Us Irish ladies know our stuff when it comes to fake tan, so St Tropez definitely perked our ears when they launched a brand new and VERY interesting product last month.
The St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion is the first gradual tanner of its kind, as it is made to be applied in the shower rather than onto dry skin. Nope, this is not a drastically late April Fools' Joke, this is the real deal.
So how does it work?
According to the folks at St Tropez, you simply wash as usual in the shower, exfoliate if needed, then step out of the flow of the water and lather the (non-tinted) lotion all over your body. Wait three minutes and then rinse off with water only. Your tan will then gradually develop over the rest of the day, leaving you with a warm golden glow.
Why is it any better than normal tan?
If this product does what's promised, it will save us the hassle of stinky sheets and PJs, stained towels and all the other joys that come with overnight tan… WIN.
Is it any good?
The reviews so far have been extremely mixed, but in general positive. Beauty vlogger Laura Black said she saw a very natural looking golden glow, but that came after 5 consecutive days of use, so this is not one to try the day of a big event. She also praised the lotion for giving her a totally streak free tan.
However another reviewer on the Boots site called the new product a "joke", adding, "I have been using this product every day for the past four days, and can see very little difference, I even take a timer into the bathroom so I get it right in fact I have nearly used the whole tube…I wont be using it again."
One reviewer on Amazon noted that the lotion dries very quickly – there's no "stickiness" after the shower and you can get dressed straight away.
While the lotion is touted as a daytime tanner, many reviewers complained about the strong smell that clung to their skin for the day, so you may prefer to use it at night and shower again in the morning.
As for value for money, if you plan on using this every day, you'll be shelling out for another bottle in a week's time, so it's not exactly a bargain.
The verdict?
A great idea, but more of an everyday product than one for a night out of special occasion… and the price is a bit off-putting.
