Free radicals, UV light, oxidants, pollution, smoking: so many things in everyday life are damaging to your skin. With the recent clear blue skies increasing the temptation to sun-worship, protecting your skin is absolutely your number one priority if you don’t want to look like Donatella ‘Leatherface’ Versace when you reach your forties.
Nowadays that perfect tan can be found in a bottle. Gone are the days where you’d look like you’d been happy slapped by the Tango man and smelled like burnt biscuits. The market has upped its game to provide you with revamped products and a plethora of new ones. Men have been taken into consideration following the rise of the metrosexual, and products developed that won’t stain your body hair or clog your pores with orange gunk. So So Gay has tried and tested some of the best fake tans on the market to help you in your search.
(And always remember to exfoliate and moisturise your skin thoroughly before applying fake tan, especially around the dry areas such as knees and elbows.)
St Moriz Mousse
First up is St. Moriz (Direct Cosmetics – £2.99) – Fighting back against the old offenders, which used to be biscuity and tangerine-tastic, St. Moriz is one of the big boys, providing a brilliant all-over even tan. The foam is easy to apply and is quickly absorbed into your skin, there’s no odour and it gives a brilliant deep, natural looking tan. It dries quickly so there’s no need to worry about hovering over the bath for ages. As always, a glamorous assistant is required to do your back, and gloves aren’t provided. For the price you can’t go wrong here; the colour lasts about a week but top up around every five days and your tan will continue to glow.
Xen – Tan Mousse Intense
Next is Xen-Tan Mousse Intense (Debenhams – £23.99) – Slightly more expensive, this comes in the same format as the foaming St Moriz; other variations are available and it is equally as easy to use. It provides great all-over coverage, smells nice and dries quickly. The initial layer washes off after a few hours and leaves a light olive colour: for a darker colour go for a darker shade or double up and reapply immediately. Again, this one doesn’t come with gloves, so you may have to invest in a pair and an assistant. A celebrity favourite, with the likes of Gok Wan being known to approve, this is another brand you can trust.
Fake Bake Bronzing Gel
Thirdly, Fake Bake Bronzing Gel – (Selfridges – £24.50) – It’s a unisex product and offers a one-stop treatment package, meaning you get some lovely latex gloves to snap on while you apply. The gel is easy to apply and doesn’t leave you streaky once it has dried. Slower-drying than its foaming counterparts, it can feel quite sticky on your skin for a while. However, it’s completely worth it, as it offers more than just a sun-kissed look. The Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), Dimethyl Isosorbide (DMI) and Erythrulose formula creates a longer-lasting tan, which is quickly absorbed by the upper layers of skin. The formula also includes Vitamins C and E for extra skin nourishment. The resulting tan is deep, dark and natural, which once washed off leaves an even, bronze colour.
Any of the above three products are perfect if you want to look tanned this summer. Remember: white British skin isn’t made for the sun. Using a fake tan will mean you can have a healthy glow, which allows you to slap on the factor 500 when out in the sun. This will protect your skin while you spend your time being a bronzed beauty. According to Xen-Tan, men are less likely to use hand and body lotions, so hands, feet, knees and elbows are likely to be very dry. It’s important to pay special attention to moisturising these areas or the tan may be streaky. Finally, always remember to try a test patch of tan on the inside of your arm before committing your whole body to the treatment.
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