Get faking it!
beauty,skin care,fake tan
Clarins Self Tanning Mousse
It\'s a bumper tried and tested this month as we put a whole host of fake tanners to the test. From instant sprays to gradual creams there is something to suit everyone, even those that only want to add just a hint of colour.
Clarins Self Tanning Mousse
"This is a really light mousse with a lovely apricot smell. It was very easy to apply and absorbed into my skin slowly so I could ensure a good smooth application. It felt quite \'fluffy\' on my skin for the first couple of hours so I wouldn\'t recommend applying it when you need to get dressed quickly. I applied it in the evening and the next morning awoke to a lovely golden glow that looked really natural. The colour deepened gradually the next day and my skin was soft for days - it wasn\'t till day four that I had to reapply. It also worked well on my face so it\'s a great two-in-one product. This is an easy to use luxurious tanner, I was really impressed and will be using it again."
Best for fake tan first-timers who want long-lasting colour.
£20, Clarins counters nationwide and online at clarins.com
Xen Tan Transform Luxe Gradual Tanner
beauty,skin care,fake tan
Xen Tan Transform Luxe Gradual Tanner
"This gradual tanning lotion has a dose of gradual tanning built into the cream so you can build up the effect. It absorbed into my skin super-quick, leaving it smooth and silky and, best of all, it smells divine! My milk-bottle skin had a hint of a golden glow after just one use, and the vanilla scent lingered for hours. I can see what all the Xen Tan fuss is about now!"
Best for everyday gradual tanning, perfect for first timers and fake tan pros.
£23.95, hqhair.com and selected salons nationwide.
Soap & Glory Glow Getter, Face & Body Spray
beauty,skin care,fake tan
Soap & Glory Glow Getter, Face & Body Spray
"I\'m pale and proud, but when summer comes I like to give my limbs a subtle hint of colour. This spray is super easy to apply, dries instantly and doesn\'t transfer onto clothes. You can easily control the level of colour, from slight glow to bronzed goddess and it also washes off hands no problem. The overall effect isn\'t "you look tanned" but "you look great" - what girl doesn\'t want to hear that?"
Best for a light tan on very pale skin.
£10, Boots nationwide and boots.com
Famous Dave\'s Tanning Mousse
beauty,skin care,fake tan
Famous Dave\'s Tanning Mousse
"This tanning mousse is really easy to apply and goes on dark brown so you can see exactly where you are putting it. When I had a shower the next day I was left with a nice natural golden tan which was impressive. It absorbed quickly and actually has a nice scent, not biscuity like some other self tanners. It stayed strong for about two days - I would highly recommend this product."
Best for instant colour with minimal mess.
£25.99, famousdave.co.uk
Palmers Bronzing Gradual Tan
beauty,skin care,fake tan
Palmers Bronzing Gradual Tan
"If you are a fan of the iconic Palmers Cocoa Butter you will love this product. It smells great and the pump nozzle makes application really easy. Unlike other gradual tanners this gives a lovely natural glow after just one application so it works quickly but can also be built up to produce a darker natural-looking tan. I would highly recommend this product - especially to people with very pale skin like me."
Best for everyday gradual tanning with extreme moisturisation.
£4.99, shops nationwide and superdrug.com
Rimmel Sun Shimmer Bronzing Mousse in Bronze
beauty,skin care,fake tan
Rimmel Sun Shimmer Bronzing Mousse in Bronze
"With red hair and freckles, finding a natural looking tan is nigh on impossible. However, Rimmel\'s Sun Shimmer range has quickly become a firm favourite due to its natural colour and ease of application. However, you do need to wait a few moments for the formula to dry and it can also stain hands so have a body scrub handy to help take it off and you will be fine. But otherwise it\'s great and purse-friendly too!"
Best budget buy.
£5.99, Boots and Superdrug nationwide.
He-Shi Gradual Tan
beauty,skin care,fake tan
He-Shi Gradual Tan
"At first I didn\'t think this product worked well because I had none of the trademark orange heels and knees I get with other fake tan products, but when I saw the colour difference between my arms and my stomach (which I hadn\'t tanned) it had definitely worked. I had a good even colour, subtle yet sufficient enough to take the glare off my transparent legs. Plus it can be built up gradually every day - a hit!"
Best for a light gradual tan on all skin tones.
£12.35, feelunique.com
St Tropez Gradual Spray Tan
beauty,skin care,fake tan
St Tropez Gradual Spray Tan
"This spray mist was light and easy to use and the scent was nice and fruity rather than biscuity which was a bonus. It dried really quickly but I would suggest \'patting\' rather than \'stroking\' on the tan for even coverage. The next day the colour deepened slightly and I was left with a nice bronzed glow on my legs. Overall, I would use this for a night out when I needed an instant glow."
Best for instant colour on nights out.
£20, stores nationwide and johnlewis.com
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Tinted Self Tanning Gelée
beauty,skin care,fake tan
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Tinted Self Tanning Gelée
"I loved this gradual tan by Estée Lauder as it didn\'t have that distinctive fake tan odour and gave an instant colour so I could see where I had applied it. The finished result was a really natural bronzed look which wasn\'t too much of a change from my natural colour so it wasn\'t obvious to everyone that I was \'faking it\'. The only negative point of this tanning cream is that it takes 15 minutes to dry completely so you need to allow for the extra time."
Best for gradual tanning with instant colour.
£20.50, esteelauder.co.uk and Estée Lauder counters.
