How to find the perfect fake tan for your skin type with St Tropez
Let’s just get one thing straight before we start: team Roccabox is a bunch of serious fake tan fans. We have genuine respect for any beauty product that has the power to make us glow to such an extent that it always beckons compliments.
Figuring out which formula of fake tan to use is actually just as important as nailing the right shade for your skintone. Get it right and you will, quite literally, be glowing. And that’s where our guide to finding the right fake tan for you comes in….
Mousse – ideal for: fake tan virgins
The whipped formula of this kind of tan blends easily and dries quickly – making it, in our opinion, the easiest formula to use. And it’s suitable for pretty much any skin type too, making it perfect for novices. Some come with a tinted guide colour – again, ideal for newbies - although if you want to avoid stains on your bedding, go for a clear mousse. Mousse tends to have more staying power than some other formulas too, so it’s ideal for a pre-holiday base tan.
Oil – ideal for: giving dry skin a boost; fans of luxe formulas
St Tropez Self Tan Luxe Facial Oil, £23 is super luxurious and enjoyable to use – plus it has a heap of complexion-boosting benefits. Ideal for even the most sensitive skin types, that don’t usually react well to facial tanners, it will hydrate dry skin for up to a week, yet won’t block pores or leave a greasy film.
Water – ideal for: dry skin types; skin that loses its tan quickly
Fake tan has a reputation for drying out the skin. Of course, this rumour is definitely true of some brands and formulas, but dry skin types can’t go wrong with St Tropez Purity Bronzing Water Gel, £33. Infused with hydrating ingredients to give skin a 72-hour moisture burst, it’s this extra hydration that will quench your skin’s thirst and prevent dry patches: plus it will keep streaks to a minimum (colour can cling to drier sections of skin) and will ensure even colour fade. Moisturise daily, using an oil-free lotion (oil can strip the colour) to help keep moisture levels up and your tan looking fresh and even.
Clear Mist – ideal for: morning tanners; anyone who hates guide colour
We get it – you can’t stand the stains left on your bedding. You need a clear formula, but more than that you need something you can use on a morning, rather than on a night. Say hello to St Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist £22*. This delicious new mist is clear and lightweight, so it doesn’t need rinsing off – making it perfect for use on a morning – and it doesn’t leave that typical fake tan smell, so it won’t give the game away either. It delivers a medium golden tan that lasts for at least 5 days, and will give your skin an instant boost of hydration.
*included in your January Roccabox!
Express Tan – ideal for: busy girls that need to glow-and-go
St Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse £23 nails a light sunkissed glow in just one hour – perfect if you’ve got a last minute night out planned. If you’ve got more than an hour to spare then great – simply leave the tan to set for two hours for a medium golden tan and for three if you prefer a darker shade of bronze. The lack of smell means that applying it first thing in the morning before you head to the office is totally doable, making it perfect for the social butterfly who always end up with last minute post-work plans (just don’t forget to shower off before you head out).
Instant tan – ideal for: impatient tanners; party girls; when you’re feeling too lazy to tan
An instant tan, such as St Tropez Instant Tan Face and Body Lotion, £10, delivers your chosen shade of tan, yep, you guessed it, instantly. No waiting around for development and no streaks on your bedding (provided you wash it off your bod before bed that is). On the downside, it won’t last beyond your next shower, however if you simply want to tan the bits that will be on show (we all do it), have last minute plans and don’t have the time to wait for even an express tanner to work its magic, or you simply can’t be bothered with the commitment of a fake tan, then this is your next best thing.
