The glow up is real, people
Words Tania Grier
It’s that time of year when beauty counters are crammed with self-tanners, gradual glow builders and tanning mitts a-plenty. But which products swerve the common pitfalls of streaks and biscuit fragrance to give the most natural results?
BRONZIE TAN PERFECTING POWDER
I have to admit, when I saw this packaging complete with the supersized puff I was somewhat sceptical. However, it actually works really well with zero effort. Designed to help your tanning products dry pronto, simply pop on the powder straight from the bottle and buff it in with the body puff to lock in your fake tan and prevent any smudging on clothes. The finish is smooth with the bonus of a subtle shimmer.
JAMES READ SLEEP MASK FACE RETINOL
Tan while you sleep? Yes please! Quite the multitasker this one, with retinol and hyaluronic acid to fight ageing, tired skin and puffiness plus sleep pack technology to renew the skin overnight. Use for a few nights until you reach the desired level of tan. An upgrade from using a regular fake tan at night, you’ll awake to glowing skin with a subtle hint of colour, and as with all James’ clever products, the lightweight texture is ultra natural. They don’t call him the king of tanning for nothing!
TAN LUXE – THE BODY
I love this product for its lack of smell, eye-pleasing packaging and serum-like texture. Simply add a few drops to your body lotion (2 drops for radiance, up to 12 drops for a serious tan!) either on a daily basis throughout the summer or when you need just a hint of colour. The formula contains all sorts of goodies, such as vitamin E and aloe to hydrate, plus skin firming cellutone to tighten. Easy to apply, zero scent, no streaking – an all-round winner for home or holiday.
GATINEAU GOLDEN GLOW GRADUAL TAN
New, and no doubt a future bestseller, this super duper featherweight gel-cream with soy oil and coconut was developed not just to tan but to hydrate and blur imperfections. Doubling up as a tan extender, used daily (2-3 days ideally) it gives an ultra natural hint of colour. Perfect for when you return from vacation and want to keep that tan going as long as possible! Available from July.
ISLE OF PARADISE EXPRESS ULTRA DARK SELF-TANNING MOUSSE
Prepare to be impressed. Finally, the most intense, speediest tan on the market! For those who love a deep tan, or for those with warmer skin tones looking to glow up a few shades for summer, this clever mousse takes you up to 6 shades darker in only 1-4 hours. Boxes ticked: dries quickly, highly hydrating, streak free, zero scent, and no ‘tango’ tone. A total game-changer.
BODY LAVA from FENTY
And when you have reached your desired level of tan, the limited edition Body Lava from Fenty gives the most delightful finish. With a hint of tint (three shades to suit all skin tones) and super sensual shimmer this is the ultimate compliment to any tan. Also a good back up if you haven’t had time to tan and need to ‘filter’ the body. Dewy, glossy and light reflecting, it’s a real confidence booster, like strobing for the body. Plus the floral fragrance will transport you to the beach. £46, limited edition…run!