Dove Derma Spa Summer Revived Fake Tan

I'm never Summer ready and it always seems to creep up on me; however with the UK weather being so unpredictable I feel this doesn't help my situation. I've got quite a few self/fake tans stored away in my stash but I really wanted something different to test out. I recently watched Anna Saccone's video all about her fake tan routine and that's what made me go and and purchase this particular product. 

When I purchased this around a month ago now it was on offer at Boots for around £5/6, which I thought was a great price. I picked up the light/medium shade and I believe it also comes in medium/dark. I basically followed Anna's routine she spoke about in her YouTube video and went along with it; however I definitely need to work on tanning my own back, I had some funny positions going on. 

So when using this product I simply just had a good scrub/exfoliate before applying it, focusing on my elbows, knees, ankles and wrists. I then used a mitt to apply the tan basically all over my body. The product is white which can make it slightly more difficult to figure out where you've been but I did find that you can obviously feel the product going on so its not that bad. The product applied really easily and didn't take very long to sink into my skin, however just to make sure it was all sunk in I did wait around 10 minutes before putting any clothing back on. There's a slight smell to the product but it's not very strong and to be honest I actually quite like it. 

In the morning I can definitely see a difference in my skin colour and it's a subtle glow which just makes my skin look much healthier. If I want to apply this product more than once to get a richer colour then it still works really well and the colour still looks great and natural. I definitely wouldn't apply this every day, as I don't need it but I did apply this 3 days in a row and then just topped up when I felt I needed it. 

Basically this is just an all round great product and my current, new favourite fake tan. I didn't have any streaks or patches either which is such a bonus especially as I have quite dry areas on my skin which exfoliating really helps with. I would definitely recommend this fake tan if you're currently looking for a new one now or in the future. It's really affordable, even when not on offer, and definitely worth it! 

Toyshades Zephyr Aviator Sunglasses

You can buy them online here

 

I've been currently lusting over the Ray Ban Round Metal sunglasses but I simply cannot invest the money in them, not when I'm supposed to be saving to move out, no matter how pretty they are. I've been looking at them for quite some time but when Asos recently had a mid season sale, I couldn't help but have a browse. I wasn't actually looking for sunglasses but I came across these ones from Toyshades. I had never heard of the brand before but they were in the sale for £7 and they really caught my eye. They caught my eye for the simple fact that they looked the same shape as the Ray Ban ones that I've been after but at a fraction of the price.

 

I then couldn't help but purchase these sunglasses before they went out of stock and they then arrived on my door step the next day. Now obviously these aren't quite as good quality as Ray Bans but they are actually pretty good. They were originally £20 before going into the sale so that's a pretty decent price for a pair of high street sunglasses. These are super comfy when wearing, it honestly feels like I'm not wearing sunglasses which is a bonus. I love the brown colour as they simply go with any outfit.

 

I'm really pleased I purchased these sunglasses, I have left the link above if you want to check them out. I would definitely recommend them if you're like me and simply cannot part with the money for a pair of Ray Bans. They are the perfect dupe!! Now I just need some more sunshine in the UK to be able to wear them...

St Tropez Gradual In Shower Tan

Trying to get my hands on this product to begin with was a hard mission, it was only in Boots stores and was sold out online for quite some time. As soon as it came back into stock, trust me I checked daily, I snapped it up ASAP. It was also on offer which was a bonus and I believe I paid £9.50 for this 200ml tube. I must admit I wasn't sure whether or not I thought this would work, it all sounded to good to be true. An in shower tan that you slap on, wait 3 minutes, rinse and voila! Tanning can be such a chore with all the prep you have to do beforehand so this sounded like a perfect new idea.

There are definitive positives and negatives about this product so firstly lets starts with the positives. I cannot get over how easy the application of this product is, it could not be easier. Turn the shower off and slap it on, just remembering to wash your hands after you've applied it everywhere. The formula is super thick and creamy and leaves my skin actually feeling really moisturised after application. Another positive is that even with an easy slap on application, this tan leaves no streaks which is such a bonus. This was the one thing that I was worried about with this product but it simply leaves no streaks, no lines, nothing.

On the other hand there are some negatives and the main one I find is that this product only leaves you with a slight hint of colour which comes up gradually after application. So if you're after something with much more colour pay off then this product is not for you. Yes you can tell that your skin is left with a hint of colour but it's definitely not intense. The other point is that 3 minutes doesn't sound like a long time, but when you're in the shower butt naked it feels like a lifetime. I tend to take my phone and time 3 minutes that way and I also tie this in with one of my quick hair masks. Also I feel like this would be much nicer to use in the summer when it's warmer, I dread to think about standing there for 3 minutes in the winter waiting for this to develop. This tan washes off super easy and then you're ready to go. I just tend to pat myself dry when I get out of the shower to try not to take it off.

Overall this product is great if you're only after a subtle hint of colour or if you're new to tanning. The formula is great and I can only see new tanning products coming out in the future similar to this one. I think this product would be great as a top up tan after a holiday but not something that I would use if I'm after more of a tan. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this product if you've tried it :-)

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan

It may seem like the weirdest timing to write a blog post all about fake tan and quite frankly I agree. I do embrace my paleness over the colder months mainly due to sheer laziness and being so cold! Yes I love a good tan in the summer and this one was a staple this summer. But on the odd occasion throughout these colder months I have actually still been using this. This is the perfect tan for any occasion when you just want to liven up your skin whether it be a Christmas party or just a night out.

I actually received this product in a goodie bag from the Clothes Show last year but only really got into using this product throughout this years summer months. It worried me that it was in the shade medium and I put it off for a while. But when I finally took the plunge I was super glad I did so. This product does look pretty scary when applying as it's practically black in colour. You definitely have to use a mitt to apply this product or you'll be in trouble. When applying this product you do need to act fast as when it says instant, it definitely is that. But once worked into the skin it sets like a dream. There's none of that sticky, wet feeling after applying this product.

I wake up with a gorgeous glow and no streaks. The colour is not too dark but does show up. You do have to be careful around dry patches and awkward patches such as elbows, knees and ankles; but that's the same with most other fake tans.

Overall this product is great for those one evening occasions or when you're feeling like a spruce up from the paleness. It's a great easy product to use as long as you have a mitt and are quite quick with it! What are your favourite instant tans? You can purchase this product here :-)

Garnier Ambre Solaire 1 week glow bronzer (for face)

When I've fake tanned my arms and legs etc. ready for summer I've always been too scared to fake tan my face as I've always imagined it to be a complete disaster. So I normally just stray away and go a bit more full on with my bronzer. But not anymore, this Garnier Ambre Solaire bronzer for the face has converted my to fake tanning my face and I'm so glad I now do.

This product is so simple and easy to use yet the results are so effective which is what I love about any product really. If they're easy to use and the results are great, what's stopping you? I actually purchased this as a result from watching Vivanna Does Makeup on YouTube and it's such a great recommendation. This product comes with step to step instructions, bonus, and I stick to them every time and always love the outcome.

First I simply exfoliate my face, at the moment I just use a small tester one I found lurking in my draws but any will do as long as your scrubbing off all that dry skin. I then wash it off and then apply the bronzer. It comes out of the tube actually quite peachy/orangey looking but it's not at all once applied to the face. I actually use my hands to apply this product as I've found that, as long as they are washed straight after application, the product doesn't leave that nasty fake tan hands look. You do also just have to make sure that during application you blend this into your hairline and eyebrows so you don't have a line around your face. Also that you try and apply as evenly as possible, which is easier to say than do, but I find as long as I really work the tan into my skin then all is well.

And that's it! Voila! Such an easy product to use and it really does leave my face looking bronzed when I wake up in the morning, as I tend to do this in the evenings. It does not leave my face streaky in anyway whatsoever. It does say that with this product you then won't need to wear foundation, I still preferably do just a slightly darker one from my normal skin tone. This is obviously down to preference, I just like to still put some on for that extra coverage that I feel comfortable with. There is a slight smell to this product but personally I don't find it at all horrible and it's definitely not that horrible fake tan smell. It actually says it includes apricot extract so maybe that deters the smell away from your normal fake tan smell. As for the lasting 7 days I think it really does, I would say definitely no longer than 7 days and anything after kinda 5 days you could probably reapply as that's when it starts to really fade away.

I'd definitely recommend this product as I absolutely love it and I would say don't be scared! This was my first fake tan on my face and it turned out brilliantly so give it a whirl. I'd love to know if you have any other face fake tan recommendations :-)

Palmers Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Body Lotion

What beautiful weather we've finally received in the UK! It's the first proper sun that we've seen in a very long time but obviously, as with any weather, we were unprepared. The fact that I've literally had to live in summer dresses, shorts and vests without showing off an indecent amount of skin has meant that I've actually got myself a little bit of a tan going on, hallelujah! But before this all came about I purchased this lovely product and it's been my savior for my pasty legs.

I love the Palmers range, especially the cocoa butter, the smell is absolutely divine I cannot get enough of it! The fact that this product contains cocoa butter and vitamin E means that it's totally moisturising on the skin and makes it super soft. It's easy to apply, I just use my hands and make sure I wash my hands properly afterwards. Although this did leave slight trouble once leaving me with slight orangeness on the side of my finger nails (nasty looking) but that may have just been me. There is also the option of using a mitt obviously but other than that one time I haven't had any trouble using my hands.

The actual colour of the bronzer is fairly natural on first application and considering it's a gradual bronzer a lot more colour comes out than I'd imagined it would. It's still natural looking and not dark but just more colour than other gradual tanners. After a couple of days after application I'm left with a nicely built up natural looking tan which I love. You can obviously apply more for a darker looking tan, I tend to apply this once every other day as that way I find I get it more natural due to washing/showering in between applications.

Like I mentioned the application is easy and streak free as long as you make sure it's all rubbed in properly (stating the obvious) but I did find application hard around my ankles. You definitely need to spare the product around more 'difficult' areas. The smell is lovely but I find it does stick around for quite a while, not that it's all that bad as it smells of cocoa which is lovely. But I know some people may find this annoying. It also sinks into the skin pretty quickly so there's not too much drying time. Also this product is only around £5 something then I'd say it's definitely worth the price tag.

Overall I really like using this product and without a doubt when I need a top up tan I know I will get that from this. I think it's suitable for all skin tones simply as the colour control is in your hands (literally). This product takes minimal effort which is again something I love as after a shower you can just whack this on and voila! A lovely summer essential for those not so sunny days :) I'd love to know your thoughts on this product if you've tried it, if not then go purchase a bottle!