So, I just thought it would be fun to talk tans …
Nope, I’m not a ‘beauty blogger’ but I do love writing about things I love.
BTW this made me start saying that tongue twister, ‘I’m not the pheasant plucker, I’m the pheasant plucker’s son’, but with ‘beauty blogger’ in place of ‘pheasant plucker’, which doesn’t make any sense, but anyway, that’s what immediately sprang to mind.
ANYWAY, anyone who knows me knows I LOVE to sunbathe, to bask in the sun, to drink in its goodness and also to tan.
Sunbathing to me is like re-charging my batteries. I don't read or do anything, I just like to lie in the sun and soak it in.
I didn’t used to be particularly careful with sun protection when I was younger. I’m from the generation where our mums slathered us in Ambre Solaire factor 2 oil and we happily glistened away for hours on the beach, with all the sand naturally sticking to us.
To be fair, that was pretty much the best option back in the early/mid Seventies and I always thought that factor 2 meant at least double the time in the sun without burning, so that’s a good thing!
Also to be fair, I’m not that fair-skinned, tan easily and rarely burn.
But the older I get the more I definitely do want to protect my skin in the sun and have moved up from that factor 2 to more like a 20 (and higher on my face). I always make sure I have something with me to cover up with too, having discovered how important that is the hard way.
And I really, really love having a tan. It just makes me feel better. It makes me feel as good on the outside as soaking in some sun rays makes me feel on the inside and in my heart and soul.
So, I do like to top up and even out my natural light tan in summer and give myself a bit of a subtle golden glow in the winter … and thought I’d share some of my favourite products today.
These are self/fake tan products and gradual tanners, but I might come back and add some bronzing products another time … and I already want to talk about my fave summer candle, so yes, I’ll be back with more on this subject …
I absolutely adore Lucy Bee products. Yes, she still has her beautiful coconut oil but has moved into ethical, sustainable skincare and tanning products and they are amazing.
I believe all the products are ethically and sustainably sourced and that all are palm-oil-free and vegan, and the skincare range is organic. Have a look at their full social responsibility policies - they’re easy to read too and interesting, don’t be put off by the dull-sounding name.
These tanning products go on well, don’t seem to streak and don’t have (much) of that fake tan smell.
ONE: LUCY BEE NATURALLY GLOWING SELF-TAN DROPS
I love these tanning drops and just put a couple of drops on each cheek and one on the forehead and smooth in, or sometimes mix with my moisturiser.
The colour is really natural on me and you can add fewer or more drops, and use as often as you choose, so the depth of colour is up to you.
Lucy also has some great videos on her site - here’s the one on how to use the tanning drops (for face or body - I prefer the mousse for body).
The drops are so good I have a spare in the cupboard to make sure I don’t run out.
And here’s the full product info.
TWO: LUCY BEE NATURALLY GLOWING SELF TAN MOUSSE
This is the only self tan I've ever tried that doesn't streak and doesn't smell weird. In fact I actually like the smell of it.
I mean, while it’s on and developing I do look extremely tanned and like I’ve just come back from two weeks somewhere tropical, but after showering or bathing afterward a lot of that colour comes off and leaves a lovely even tan.
Here’s the full product info for this one, and here’s a video on how to use from Lucy - I watched this first before using and it was really helpful, so do recommend you do so.
THREE: GET A GOOD TANNING MITT
I really like the Lucy Bee tanning mitt too. Helps the self tan go on evenly and stops your hands from getting stained, but I’m sure there are lots of other great tanning mitts around so don’t think you have to get this one but DO GET ONE.
It’s what stops your tan streaking and your hands being stained.
FOUR: THE BODY SHOP COCONUT BRONZE GRADUAL TAN LOTION
Being from The Body Shop you already know this one is cruelty free. It is also vegan and it includes Community Fair Trade organic virgin coconut oil from Samoa.
I have to start by saying that for me this isn’t what I would call a ‘gradual’ tanner at all as I find it definitely more of a full-on self tan. But it could be different on your skin so this is just my experience.
As I was expecting it to be a light, gradual tanning lotion I was a bit gung-ho with it when I first tried it and ended up very streaky. I also put it on with my hands (as it suggests on the packaging) but that really doesn’t work for me at all and contributed to the streak look and stained palms.
BUT … I love Body Shop stuff so much (I might even have to do a separate list/post of my favourite products) and had heard SUCH good things about this gradual tan lotion that I wanted to give it another try.
And I’m so glad I did! I tried again, being a little more careful, a little more sparing, paying a little more attention and also used my self tan mitt to distribute it evenly - and had amazing results.
Just wash your hands really quickly after using and stop thinking of this as a gradual tanner and more as a self tan and it’s amazing.
It's a great colour on me so I'm really glad I persevered. And I really like the smell of it too.
I usually use it as a quick self tan (now I’ve got the hang of it) or my neck, shoulders, decolletage and arms (and sometimes lower legs) when I'm not up to doing a full body tan.
I buy my Body Shop goodies through Emma Bain, a Body Shop at Home consultant. She also has tons of great product info and new products to share as well as sales and offers and promotions all shared through her free Facebook Group.
She currently has this self tan lotion on sale at £13.30 (instead of the usual £19) - date as of this post published 25 August 2021.
I really want to try the shimmering dry oil in this range too.
FIVE : AMBRE SOLAIRE TAN MAINTAINER
I only wish it smelled of that beautiful Ambre Solaire sun tan oil - I wonder if that’s still available to buy? I must look into this as soon as I finish writing!
I have used this product since I was in my twenties and I still love it today. I think it was pretty much one of the first gradual self tan products out there, if not the first.
And having tried them all over the years this is still by far and away my favourite.
It’s ethical credentials aren’t perhaps as impressive as the other products in my list but all Garnier products are approved by Cruelty Free International under the Leaping Bunny Programme which I gather from their website is ‘the leading organisation working to end animal testing, and the recognised Cruelty Free Gold Standard’.
It's so, so good, I use it all year round, usually a couple of times a week.
It’s also super good value and easy to find in supermarkets, pharmacies and of course, online.