St Tropez In Shower Gradual Tan

So fake tan has been one of those products that I want to love and use but... it terrifies the life out of me. I am terrified of turning into this streaky orange Oompa Loompa v's Dale Winton and for that reason have always shied away from trying anything, no matter how much it has promised to not streak, give an even tan and have a light coverage. I am pale skinned, tan but I am never that beautiful bronze shade you see on those adverts. So when I read a few reviews about the new St Tropez In Shower Gradual Tan, I wanted to try it.

The St.Tropez In Shower Tanning Lotion comes in a squeezy tube which has a ombre blue colour pattern, the tube itself is easy to keep hold, especially with wet hands. The lotion inside is a cream colour and as it is enriched with Sweet Almond Oil, not only does it leave your skin feels hydrated and moisturised after you use the product, it smells delightful too.

St.Tropez claim that this new product is perfect for the first time tanners out there, people like me essentially. It is described as being a product which takes just 3 minutes of your time as part of your daily shower regime and is a convenient way to build a sunkissed, gradual glow, that provides up to 24 hour moisturisation. So to use, you shower as normal to ensure your skin is fully cleansed and then with the shower off, generously apply in circular motions to wet skin (so don't dry off) to create an even coverage. When I use this, rather than use my hands, I have used a tanning mitt as I find them much easier to use and I don't want stained hands. Once applied, you wait for three minutes and in that time you could apply a hair mask or clean your teeth and then once those three minutes have passed, you get back into the shower and wash off the lotion. Then dry your skin using a patting motion rather than rubbing before getting dressed and continuing your routine as usual

So whilst you are not technically tanning in the shower, well unless you stand in there for those three minutes the water is off, it is a really easy product to use and really easy to apply, more so than I was expecting it to be I have to say. As you do apply it, it does lather slightly and this I found helpful when ensuring I had covered everywhere without leaving anything out.

So what about the results? Well, I have to admit I am a total novice when it comes to fake tan but so far I have enjoyed every minute of using this product. It is easy to use, it hasn't stained my hands, towel or clothes, it doesn't smell like soggy biscuits which is a phrase ive noticed used with a lot of fake tans. Infact it has a really lovely scent to it due to one of the main ingredients being Sweet Almond Oil. I have had no streaks on any part of my body, the only the place I haven't used this is on my face. So, below is a series of pictures taken over the seven days of using it and...

Well as you can see, there is a lot of change in the shade of my skin from day 1 which is the first photo, day 3 which is in the middle and then day 7! Needless to say I am quite chuffed with the shade and if all fake tan could promise me this shade it would become my new obsession.

The St.Tropez In Shower Tanning Lotion comes in a 200ml bottle and retails for around £14.50, so it's not the cheapest tanning product on the market but I do love the concept and how easy it is to use, so for the time being it is a product I will continue to use until I run out, then who knows, I might feel brave enough to try something new.

Benefit - License to Blot

Benefit have had some amazing new releases of late.  They're Real Colour Mascara and Eyeliners which I reviewed HERE and not that long ago the third installment of the POREfessional range, License to Blot!  

BLOT on the spot! This instant oil-blotting stick with tiny invisible blotting spheres mattifies shine for up to 6 hours after application. The specially designed triangular tip targets shiny zones…the sides of your nose, forehead and chin. Oil has finally met its matte!

I was lucky enough to receive a mini handbag sized License to Blot which is so cute and so handy to have.  In essence it is an oil blotting stick, so essentially blotting papers but in a solid format and it mattifies shine for up to six hours after each application. The only slight difference between this mini version and the full size version is that this one is shaped like a lip balm and the full sized one comes in a triangular form which I suspect will fit perfectly around the chin, nose and forehead - the places I tend to use this the most.

Now I do tend to have an oily tzone and I do always have some blotting papers in my desk drawer and some at home in my make-up drawers and I do reach for them quite a lot, more so on hot summer days, so the timing of License to Blots arrival is perfect for testing.  I am a big fan of Porefessional and always ensure I never run out, so I had high hopes for this because I am yet to try Agent Zero Shine.  Unsurprisingly License to Blot is fantastic, so much better than I thought it would be and it is so easy to use.  To apply, you really gently, using short swift strokes, apply it onto your face, paying the most attention to the parts and you should notice that those oily areas because instantly matte, so mess, no fuss and zero shine.

It is also great to use with or without make-up on, even if used whilst wearing make-up, it doesn't remove anything and there is no need for a touch up.  On my skin, License to Blot lasts a good 4-5 hours which is perfect because my skin becomes slightly oiler in the afternoon, which means if I have an event in the evening, I only need to use this product once, whereas with blotting papers, I would be using 2-3 at any one time and then repeating the process before leaving work because they aren't as long lasting as this is, so hurrah, out go the blotting papers and in comes License to Blot.

The Benefit POREfessional: License to Blot retails for £15.50 and in my opinion, is well worth having in your makeup bag, this one is a keeper for me.  Have you tried it?