Glowing report: Self-tanners review 2005

Face and body

Piz Buin Mid Self-Tan Foam, £11.99 for 150ml
What's this? A light, oil-free foam that dries in five minutes. Perfect for use on face and body and ideal for novice self-tanners.
Application: The mousse applied easily and was absorbed instantly so you need to be swift, and wear plastic gloves to avoid tanned palms!
Drying time: Get dressed in 10 minutes.
Result: An even and natural-looking tan in a flash.
iVillage verdict: A fast-drying, unscented product. However, you can't really take your time when applying as the formulation dries quickly. It also applies invisibly, so you can't see where it's going.
4.5/5

Clinique Radiant Bronze Face and Body Tinted Self-Tanner SPF15, £13.50 for 125ml
What's this? This tinted self-tanning lotion creates a gradual, customised radiance that starts with an instant glow and develops in one hour, with colour maximising in 24 hours.
Application: It's a lovely consistency and is tinted so you can see where you are applying it. However, it does take a bit of rubbing in, and you need to exfoliate well beforehand.
Drying time: 10-15 minutes.
Result: Instant colour which might be a little dark on pale skin. The resulting realistic golden hue would suit most people.
iVillage verdict: A good option if you're prone to breakouts - this is oil-free, allergy tested and non-acnegenic. However, this product does take time to apply so you need to have time on your hands.
4/5

The Tan Commandments
Remove any unwanted hair first, as fake tan can stain it and make it appear darker.

• Apply a light moisturiser to elbows, knees and heels beforehand to prevent patchiness.
• If your skin is oily or spot-prone, choose an oil-free variant or one which contains AHAs, an ingredient that is increasingly being used for smoother, more even results.
• People with sensitive skin should avoid products containing chemicals and alcohol - read the label.
• For subtle colour, try Liz Hurley's trick of using facial self-tan on your body.
• Avoid stained palms by wearing latex gloves (available from chemists) to apply fast-acting self-tanner.
• Can't reach your back? California Tan's Back Towelette, £4.99 for one sachet, is designed to tan those hard-to-get-to places.
• Immediately after self-tanning, use a cleansing wipe on elbows, nails and eyebrows, and around heels and your hairline.
• Fade streaks and unwanted stains with exfoliating scrub or alcohol-based toner.

Details and prices are correct at time of publication

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