fake tan

[lil123]

Hi
can anyone recommend a really good fake tan?

[sleepyj]

the dove one is good what you build up ...not sure about any others

[SRH]

Best for deep colour is St Tropez (but needs to be done night before - leaves you looking muddy till you wash off the top layer the next day - I find it too much hassle and only use it for special occasions when I can plan ahead).

For a medium colour and zero streaks try Elegant Touch Cool Crackle Self Tanner Instant Bronze, which you can buy on Amazon (my personal fave, only light colour, but can be built up in layers, has light instant colour and dries the fastest out of any self-tanners and doesn't have a horrible smell).

For a light tan that never streaks, Asda own brand Sun System is fab - less than �3 for a big tube and can be built up over a few days.

I've tried them all (I'm beauty editor on a paper) and find that irrespective of which you use, exfoliation is crucial - ignore the advice of the self-tan manufacturers, scrubs scrape the skin unevenly and give you streaky results (those shower puffs are even worse!). Best thing to exfoliate with is a good old-fashioned facecloth - scrubs your skin evenly for a good base.

I don't moisturise all over before tanning - I find this just makes the tan too pale - but slapping on loads on your elbows and around your knees, ankles and feet is vital to prevent tell-tale faketan patches (also give your elbows a wipe with a damp facecloth after applying fake tan).

And (finally!) always use thin rubber gloves to apply your tan so you don't have to worry about tanned palms (you can buy them in Boots or use the ones you get in a hair dying kit). Makes it easier to really rub in the fake tan (which is important for getting it even - rub it in like you would do with a body lotion). When you take them off, wash your hands then apply a dot of fake tan to the back of one hand and rub the backs of your hands together.

Good luck! God knows there's no other way to get a tan right now with this weather!

[evedawn]

Sorry to hijack lil's post - but on the subject of fake tans, (and I tend to like Piz buin's tanning moisturiser for my body)....

which is the one that is best for the face...

i get spots easilly and as such am worried about using fake tans on my face.

[dove]

yay doves the one for me!
;-)

[SRH]

Hi evedawn - you're best going for a non-greasy foam formula rather than a cream, such as Elegant Touch (mentioned above) or St Tropez. (I haven't used Piz Buin for a while, but if I remember rightly they do a foam one, which will be non-greasy, so should be okay). Clarins also do a good facial tanner - very light so might need a couple of applications, but has never given me problems on my face (I have ezcema and dermatitis).

[SRH]

Sorry, one more thing... if you already have spots, then treat them like your elbows and moisturise them first - otherwise you will get lovely brown spot-freckles when you fake tan! But fake tan is generally good for hiding spots - they look less obvious when the rest of your face is tanned.

[chazza]

Personally my favourite is Fake Bake, you put it on the same way as the St Tropez one that SRH mentions, and I have never managed to streak it at all (and I'm no expert)
It also leaves you a good deep brown colour, not the orangey colour that some of them leave you.

However recently, any product testing and reviews that I have read have recommended Make Believe, which I have never tried but will be trying from now on!