradual tanner. I use this every other day (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) to up keep my tan and also to moisturise the skin. I have this in the colour fair to normal so it doesn't apply a lot of colour but saves me from using my Xen-Tan all the time as it's pretty expensive (but worth it). I love this but I hate the way it smells. It definitely adds a nasty fake tan smell but when I shower, it does disappear thank god!

He-Shi Facial Tanning Gel - £17.50*

Even though I can use my Xen-Tan on my face I don't like to so I use my He-Shi facial tanning gel. I'm not very sure on this. When I first tried it, I loved it. But since trying Xen-Tan I just don't feel it's as good. It isn't drying on the skin and it doesn't smell bad but it sometimes applies really patchy. So I'm hoping to try out the Xen-Tan Face Tanner (£16.99). If I do, I'll let you know how they both compare.

And to apply all of these products (except the facial tanning gel) I use the Xen-Tan Luxury Tanning Mitt - £3.99*. When I first received this I thought 'how can it be a luxury tanning mitt? Surely it's just like the rest?' But it isn't. It feels really lovely on the skin and whether it's the fake tan or the tanning mitt, I don't get streaks! It's lovely to use and helps to keep my palms clean which is of course, what you want.

What fake tanning products do you use? Have you tried these?

xxx

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