Noooo! It’s self tanner season, otherwise known as ‘Spring going on Summer’. The recent warm spell we’ve been having has resulted in troops of denim shorts and summer dresses adorning the pale winter skin we’ve been hiding for months. So along comes the inevitable moment, to self tan or not to self tan. I admire those willing to embrace their pale skin, however for me, I look less glistening vampire and more Boo Radley. There’s no denying the healthy glow a tan gives and therefore every year I find myself, along with scores of others, in search of the perfect tan. So far I have only ventured into the gradual tan variety knowing without a doubt I would look like an orange zebra if I attempted a full blown self tan.
Of those I have tried so far (Johnsons, Garnier, Dove) St Tropez is definitely my favourite. I used the Everyday Gradual Tan, which gives a nice natural colour and whilst I wouldn’t say the smell is lovely it’s definitely not the famous biscuity self tan smell. However although in theory gradual tanners can simply be a replacement for your normal body moisturiser, I still feel they require effort and diligence that I find difficult to muster.
For a start it seems to be a great undertaking for which you must first clear time in your day. You then have the preparation, such as exfoliation, in order to avoid satsuma knees and elbows, then in the case of a full-blown self tan the use of gloves and a mitt, a tricky application and then walking around with arms outstretched for what feels like hours on end. Surely this is all a bit too much for a splash of colour? Perhaps I should focus instead on enhancing my vampirish qualities? Hmmm...we shall see :)
