Weekly self-tanner by Xen-Tan

I tried 3 self-tanners during this summer (2 for body and 1 for face) and this is a review of one of them.

Price: 24,73€ from allbeauty.com ( I bought 2 bottles for 22£ last year when on sale).

What it says on the bottle: quick-drying, with instant colour, olive undertone, vanilla scent and streak-free.

Scent and instant colour: I agree with the scent, the product smells like vanilla during its application. Once the self-tanner starts developing, it has classic self-tanner scent. It has colour indicator as well and that gives you instant colour and helps you to see where you put the self-tanner. It is always very useful to see where you have to blend more to achieve even tan.

Colour: I bought Medium/dark intensity. It gives nice tan with hint of red so your skin looks like freshly suntanned. You get a week-like tan already after 2 applications.

Weekly self-tanner by Xen-Tan

Application: it is easy to apply. It has mousse texture and I used gloves and mitt to apply it. I didn’t get any streaks so I absolutely agree with the claim that it gives non streak tan. It is little bit sticky and takes longer than expected to dry. Plus if you sweat in the sleep or just don’t let it dry completely before putting on clothes, it will stain your pajama and bed sheets.

Longevity: after 2 applications the tan lasted on me 8-10 days, after that it started to fade away in patches. It was hard to remove, so for few days it didn’t look the best (if I didn’t add new self-tan). You can get 10 applications from 1 bottle, so one bottle will last you about 5 weeks.

Final verdict: it is expensive, fades in patches and stains the sheets. It is quite a pity since it lasts long time and looks really nice. I will use up second bottle but won’t repurchase it. Mousse by Saint Tropez wins over it any time.

Luxurious golden bronze self-tan lotion original and Anti-aging self-tanning lotion for face by FakeBake

As New Year parties approach, one of the usual preparation steps is giving yourself healthy glow through some self-tanning (unless you are lucky person coming from the Thailand). I’ve already reviewed Luxurious golden bronze flawless Self-tan liquid by FakeBake and I really liked it so I bought some other products by this brand. Here are quick reviews in case you were thinking about buying them.

LUXURIOUS GOLDEN BRONZE SELF-TAN LOTION ORIGINAL BY FAKEBAKE

Price: 170ml costs 17,11€ at allbeauty.com.

Smell: it doesn’t have any smell during the application however it smells like typical self-tanning product when it’s developing the tan.

Colour: it is already nice neutral brown after first application, after 3 applications you will get a one week vacation colour if you are light skin tone like me (NW20 in MAC). I really liked the colour; it wasn’t orange or red, just a nice neutral darker brown.

Application: it was little bit tricky. I had to use not only self-tanning mitt but also rubber gloves (as suggested on the packaging). This self-tanner lotion had dark brown, almost black, colour indicator which stained my fingers through the mitt if I didn’t wear any gloves (it happened to me at first application). Also, it was strange to put black lotion on my body and I looked very dark. I applied it in the evenings before going to bed; I don’t think I would go out dark like that. Once it dried it didn’t stain my bed sheets or clothes. Following morning I took shower and the colour indicator washed out, only tan colour stayed.

Longevity and fading: it lasted very long time. The same colour (after 3 applications) stayed for a week and only then started to fade away. It wasn’t patchy at all so I didn’t have to scrub my skin for another 5 days if I didn’t want to.

Final verdict: it is very nice self-tanner; the only think I didn’t like was a dark, almost black, colour indicator. It just looked strange to me and I didn’t feel comfortable with. Apart from that, it is really good self-tanner.

Luxurious golden bronze self-tan lotion original by FakeBake

ANTI-AGING SELF-TANNING LOTION FOR FACE BY FAKEBAKE

Price: 60ml costs 18,34€ at allbeauty.com.

Smell: it reminds me of Palmer’s cocoa butter Natural bronze self-tanner scent, little bit of cocoa and citrus. It doesn’t have strong smell when it develops.

Colour: after first few applications I haven’t seen much of the difference. Only after using it for about 4-5 days I could see slight difference in skin tone. The self-tanner gave my skin light tan but I don’t think you could build it up to something darker.

Application: according to the packaging you can use it instead of make-up or as evening application. It has a warm brown colour indicator that gives glow and suntanned look to the skin. It is easy to apply, use a pea size amount and spread it on the face, avoiding eyes area.

Longevity and fading: After these 5 applications when I finally had some colour, I left my face alone for 3 days and the tan started to fade away, new application was needed again.

Final verdict: I’m not sure if I have energy to put this self-tanner on my face almost every night to get some colour. I like better face self-tanners that are more effective where you can see colour after first or second application and which lasts longer than 3 days. I’m not going to purchase it again and I’m still hesitant if I should even keep the one I tested or just give up and throw it away.

Anti-aging self-tanning lotion for face by FakeBake

Vita Liberata gradual self-tanner in colour light

This brand of self-tanners is so popular that I had to try it. I had high expectations and I must say I ended up with quite mixed feeling. I didn't buy the one that is supposed to last 2-3 weeks as it was very expensive but I still kind of hoped that other Vita Liberata products will perform as well as the main star.

Price: it costs 19€ for 200 ml. You can buy in Sephora or some perfumeries.

Smell: during the application no scent, but once the self-tanner starts developing, it has its typical aroma that goes away when the tan is done.

Colour: after 2 applications you'll get almost medium brown with yellow undertone. If you apply more than 2 layers it won't get darker but more yellow-orange looking. Obviously to keep it somewhat natural you can't do more than 2 layers. It says “Light” on the packaging and that is what you get.

Vita Liberata gradual self-tanner in colour light  

Application: oh boy, mixed feelings right here. It has gel-like consistency and I first decided to apply it with a mitt that I bought together with the self-tanner (the same brand, 6€). I applied and blended it well (it doesn’t have a colour indicator) but the result was very disappointing. It was very streaky, very dark on the elbows and feet as if I was applying some bad drugstore self-tanner or as if I was a total beginner in self-tanning. I tried it several times with the mitt and it always ended up looking horrible. At last, as I was half way done with the bottle the mitt got damaged (already!) and I decided to use my hands. It was really a great idea because the self-tanner looked beautiful, without any streaks. I avoided elbows and areas where it tended to go darker and the tan actually looked very nice. So good advice here, don't use the mitt for this specific self-tanner, go with your hands (wash them after the application of course).

Longevity and fading: the tan lasted 1 week (I moisturized my body every day). It wasn't looking patchy when it started to fade away.

Final verdict: it wasn't a bad self-tanner but for that price it could have been much better. I didn't like the colour undertone and the fact that I could not go darker. There are comparable self-tanners in drugstore with better price so I won’t repurchase it. 

FakeBake Luxurious golden bronze Flawless Self-tan liquid

Let’s kick this week off with a self-tanner review as the summer is soon about to end and I will be
going slowly into my lazy not self-tanning period and embracing my pale skin.

Price: it costs about 30€ in some perfumeries but you can buy it lot cheaper at allbeauty.com or through Amazon.com.

Smell: it has nice coconut smell that changes when the self-tanner develops in that well-known aroma. Once the colour is developed the scent goes away.

Colour: after 2 applications it gives beautiful true brown colour, nothing yellowish or orange. After 3rd application you look like from a week-long vacation.

FakeBake Luxurious golden bronze Flawless Self-tan liquid 

Application: it is not the easiest application for me I must say. The self-tanner is a liquid so it is not easy to blend in to the skin, like a cream or foam, especially if your skin is on drier side. I think it is more suitable for normal to oily skin. I used mitt and gloves that came with the self-tanner. I usually don’t use both things but the mitt was soaking some product in and transferring it inside on the hands so you definitely want to protect them by wearing these gloves. The self-tanner has a colour indicator so you can see where you put it and I didn’t experience any streaks or major mistakes. The liquid is not sticky so you can get dressed almost immediately. However, I noticed that when I sweat during the night some colour indicator stained my sheets (only at night after the application) but I didn’t have problem to wash it off.

FakeBake Luxurious golden bronze Flawless Self-tan liquid

Longevity and fading: it lasted nicely for 5-6 days so quite long and faded without patches. One bottle will last for 1-2 months depends on how many applications you’ll do per week.

Final verdict: if I didn’t have dry skin it would be one of my favourites. It has beautiful colour, lasts long time, fades nicely and with colour indicator you can’t go wrong with application. I definitely recommend it!

St.Tropez Every day perfect legs gradual and instant self-tanner

This is one of the products that I got on sale for only 5£ (so of course I bought 2 bottles) and then discovered why it was such a good deal…Unlike other St.Tropez products (namely self-tanning mousse I love) this one was a real disappointment. Here is a quick overview of what you can expect.

The bottle contains 2 different products: instant self-tanner and gradual self-tanner. Each of them had its own pump and was used separately from the other one.

St.Tropez Every day perfect legs gradual and instant self-tanner

Instant self-tanner:

This cream had quite a dark brownish colour which didn't look very natural on my pale skin but at least the undertone was warm. Theoretically it would be useful to hide some self-tanning mistakes if your tan was dark. When I applied it I had to wait very long to get the skin dry (which I didn't have patience for) otherwise the cream would move and create streaks. It ended up being such a mess that I had to wash it off. What a fail.

St.Tropez Every day perfect legs gradual and instant self-tanner

Gradual self-tanner:

Smell: it didn't have any scent during the application but when the tan was developing it had its typical aroma.

Colour: there was enough cream only for one whole body application (I know it’s mainly for legs but I expected more product). After this one use the skin colour went by 1-2 shades. The undertone was warm and it looked quite natural and nice.

Application: I applied it as regular body lotion, haven't used a mitt at all (don't forget to wash your hands afterwards). Even though the self-tanner didn't have colour indicator I haven't noticed any streaks. It was little bit sticky but that went soon away.

St.Tropez Every day perfect legs gradual and instant self-tanner ("full bottle")

Longevity and fading: the tan lasted 4-5 days and faded nicely without any patches.

Final verdict: as mentioned at the beginning I'm very disappointed with the product in general. The instant self-tanner was total fail and the gradual self-tanner had enough cream only for one use. On the other hand, this gradual self-tanner was really nice from what I can say after 1st application. It actually may be worth buying it and trying the proper way (review a product after using it completely).

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess self-tanning lotion for face vs. Yves Rocher Soin lift self-tanner for face

These two face self-tanners looked similar so I figured we can have a little battle here. I tested them in July and here are the results.

Price: Estee Lauder face self-tanner costs around 30€ for 50 ml, you can buy it wherever they sell Estee Lauder. It may be sold only during the summer, I’m not sure. Yves Rocher costs 7,95€, also for 50 ml, in Yves Rocher stores or online shop. You can buy it cheaper during the sales.

Yves Rocher Soin lift self-tanner for face (left), Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess self-tanning lotion for face (right)

Smell:
EL: it has warm sweet scent. According to the packaging it has amber and coconut oil as part of the perfume. I don’t smell any coconut oil, rather amber, it is pleasant scent anyway. When the self-tanning product develops, it has its typical smell and it goes away once the skin is tanned.
YR: it also has warm scent; I smell some nuts in the perfume. It doesn’t have any self-tanner scent at all.

Application: it is easy to apply for both products. They have cream consistency so you can use it just like regular moisturiser. Avoid eye areas though and blend well down to the chest part to avoid difference in colour at the neckline.

Yves Rocher Soin lift self-tanner for face

Colour:
EL: after 2 applications, Estee Lauder tanned my face by 2-3 shades. Further applications didn’t make the colour go darker. Colour’s undertone was yellowish.
YR: after 2 applications nothing, so I applied 3rd and 4th layer as well and still nothing. I didn’t get any colour from this product (I’m NW15-20 in MAC).

Longevity and fading: since Yves Rocher didn’t give me any colour I cannot report on Longevity and fading. On the other hand, tan from Estee Lauder self-tanner lasted about 4 days and faded nicely without patches. You don’t need lot of cream for one application so I think one bottle will last you for good 2 months. As always, stay away from peeling, acids and other products that take upper skin layer off to keep your tan longer.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess self-tanning lotion for face

Final verdict: Yver Rocher is going to the trash as you could understand from the colour section. It didn’t give me any colour so no need to use it. Estee Lauder is a nice product; it reminds me Vichy self-tanning towelettes and I would use it during the winter season when I don’t ask for dark tan. During the summer I prefer darker brown colour that I can get from L’Oreal Sublime bronze for face.

Palmer's cocoa butter formula Natural bronze body lotion

I've been recently using Palmer's cocoa butter formula body oil and the scent just reminded me that I still have to do a review on their self-tanning body lotion. So here we go.

Price: it costs about 13€ on French Amazon but you can buy it in Boots in UK for less than 4£ for 250 ml (according to Boots webpage it delivers to Belgium and Slovakia as well for 9,99£).

Smell: it ha strong cocoa scent just like other Palmer's cocoa butter formula products. When the tan develops, it has a self-tanner smell but it is not very strong as the cocoa scent overpowers it. At the beginning I loved the scent, I smelt like chocolate which was pleasant to me but by the end of the product I was fed up with the scent so I can't use it constantly, I have to take a break from the scent from time to time.

Colour: after 1 application you will get 1-1½ shade darker skin, after 2 applications you'll be 3 shades darker (I'm NW15-20 at MAC). The colour undertone is yellowish; it doesn't turn in different undertone or darker colour when you apply more than 3 layers. If your skin tone is NW/C 35-40 and up in MAC then you won't see the change in skin shade. 

Palmer's cocoa butter formula Natural bronze body lotion

Application: it has runny cream texture. I applied it like regular body lotion with my hands, I didn't even use tanning mitt. It was really easy to apply, no fuss, just remember to wash your hands after the application. Even though it doesn't have a colour indicator I haven't seen any streaks or missed spots, the tan looked nice.

Longevity and fading: it lasted around 4 days and then started to fade. It wasn't patchy and faded nicely.

Final verdict: it is very easy, no mess, self-tanner with light colour. It is in fact my favourite winter self-tanner as I don't ask for lot of colour during that time and the cocoa scent just makes you feel warm and cosy. If you are beginner and/or very light skin tone this is the self-tanner to try.

Paula's choice Suncare Almost the real thing self-tanner gel

I mentioned already before that I'm a big fan of Paula's choice products so of course I had to try the self-tanner as well.

Price: I bought it last year for 18€ for 148 ml on www.paulaschoice-eu.com, but I've only seen it on US website currently on sale for 6,50$ so I'm not sure if it's going to be discontinued or not.

Smell: it doesn't have a smell during the application but smells like self-tanner when developing.

Application: it was easy to apply as it has kind of gel-lotion consistency. I used a mitt to apply it but it would be possible with just hands as well (just wash them well after the application). It wasn't sticky; it soaked in the skin quite quickly. It has light colour applicator so it helped to avoid streaky situation.

Paula's choice Suncare Almost the real thing self-tanner gel

Colour: after first application the colour went by few shades with little bit of yellow undertone and it looked nice. With second application it started to look little bit orangey so I would not apply more than 2 layers and keep it just few shades darker. It would be good self-tanner for the winter season.

Longevity and shading: the tan lasted about 5 days before it started to fade. First it was fading nicely but than I started seeing some patches so don't let it fade too long rather scrub the tan off. One bottle lasted quite a long time, almost 2 months.

Final verdict: I didn't like the colour especially as it was turning orange after 2nd application. I used it up but I wouldn't repurchase it again; I still prefer St.Tropez bronzing mousse even though it's more expensive.

Garnier SummerBody moisturising lotion sun-kissed look

I started last week with the review of Dove Summer glow cream and I have another similar product review today. Since I see these light self-tanners quite often in our drugstore I think it’s a good idea to share my thoughts about them so that you can decide whether to buy it or not.

Price: you can find it in any drugstore, it costs about 5-7€ for 250 ml.

Smell: it has apricot smell, so fresh fruity scent. During the self-tanner developing phase it has that typical self-tanner aroma.

Application: I applied it like a lotion with my hands (wash hands thoroughly after the application). It doesn’t have the colour indicator but it wasn’t streaky even after first application (just make sure to blend it well on your body). It was moisturising enough to be used instead of a regular body lotion if you don’t mind the scent of self-tanner when developing. It felt sticky for quite some time (even up to 4 hours) so I would apply it only in the evening when not going anywhere. Also, I noticed that it stained my sheets first night after application so make sure it’s really dry before going to bed and try not to sweat too much.

Garnier SummerBody moisturising lotion sun-kissed look

Colour: after 2 applications, it went up by 3 colours (in MAC shades) but you won’t get a lot more out of it (which is surprising since I chose “Deep sun-kissed look version). This self-tanner is more suitable for winter when you don’t need to look dark but want to add some colour not to look like a ghost.

Longevity and fading: it lasted 3 days before it started to fade. It faded little bit patchy here and there but since the colour is not very different from the skin it is not a tragedy. One bottle will last you about a month (if you use it 3 times a week).

Final verdict: Since it was very sticky and stained my sheets I don’t think I will repurchase it. I think there are better light colour self-tanners that can do the job without these 2 flaws.

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze visage

It is always hard to find good face self-tanner and not many women actually have the courage to try it on. Perhaps, the main reason is the difficulty of application, tough removal of streaks and unnatural colour. On the other hand if you are self-tanned everywhere but the face, it looks weird. Unless you put a darker foundation on it looks like your face belongs to different body. This is why I often use some kind of face self-tanner.
There are not many that I recommend, so far I really liked only Vichy self-tanning towelettes that I've already reviewed but I think I discovered something even better…

Price: I've seen it in France in Monoprix for 14€ but you can buy it cheaper at allbeauty.com (12,28€, old packaging as on my picture) or wherever L'Oreal self-tanning products are sold.

Smell: it smells like self-tanner when applied and also when it develops, just like any other self-tanner. I think all the self-tanners have that smell, at least during the tan development phase. Once it’s done the self-tanner scent goes away.

Colour: after 2 applications you get nice medium brown colour as if you were on vacation for few days. It doesn't have any orange or yellow undertone; it is really pure neutral brown. I would pair it either with St. Tropez bronzing mousse or Fake Bake liquid self-tanner (both for body). I really love this colour and I think it would suit lot of skin undertones.

L'Oreal Sublime bronze visage (old packaging)

Application: it is very easy to apply. Close your eyes and spray it over the face: 2 vertical sprays, one on each side and one spray on the neck and chest to allow nice gradual effect. For the second application, try to avoid nose as it gets just enough tan from the first application. Use cotton and toner to remove self-tanner from eye lids and from hairline, if needed. Let it dry for couple minutes and apply your regular moisturiser.
As mentioned before, when using face self-tanners don't use anything that peels top layers of skin off (peeling, AHA or BHA acids retinol or other drying products) if you want to keep your tan longer.

Longevity and fading: It lasts about 4 days and then starts to fade away. There are no patches during the fading phase. One bottle will last about 10 applications so I think it is a good deal.

Final verdict: I really love this face self-tanner, it is easy to use, few sprays and done. No patches, nice colour, good price. Once I finished other face self-tanners I'm certainly going back to this one from L’Oreal.

Dove Summer glow nourishing lotion (gradual tanner) review

I noticed that DOVE is on sale in DI drugstore (buy one and second 50% off) and it was also pictured in DI flyer so I figured out that a quick review would come handy if you see it and think about purchasing it.

Price: you can buy DOVE products for about 7 - 10€ in any drugstore.

Smell: when applying it, the smell was pleasant; I cannot identify it but close to peaches. Once the tanner started developing, it would get its typical smell which was actually quite strong.

Application: I used hands to apply it just like I would apply a lotion. It applied easily but was very sticky so I had to wait a while before getting dressed or going to bed. Also, if you don’t use a mitt or gloves, you have to wash hands thoroughly to avoid coloured palms. The tanner gets off very easily which means that your hands will be noticeably white compared to rest of the body so I advise applying some tanner on them before going to bed (use a mitt).

Dove Summer glow nourishing lotion (normal to dark skin)

Colour: after first 2 applications there was almost no colour and after 3rd application skin colour went up by few shades. I could not build the tan to darker colour (although it says on the packaging that it is “normal to dark skin”) and it became very yellow-orange, very unnatural, so light tan is all it offers.

Longevity and fading: it stayed on 4 days and started fading afterwards. I haven’t noticed any significant patches when fading out.

Final verdict: I would not repurchase it since it doesn’t give dark colour; it is sticky after application and stinks like self-tanner. I can get the same effect from any self-tanner but with darker tan.

St.Tropez Bronzed Glow set review

Here is another review on self-tanning products; a St.Tropez set that I bought on allbeauty.com, UK based internet shop. This set cost 15,56€ which is excellent price considering that you get 120 ml of St.Tropez mousse self-tanner (currently at 17, 91€), 120 ml of Body polish (a scrub, costing 7,97€) and 120 ml of Body moisturiser (200 ml costs 10,98€). Although the set is not available now, products are available separately at this website and the prices are better than in shops.

St.Tropez Bronzed Glow set

ST.TROPEZ BRONZING MOUSSE

Smell: it didn’t have strong self-tanner smell; there was a hint of floral scent when applying it but it all didn’t linger for too long.

Application: the consistency of the product is a mousse, and for me, it applied the easiest with a self-tanning mitt. First I had a drugstore mitt that wasn’t good quality, it soaked a lot of product in and it was hard to spread. I thought it might be the product itself that is faulty but when I changed the mitt (I used Vita Liberata, 6€ in French Sephora or 5€ in perfumeries in Slovakia) the product spread beautifully. It has a colour indicator so you see where you apply it and also for this reason it wasn’t streaky, even when I didn’t pay attention as much as usually. I think this self-tanner is very suitable for beginners.

Colour: it gave nice tan with hint of olive undertone so no orange tan at all. The colour looked very natural. After 1 application the skin colour went up by 1-2 shades, after 2nd application up to 3 shades (my skin colour is light warm, NW15-20 in MAC).

Longevity and shading: it lasted very long; I was actually surprised that I could still see the colour after 7 days. It started fading on 8-9th day and it wasn’t patchy. I let it fade without scrubbing just to see how it goes and after 13 days there were few patches. It was a bit extreme to let it fade for such a long time, especially since it was hard to remove it at the end. So I definitely would scrub the “leftovers” after few days of shading in order to avoid patches. One bottle will last about 10 applications which mean 5 weeks for me (2 applications to get the colour I want).

(from left to right) St.Tropez Body polish, St.Tropez Body moisturiser, St.Tropez Bronzing mousse

ST.TROPEZ BODY POLISH (TAN OPTIMISER SERIES) 

I’m usually very sceptical about scrubs as I think they are waste of money. I use loofah mitt (organic Egyptian loofah that you can buy in a drugstore for few bucks) that works well with my regular shower gel. Since the scrub was part of the kit I used it to test it out.

Scrub contains very small particles and there are densely present in the cream base. It scrubs very well, particles not being too harsh on the skin. The Scrub is not drying so even girls with dry skin can use it. It smells little bit like shaving products for men. First it didn’t bother me but by the end of the bottle I had enough of it (especially since the lotion has the same aroma). I also used this scrub on the face and it did a good job there as well, scrubbing it well and not drying it at all. Overall, it is very good scrub, although expensive one, and I may buy it again, just for my face.

ST.TROPEZ BODY MOISTURISER (TAN OPTIMISER SERIES)

Lotion has medium liquid consistency, so not too thick or thin, for me the perfect consistency for spring or autumn (if you have normal to dry skin at that period). It spreads easily on the skin and soaks quite quickly. It is not sticky or greasy, you can get dressed almost immediately after its application. Skin was very soft and silky to the touch, stayed moisturised for at least 12 hours. As I mentioned in scrub description, it has that smell that reminds me of products for men and it didn’t bother me at the beginning, later on I wasn’t a big fan anymore. I really liked this moisturiser as the skin was very soft to the touch and I think it really helped to extent the tan wear (my tan lasted 7 days before it started fading!). I may buy the lotion again but not too often as I don’t love the scent.

Final verdict: so far the St.Tropez bronzing mousse is the best self-tanner I’ve tried and I will buy it again once I test few others that I bought. I actually bought other St.Tropez products just because this self-tanner was so good (I will let you know if they are as good as this mousse). I know it is not the cheapest one and you have to order it online (if you live in Belgium) but it is high quality, it lasts quite long, it has nice colour and it is easy to apply. Scrub and lotion are also very nice. If I see this set on allbeauty.com again I will snap it right away as the ratio quality- price is unbeatable.

Self-tanners fail products

From all the self-tanners I’ve tried there are few that were outstandingly bad that I would like to write about them in case they catch your eye in the shop. All four products are from the drugstore so at least there wasn’t much of the financial damage there.

SOLTAN BEAUTIFUL BRONZE SELF-TAN GEL

Smell: it has nice Shea butter smell when applying it, so quite pleasant; later on when it develops it has bit of the self-tanner smell.

Application: I applied it with hands like I tend to do with cream self-tanner which was a major mistake as the self-tanner dries immediately and it is therefore very difficult if not impossible to remove it from hands. Since it dries quickly I had to be fast and blend it quickly to avoid streaky lines. My skin wasn’t sticky so I could get dressed almost immediately after the application (at least good new here). On the bottle it says “tinted colour for instantly luminous skin”, well, it actually means LOT of yellow glitter. I’ve never had so much glitter on my body in my life. It wasn’t a nice look but for sake of testing I endured the experience.

Colour: I bought the tube last summer and tried it during the winter so only 6 months after buying it. It says on the bottle that the product should be used within 2 years however the self-tanner was separating into yellow glitter, brown gel and green gel already. I had to shake it before use and it still look weird. Anyway the colour I obtained was light brown with red undertone which wasn’t the most flattering for my undertone.

Longevity: it lasted few days as standard drugstore self-tanners do; there were no patches when fading.

Final verdict: it was so much work to blend it in and so much mess; the amount of the glitter was too much for my taste and the outcome nothing special. I haven’t even finished the bottle I had.

(from left to right) Nivea Sun Touch Lait-Soin autobronzant, SOLTAN Beautiful bronzer Self-tan gel, Neutrogena PureGlow

NIVEA SUN TOUCH LAIT-SOIN AUTOBRONZANT

Smell: it had really strong self-tanner smell mixed with something else I cannot identify.

Application: it is a cream but very light liquid consistency; I used only my hands and most of time the application was ok, few times I got some streaks so I would suggest using a mitt. It dries quickly (not as quick as Soltan, so you have time to blend it) so it is practical if you are in a hurry.

Colour: it gives very light yellow colour, by very light I mean really light and you cannot build dark colour at all, it just stays at light level and doesn’t change even after using lot of times in a row. It says on the bottle it is for light skins but I just didn’t expected to be so light.

Longevity: it didn’t last too long as the colour was very light and therefore once it started fading I could not tell if it was still there or not.

Final verdict: since the smell was awful and there was almost no colour I wouldn’t buy it by any means.

NEUTROGENA PUREGLOW

Smell: I don’t want to use negative words but this product actually stank. It had very chemicals-like smell to the point that I would make faces when applying it…

Application: it looks like regular face lotion, white in the tube, transparent when blended. It soaked into the skin nicely, wasn’t too sticky and dried quite quickly.

Colour: firstly, keep in mind that when you use face self-tanners you cannot use peelings, AHA or BHA acid, retinol or other products that peel the upper skin layer. Apart from the peeling, you have to keep the skin moisturize so that the tan has a chance to build up (the face self-tanners tend to be light in colour so you need more colour). So I really paid attention to all that and there was no colour what so ever after 2 applications. I mean nothing at all.

Longevity: since there was no colour I cannot report on its longevity or fading.

Final verdict: no colour and disgusting smell, I could not keep on using the product.

L’OREAL NUTRIBRONZE LAIT HYDRATANT

I already posted a review about this product (you can read about it here) but I wanted to mention it again here as I haven’t used the product up as it was so bad.

Sorry to be so negative today, I promise the next self-tanner review will cheer you up little bit.

SOLAIT Tinted bronzing lotion in Medium/Dark review

I continue today with some SOLAIT products reviews as mentioned in previous post. This tinted bronzing lotion costs £ 6,99, so quite inexpensive, and you can buy it in Superdrug (UK based drugstore). On the bottle it says that it is suitable for vegetarians and vegans, it is not tested on animals and it doesn’t contain sunscreen. It says it can be used on face and body, I only used it on the body.

Smell: it has a coconut smell but when the tan is developing the smell changes to the self-tanner one.

Application: it has a colour indicator so you can see where you put it. I used a mitt to apply it however it turned streaky after 1st application. With 2nd application I covered the discoloration caused by first application and then it was ok. It wasn’t sticky and dried in about half an hour just like regular lotion.

SOLAIT Tinted bronzing lotion

Colour: it gives quite a nice tanned colour with yellow undertone. After 1st application the skin colour changed only little bit so 2nd application was definitely needed to get more colour. If you like darker tan, you would need 3rd application for sure and it still wouldn’t be the darkest tan ever. It’s written medium/dark on the bottle and I have light skin so I expected far more colour after already first application.

Longevity and fading: it lasted 4 days and then started fading. It wasn’t patchy at all and faded nicely.

Final verdict: it is nice drugstore self-tanner, I used whole bottle and I would probably repurchase it to alternate it with more expensive self-tanners. However, I like the colour of SOLAIT Dry mist bronzing spray more so I’ll be still looking for the self-tanner that would perform about the same without that horrible patchiness (you can read my review here).

SOLAIT Pink gloves, Self-tanner corrector wipes, Maxi bronzer

I also used these SOLAIT products:

• SOLAIT Self-tanner corrector wipes (£1, 49): they can be used to wipe self-tanner from your hands right after the application. When I bought them I thought I would use them when the self-tan is developed and I see some mistakes – streaks to erase. The wipes don’t work after the tan is developed, they can be used only when the self-tanner is freshly applied. 
• SOLAIT pink gloves (£1,99 for 5 pairs): I used them when a mitt would transfer self-tanner inside, on the hands. The gloves are extremely cute, really bright pink however they are quit tiny and not very elastic. They are made from a delicate rubber and would tear apart easily. I wouldn’t use them for household choresJ. 
• SOLAIT Maxi bronzer (22g for £4,99!): I use this bronzer for contouring as it has dark cool tone colour. It blends nicely and stays on for about 4-5 hours; price for such a size is a great deal.

SOLAIT 360° Dry mist bronzing spray review

I tried few SOLAIT products last year and even though there are only available in UK I think it’s worth writing about them. UK is not that far from Belgium or other European country by train or plane so in case you’re going there and see these products in SUPERDRUG drugstore, here is one of my reviews, whether to pick them up or not (next reviews already coming already on Monday).

The Dry mist bronzing spray is really inexpensive, it costs under £4. On the bottle it says that it is suitable for vegetarians and vegans, it is not tested on animals and it doesn’t contain sunscreen. It says it can be used on face and body, I only used it on the body.

SOLAIT 360° Dry mist bronzing spray review

Smell: it has a self-tanner smell

Application: self-tanner doesn’t have a colour indicator, it sprays white liquid. I sprayed it on the mitt and applied on the body. You have to keep the mitt wet in order not to make it streaky. It is sticky at the beginning but dries quickly.

Colour: it gives very nice brown colour. After 1st application the skin had light brown colour and after 2nd application, I looked like I had a week of vacation, so nice dark brown colour.

Longevity and fading: self-tanner lasted for 1 week which was surprising since it is from the drugstore and it’s cheap. After the week it started fading away and unfortunately it wasn’t a nice sight. It was very patchy and it wouldn’t go and stay patchy for another week. It looked very “dirty” on me. So when I selftanned with it again and it started fading in patches I made sure I scrubbed it off immediately.

Final verdict: if I was on the budget I would buy it because it has really nice colour and lasts for a whole week. I would make sure that I have a good scrub to use once it starts fading away. I used 2-thirds of it when the bottle stopped working. If you tried it, let me know if it happened to you as well.

L’Oreal self-tanners: Sublime bronze and NutriBronze

Today I decided to write few reviews on self-tanners, starting with L’Oreal ones. Hope it helps if you wanted to buy some of them.

L’Oreal Sublime bronze lait autobronzant (lotion) 

Smell: it has typical self-tanner smell that lasts for a while.

Application: easy to apply as it is a lotion and not very sticky. The self-tanner doesn’t have any colour indicator which is a disadvantage especially for self-tanning beginners. It says on the bottle that it is suitable also for the face but I haven’t had the courage to do so due to the lack of colour indicator and colour itself as well.
Colour: the tan has orange undertone, but if you don’t put more than 2 applications the orange undertone is bearable and it looks quite ok. It tanned my skin up approximately by 4 shades. After 3rd application colour turned very orange and it looked unnatural so I wouldn’t suggest going beyond 2nd applications.
Longevity and fading: it lasts about 3 days which is kind of the standard for drugstore self-tanners. It fades nicely, not patchy. One bottle (150 ml) lasted me about 3 weeks.

L’Oreal Sublime bronze golden mousse

Smell: just like other Sublime Bronze it has typical self-tanner smell that hangs on for a while.
Application: the mousse texture makes it easy to apply, just as easy as the lotion; the self-tanner has the colour indicator which is excellent for beginners and even I, not a beginner, like to see where I put it.
Colour: after 2 applications very nice tan, with natural brownish undertone, my skin was about 3 shades darker.
Longevity and fading: this is where it disappointed me. The colour and application was very nice, but it faded so patchy that I would start to scrub it at first sight of “maps” on my body. Also, after trying for few weeks the cap on bottle broke and it started leaking all over the place so I had to stop using it.

(from left to right) L'Oreal Sublime Bronze (mousse), NutriBronze, Sublime Bronze (lotion)

L’Oreal NutriBronze lait hydratant (lotion)

Smell: it has typical self-tanner smell that hangs on for a while.
Application: it is a lotion so easy to apply. However the skin becomes very sticky so it is not very comfortable 10-15 minutes after the application.
Colour: after 3 applications there was almost no colour. On the bottle there is a small scale what colour your skin should turn when you use it 3 days in a row but I haven’t noticed almost any colour. My natural skin colour is very light (in MAC I’m NW15-NW20) so I expected to see some colour after 3 applications.
Longevity and fading: since there was almost no colour after 3 applications I stopped using it (I wouldn’t use it even as a lotion since it smells like self-tanner and the skin gets sticky) so I cannot report on its longevity and fading.

Final verdict: if I had to choose from these 3 L’Oreal self-tanners I would go for Sublime Bronze lotion as it was quite ok (it would be great if the colour hadn’t orange undertone). Other 2 self-tanners turned to be actually awful (for different reasons).

What self-tanner are you using? 

Face self-tanning towelettes: GARNIER AMBRE SOLAIRE vs. VICHY CAPITAL SOLEIL

I've been trying lot of self-tanners past 18 months and I will try to review them all before the summer comes so that you have some information before buying them. Self-tanning is healthier than sun bathing and since I'm very pale I rely quite often on self-tanners. I was very curious about these self-tanning towelettes, as the price was quite affordable.

Price: Both were around 1,50 € per package (1 towelette). You can buy Garnier in any drugstore, Vichy in pharmacies.

Smell:
GR: it has very typical self-tanner smell that lingers for a long time, so if you are not used to the self-tanners or you hate that smell; it may not be a pleasant experience for you.
V: it doesn't have a self-tanner smell at all, rather very light floral scent that is not very noticeable and goes away after short time.

Colour:
GR: the undertone of tan colour is orange so it doesn't look very natural, especially if you put too much product. You have to be very careful otherwise it will look very orangey and definitely not sexy.
V: tan undertone is little bit yellowish but my skin’s undertone is neutral with hint of yellow so it looks very natural on me.

GARNIER AMBRE SOLAIRE natural bronzeur lingette autobronzante visage (left), VICHY CAPPITAL SOLAIRE auto bronzant lingette hydratante visage

Application: first of all, prepare the skin by using peeling to allow even application and to extend tan longevity. Once applied, moisturize your face well and do not use peelings, acids or other products that peel upper skin layer unless you want to get rid of the tan. You have to pay attention to how you apply the products in both cases. Avoid eyes area, start at the outer part of the face, and then lightly wipe it around the centre, very lightly on the nose. Wash your hands thoroughly after the application.

GR: with light application it can darken your face by 2 shades, with heavy hands even by 4 shades. One towelette had enough of product to use not only on the face but also on the hands. It turned out to be very patchy though not like on my faceL.

V: after light application the face colour can change by 1 shade, after heavy application only by 2 shades. If the difference between your face and body is much darker than 2 shades, this product won't be enough to even the skin colour. There is enough of product only for application so the towelette is not as wet as the GR one (but they both have 5,6 ml according to the packaging). I find it rather advantageous since it reduces the chance for faulty application. My skin felt hydrated just like the statement on package says.

Longevity and fading:
GR: tan lasted only 2-3 days. It wasn't fading in patches, which is good news.
V: tan lasted 3-4 days. It was fading nicely just like GR.

Final verdict: since the price of both products is similar, I would go for Vichy. Tan looked nice and natural on me, it applied easily, lasted longer than after GR towelette. On the other hand, since it still lasted only few days, so I would need to buy about 7 towelettes per month which adds up to 10,50€. I'm not sure if I'm willing to spend that money every month but for the special occasion I would definitely buy it.