If I was ever on Mastermind (not so likely), one of my specialist subjects would definitely be the UK fake tanning market.
You see, I am pale. Not a fun English-rose kind of pale either, but the kind of pale that leaves friends asking me if I’m ill when they catch me sans foundation. My skin has yellow undertones and I’m prone to discolouration, which means any bruises or blemishes show easily, including those under my eyes: I like to think that I’m always one bad make-up job away from being a cast member in Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
I am pale. Not a fun English-rose kind of pale either, but the kind of pale that, when untanned, leaves friends asking if I’m ill.
Which is why, for as long as I can remember (15? 16?), I have used tanning products. I wouldn’t say I’m obsessive about it, but with a healthy glow I definitely feel more confident and happier and spending a couple of minutes slapping on the lotion of an evening is a small price to pay for a spring in my step.
I’ve followed in my mother’s footsteps and used St Tropez products from when I was a teenager, starting at their sticky dark brown lotion before progressing to mousses and oils. And, though these products have come on leaps and bounds in the last ten seventeen (gulp) years, when applying any brand of tanner a couple of times a week you do still have to resign yourself to slightly orange bedsheets and the faint smell of biscuits. Beauty is pain, and all that.
Until now! Enter the St Tropez Gradual 1 Minute Tan Pre Shower Mousse.
A totally different kind of tanning product, unlike anything I’ve ever used before, the Gradual 1 Minute Tan Pre Shower Mousse from St Tropez (£11.60 at LookFantastic) is applied prior to showering, whether that’s in the morning or the evening (I use it in the AM). You leave it on for a minute – time I use to grab the kids breakfast or brush my teeth – and then hop in and wash it off under the water.
Day 1/Day 2
The mousse is the consistency of shaving foam, and I found it really easily to apply whether using a mitt or my hands; the kids got involved at one point, with Hux saying as he lathered the product “Mmm yes, like rubbing butter into a turkey!” So make of that what you will.
It goes on evenly and without any streaks or patchy bits, and the colour that develops over a time of three days is lovely. It isn’t immediate – the tan develops over the course of your day (or night) – but it gives you a definite subtle glow. Three days of use produces the result you’d find from one ‘normal’ tan application, but because of its gradual nature the colour lasts longer. It’s fab!
Day 3
But my favourite part of the product wasn’t its ease of use. My favourite part was the fact that I didn’t get any fake tan all over my bed sheets!! Brown tan sheets are the bane of my life – no matter how clean the sheets are, if you’ve got lotion on them they feel a bit grimy – so it was amazing to not have the battle the orange-tinted streaks in my bed. And no biscuit smell – ever! Heaven.
Ladies: beauty is not dirty-sheet related pain any more. Give this one a go – it’s a thumbs up from me (and from turkey-loving Hux).
You can get your own tan for £11.60 while you brush your teeth – the 1 Minute Pre Shower Mousse is at LookFantastic.
Thanks to St Tropez, a brand I’ve used for years, for working with More Than Toast.
Sounds fab! I didn’t know they did a pre-shower version. Will definitely give it a try :)
I think it’s brand-new! It was such a quick and easy way to get the tanning done (and without a smell!)
So you use it everyday and it builds? Or you apply it one day and it builds over 3 days? Sorry total tan novice here, but the words ‘everday’ on to bottle confused me.
You apply every day and it builds – so it’s a bit easier to pop it on gradually and apply daily until you reach the colour you want :)
Ok so I’m not a fake tanner but want to give it a go this year. How do you do your feet?? Do you apply in between your toes? In my past experience I end up with orange streaks on my toes!! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Hi Heather, what I tend to do is rub the tan in on my legs and take the excess down to my feet and toes (I don’t go in between) so there’s a smaller amount to work with. I find if I rub loads in here they do go orange so I try and use the minimal amount! Hope this is helpful.
Not wanting to sound overly dramatic here… But as a fellow pale blotchy mum of two with little spare time this is life changing!!! Until someone find a way to give me olive skin I’ll be investing in this wonder ??
Not wanting to sound overly dramatic here… But as a fellow pale blotchy mum of two with little spare time this is life changing!!! Until someone find a way to give me olive skin I’ll be investing in this wonder. THANK YOU!
Yay – let me know how you get on with it, Sarah! x
Hey- how did this work with shaving? If I apply, wait the appropriate time, shower as normal, and shave my legs will I just be removing the product and not see any results?