Sunshine!

This summer seems to be serious. I've become so used to English summers that I tend not to bother with self-tan since it's usually too cold to wear anything to show it off. But after a glorious May, June and July (so far), I decided it was time to move from milk bottle white to off white.

First of all, I tried this.

St Tropez Gradual Tan In-Shower. It's a bit odd as a concept. You wash in the shower, turn off the shower and apply this lotion. Wait three minutes and rinse it off. I went with 'light' and yes, it's for the timid because it took several applications for me to notice anything. Eventually I decided my legs were showing some very natural looking colour. This is great if you don't want any mistakes and want to go slow. It's annoying waiting in the shower for three minutes. I found myself thinking it needed a good clean which isn't very relaxing.

Then last week, I ordered this.

Beauty Pie's Awesome Bronze mousse. This has changed my life. You need a tanning mitt which is no great disaster but it doesn't come with one. You apply this with the mitt and it glides on, it has some colour initially so you can see what you're doing and where you've missed. It dries in seconds. Wait a few hours and then you have a tan. A proper tan. This is quite full on, it's not messing about. I don't mean you are Love Island bronzed but you know you've done something. I've been applying it daily because SUNSHINE. I absolutely love it. It's the best self tanner I've ever used. It doesn't smell, it's not fiddly, you don't get your hands all orange because of the mitt (you do need to wash them afterwards just to be safe) and it's truly awesome. I am not being paid to say this (I wish).

That just leaves the face. I purchased this.

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster. You add a few drops of this to your moisturiser, mix it up and slap it on. This is subtle and all the better for it. I am still scarred by my St Tropez sheet mask orange face from last summer. This does what it says it will do, it gives you a glow and makes you look sun-kissed. You can do as many drops as you like, I go for three. Again, no biscuit smells and a cinch to apply.

Fake tans have come a long way. I wish you all a safe tanned Summer.