Xen-Tan Luminous Gold Gel review with before and after pictures

Xen-Tan Luminous Gold Gel*  148ml £24.99

"A revolutionary MAGIC TAN – as if by magic, apply this clear gel and leave it to transform and within 3 hours it will develop into a deep golden colour before your eyes! Skin is also enhanced with a healthy, dewy finish thanks to a gentle, iridescent sparkle. Xen-Tan's fastest-drying and longest-lasting formula coupled with a simply WOW colour, makes Luminous Gold Gel one of the best products yet!

Famous Dave's Tanning Mousse review- gold edition

I have tried so many self tanning products in the past couple of months that I think I need to stop getting new ones for a while :) I love fake tan and I have got a weekly tanning routine that I will be writing about very soon. I was kindly sent Famous Dave's tanning mousse to try out and I was very surprised to find out that it is a perfect match for my skin tone!

 

FAMOUS DAVE'S TANNING MOUSSE* gold edition 200ml, £24.95 link 

When it comes to fake tan I always like using a mousse. It absorbs instantly and is usually streak free. Famous Dave's Gold Edition Tanning Mousse is exactly what I expect from a good quality tanning mousse. It is paraben-free and has no added fragrance. It is a blend of natural ingredients, antioxidants and EHA (a natural agent that tans a deeper layer of the skin for a more realistic and longer-lasting tan that fades evenly).

I received a tanning mitt as well and that's what I used to apply this mousse. It glides on beautifully and sinks into the skin right away, leaving it totally dry to the touch. I was expecting it to be darker to be honest, but the colour looked very natural on my skin. In fact it is the exact colour of my natural tan. I was very surprised with the outcome, pleasantly surprised :)

The consistency of the mousse is very light and it is an olive green colour, but don't be put off by that, you won't turn into a green monster :) It is totally fragrance free and there is no smell when the tan develops either. Amazing! You don't need to worry about staining your bedding or clothes and you are ready to go as soon as it dries (instantly).

After showering in the morning I noticed that the colour looks more golden than immediately after application and I was left with a gorgeous sunkissed glow. There is no orange undertone to the tan, it is a gorgeous olive colour perfect for anybody who is scared of looking like a TOWIE girl :) haha

It fades gracefully and evenly. The glow lasted for a full week, before I had repeat my routine. Obviously it wasn't a deep bronze colour at the end of the week, but I still looked tanned before I decided to apply self-tan again.

You can get Famous Dave's products online or in your local Boots. I actually seen a big selection in my local Boots and I was tempted to try more :) But I need to use up everything I have got before I buy a new bottle :)

Immediately after application, you can see the difference in colour :) That's how my tan would look naturally!

*PR sample

Xen-Tan Perfect Blend Custom self-tan review with before and after pictures

 

XEN TAN PERFECT BLEND* Custom Self Tan 220ml £27.95 link

This product is totally different than other self tanners available on the market and I was very excited to try it. The bottle reminds me of the Sheridan's coffee liqueur with two separate chambers, but his one contains self-tan instead of alcohol :) The is an instant bronzer on one side and a self tanner on the other. It is a great idea and because of this unique design, Perfect Blend is suitable for all skin tones. All you need to do is twist the dial to get the shade you desire. Dual chambers allow you to create your tan as light or as dark as you like. It dries quickly and gives my skin an instant tan and a lovely glow. I always use it on the 50/50 setting to get a natural looking olive tan, but if your skin is very fair, you can customise the colour easily to get a lighter tan and contour your body with the bronzer. 

I always apply it with a tanning mitt and my favourite one is by He-Shi. The final effect doesn't look patchy or streaky and the formula is creamy and highly moisturising, so you don't need to worry about your skin feeling dry after the application. There is one special ingredient called Scent Secure and it neutralises any chemical odours and leaves a fresh fragrance.

I love that you can either get an instant tan with the bronzer, use the self-tanner if you want the colour to develop overnight or mix them together if you want the best of both worlds.

The pictures below  show the effects on the 50/50 setting. You can see the difference on my fingers. The tan looks very natural and has an olive undertone. I am impressed!

The result on the 50/50 setting

*PR sample

Laurens WayTan: Glam Tan, Tanning Lotion and Mousse review

 

 LAUREN'S WAY SELF TAN* available from BEAU BOUTIQUE

INFO: Lauren’s Way Self Tan provides an instant and long lasting bronzed glow. For an even tan you need clean, smooth skin. Ensure that you exfoliate first with Lauren’s Way Body Polish paying particular attention to dryer areas such as elbows, knees, ankles and feet. Apply a small dab of Lauren’s Way Tan Enhancing Moisturiser to dryer areas including eyebrows and hairline before applying the tan. Dispense the lotion on to a mitt or use gloves and sweep from top to toe making sure all skin is well covered.Wash palms with soap and water thoroughly after use. Wait for 60 seconds or more before getting dressed. Try not to get wet or sweaty for at least four hours after application. Moisturise daily and gently exfoliate with Lauren’s Way Body Polish every three days to ensure your tan fades evenly. Repeat the application everyday to increase the intensity of colour.

MY OPINION: I decided to do one review of all the products together, because they are very similar. Like with every self tan, you need to exfoliate prior to application. I use a gentle body scrub and Soap and Glory exfoliating gloves. I applied all the products with a tanning mitt, but you can also use disposable latex gloves. The colour outcome is the same for the mousse, spray and lotion so it was really hard for me to pick my favourite :) I like all of them.

When it comes to the application, I think that the mousse was the easiest to work with for  me and dried really fast, giving me a nice instant tan. It didn't go streaky and faded evenly. Pictures below show my skin before and after using the mousse. I didn't add seperate pictures for the lotion and spray, as the colour outcome was exactly the same. I left some of my skin tan free to show you the difference in the best way possible.

The lotion is very similar to the Xen-Tan's Dark Lotion. It is a little bit less creamy and smells totally different. The smell of Lauren's Way tan is a lovely fruity scent, so you won't be left smelling like a biscuit :) It left my skin really smooth and moisturised and was also very easy to apply.

The spray must be my least favourite, as I accidentally sprayed it allover my bedroom wall for some reason (a couple of times...) When I was using my left hand to spray it onto the tanning mitt the cap kept twisting and I was spraying it in the opposite direction :) I wiped the wall with a baby wipe and it came off easily :) I still like it though, as the colour outcome is lovely and it dries really fast.

Another thing I wanted to share with you: try to avoid applying self tan when the weather is really really hot. I used fake tan last week when it was extremely very hot and I ended up looking patchy because I was sweating. I will stick to applying it at night and showering in the morning. It always works for me.

 SUMMARY:

COLOUR: When you first apply it, it looks quite dark, but after showering it turns into a lovely olive colour and it looks very natural.

APPLICATION: Very easy, no streaks, no patches, dries fast and fades evenly.

PRICE: Very affordable, compared to other popular brands.

WOULD I REPURCHASE: Definitely!

 

LAUREN'S WAY SELF TANNING BRONZING LOTION (medium) 250ml*  £15.95 link 

 

LAUREN'S WAY SELF TANNING BRONZING MOUSSE (medium) 250ml* £17.95  link

 

LAUREN'S WAY GLAM TAN 250ml* £18.95 link 

pictures taken immediately after application

pictures taken after showering in the morning

Unreal Tan review: Rapid Bronzing Mist, Body Buff and Body Silk

Hello everyone!
I am doing a series of fake tan reviews and today I would like to introduce you to a brand called Unreal. I have never heard about this brand, until lovely Elizabeth contacted me asking if I would like to review some of their products. I love trying new self-tan products, so I was very happy when I received Unreal bronzing mist, body buff and body  silk.

 Unreal Rapid Tan Bronzing Mist 150ml* £24.00 link

INFO: The latest in tanning technology Unreal Rapid Tan Bronzing Mist delivers an amazing natural looking colour without having to wear the colour guide all day/night.  This means after 2 hours you can go to the gym, go out to dinner and not wear it in bed worrying about rub off on your sheets. What does Unreal Rapid Tan Bronzing Mist offer? A fast tan in 2 - 4 hours. A realistic natural looking bronze colour (no orange tones). A long lasting tan which fades evenly. No fake tan smell. An exclusive hydrating skin conditioning formula with potent anti aging, skin firming properties. As if that isn't enough we also have powerful antioxidants of Green Tea Extract and Algae which give you a skin treatment all in one.  You choose the colour depth you want to achieve by showering off at 2 hours for a medium tan, 3 hours for a deeper tan and 4 hours* for a darker intense tan. * A light colour only is visible after 2 hours whilst the tan continues to develop up to 12 hours.

MY OPINION: I really like using fake tan in a spray or mist form. This one is a mist, that turns into a liquid in contact with skin, so I had to spray it onto my tanning mitt. I found it the most convenient and efficient way to use this product. It sinks into the skin right away and if you exfoliate before, there will be no streaking, no patching. It looks fabulous! The colour is quite dark, the longer you leave it on the darker it gets. You can see the difference on the pictures below. It doesn't look orange, it is a deep bronze shade that looks very natural. You can leave it on for about 2 hours to get a medium tan, or like me, leave it on for longer or overnight for a very dark tan.  The formula is packed with goodness to leave your skin soft and nourished and it really works. Most sprays would leave my legs really dry, this one leaves them soft to the touch. Like most new self-tan formulas, it doesn't come with the horrible fake tan smell that everybody hates. It fades evenly, especially if you use the Body Silk.
I really enjoyed using it and I will probably purchase more in the future, as a little goes a long way and the effect is amazing!

 

Body Buff Exfoliator 180ml* £12.61 link

INFO:Featured in More Magazine - Body Buff is the must have skin preparation product essential for preparing your skin before professional application or your own application of fake tanning products.  Not only that but Body Buff is becoming a cult product for those who want to keep their skin in "tip top condition" throughout the winter as well and not just for fake tanning.  It's fantastic hydrating properties keep the skin moisturised counteracting the drying effects of central heating.  It's gentle exfoliation allows you to use it on the face where it will help brighten facial skin by removing dead skin cells revealing younger skin cells beneath.  For fake tanning use it effectively sloughs off the dead skin cells leaving beautifully prepared skin which will allow your tan to fade more naturally and evenly giving longer lasting results. Contains micro poly beads to ensure gentle exfoliation without scratching the skin. Mango, Shea, Coconut butter whipped in shower gel base along with botanical extracts and amino acids effectively washes off without drying or stripping the skin. This unique pH balance formula allows you to exfoliate on the day of your spray tanning session as it washes off without leaving any residue on the skin. Helps to create smooth skin surface for even application of our Unreal sunless tanning products. Citrus fragrance from essential oils.

MY OPINION: Preparation is the key to a nice looking tan! If you love self-tan you already know, that exfoliating is a step that you can't skip! Body buff is a very creamy and gentle exfoliator. It smells lovely and citrusy. It removes dead skin cells and leaves my skin perfectly smooth and ready for fake tan application.  I use it with Soap & Glory exfoliating gloves to make my skin as smooth as possible, but you can use it with your hands or any exfoliating gloves.

 

Body Silk Moisturiser 180ml* £12.82 link

INFO: The Unreal Body Silk moisturiser is a naturally inspired, paraben free daily moisturiser lotion, which uses a combination of plant oils and rich butters to nourish the skin, plus plant extracts and amino acids, and vitamin E to fight against the daily environmental effect on our skin.Nurture and indulge your skin with our rich creamy quick absorbing lotion, made with exotic shea butter, nourishing jojoba and olive oil; infused with Milk Thistle Extract, Green Tea Extract and Oat Amino Acid, Rice Amino Acid and Soy Amino Acid for soft supple skin.Very hydrating formula for all skin types. Leaves skin feeling soft, supple, moisturized and refreshed. Citrus scent from essential oils.

MY OPINION: My first impression was- Wow! It smells amazing. I love anything with a green tea and citrus fragrance to it. It is packed with plant extracts and vitamin E. It leaves my skin perfectly moisturised and very soft. I use it every day after fake tan application to keep my skin looking lovely. If you moisturise every day the tan will fade gracefully and it won't go patchy.
I also use it on dry areas of my body (elbows, feet and knees) before I apply fake tan, to prevent them from going really really dark. You know what I am talking about, if you used self-tan before.

 

*PR samples

He-Shi Express Liquid Tan and Day To Day Gradual Tan review +before and after

Today I am reviewing two products from He-Shi: Express liquid Tan and Day To Day Gradual Tan. You already know that I love fake tan. It is the only way to get a tan in Scotland :) Sunbeds are big big NO NO!!! I don't want to get skin cancer or look like a leather couch when I turn 30 :) Fake tan is the only safe way to get a nice healthy glow and make you feel more confident!

I have never tried Liquid Tan before so I was very excited to give the He-Shi goodies a go. I already reviewed the bronzer, so if you want to have a look, here is  the link.

HE-SHI Express Liquid Tan 150ml* £20.00 link

I am very impressed with this tanning solution! I have never used liquid tan before and I just didn't realise how amazing and easy it is. It is literally EXPRESS TAN! One thing you need to remember is EXFOLIATION. It is a very important step, especially when you use liquid tan. Don't ever skip this step if you want your tan to look gorgeous. 

When I received  the package I ran to the bathroom to try the product on my legs and I was very happy with the colour, but I forgot to exfoliate and the tan ended up looking patchy. It was my own fault and I was very annoyed. I exfoliated my full body in the evening with exfoliating gloves and an oil free body scrub, moisturised dry areas of my body with an oil free moisturiser and applied the Liquid Tan with the He-Shi tanning mitt. The application is so easy, the liquid glides onto the skin leaving a gorgeous guide colour with no streaks or ugly patches. You can see the difference in the before and after pictures below. Amazing results in a couple of minutes! The fading process was very 'graceful' and I was using the Day To Day Gradual Tan all week to keep my skin soft ant top up the colour.

Another thing worth mentioning is the fact that as soon as you apply the tan you can put your clothes back on, as it dries instantly. Remember to avoid contact with water for 6-8 hours though. It didn't stain my bedding at night and a little goes a long way so it is worth the £20 price tag. You can also get 300ml (a lot of product) for £30, saving yourself £10.

before and after using He-Shi Express Liquid Tan (it's the guide colour). It is less orange after a shower.

HE-SHI Day to Day gradual tan 200ml* £14.50 link

This gradual tanner is perfect if you have fair complexion or if you want to maintain the Liquid Tan and keep your skin moisturised and silky soft. It absorbs very quickly and smells lovely. By using this product every day I managed to keep a lovely tan for over a week! It is very important to keep moisturising your skin if you use fake tan and a gradual tanner gives the best results.

HE-SHI tanning mitt* £4.50 link

I have tried many tanning mitts before, but this one is simply the best.  It makes the application easy, it doesn't tear and helps to get a nice even finish.

*PR samples

XEN -TAN review with before and after pictures: Dark Lotion, Face Tanner Luxe and Deep Bronze Luxe

Today I would like to introduce you to my favourite fake tan brand: Xen-Tan. I found out about this brand from my sister in law about  2 years ago and I have been obsessed ever since.  I looked for their products online and found them on www.feelunique.com. I paid about £35 for 2 bottles of the Dark Lotion and £15 for the Face Tanner Luxe. Unfortunately Feelunique doesn't sell the Dark Lotion Duo anymore, but you can buy one bottle for £24.45.

Xen-Tan Dark Lotion  £24.45

This product is my personal favourite and I am addicted to it. The only time I stopped using it, was after having my baby, when I was too tired and I didn't even think about fake tan :)  I love everything about Dark Lotion.  It smells gorgeous, it is creamy and gives a streak free finish. It gives me a perfect olive tan, it leaves my skin silky soft and the results are long lasting.

If you exfoliate your skin properly and moisturise dry areas, like elbows and knees prior to application, you will be amazed with the results. If you want to have a nice tan at all times it is recommended once a week (in my experience, every 4-5 days).

I usually apply it with the Xen-Tan mitt, but I started using disposable gloves and I quite like the results. If you want to buff it in properly-use the tanning mitt. I don't recommend using your bare hands, the lotion is really hard to remove. 

Xen-Tan Face Tanner Luxe Medium/Dark 80ml  £16.95

You can use the Dark Lotion on your face and body, but if you want better results, I would recommend buying the Face Tanner. The formula is lighter and it is made for everyday use. You don't have to use a mitt or gloves, as it is a gradual tanner. Just make sure you wash your hands after application. It smells lovely, leaves my skin really soft and gives it a nice healthy glow. 

DEEP BRONZE LUXE WEEKLY SELF-TAN- DARK* £21.50

The last Xen-Tan product I would like to mention is the Deep Bronze Luxe. I think I actually like it more than The Dark lotion. The consistency is just as nice, so is the gorgeous smell. But what won me over is the fact that I can apply it with my bare hands and it doesn't stain them. The final effect looks even more natural than Dark Lotion. It gives a  slightly lighter tan, but I love it! You can see the effects below:

*PR sample