Review: Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning

Hello lovelies,

Now I've always been a bit of a fusspot when it comes to facial tanners. I've seen several people swear that you can just use your body tanner on your face but every time I've tried that, it has either broke me out or it's really patchy and just doesn't look natural at all.

The Clarins Liquid Bronze is my first investment into high-end facial tanners, I find a good facial tanner just helps to even out the complexion and add a light wash of colour, disguising any scarring or blemishes. This is probably the most perfect face tanning concoction you'll ever come across.This never over bronzes but just adds a nice hint of colour, giving a natural finish avoiding the I've been tangoed look!

I just add a drop, about the size of a 10p coin, to a cotton wool pad and just sweep it over my face before bed, adding a nice radiant glow in the morning. If you used this continuously, you'd build up the depth of the colour giving a "I'm just back off holiday look". It's best to avoid the hairline and eyebrows, but I've never found it to create an orange outline. On a plus side, this leaves your skin feeling oh so soft and smells divine. There's none of that biscuity fake tan smell that just lingers.

This is definitely more of a gradual facial tanner rather than instant tanner, which makes it perfect for palies like me as you can reapply to boost the colour.

You may initially think price wise, that's expensive but a little goes a long way, I probably apply this 2-3 times a week and in two months, I've only used a third of the bottle.

Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanner 125 ml is available from Escentual for £14.40.

Are there any facial tanners that you would recommend?

Review: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Body Lotion (Gradual Tanner)

Hello lovelies,

As you probably already know I'm naturally pale, think Casper the Ghost...spot on. I love the look of a tan but just can't be bothered with all the maintenance involved and it quickly becomes expensive. I had been using up a L'Oreal gradual tanner but it left me with build up and streaky marks. Now I had never used any of the Palmer's range before but I had seen good reviews of the Palmer's Gradual Tanner and picked it up.

At this time of the year, as the sun is out, I want a natural looking colour. I'm not brave enough to reveal my pasty legs to the World. I find using an instant tanner, I can go one day from being Casper's twin to looking like I've had a month in Barbados, I wish! 

This product claims to offer a natural looking tan. It's a cream formula which both moisturises and tans, it has quite a thick and creamy consistency but is easy to slather on and the skin quickly absorbs it.

Application wise, I use around about 1 pump for each limb, I apply this using a tanning mitten. I personally find this helps to give better coverage and it stops my hands turning orange. I slap this on in the evening and in the morning, I have a nice subtle hint of colour. What I like about this is that you can build up the colour, so you don't have a dramatic transformation into a bronzed goddess. I tend to use this every couple of nights in place of a regular moisturiser just to maintain the colour. Unlike other gradual tanners, you only need to use this once and the glow starts to show. Looking at the colour of my mitten, the tan is green based, so it gives you more of an olive toned tan rather than orange oompa-lumpa.

I find that the tan fades like a natural tan rather than going patchy, I moisturise everyday and exfoliate every few days, so I'm not sure whether if you just left it, it may turn out differently.

The fragrance might not be for everyone, it does smell strongly of cocoa butter but if you ever used any Palmer's products before, I think it's just their generic fragrance. It does have a slight biscuity fake tan smell to it, which doesn't bother me as I only apply it, go to bed and shower in the morning.

The packaging is really simple with a pump head. My only issue is I'm not so sure how to close the pump without squirting the lotion everywhere. It's not messy to use and you can get the right amount of product out 

This product is fantastic! I don't think I could rave more about it. It's great for fake tan novices or those just wanting a slight hint of colour. I think this may become a staple product in my collection and something that I'll use every summer.

You can purchase it from Feelunique for just £5.09 with free delivery.

What tanning products would you recommend?

Magazine Freebies #1

Just a heads up on some of the freebies that are available with some of the magazines currently. I find these a great way of trying out new products that you may think are out of your price range or aren't too sure will work for you! 

1. Glamour magazine: £2 - This months contains either a free ModelCo Mascara worth £16,  Lip-gloss worth £16, Eyeliner worth £15 or a Lip Liner worth £14.

2. Red magazine: £4 or £2 in Tesco - 15ml sample of Elemis Pro Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm worth  £9.60

3. Elle magazine: £4 - Rodial Brazilian Tan in choice of clear, light and dark, worth £13.50

4. In Style: £3.90 - Neal's Yard Power Berry Moisturiser worth £12

5. Traveller magazine: £3.99 - Neom Hand Cream 50ml worth £15

6.Essentials Magazine exclusive to Sainsburys : £2.99 - Dirty Works Body Butter worth £4.99 

Which one will you be buying this month?